The Murder of Adam Chase
For this case I watched an episode of Snapped, it’s season 13 episode 8.
A young father disappears, and suspicion soon falls on his wife.
Background
Adam Chase met his future wife Rose while they were in high school. Adam was described as popular, where as Rose was bullied due to her learning disability. They both had an interest in sci-fi, and soon their friendship turned into a romantic relationship.
Adam was described as popular, but quirky. He loved swords, computer games and the Renaissance. His family described him as a teddy bear, and said people felt comfortable around him within minutes of meeting him.
Adam Chase
Adam and Rose Chase
The Marriage
Adam dropped out of high school before his senior year. He did earn his GED, and held several different jobs. Adam wanted Rose to drop out too, but her mom said that Rose needed to finish school, and then the two of them could move in together if they wanted.
In June 2001, Rose and Adam got married. The couple lived with Adam’s family for awhile to save money. They eventually were able to move into a small trailer in the small town of Bristol, New York.
After several years of trying, Rose did get pregnant with their son, six years after their wedding. Adam quit his job to be a stay at home dad, while Rose moved up in her job, and eventually got a promotion.
In 2011, they bought a small home in Stanley, New York, to be closer to their families. Adam began to look for work again. Their son was about to start kindergarten in the fall.
The Disappearance
On June 14, 2012, Rose arrived at Adam’s mother Silvia’s home to pick up their son. Rose told Silvia that she and Adam had gotten into an argument, he then punched the wall, and walked out.
Adam left the house around 11am, and Rose had no way of getting into contact with him. He left his cell phone and car behind.
Silvia asked Rose why she didn’t call her right after it happened, and Rose said she believed Adam just left to go for a walk to clear his head. By the time Rose went to pick up their son, Adam had been gone about 7 hours. Silvia said she had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
By the next day, June 15, Silvia filed a missing persons report. No one had heard from Adam in almost 24 hours.
The Investigation
The police went to speak to Rose. Rose told the police what she had told Silvia, that they had gotten into a fight.
Rose explained that their issues started when Adam became a stay at home dad. Rose said that Adam paid more attention to his online role playing video game, then he did to her or their son.
Rose told the police that Adam had once let their son walk out of the house naked. A couple found him, and brought him home. Rose told Adam that he needed help for his addiction, but he refused.
The day that Adam disappeared, his parents agreed to take their son, so that Rose and Adam could have a conversation. However, it didn’t go as planned. Rose said she started yelling at him, which led to him hitting the wall. He then walked out, and no one had seen or heard from him since.
On June 18, the police returned to the Chase’s home. They asked Rose if they could search her house. She agreed, but when they arrived at the basement, she became nervous. Rose told the police that the basement had flooded, and that’s why there was a strong smell.
When the police went downstairs, they confirmed that it looked like a leak. The cadaver dog that was with them didn’t smell anything either. Later, it was revealed that the dog was an outdoor cadaver dog, which was trained differently than a regular cadaver dog.
A Family Feud
By November, Adam had been missing for 5 months.
On November 14, the police held a press conference. They asked the public for help, and made a plea for Adam, who they thought just walked away on his own, to reach out to them.
The next day, Adam’s family, minus Rose, held their own press conference. They pointed the finger at Rose, and said that the police weren’t treating Adam’s case as foul play, but just as a missing persons case.
Adam’s family accused Rose of having multiple affairs, and told her that they even had proof. A family friend had seen Rose and a man cuddling and kissing in the park. The friend had snapped a picture and sent it to the family. Silvia said she had shown Adam the picture a few days before he disappeared, and that he told her that he’d talk to Rose about it.
Silvia said she went to the police with this information as well, but they didn’t care. They told her that Rose was cooperative, and probably not involved.
Adam’s family knew that Rose was involved. They showed up at her house, yelling, and holding up missing persons posters. Rose called the police, and said that they were harassing her. The police told them to leave her alone, or they would be arrested.
Adam’s missing person flyer
The Private Investigator
A local PI named Rodney G. Miller, who was also a friend of the Chase family, was convinced that Rose was involved.
On December 13, he contacted the local babysitter Sandra Armison, and asked her for help. Rodney asked Sandra to speak to Rose, and tell her that the police had a break in the case.
Rose arrived at Sandra’s to pick up her son. When Rose arrived a few minutes later than usual, Sandra told her that she thought she was late because she had been on the phone with investigators. Rose asked her why she would think that, and Sandra said because there had been a break in the case. Sandra said that Rose’s face went white, and she left in a hurry.
Sandra called Rodney, who confronted Rose at her home. Rodney asked Rose where she buried Adam. Rose told him that she didn’t bury him, she burned him.
A Shocking Confession
Rodney then called the police and Adam’s family. They arrived at Rose’s home, and Silvia started screaming at Rose.
Rose told the police that Adam’s remains were on her mother’s property. She led the police to a burn pile, where human bones were eventually found. Rose started crying, and according to police, she looked relieved that she had told someone.
Rose’s trial began on October 8, 2013. At trial, Rose’s interview with the police after her arrest was played. Rose told the police that she wanted to save her marriage, but that the conversation led to an argument. She said Adam confronted her about her affair, and that she denied it. However, once Adam told her that he knew that the baby wasn’t his, she admitted it. This is when Adam punched the wall.
Rose said she tried to grab Adam from walking away, but his feet got caught on the stairs. Rose said Adam fell down the first staircase, and that his death was an accident.
The police didn’t believe her, and asked if she pushed him. Rose said she pushed him down the second flight up stairs, but that he was already dead. Rose said that Adam had been in the basement when the police searched it with the cadaver dog.
In late July, Rose said she decided to get rid of Adam. She said Adam fell apart, and that his “head, legs and arms came off no problem.” Rose also added one more horrific detail, their 5 year old son had been with her when she discarded Adam’s remains on her mother’s property.
The Conviction
Rose’s defense was that Adam died due to an accidental death. They claimed that Rose did push him on the second flight of stairs, but that you can’t kill a dead person. They didn’t call any witnesses.
On October 18, 2013, Rose was found guilty of second degree murder. She was sentenced to 24 1/2 years to life in prison.
Rose said that she’s innocent, and that Adam’s family is the reason she’s in prison. She’s eligible for parole in 2038.
Rose’s mugshot
Other
Adam’s family has custody of their son.
In 2014, Rose’s sentence was upheld, but the endangering the welfare of a child charge she received was overturned.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t think Rose cared much for her husband. She showed no emotion in her interrogation video. I might get a lot of you’ll never know how you’ll react unless you’re in this situation, but she’s literally talking about disposing of her husband with her 5 year old in her car. That’s heartless in my opinion. She also wasn’t showing any emotion in her brief jailhouse interview that was played on this episode. She blames Adam’s family, but takes no responsibility for what she did.
Adam’s family said they will be at every parole hearing, and that they hope she will never get out.
Sources
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/01/15/rose-chase-sentencing/4488061/
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/videos/news/local/2013/07/26/2591011/ - Clip of Rose’s interrogation
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/02/12/rose-chase-conviction-reversed/328423002/
https://www.chronicle-express.com/article/20131017/news/131019841
