208: The Murder of Cherica Adams

208: The Murder of Cherica Adams

Author: Erica Kelley February 13, 2024 Duration: 1:08:57
In November of 1999, 24-year-old Cherica Adams was eight months pregnant when she and the father of her child, 25-year-old Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth, went on a double date. They saw a late-night showing of a serial killer flick at the theater. As Rae led Cherica back home to her apartment in his white Ford Expedition, with Cherica following behind in her black BMW, he unexpectedly slowed to a near stop. Confused, Cherica slowed down too. Then, an unknown car pulled up beside her and gunfire rang out. Before the smoke had cleared, Rae was gone—and Cherica had been shot multiple times.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched and written by Andrea Marshbank and Erica Kelley
Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited & Mixed by Brandon Schexnayder & Erica Kelley
Suggested by: Greg Husketh, Patee, Hannah, and Terina

Sources: https://southernfriedtruecrime.com/cherica-adams

This episode is brought to you by:
  • This episode is to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SOUTHERN and get on your way to being your best self.
  • Visit SimpliSafe.com/southernfried to get 20% off any new system with Fast Protect Monitoring. There’s no safe like SimpliSafe.
  • Financial anxiety anyone? Worrying about it doesn’t help. EarnIn does. Download the EarnIn app today in Google Play or Apple App Store.
  • Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/SFTC.

Hosted by Tennessee native Erica Kelley, Southern Fried True Crime digs into the dark, complex, and often unsettling stories that have shaped the American South. This podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine both historical cases and contemporary crimes, all through the lens of the region's distinct culture. Erica brings a local's perspective, balancing a layer of charm with a direct, no-nonsense approach-what she aptly calls southern sass. Each episode is a deep dive into how geography, tradition, and social structures influence these events and their outcomes. You'll hear detailed narratives that reveal how the justice system operates in the Deep South, for better or worse. The show connects the past to the present, exploring how history echoes in modern courtrooms and investigations. It’s a blend of societal observation, cultural history, and true crime analysis, all grounded in Erica's firsthand understanding of the territory. Listen for thorough research presented in a conversational tone, where the setting is as crucial as the crime itself. This isn't just about the what, but the why and how, specifically within a southern context. Tune in for a compelling exploration where the stories are as layered and potent as the region's famed cuisine.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Southern Fried True Crime
Podcast Episodes
205: The Santa Claus Bank Robbery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
In the lead-up to Christmas, 1927, the good citizens of Cisco, Texas, were looking forward to celebrating the holiday with their nearest and dearest. But a group of men who rolled into town on the morning of December 23…
204: The Kidnapped Heiress: Barbara Jane Mackle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:38
20-year-old Barbara Jane Mackle was a Florida heiress whose life took a harrowing turn in December of 1968. She was kidnapped by two strangers who wanted $500,000 in ransom from her mega-rich father, land developer Rober…
203: The Hicks Babies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:05
More than 200 babies, known as the “Hicks Babies,” were sold by Dr. Thomas Hicks from the back of the Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, Georgia during the 1950s and 1960s. Until his actions came to light, he was a r…
202: The Fugitive Lee Barnett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:08
In April of 1994, Lee Barnett picked up her 11-month-old daughter, Savanna, from her ex-husband Harris Todd’s house in Charleston, South Carolina. They were supposed to return at around six o’clock that evening. But they…
201: The Murder of Carrie Daugherty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:59
Everyone who frequented Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria in Knoxville, Tennessee, knew bartender and waitress Carrie Daugherty. She was a friendly 24-year-old woman who had a quick wit and a sweet smile. But, on March 19, 200…
200: The Murders of Jennifer Corbin & Dolly Hearn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
27-year-old Dorothy “Dolly” Hearn and 33-year-old Jennifer Corbin never met—but the two women had a lot in common. Both were intelligent young women in Georgia who had their whole lives ahead of them, and both of them di…
199: The Legs Murder Scandal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
One of my most requested cases for Spooky Season: The Legs Murder ScandalOn a rainy and cold January day in 1935, a rabbit hunter came across a sugar sack on a rural road in Laurel, Mississippi. He opened it up and found…
198: Karla Faye Tucker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:23
On June 12th of 1983, 27-year-old Jerry Lynn Dean and 32-year-old Deborah Ruth Thornton met at a pool party. Right away, their chemistry was apparent—even though their budding relationship was doomed from the start. Jerr…
197: Memphis Serial Killer: George Howard Putt-part 2 of 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
In August and September of 1969, one man killed five people in the span of 29 days in Memphis, Tennessee. These violent crimes shook the city of Memphis to its very core. Lock sales skyrocketed. Families adopted large do…
196: The 1969 Memphis Serial Killer Known as the Cunning Sex Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:05
From August 13th to September 11th of 1969, five innocent people died at the hands of a serial killer in Memphis, Tennessee. 58-year-old Roy Dumas and his wife, 47-year-old Bernalyn Dumas; 82-year-old Leila Jackson; 21-y…