Rae Carruth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rae Carruth
Carruth leaving a courtroom in 2001.
Born	Rae Lamar Wiggins (1974-01-20) January 20, 1974 (age 51) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Other names	Rae Theotis Wiggins Rae Theotis Carruth Rae Lamar Carruth Rae Carruth Rae Lamar
Occupation	Former professional football player (1997–99)
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Criminal status	Released
Children	2
Parent(s)	Theodry Carruth (mother) Samuel Carruth (stepfather) Charles Wiggins (father)
Conviction(s)	Planning a serious crime Discharging a firearm into property Causing harm to an unborn child
Criminal penalty	18 years and 11 months to 24 years and 4 months in prison
Football career
No. 84, 89
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Valley (Sacramento, California)
College:	Colorado
NFL Draft:	1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27
Career history
Carolina Panthers (1997)
Career highlights and awards
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1997) First-team All-American (1996) First-team All-Big 12 (1996) First-team All-Big Eight (1995)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 62 Receiving yards: 804 Receiving touchdowns: 4
Player stats at PFR

Rae Theotis Carruth (born Rae Lamar Wiggins on January 20, 1974) is a former American professional football player. He was a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL). Before his professional career, Carruth was a star player for the Colorado Buffaloes college team.

In 2001, Carruth's life changed forever when he was found responsible for planning a serious crime against his girlfriend, Cherica Adams. At the time, she was pregnant with their child. He was sent to prison and was released in 2018 after serving nearly 19 years.

Early Life and College Football

Rae Carruth was born and grew up in Sacramento, California. He was a talented football player at Valley High School. His skills earned him a scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder.

At Colorado, he played for the Buffaloes for four seasons. He was so good that he was named a first-team All-American in 1996, which is an honor given to the best college players in the country. During his college career, he caught 135 passes for a total of 2,540 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He also earned a college degree in English and education.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Carolina Panthers

In the 1997 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers chose Carruth in the first round. This was a big deal, as only the most promising college players are picked so early. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.7 million.

His first year in the NFL, 1997, was very successful. He started in 14 games, catching 44 passes for 545 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Because of his great performance, he was named to the NFL's all-rookie team.

Injuries and Final Seasons

Unfortunately, Carruth's career was affected by injuries. In the first game of the 1998 season, he broke his foot and missed the rest of the year. In 1999, he played in only five games before his career ended due to his off-field actions.

Legal Troubles and Prison

In November 1999, a terrible event occurred. Carruth's girlfriend, Cherica Adams, was seriously harmed in an attack in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was eight months pregnant with Carruth's child at the time.

Adams was rushed to the hospital, where doctors delivered the baby, a boy named Chancellor Lee Adams. Sadly, Cherica Adams passed away about a month later from her injuries. The baby, Chancellor, survived but was born with cerebral palsy and permanent brain damage because of the difficult circumstances of his birth.

Investigation and Trial

Police believed Carruth was involved in the attack on Adams. After she died, Carruth tried to run away but was captured by police in Tennessee. The Carolina Panthers and the NFL quickly ended his football career.

During his trial, the court heard that Carruth had hired another man, Van Brett Watkins Sr., to harm Adams because he did not want her to have their baby. In 2001, a jury found Carruth responsible for planning the crime. He was sentenced to spend between 18 and 24 years in prison. Watkins was given a longer sentence for his role in the event.

Life After Prison

Carruth was released from prison on October 22, 2018. Before his release, he wrote a letter to Saundra Adams, Cherica's mother, who has raised Chancellor.

Chancellor Lee Adams has grown up with the love and support of his grandmother, Saundra. In 2021, he graduated from high school. After his release, Rae Carruth moved to Pennsylvania and has since stayed out of the public eye.