SACRAMENTO, Calif.,
Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Charlotte Observer and
McClatchy Studios announced today the October 16 launch of "Carruth," a serialized
podcast about the former Carolina Panthers star receiver who was
implicated in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams. Carruth, a former No. 1 draft
choice of the National Football League's Carolina Panthers, has
been serving a 19-year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder. He
will be released from prison October 22,
2018.
The series is based on the reporting of Charlotte Observer
sports writer Scott Fowler, who also
serves as the host of the podcast and breaks new ground in the
case.
"Scott is among the leading authorities on this case," said
Sherry Chisenhall, executive editor
of The Charlotte Observer. "He has covered this story from the day
Carruth joined the Panthers, to the day of the shooting, through
the three-month-long trial, and to this day."
The "Carruth" podcast is part of a seven-part multimedia package
produced by The Charlotte Observer and McClatchy Studios comprising
the audio, videos and news stories for each chapter of the saga.
All of the bingeable chapters will publish October 16. That day, the full package can be
found at charlotteobserver.com/carruth. The podcast will also
available on October 16 at
charlotteobserver.com/carruthpodcast, and on Apple Podcasts.
"I have been fascinated by this story for the better part of two
decades," Fowler said. "It not only produced our city's trial of
the century, but its larger themes strike chords that go far beyond
football: murder, betrayal, seduction, love, resilience and
courage. For me it is the story of a lifetime, and one I don't
think has ever been fully told until now.
"This rich and engrossing story lent itself perfectly to the
audio format. We had so many elements, from Cherica Adams' haunting 911 call to a lengthy
interview I recorded with her killer to the compelling storytelling
of Cherica's mom, Saundra
Adams."
While doctors could not save Cherica
Adams, her son was delivered by emergency C-section 10 weeks
premature. Chancellor Lee Adams is
now 18 years old and Saundra Adams
calls her grandson the "miracle boy."
The podcast is supported by leading nonprofit domestic violence
and children's advocacy organizations: The National Coalition
Against Domestic Violence, NO MORE, Safe Alliance and the
Children's Defense Fund.
"We're grateful for the support of our partners," said
Davin Coburn, McClatchy's senior
podcast producer. "This October, during Domestic Violence Awareness
Month, we're proud that the powerful story of Saundra Adams and her grandson, Chancellor Lee,
will help expand the conversations about domestic abuse and
children's welfare in Charlotte,
and far beyond."
The podcast episodes are each roughly 35 minutes in length:
Chapter 1: Rae and Cherica
Cherica Adams, a former model and
dancer from Charlotte, meets NFL
player Rae Carruth at a summer pool
party. Carruth, a Sacramento
native, has looks and a magnetic charm. Soon Cherica is
pregnant—but the harrowing trail of women in Carruth's past suggest
the Carolina Panthers first-round draft pick is struggling with
adult responsibility in the face of the fame and fortune lavished
upon a young professional athlete.
Chapter 2: The Hitman Speaks
A murder plot unfolds. From deep inside a North Carolina maximum-security prison, hitman
Van Brett Watkins offers us a
meticulous and unflinching account of the deal he struck with
Rae Carruth to murder Cherica Adams and their unborn son. Coupled with
explosive confession tapes and a gripping 911 call, a portrait of
Carruth as a master manipulator emerges. To this day, however, some
still vehemently dispute Carruth's involvement.
Chapter 3: Life and Death
Emergency crews race Cherica
Adams to the hospital, and her son, Chancellor Lee, is born
via emergency C-section, 10 weeks premature and weighing less than
4 pounds. Police investigators describe to us piecing together the
events of that night, as Cherica's handwritten notes from her
hospital bed point the way toward Rae
Carruth. But as she and her son both fight for life in
Carolinas Medical Center, only one will survive.
Chapter 4: The Manhunt
As funeral arrangements are made in Charlotte, Rae
Carruth flees the state in the trunk of a friend's car.
Soon, he's the target of an FBI manhunt led by agent Mark Post, who recreates for us the trail that
led him to a Best Western parking lot in rural Tennessee, where he found Carruth stuffed in
the back of a Toyota Camry. Carruth becomes the first active NFL
player to be charged with first-degree murder.
Chapter 5: On Trial
Chancellor Lee heads home from the hospital under the watchful
eye of his maternal grandmother, Saundra
Adams. Before long, the most notorious trial in Charlotte history gets under way, and quickly
sees lawyers sparring with witnesses, and with each other. With
Rae Carruth facing the death
penalty, his lead defense attorney tells in more detail than ever
before how he attempts to make his case and save Carruth's life—but
will the jury believe him?
Chapter 6: 'Miracle' Boy
Jury foreman Clark Pennell takes
us inside days of tense deliberations, before he delivers the
verdict on charges against Rae
Carruth that pleases no one—yet survives every appeal. As
Chancellor Lee grows, his doctors explain to us diagnosing him with
Cerebral Palsy as a result of his traumatic birth. Chancellor Lee's
speech is halting and his movement labored, yet thanks in part to
physical gifts inherited from his father, Chancellor Lee surpasses
doctors' expectations for his progress and development in physical
therapy, at the nearby horse-riding stables, and at home.
Chapter 7: Forgiveness
As Rae Carruth's October 22, 2018 prison release date nears,
Saundra Adams, the mother of the
pregnant woman Carruth conspired to murder, tells us how she's
found a way to forgive the men who killed Cherica Adams. Those closest to the case wonder
what if any relationship Carruth should have with Chancellor Lee.
Saundra Adams honors her daughter's
legacy through advocacy work on behalf of domestic violence
survivors in North Carolina and
beyond.
About The Charlotte Observer
Since 1886, The Charlotte
Observer has been dedicated to serving Charlotte and its surrounding region with
strong, independent journalism. The Observer is the largest
circulating newspaper in North
Carolina and the most visited news and information website
in the Carolinas. Its staff has won four Pulitzer Prizes, including
two Gold Medals for Public Service. #Readlocal
About McClatchy Studios
McClatchy Studios is the
documentary production arm of McClatchy and is dedicated to
revelatory nonfiction storytelling driven by local characters with
national appeal. We tap into the rich, on-the-ground reporting by
our team of multimedia journalists based in local communities
across the US and package it in formats that engage audiences on a
variety of platforms. We find compelling ways to embrace everything
storytelling can be — inspiring, motivating and
entertaining.
About McClatchy
McClatchy operates 30 media companies
in 14 states, providing each of its communities with strong
independent local journalism in the public interest and advertising
services in a wide array of digital and print formats. McClatchy
publishes iconic local brands including the Miami Herald, The
Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The
(Raleigh) News & Observer, and
the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram.
McClatchy is headquartered in Sacramento,
Calif., and listed on the New York Stock Exchange American
under the symbol MNI. #ReadLocal
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SOURCE McClatchy