15 years later: Rae Carruth's teenage son

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By Erica Bryant

STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Former Panthers player Rae Carruth orchestrated murder of pregnant girlfriend in 1999 
  • Carruth's son turns 15 this year, will attend high school next year
  • Chancellor's grandmother said she hopes he meets his father someday

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

- Saundra Adams and her grandson, Chancellor Lee, often visit the gravesite of her daughter and his mother, Cherica.

In 1999, Cherica Adams was pregnant with Chancellor when she was murdered in a high profile crime orchestrated by former Carolina Panthers player Rae Carruth.

Prosecutors argued that Cherica was killed because Carruth wanted her to abort their son.

“I tell Chancellor that his father did a terrible thing, and that he is away now because he did a terrible thing to mommy,” said Saundra Adams. “But, I tell him that mommy is happy now in heaven.”

[ RAW: Chancellor Adams meets Erica Bryant ]

Cherica was in a coma for 28 days before she died.

As Cherica lapsed into a coma, Chancellor was deprived of oxygen. He was delivered by emergency C-section and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Since then, Saundra Adams has been devoted to helping her grandson work hard to overcome his challenges.

[ WATCH: In 2011 Adams talked to Channel 9 about Chancellor's challenges ]

Now, Chancellor is preparing to celebrate his 15th birthday.

“Chancellor was in a wheelchair until he got to junior high school,” said Adams.  “When he went in the first day and saw all of the pretty girls, he got up and said, ‘I need to let them know that I can walk.’”

[ IMAGES of Chancellor and Cherica Adams ]

Chancellor is looking forward to starting high school next year.

He loves reading and horseback riding.

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Many people comment on Chancellor’s resemblance to his father, but his grandmother said she thinks he favors both parents.

“I tell him what a good athlete his daddy was and how he has strong legs and a muscular body like his dad and that he can do anything,” said Adams.

[ WATCH: In 2011, Adams talked to Channel 9 about what Chancellor knows about his mother ]

She adds that it has been a long time since they’ve heard from Carruth.

“It has been some years now, but the last time that I heard from him, he was still in denial about his part in Cherica’s murder,” said Adams.

Adams said that she forgave Carruth a long time ago.

Carruth is still serving his 19-year prison sentence with an expected release in 2018.

When he is free, Adams wants him to be part of Chancellor’s life.

“I hope that he will want to see Chancellor because if anyone could turn his heart, it would be Chancellor,” said Adams. “And, Chancellor deserves the opportunity to meet his father.”

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