Indianapolis, IN

More than 20 years after admitting to killing wife and son, Indianapolis man still awaits trial

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2022

More than 20 years after admitting to killing wife and son, Indianapolis man still awaits trial

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Sept. 21, 1999, police wanting into armed robberies of two Pizza Hut eating places discovered two our bodies stuffed in a freezer inside the storage at 3950 Thrush Drive on the close to westside of Indianapolis.

Inside days of the invention, police made an arrest. The suspect, John Keith Adams, of Indianapolis, was discovered on Sept. 30, 1999 in Independence, Missouri. He waived his Miranda rights and admitted to killing his 28-year-old spouse Robin Adams on April 19, 1999 and 10-month-old son John Ramseys Adams round June 1999.

The suspect, John Keith Adams, has spent a lot of the final twenty years in Logansport State Hospital, deemed incompetent to face trial.(WISH Picture)

The prosecutor on the time was ready to strive the case and needed to hunt the demise penalty. Greater than 23 years later, Adams has but to face a jury for the crimes he brazenly admitted to committing and the case continues to be nowhere close to going to trial.

Adams continues to be in custody after greater than 20 years. He has spent a lot of the previous twenty years at Logansport State Hospital.

“There can be no appeals or something. I’m going plead responsible in the event that they wish to execute me, they will. If not, I imply, there is no such thing as a method I’m gonna spend 20 years in a spot like this. I imply, in the event that they don’t do it, I’ll simply kill himself,” John Keith Adams stated in an interview with Information 8 in October of 1999.

In response to the unique possible trigger affidavit, Robin had been shot within the head and John was asphyxiated.

“Robin’s demise was instantaneous and fast. She didn’t even know. She was asleep, she didn’t even know what hit her. Little John, I imply, I didn’t need his demise to be as extended because it was,” Adams stated in 1999.

I-Group 8 has reviewed greater than 450 pages within the case file for Adams.

Detectives mirror on the case

The victims have been found by two Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace detectives, Doug Scheffel and Chris Hefner. Each males at the moment are retired.

In 1999, the 2 detectives have been investigating Adams for the armed theft of two Pizza Huts in Indianapolis. A tip led them to the Adams home. On their first go to, they knocked on the door and Adams didn’t reply. They bought a search warrant and got here again later in that week.

With a search warrant in hand the detectives returned to the home. The very first thing they observed was a powerful odor of pot in the home, like uncooked, not too long ago cultivated marijuana. The search led them to the storage.

“I went in searching for proof of the robberies and Hefner went out to the storage. Hefner was a narcotics detective. He had a nostril for narcotics. He was out within the storage and known as me, ‘hey, you bought to try this,’” Scheffel stated.

Hefner’s previous expertise led him to imagine he was about to find some pot.

“I can’t let you know what number of instances I had seen bales of marijuana or bricks of marijuana in freezers. So I believed, ‘ah, ha.’ I walked over to the freezer and lifted the lid and the preliminary factor I bear in mind seeing was blood on the inside of the lid and it didn’t click on but,” Hefner stated.

“I thought he discovered some medicine and he took me over to the freezer and that’s the place we situated the our bodies,” stated Scheffel.

The pair discovered the our bodies of Robin and John inside the chest freezer.

A portion of the possible trigger affidavit for the arrest of Adams.

“That youngster was put in that freezer alive,” stated Hefner

Because it turned out, Adams had been on the home when the 2 detectives first visited. He later advised police he hid in the lounge and was ready to shoot them in the event that they got here inside. Earlier than detectives returned with the warrant, Adams had fled.

“He fled and went to Missouri and we entered his automobile data after finding the our bodies and all the pieces. We entered his automobile into the NCIS as an individual of curiosity in a murder case and a police officer in Missouri situated him asleep in a automobile,” stated Scheffel

It was Adams’ roommate, Elliot Peter, who advised police Adams was driving a rented van and was on the run. He had stored the data to himself to offer Adams time to get out of state. Peter advised police he knew Adams had robbed a few pizza locations and led them to storage field that contained gadgets from the robberies. Peter advised police didn’t know in regards to the our bodies within the freezer.

Scheffel went to Missouri to interviewed Adams. He stated Adams was very matter-of-fact in regards to the murders and didn’t present any regret

“It was similar to you and I speaking and, , I by no means bought any actual indication of like psychological sickness, apart from the truth that you’d suppose it will take someone mentally unwell to do one thing like that, however by no means stated, ‘I heard voices in my head to do that,’” stated Scheffel.

