Steven McHone - Murderer

In Surry County, North Carolina, on the evening of June 2, 1990, 20-year-old Steven McHone shot his mother, Mildred, and his step-father, Wesley Adams Sr. after having a disagreement over money. McHone was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and received the death penalty. His execution is set for November 11, 2005. He is one of three prisoners set to die in North Carolina between November and December.

Wendy Adams told the jury that she, her child and her husband, Wesley Adams, Jr. were visiting his parents, Mildren and Wesley Dalton Adams, Sr. The five went on a fishing trip and returned home at around 12:30 a.m. When they arrived home, Steven McHone, who lived with his mother, Mildred, and step-father Wesley Adams, Sr. was there.

Wendy went to put her child to bed and while doing so overheard an argument between the Adamses and McHone erupt. Wendy overheard McHone tell his parents that "he wanted his money and he couldn't go on living like that." Wendy and her husband went to bed and around 15 minutes later, Mildred Adams came to their room and asked Wesley, Jr. if he had a gun that was kept in the Adams' camper. When Wesley, Jr. answered that he had not moved the gun, Mildred responded, "then it is missing."

After Mildred left their room, Wesley, Jr. decided to see what the argument was about, but before he left the bedroom, he heard three gun shots. Wesley, Jr. left the room to find out what had happened and Mr. Adams, who was coming up the basement steps, called out to Wesley, Jr. to call 911.

Wesley, Jr. testified that while he was on the phone with the 911 operator, he saw McHone and Mr. Adams entering through the back door. The two were wrestling and McHone was holding a pistol. Wesley, Jr. interceded and took the pistol from McHone. He then went back to the telephone and McHone and Adams began fighting again while in the living room then down a hallway, where Wesley, Jr. could no longer see them.

Mr. Adams returned to Wesley, Jr. and said, "Your mother is face down out back. You have got to get help for her." A few seconds later, McHone, who was carrying a shotgun, came to the kitchen doorway. McHone aimed the gun and pointed it at Wesley, Jr. When Mr. Adams saw that McHone was about to fire the gun he moved toward him and reached for the shotgun. McHone fired the shotgun into Mr. Adams' chest, knocking Adams and Wesley, Jr. to the floor.

McHone then raised the gun, pointing it at Wesley, Jr., however Wesley, struggling with Adams, was able to get control of the shotgun. Another struggle for the gun erupted and again Wesley, Jr. was successful at keeping the gun from him. At that point, McHone began crying and cursing and told Wesley, Jr., "I killed him. Now I want you to kill me, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in jail. Just shoot me. Just get it over with."

When the emergency response team arrived at the scene they found Mr. Adams lying dead on the kitchen floor with a large gunshot wound to his chest. Mrs. Adams was found lying in the backyard with what appeared to be gunshot wounds in the back of her head. She was alive but died shortly afterwards.

At the time that McHone was apprehended for the shootings, the arresting officer smelled alcohol on McHone's breath but testified that he did not believe he was intoxicated. During the initial investigation of the crime scene, McHone stated to a detective on the scene,"I know what I've done, and I'll have to pay for it. Why don't you just shoot me and get it over with."

During the trial, prosecutors presented witnesses who testified that McHone had threatened his mother, Mildred Adams, on several occasions, including chasing her around her home, threatening her with a knife. Mrs. Adams told friends McHone frightened her because of his many threats to kill her. Friends testified that Mrs. Adams said that she was "afraid to lay down and go to sleep at night" because she believed that "sooner or later he was going to kill her."

The Conviction: McHone was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was executed May 11, 2005, by lethal injection in North Carolina.