Podcast: Carruth

“This is a murder mystery. A love story. A tale of betrayal, forgiveness and a miracle named Chancellor Lee,” says sports reporter Scott Fowler of the Carolina Observer. Fowler spent two decades covering Rae Carruth, former wide receiver of the Carolina Panthers. On January 16, 2001 Carruth was sentenced to 18–24 years for conspiracy to kill his then pregnant girlfriend, Cherika Adams. The trial went on to become one of the most explosive in Charlotte history. And as Carruth is set to walk free on Monday, Fowler comes up with a heartbreaking, riveting investigative podcast of evil, courage, love and forgiveness.

Carruth and Adams were dating on–off when she got pregnant. But he never wanted the child. He already had one and was paying child support, but Adams was determined to be a mother. Unable to convince her to abort, Carruth then hired hitman Van Brett Watkins to shoot mother and child.

Podcast listeners will hear the voice of Cherika Adams when she made the 12-minute 911 call after getting shot, when she was almost 8 months pregnant. In the call, she explains how Carruth was driving in front of her—when they were returning from watching a movie—and when he stopped his car, another pulled up and someone shot four bullets at her. Cherika fought for her life to save her unborn child, Chancellor Lee Adams. She died in hospital a month later. Though Chancellor survived the shooting in his mother's womb, acute loss of blood and oxygen the night of his birth caused permanent brain damage. Today, he’s 18 years old, suffers from cerebral palsy and is being taken care of by his grandmother, Saundra Adams.

Produced by McClatchy Studio and Charlotte Observer, the podcast delves into the crime and its aftermath. Fowler uses letters, phone calls, audio recordings and visits to build the story. Without giving out spoilers, the story will break your heart in many places, yet fill you with love and admiration for Saundra and Chancellor.