Was he competent to face trial on the time?

A portion of a letter written by Adams concerning his competency.

“I used to be shocked he was discovered mentally incompetent,” stated Scheffel.

Adams by no means denied killing his spouse and son. The Marion County prosecutor on the time, Scott Neuman, stated he would search the demise penalty in opposition to Adams. The case appeared open and shut, however there’s a hitch.

Adams deliberate to symbolize himself despite considerations if he was competent to even stand trial, not to mention symbolize himself in a demise penalty case. A lot to his disapproval, he was assigned a public defender.

In 2001, the courtroom dominated him incompetent to face trial.

“I suppose it’s uncommon until somebody is adjudicated incompetent. What I did discover uncommon is that mainly his public defenders preserve persevering with the competency hearings,” stated Dr. Jody Madeira of the Indiana College Maurer Faculty of Legislation.

Through the years the courtroom has scheduled dozens of competency hearings and he has been by way of a number of psychiatric evaluations. Adams has written a number of letters to the choose asking for brand spanking new counsel, and continues to insists on representing himself, however the choose has not dominated in his favor. Yearly, he and his court-appointed legal professionals are required to come back to courtroom for a competency replace.

“The tough factor is that it seems that his very pleas for the competency listening to are why he’s incompetent. In different phrases, he needs to change into competent so he can symbolize himself and basically give himself the demise penalty,” stated Dr. Madeira.

Why did Adams kill his spouse and son? He advised detectives he didn’t know find out how to depart his spouse and had apparently met one other girl.

I-Group 8’s makes an attempt to contact counsel for Adams – previous and current – have been unsuccessful.

A distant standing listening to for Adams is scheduled for Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. in Marion County Superior Courtroom 30. I-Group 8 will let if the judges determine if is time after 23 years for Adams to face trial.

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Indianapolis, IN

Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury

Published

7 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Colts lost a major contributor to last year’s defense to injury, Samson Ebukam, who suffered a torn Achilles’ at training camp on Sunday.

Ebukam led the team in sacks last season with 9.5.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen talked about Ebukam’s injury on Tuesday after practice.

“That’s a tough break for us,” Steichen said. “I mean, what a great competitor he is. The sacks he had last year, and he was just continuing in the right direction. So, big blow there but guys have got to step up.”

Fortunately for the Colts, they have a lot of depth at defensive end. Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis combined for 20.5 sacks last season for the Colts. Plus, they drafted Laiatu Latu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ebukam and Latu built a strong bond in the past few months since Latu was drafted.

“That’s my big bro,” Latu said. “So, I was learning a lot from him. He’s been like a big brother to me since I got here, even before. I watch a lot of film on him. He’s just been somebody that I really look up to. So, I really just want to go out here and play for him and be able to do what he does on the field so that it doesn’t feel like we’re missing a link.”

With the loss of Ebukam, Steichen said that the reps are likely going to pick up for the rest of the guys at defensive end. But, he said they’re going to have be smart about it during training camp.

While Latu has been really impressive so far in training camp, Steichen also had great things to say about Lewis for the depth that the Colts have at the position.

“He’s tremendous for us,” Steichen said. “He’s been here for a while. Just the way he goes about his business every single day, the way he rushes the passer. I mean, he’s a leader in that room for a reason and we’re extremely excited to have him.”

“We still have a lot of great leaders in that room,” Lewis said. “We know that we have a void to fill. He (Ebukam) was our sack leader last year, but we’re going to come in waves. We all stick together as one.”

The Colts return to practice at training camp on Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable

Published

14 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable

INDIANAPOLIS — People who are most vulnerable to a drug overdose will now have medication that saves lives delivered directly to their hands.

Indianapolis EMS medics responding to an overdose will offer kits to patients, their families, friends or bystanders. The kits include two doses of intranasal naloxone, a resource card with a QR code to the program’s webpage, how to sign up for text alerts about an overdose surge in Marion County and educational materials on recognizing an overdose and administering naloxone.

The initiative is part of the “Naloxone Leave Behind” project, in tandem with the Marion County Public Health Department.

The program’s goal is to reduce overdose deaths in Marion County by delivering the opioid reversal medication naloxone directly to those who are statistically at higher risk of fatally overdosing in the future.

“Indianapolis EMS stands among those who work on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in our community, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death,” said Daniel O’Donnell, chief of Indianapolis EMS. “Increased access to naloxone can greatly increase survival chances in overdose situations, which can lead to more people seeking treatment to break the hold that addiction has on so many.”

