Cold Case Quest: Amanda and Carolyn Adams
This post started out as something completely different. The real story is possibly more interesting than I originally imagined.
In July 1986, Amanda Adams was kidnapped in Columbus, Ohio. Her body was found near her house 9 days later. She was approximately four years old.
On July 16, 1986, Amanda’s mother, Carolyn Adams, was found under a bridge about 3–4 miles from where she was last seen alive.
There was a suspect. He also committed suicide in July 1986. It seems that the investigation came to a standstill after his death. Why couldn’t they find anything to clear his name or officially name him as the culprit?
There was a newspaper article that said the police could not afford to follow him around. Why wouldn’t they follow someone that was suspected of two murders? I bet that they could have found someone to follow the guy around for free if it meant that they could have arrested a murderer. Was the guys family influential or wealthy?
I think that this case is cold because the police didn’t follow up with evidence against the suspect or anyone else. Unfortunately, the police gave up after the suspect’s suicide and now the case is cold. Amanda and Carolyn’s cases are on the Ohio Attorney General’s list of open homicides.
The homicides also happened before DNA was used to solve criminal investigations.
This case needs a fresh set of eyes. Someone could look at whatever trace evidence is available. If there was any DNA, then the police could finally solve this mystery after 32 years.
The family of a little girl and her mother deserve whatever closure that solving the investigation can bring.
Originally published at chasingdestino.com on December 27, 2018.
