photo credit: Jeff Bukowski // Shutterstock

After spending almost 2 decades behind bars for the killing of his pregnant girlfriend, former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth has been released.

In November 1999, first round NFL pick, Carruth hired a hitman to kill his 24-yer-old girlfriend, Cherica Adams who was 8 months pregnant with his child. After a movie date, the two got in separate cars to leave. once on the road, Carruth allegedly blocked Adams vehicle so the shooter could have a clean shot. Adams was hit 4 times but was able to call 911, who performed an emergency C-section to save the baby. After 4 weeks, Adams passed away.

The son of Carruth, Chancellor Lee Adams, was born with severe cerebral palsy from the shooting. He was raised by his grandmother, Cherica’s mother. A few years back, Carruth released an apology letter through a local new station in hopes that Adam’s mother would see or hear it since she wanted no direct communication.

Today, at 44 years old, Carruth is a free man.

Written by Clarke Jones