Most people who fatally overdosed in Marion County in the first half of the year – about 62% −died in a home, according to a new report by the coroner’s office. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, continues to rank the most common substance driving up overdose deaths in the Indianapolis metro area.

Fentanyl, methamphetamine: The Top 5 drugs fueling the overdose crisis in Indianapolis

How to sign up for ‘bad batch,’ overdose surge text alerts

To receive texts about bad drug batches or overdose spikes in Marion County, text SOAR to 765-358-7627.

Texts will be sent when a bad drug batch is detected, when a neighborhood sees a spike in overdose or when police conduct a drug seizure in an area — a move that research has shown disrupts the drug supply and increases overdose. The program, called the Community Harm Reduction and Improved Outcomes Team (CHARIOT), is part of the statewide nonprofit Overdose Lifeline, which aims to help individuals impacted by substance-use disorders. The Office of Public Health and Safety has partnered with the organization.

‘Zombie drug’: The ’emerging threat’ for Indiana

Be in the know: Is your Indy neighborhood at risk for overdose?

Other ways to get Narcan in Indianapolis

Narcan, the common name brand for naloxone, can be requested through Overdose Lifeline website at overdoselifeline.org. The supplies can be delivered anonymously.

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

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Indianapolis, IN

‘Supernatural’ convention bringing stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and more to Indy

Published

21 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

‘Supernatural’ convention bringing stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and more to Indy

An SPN Family reunion is coming to Indianapolis.

Creation Entertainment’s “The Road So Far… The Road Ahead” tour is bringing stars of the CW’s “Supernatural” to downtown Indy next month, including Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and more. The weekend-long event includes panels, meet-and-greet opportunities as well as a special event hosted by Collins.

Here’s what you need to know about the event, scheduled for Aug. 23-25.

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Where is the ‘Supernatural’ convention in Indianapolis?

The Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, 350 W. Maryland St. Aug. 23-25.

Lineup includes Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins and more

According to the event’s website, the following stars and special guests are expected to attend the event:

Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester)
Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester)
Misha Collins (Castiel)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John Winchester)
Samantha Smith (Mary Winchester)
Ruth Connell (Rowena MacLeod)
Rob Benedict (Chuck Shurley)
Richard Speight Jr. (Archangel Gabriel)
Matt Cohen (young John Winchester, Archangel Michael)
Briana Buckmaster (Donna Hanscum)
Julian Richings (Death)
Kim Rhodes (Sheriff Jody Mills)
DJ Qualls (Garth Fitzgerald IV)
Osric Chau (Kevin Tran)
Adam Rose (TikToker)
Jason Manns (musician)

Creation cautions that all guests and scheduling are subject to change.

How much do Supernatural convention tickets cost?

Single-day general admission tickets start at $70 for Friday, $80 for Saturday and $100 for Sunday. A general admission weekend pass is $249.

A variety of weekend packages, with benefits like exclusive panels and autograph opportunities, range in price from $379 to $1,775. For tickets and more information, visit bit.ly/4d8xc16.

‘Supernatural’ meet-and-greets, autographs

Photo opportunities and autographs will be available for purchase with many of the scheduled guests. Here are the prices for photos and autographs with the headlining stars:

Jensen Ackles: Photos $199 / Autographs available for gold and silver weekend patrons only
Jared Padalecki: Photos $199 / Autographs $169 (will not be signing for gold and silver patrons)
Misha Collins: Photos $149 (Saturday only) and $169 (in costume, Sunday only) / Autographs $119
Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Photos $199 / Autographs $169

Interactive opportunities with the featured guests don’t stop there. DJ Qualls will also host a masquerade-themed karaoke night with ticketed pre- and post-events.

For a full list of experiences and prices, visit bit.ly/4d8xc16.

What’s the schedule for the ‘Supernatural’ convention in Indy?

The full schedule has not yet been released as of late July. According to Creation’s website, the final schedule will be released closer to the event.

Misha Collins’ special event at Creation Indianapolis

Collins will host a special, 18+ event on Saturday evening called “It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.” In a June Instagram post, he described it as a one-person show that’s “part memoir, part therapy and part indecent exposure.”

Do I need convention passes for Misha Collins’ show in Indy?

No; this is a separately ticketed event that does not overlap with the convention’s scheduled Saturday night concert. Tickets are priced at $79 for general admission and $139 to $189 for reserved seats. For more information, visit bit.ly/3WfAlFQ.

Things to do in Indianapolis: Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them

Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com. Follow her on X/Twitter: @hollyvhays.

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