The North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections reports that the triggerman who, more than 20 years ago, assassinated the pregnant girlfriend of former NFL wide receiver Rae Carruth at Carruth’s request passed away in jail.
According to its website, Van Brett Watkins, 63, passed away on December 3. According to local ABC station WSOC, Watkins passed away from natural causes.
In a well-known instance, Carruth, who was then a member of the Carolina Panthers, hired Watkins to set up the murder of his lover Cherica Adams. Carruth and the 24-year-old Adams had just left a movie on Nov. 16, 1999, and were driving different automobiles.
Adams was hit four times by gunfire from a third vehicle, driven by one of Carruth’s buddies, that pulled up next to her vehicle, according to the Charlotte Observer. Michael Kennedy, the driver, was freed from prison in 2018 after serving 10 years and nine months.
Van Watkins, who murdered Rae Carruth’s lover with a gun at his command, passed away at the age of 63 while incarcerated. He was halfway through a 50-year sentence. (Screenshot from “The Killer Speaks” on A&E from 2014 on YouTube).
Four weeks after the incident, Adams, who was eight months pregnant, passed away, but around ninety minutes later, physicians performed an emergency C-section to preserve her baby, Chancellor Lee. Lee, who is now 24 years old, suffered brain damage and cerebral palsy as a result of the shooting’s oxygen deprivation.
Watkins admitted to the murder. After entering a guilty plea to second-degree murder, the judge gave him a 50-year prison term. In his testimony against Carruth during his trial, Watkins said that Carruth had given him the order to execute the hit.
Watkins admitted to the murder. After entering a guilty plea to second-degree murder, the judge gave him a 50-year prison term. In his testimony against Carruth during his trial, Watkins said that Carruth had given him the order to execute the hit.
