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Rae Carruth Murder Trial
Rae Carruth was born January 1974 in Sacramento, California. He always wanted to be a professional football player in high school, he was All-American and very popular with classmates. He wasnt very smart but won a sports scholarship to college. Rae carruth was recruited by the University of Colorado in 1992. While he was there he keeps his grades up and had no disciplinary problems. In 1997 the Carolina Panthers selected him in their first-round draft pick. He signed a four-year contract at age 23 for $3.7 million dollars starting as a wide receiver (Carruth 1). In 1998, in just one season, he broke his foot.
In 1999, he sprained his ankle and rumors were he was becoming a liability to the Carolina, Panthers (N.C. v. Rae Carruth 1). Money was getting tight with his injuries, his future concerned him. It was now during this time he was informed 24-year old Cherica Adams was pregnant with his child. Their relationship was said to be casual and Carruth never stopped dating other women. Adams was from Kings Mountain, North Carolina eventually relocating to Charlotte. There she went to college for two years and then became an exotic dancer. She met Carruth and they began dating casually. When she became pregnant, Carruth asked her to have an abortion she refused. She told friends that after Carruth hurt his ankle, he became distant. November 15, 1999, Adams and Carruth met for a date (N.C. v. Rae Carruth 1).They attended a movie and after it was over they left in separate cars and Adams followed Carruth. Just minutes of leaving the cinema, a car drove up along side Adams and one of the passengers began firing his gun directly at her. She was struck with four bullets into her back, damaging vital organs. In pain Adams managed to call 911she told them what happened and that Carruth was involved in the shootings. She explained to 911 she was seven months with Carruths baby. By the time they got there no suspects could be found. She went into surgery immediately the doctors were able to save her baby boy, Chancellor Lee, even though he was 10-weeks premature. As Adams was struggling for her life, she managed to write a recollection of what happened. She indicated that Carruth blocked her car so she couldnt escape the deadly bullets. She wrote that Carruth was there during the attack. Based on her notes and other evidence, the police arrested Carruth for conspiring to commit first-degree murder, attempted murder, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Also arrested for involvement in the crime were Van Brett Watkins, a habitual criminal; Michael Kennedy, who was believed to be the driver of the car; and Stanley Abraham, who was in the passenger seat of the car during the shootings. Carruth posted bond for $3-million dollars agreeing that if Adams died he would turn himself back in (N.C. v. Rae Carruth 1). On December 14 Adams died from her injuries the charges against the four became murder. When Carruth found this out he fled instead of turning himself in like he said. The FBI found him hiding in one of his friends trunk in Wildersville, TN with $3,000 dollars and bottles of urine he was then taken back into custody ( N.C. v. Rae Carruth 2). During this time the Panthers had Carruth on a paid leave, but when he became a fugitive they stopped all ties with him. This trial was 27 days long and had 72 witnesses. Prosecutors argued Carruth arranged to have Adam killed because he didnt want to pay child support. The defense argued that the shooting was a result of a drug deal that Carruth was supposed to have backed out of, at the last minute. The prosecution turned to the handwritten notes of Adams that described how Carruth blocked her car so that she could not escape from the gunshots. Phone records showed calls made from Carruth to the co-defendant, Kennedy, around the time of the shooting. Michael Kennedy refused immunity for his testimony against Carruth. In his testimony, he said that Carruth wanted Adams dead so he did not have to pay child support. He also testified that Carruth was at the scene, blocking Adams car. Watkins, the man accused of shooting the gun, accepted a plea bargain to testify against Carruth in exchange for life instead of the death sentence. The prosecutor didnt call Watkins to the stand because of a statement he gave to a sheriffs deputy that Carruth had nothing to do with the murder. He said Carruth backed out on a drug deal and they followed him to talk to him about it. He said they pulled up to Adams car to find out where Carruth was headed, and Adams flipped them off. Watkins said he lost it and just started shooting. The defense decided to call Watkins to the stand, but Watkins denied ever saying anything about it being a drug deal, sticking to his plea agreement.
-Rae Carruths ex girlfriend testified that Carruth admitted to about being involved in the shooting but didnt pull the trigger. More than 25 people testified on Rae Carruths behalf but Carruth never took the stand (N.C. v. Rae Carruth 2). Rae Carruth found out that he would be going to prison for his part in the murder of Cherica Adams, although he would not face the death penalty for it. 24 hours after they said they were deadlocked, the jury came back with a surprising and confusing verdict. Carruth was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and using an instrument to destroy an unborn child. Somehow he was found not guilty of first-degree murder. Carruth received a total of 18 years, 11 months to 24 years, four months behind bars. Race Carruth has let all his life go down the drain because he didnt want to pay child support. He is going to be behind bars thinking and paying for what he did. He didnt even show any emotions while being sentenced or during the trial. Carruth I think now realizes how bad he messed up and he really didnt think he would get caught. Rae Carruth has gotten more bad news while in jail. He was ordered to pay $6 million dollars to Cherica Adams estate and a judge ruled that his son cant be forced to visit him in prison (Carruth 1). Carruth is serving his 19- to 23-year sentence at Nash Correctional Institution in Nashville, N.C., and is among the prisons general population. Van Brett Watkins, the admitted shooter and a key state witness against Carruth, is serving a 40- to 50-year prison term. Under a plea deal, co-defendant Michael Kennedy is serving a 12- to 14-year term, while Stanley Abraham served an 18-month sentence on assorted charges and was released from a minimum security prison in June 2001.
Conclusion
Rae Carruth a former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers is now serving his 19 to 23 sentence