Man hired to shoot and kill former NFL player Rae Carruth’s girlfriend dies in prison
Van Brett Watkins was in prison for carrying out the killing of Rae Carruth’s girlfriend over two decades ago, has died from natural causes in prison.
Rae Carruth the former Carolina Panthers wide receiver hired Van Brett Watkins to shoot and kill his pregnant girlfriend. Van Brett Watkins died at the age of 63 and died from natural causes in a state prison in North Carolina.
Van Brett Watkins received more than 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in Carruth’s effort to kill Cherica Adams in 1999. He was sentenced for second-degree murder, conspiracy and other charges. His projected prison release date had been in 2045.
Watkins pleaded guilty in exchange for testimony that Carruth paid Watkins to kill Adams and her baby. Adams was shot in her car and would die weeks later. Her child was in fact born and lived, but has disabilities.
Carruth has been out of prison since 2018.
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