Sports

TIMELINE: Former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In 2001, former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth was found guilty of conspiring to murder his then-girlfriend Cherica Adams, who was pregnant with his child.

[Channel 9 to air special about former Panthers Rae Curruth set to be released from prison]

Jan. 20, 1974: Rae Lamar Wiggins, later known as Rae Carruth, was born in Sacramento.

1997: Rae Carruth was the Carolina Panthers' first-round NFL draft choice.

Nov. 16, 1999: Cherica Adams and Carruth were on a date in Charlotte when she was shot four times by a hit man hired by Carruth. She called 911 and said Carruth stopped his car in front of her vehicle. Another vehicle pulled up next to Adams' and the passenger shot her. Carruth fled the scene.

Adams was nearly eight months pregnant with Carruth’s child. She went into a coma at Carolinas Medical Center-Main, and doctors delivered their son, Chancellor Lee Adams.

Dec. 14, 1999: Cherica died at CMC-Main.

Jan. 19, 2001: Carruth was convicted in a jury trial in Charlotte of conspiracy to commit murder. He was acquitted of a first-degree murder charge.

Jan. 22, 2001: Carruth was sentenced to 18-24 years in prison.

February 2011: A federal appeals court rejected a new trial for Carruth.

July 2011: The driver who was involved in the Carruth murder case was released from prison. Michael Kennedy, 35, spent 11 years and nine months in a Raleigh prison for his role in the murder.

Oct. 2015: Carruth moved to Tyrell Prison Work Farm, a minimum-custody facility in Columbia, North Carolina.

February 2018: Carruth wrote a 15-page letter to Saundra Adams, the mother of Cherica Adams. Carruth accepted responsibility for his involvement in Cherica's murder. Carruth said in a letter to local media that he would not seek custody of Chancellor.

Oct. 22, 2018: Carruth is expected to be released from Samson Correction Institute.

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