May 27, 2016 - 2:49 PM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The ex-wife of a Canadian law professor shot dead in Florida two years ago says she hopes that the arrest of a suspect this week will finally bring some closure to the case.
Wendi Adelson, who now lives in the Miami area, said in a brief email Friday that the past two years have been an extraordinarily difficult time for her family.
Daniel Markel, who was working at Florida State University, was shot in the head inside his garage during the middle of the day in July 2014.
Markel, who was well-known in national and international legal circles, died later from the wound.
Sigfredo Garcia, 34, was arrested late Wednesday in Broward County and charged with murder in Markel's death. He appeared in court Thursday, where a judge ordered that he remain in jail.
State arrest records show Garcia has multiple arrests dating back to 1997. Charges included car theft, cocaine possession, burglary, threatening a witness and a strongarm robbery charge in 2012.
Those records show that other charges were filed against him — including possession of an explosive device — but that the charges were dropped.
Authorities are refusing so far to disclose details on why they arrested the Miami Beach man and records related to the case have been sealed by a judge.
Tallahassee police said the case is still active but refused to answer any questions about whether other arrests are coming.
Markel's parents and sister, who all live in Canada, have said they are grateful for the investigation that led to Garcia's arrest, though "it does not diminish their immense pain."
The daytime shooting stunned colleagues as well as residents inside the upscale neighbourhood where he lived in Tallahassee.
Police initially had few leads in the case and eventually circulated pictures of the car believed to have been used by those involved in the killing.
Adelson, who is also a lawyer, divorced Markel in 2013 and is raising their two children.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016