Rae Carruth released from prison after nearly 18 years

Posted by Darin Gantt on October 22, 2018, 8:15 AM EDT
AP

Former NFL first-round pick Rae Carruth walked out of prison moments ago, nearly 18 years after he was convicted of conspiracy to murder the mother of his unborn child.

Via WSOC, Carruth walked out of the Sampson Correctional Facility just after 8:00 a.m., took a few steps before he climbed into a white SUV and was sped away to life as a free man.

The former Panthers wide receiver was convicted in 2001 for planning the murder of Cherica Adams. Their son, Chancellor Lee Adams, survived the shooting, but has dealt with developmental issues his entire life.

The 44-year-old Carruth has said he hopes to become a part of his son’s life in the future.

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36 responses to “Rae Carruth released from prison after nearly 18 years”

  4. All of the people who scream about “law & order” will surely be whining about that same “law & order” saying this guy should’ve never been released or should’ve even faced the death penalty. Those same people who cried “innocent until proven guilty!” about Brett Kavanaugh but have no problem letting police be judge, jury, and executioner.

  5. Our criminal justice system is hopefully broken. We got people doing life for non-violent crimes while this POS gets out after 18 years for the murder of his child’s mother & attempted murder of his unborn child. This dude should have never seen the outside of those prison walls. I’m all for rehabilitation but some crimes are just go too far for it to even be a consideration.

  11. I simply don’t understand the sentencing guidelines for such crimes in our country.
    How does a man who arranges for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and unborn child to avoid child support payments ever get out of jail?

    And only 18 years? People do longer for much less heinous crimes.

  12. I wouldn’t doubt he is back in at some point. When you get out of prison, someone comes to get you – probably one of his old crew. Whether it’s a small drug offence, or a terrible crime – these guys run in small circles with criminals and it’s hard to stay out of that life. Hopefully he just fades into the void and we don’t hear about him again.

  16. Should have been given the death sentence, or life in prison. Wants to be a part of his kids life. Gimme a break.

  19. No idea what life is like in prison, so how do you even return to life in almost 2019 after that long? You could still go to a store and rent movies…now just use an app on your Firestick or phone. If he travels back to Charlotte now, it will look like he is in the future, the city is so different and modern.

  21. 2ruefan says:
    October 22, 2018 at 9:16 am
    I simply don’t understand the sentencing guidelines for such crimes in our country.
    How does a man who arranges for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and unborn child to avoid child support payments ever get out of jail?

    And only 18 years? People do longer for much less heinous crimes.
    ————————————————————
    Get caught with a bag of weed and your in for life….

  24. Does anyone remember this case well? People who hire a hit man to kill someone are usually top of the list for the death penalty, but he wasnt charged with something that carried that penalty. Did the prosecution not think it had a slam dunk case, or did he co-operate in some way? I just can’t recall, but considering what he did, and that people are executed for that all the time, I find it a little odd that they decided to charge him with a lesser offense.

  27. redmosquito16 says:
    October 22, 2018 at 8:51 am
    All of the people who scream about “law & order” will surely be whining about that same “law & order” saying this guy should’ve never been released or should’ve even faced the death penalty. Those same people who cried “innocent until proven guilty!” about Brett Kavanaugh but have no problem letting police be judge, jury, and executioner.

    —————

    After having read that, I’m safe in assuming most people are thinking, “ummmm what?” This guy was CONVICTED of a henious crime. Not just randomly accused at the last moment. Apples and oranges my friend. Please seek some help for the betterment of society.

  28. redmosquito16 says:
    October 22, 2018 at 8:51 am
    All of the people who scream about “law & order” will surely be whining about that same “law & order” saying this guy should’ve never been released or should’ve even faced the death penalty. Those same people who cried “innocent until proven guilty!” about Brett Kavanaugh but have no problem letting police be judge, jury, and executioner.

    But our justice system is based on ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Has been for 200+ years. Carruth was tried, convicted and sentenced just as the system is designed. The sentence in many persons minds was inappropriate, Carruth killed a mother, and in doing so caused his child to suffer brain damage. Justice was done.
    On the otherhand Kavanaugh was accused with absolutely no collaboration from any witnesses. The accuser could not establish a date or location, but was postive that Kavanaugh was there. To top it off she waited 30+ years to make her accusation. Realistically what woman would wait that long to make a such a claim. But yet in your mind he is guilty, so tell me, who is being ‘judge, jury and executioner’?

  30. FYI, Carruth is not serving life (or a longer sentence) because he was found not guilty on the first-degree murder count, and found guilty on the lesser counts (which I think included second-degree murder). The lesser counts carry shorter maximum sentences. The guy who actually pulled the trigger pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is serving a 40-year minimum (if he had gone to trial and been convicted, he would have faced the death penalty).

    Sentencing is complicated. A lot of the distinctions between first- and second-degree murders, etc. are to give the prosecution leverage in plea negotiations so they can spare the expense of trials when possible. Or, as in this case, the alternate charges give juries the chance to convict someone of a lesser charge when the jury might be a little hesitant to convict on the top count (i.e., it’s better to put Carruth in jail for 18 years than risk letting him go free). I think I read somewhere that Carruth also got out early for good behavior, which the law allows because without that reward, prisons would be even more terrible than they are, and prisoners would have no incentive to follow prison rules or cooperate with corrections officers.

    I’m not saying I agree with all the rules we have, but they don’t exist in a vacuum. There are a lot of different things to consider. We live in a complex society, and people need to learn to think about all the different factors in play with the law, insurance, taxes, immigration, whatever. It’s almost never as simple as we’d like it to be. Just with this issue, you’ve got to consider justice for the victims, ensuring that the jury reaches the right verdict, rehabilitation, cost to tax payers, the environment in prisons, the safety of corrections officers, setting a message to would-be criminals….it’s a lot.

  34. redmosquito16 says:

    All of the people who scream about “law & order” will surely be whining about that same “law & order” saying this guy should’ve never been released or should’ve even faced the death penalty. Those same people who cried “innocent until proven guilty!” about Brett Kavanaugh but have no problem letting police be judge, jury, and executioner.
    =============================================

    But, umm, Carruth was proven guilty. You have issues.

  35. I’m sorry if my views offend any as that is not my intention. I am usually one for second chances as everyone makes mistakes in life. But the brutality of what he did – orchestrating the murder of his pregnant girlfriend to me crosses a line in which there is no coming back. 18 years. That girl has no years. The little boy as happy as he seams has been robbed of a life that Ray now as a free man gets to experience? I’m sorry but that is just not enough time for me.

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