Photo by Warren Scott Seated with his court-appointed attorney, Thomas Kroger, right, James Edward Adams, Sr., was sentenced to life in prison, without chance of parole, after pleading guilty to first-degree murder.  

WELLSBURG — A Wellsburg man has been sentenced to life in prison, without chance of parole, after pleading guilty to the murder of his father, a death that had been called a suicide 37 years ago.

The sentence for James Edward Adams Sr., 63, of Wellsburg, was complicated initially by conflicting testimony from Adams, who first confessed to the crime, then recanted in a psychological evaluation before reaffirming his earlier confession on Monday.

Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden said on Nov. 10, Adams called the Brooke County Emergency 911 Center to state he was responsible for the shooting death of his 65-year-old father on Nov. 27, 1987.

A criminal complaint filed against Adams states a coroner listed the cause of death for Edward F. Adams as “a self-inflicted bullet wound.”

Cowden said after signing a form indicating he understood his right to remain silent, James Adams told Brooke County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Siranovic and a Hancock County sheriff’s deputy that he used a .22 caliber handgun to shoot his father in the head while he was sleeping, then wiped his fingerprints from it and led police to believe it had been a suicide.

Cowden said through his investigation, Siranovic learned officials from the sheriff’s department and prosecutor’s office at the time had suspicions about the cause of death but lacked evidence to support it.

Before ordering the sentence, 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Jason Cuomo questioned statements made by Adams to a forensic psychiatrist charged with determining his ability to understand his legal responsibility and competency to stand trial.

An Oct. 28 trial had been set for Adams.

Cuomo noted Adams told the interviewer he wanted “to try and clear this up. I really didn’t kill my dad.”

The judge said when asked what led to his arrest, Adams was reported saying, “my big mouth for lying.”

Adams also was reported to have said, “I was drinking when I made my statement. I was slurring.”

Cuomo asked why he made such statements when he stood before him on Monday prepared to enter a guilty plea.

He noted the penalty he faced through the plea agreement was the most he would receive if he were found guilty by a panel of jurors.

Adams told the judge, “I wanted to get out of his hair and get him out of my hair,” referring to the forensic psychiatrist.

“I did do it,” he told the court.

Adams’ court-appointed attorney, Thomas Kroger, said his client was angry about being required to undergo the psychological evaluation and that may have affected his statements.

Kroger told the judge, “He’s told me repeatedly he has done this and the last 30 years, he’s basically been a prisoner in his own mind.”

Cuomo said Adams has stated he doesn’t wish to be with other inmates when he is incarcerated and that won’t be possible.

Adams said he was in prison for 21 years in Ohio for a crime he claims he didn’t commit, so the experience wouldn’t be new to him.

Cuomo asked if it’s true he suffered a traumatic brain injury as a young man.

“Around 19 or 21, I can’t remember,” Adams confirmed.

Asked by the judge if he maintains his guilt, Adams said, “I’m telling you the truth just as Jesus walked on water.”

Later he said, “I’m guilty as sin.”

Adams told the court on the morning following Thanksgiving Day 1987, he was living with his father in their home on Rabbit Hill Road.

Adams, who was 25 at the time, said he returned to find his father sleeping and shot him in the head.

He said little about his motive, but a comment suggested they had a strained relationship.

An obituary for Edward F. Adams states he was a retired Wellsburg city employee survived by his wife, Mary; and three sons.

Adams said a desire to bring peace to his mother was partly the reason for his confession.

Asked about the conflicting statements made by Adams to the forensic psychiatrist, Cowden said the sentence was appropriate, given the statements he stood by at Monday’s hearing.

She applauded the efforts of Siranovic in investigating the decades-old case.

Cowden said in the event that new evidence arises, “I think it’s important to follow up on any case whether it’s presumed cold or not.”