In November of 1999, 24-year-old Cherica Adams was eight months pregnant when she and the father of her child, 25-year-old Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth, went on a double date. They saw a late-night showing of a serial killer flick at the theater. As Rae led Cherica back home to her apartment in his white Ford Expedition, with Cherica following behind in her black BMW, he unexpectedly slowed to a near stop. Confused, Cherica slowed down too. Then, an unknown car pulled up beside her and gunfire rang out. Before the smoke had cleared, Rae was gone—and Cherica had been shot multiple times. 

 
 

photo Gallery

Show Notes

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley 

Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica Kelley

Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner 

Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio 

Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley 

Suggested by: Greg Husketh, Patee, Hannah, and Terina

SOURCES:

1.     https://6abc.com/rae-carruth-son-released-cherica-adams-net-worth/4548020/

2.     https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-former-nfl-player-rae-carruth-out-of-prison-after-18-years-2018-10

3.     https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100160

4.     https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-12/17/054r-121799-idx.html

5.     https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=naouAAAAIBAJ&pg=6281%2C4601223

6.     https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19991216&id=loVIAAAAIBAJ&pg=6119,176401

7.     https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article251584383.html

8.     https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219407970.html

9.     https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1376101/state-v-wiggins/?q=%22Rae%20Carruth%22

10.  https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/204834/wiggins-v-boyette/?q=%22Rae%20Carruth%22

11.  https://webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=list

12.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7535541/cherica-louvenia-adams

13.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219417845.html

14.  https://www.courttv.com/trials/nc-v-carruth-2000/

15.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article282906678.html

16.  https://www.wbtv.com/story/37538080/former-carolina-panthers-player-rae-carruth-breaks-silence-behind-bars-hopes-for-relationship-with-son/

17.  https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://WBTV.images.worldnow.com/library/4392fe8f-20ab-44ed-8754-39594e99bafd.pdf

18.  https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/carolina-panthers/news/rae-carruth-release-october-panthers-son-chancellor-murder-cherica-adams/c2d4qxmad4sd1hjy4cu3zx76y

19.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/02/15/carruth-claims-he-hardly-knew-victim/d851ebf5-64ed-4d1e-ab40-220d86280d70/

20.  https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/5001924/Transcript-of-911-call-from-Cherica-Adams.pdf

21.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/628594299/?terms=%22Cherica%20Adams%22&match=1

22.  https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2010/02/16/suspect-s-brother-a-convicted-hit-man/#:~:text=During%20Carruth%27s%20trial%20in%202000,that%20brother%20was%20Andre%20Watkins.

23.  https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1637455

24.  https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/victims-mother-wins-judgment-against-carruth-and-co-defendants/83-404004611

25.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219417870.html

26.  Ancestry.com

27.  https://meckrod.manatron.com/Death/SearchResults.aspx

28.  https://meckrod.manatron.com/Birth/SearchEntry.aspx

29.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629738274/?article=44c39787-77a2-4988-ad70-8ebd44eeb2d5&focus=0.06222578,0.14182916,0.22498976,0.34030795&xid=3355

30.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219417890.html

31.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219417925.html

32.  https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/20/sports/pro-football-conspiracy-of-murder-conviction-for-carruth.html

33.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article219418005.html

34.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article222711225.html

35.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YBlNoo5cak

36.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R9drC5542o

37.  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article282914993.html

38.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629738001/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1 

39.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629752393/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1 

40.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629794055/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

41.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629728473/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

42.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629733558/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

43.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629387311/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

44.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629741062/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

45.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629816648/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

46.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629914443/

47.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/629915017/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22&match=1

48.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/630573003/?terms=%22Rae%20Carruth%22%20appeal&match=1

49.  https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/30905/panthers-darkest-hour-revisited-with-rae-carruths-release-from-prison 

50.  https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/07/si-60-the-boy-they-couldnt-kill-rae-carruth-son 

51.  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/joe-davidson/article220459490.html

52.  https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/colorado/2018/10/22/former-university-colorado-buff-rae-carruth-released-prison/1731854002/

53.  https://www.newson6.com/story/5e3685802f69d76f6209aeac/carruth-must-allow-home-to-be-sold

54.  https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/28/sports/nfl-judge-doubles-carruth-s-bail.html

55.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/carruth-defendant-released-1.257736#:~:text=Abraham%20had%20been%20charged%20with,prosecutors%20dropped%20the%20remaining%20charges

56.  Testimony Builds Against Carruth in Murder Trial - ABC News (go.com)

57.  Rae Carruth released from prison, free after 19 years | Charlotte Observer

58.  Citizen Sports Podcast with guest Dave Hoskins | Elk Grove Citizen (egcitizen.com)