Carruth Back in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police brought Rae Carruth back to North Carolina on Sunday to face a murder charge and possible death sentence.

The suspended Carolina Panther player had been jailed in Jackson, Tenn., since Wednesday. Investigators who had traveled to Tennessee returned by car with Carruth in custody at about 4 p.m. Carruth will make a court appearance Tuesday on the first-degree murder charge.

Carruth was arrested on a federal unlawful flight warrant after fleeing North Carolina when his former girlfriend, Cherica Adams, died Tuesday of gunshot wounds received Nov. 16.

Carruth and three other men were charged with attempted murder days after the shooting, but the 25-year-old player posted a $3-million bail and left jail a week before Adams’ death.

Prosecutors have said Carruth instigated the plot to murder Adams, his pregnant girlfriend.

The shooting led to the emergency caesarean delivery of Adams’ baby boy, Chancellor. After spending several days in intensive care, doctors now say the baby, born 10 weeks premature, is doing well.

Adams died 28 days after being struck by four bullets fired from a passing car. Prosecutors have said Carruth was in a car near the shooting, and three other men were in a separate vehicle talking with him by cell phone.

Also facing first-degree murder charges are William Watkins, 44; Michael Kennedy, 24, and Stanley Abraham, 19.