The Murder of Asia Adams
For this case I watched an episode of Homicide City. It’s season 2 episode 7, tilted ‘Germantown Tragedy.’
A 21 year old college student is murdered.
Background
Asia Adams
Asia Adams was a college student at West Chester University, located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was attending WCU at the time of her death, but had just gotten into Howard University school of nursing. Asia’s mom, Shelah, said her goal was to make a difference.
Asia was described as being a very warm and kind person. Asia was also very outgoing and funny. Asia was very close to her mom, and came down for the weekend to visit her. Shelah never thought it would be the last time she’d see her daughter.
The Murder
On November 8, 2004, one of Shelah and Asia’s neighbors heard a strange noise. She heard the door slamming shut, and knew that Shelah was on a business trip and that no one should be inside. The neighbor went outside to investigate, and that’s when she saw smoke coming from the second floor of Shelah’s home. She called 911.
The Philadelphia police and firefighters arrived at Shelah’s on the 200 block of W. Seymour in Germantown. After the fire was put out, the police went inside, and that’s when they made a horrific discovery.
In one of the bedrooms upstairs, they found a female dead on the bed. She was severely burned, and naked from the waist down. They also turned the body over, and realized that the fire was only set to cover up a murder. The female victim had also been stabbed and her throat was slit.
The police ran the address to see if they could determine who the owner of the house was, and possibly who the victim was. The house belonged to Shelah Harper, and the police wanted to determined if this was in fact Shelah.
The Investigation
The police canvassed the neighborhood, and interviewed the 911 caller. They asked her if she knew Shelah, and she said yes. The neighbor said Shelah was away on a business trip, and the victim could be her daughter Asia. Asia had been at the house a few days prior, but she thought that Asia went back to school. However, another neighbor said she saw Asia the day before the murder. She said Asia had waived to her, and she was sure Asia had been at home.
The police wanted to get into contact with Shelah, and when she returned home from her trip, they realized the victim was 21 year old Asia. Shelah was interviewed in this episode, and she said she returned to her house surrounded by people and police tape. The police told Shelah they had found a body inside, and Shelah instantly broke down and knew it was Asia.
Shelah thought that Asia had went back to school, and was just as confused as the police were as to why she was in the home. They asked Shelah if Asia was dating anyone, and Shelah said Asia’s ex was a man named Alexander Chiles. They had broken up because they went to different schools.
Meanwhile, other officers were back inside searching for more clues. In the lower level of the home, they found a purse. Several items were missing, her cash and credit cards were gone, so was robbery the motive for this brutal crime?
A New Suspect
The police wanted to run a background check on Alexander Chiles, but when they did he came back clean. He had no record, and he was cleared of having any involvement. This episode didn’t go into much detail about this, but the police immediately had another suspect.
One of Asia’s friends came into the station, her name was Alexis, and she gave the police the name of a possible suspect: Napoleon. She didn’t know his last name, but apparently this was the new guy in Asia’s life. Alexis said that Asia stayed at her mom’s for a few more days, so she could spend time with Napoleon.
While the police were doing their investigation, so was Shelah. She found out that on the day Asia’s body was found, there had been several withdraws from several different ATMs. Shelah contacted the police about this information. It turned out to be a dead end, because the ATM surveillance cameras weren’t working.
The police wanted to know more about Napoleon, and the only person who knew anything about Napoleon was Alexis. She said she didn’t know anything else, except that he was friends with a man named Simeon. Simeon turned out to be Simeon Bozic. He had a criminal record for theft charges, and a suspended driver’s license. The police now had two suspects.
Napoleon’s Secrets
The police were able to get an address from Simeon’s background check. The address belonged to his mom, and when they interviewed her, they could tell she didn’t want to talk about her son. She said that Simeon didn’t live there anymore, and that her son didn’t have anything to do with this. The police asked her where Simeon was, and she said Napoleon was the one who did it. They asked where they could find Napoleon, and she said they had to ask his wife.
Turns out, Napoleon was married to a jazz singer named April. Detective Gary White had a friend who owned a club, and he called him trying to get information about April. April’s name was April Strode, and the police went to her home to ask her some questions.
April said that she and Napoleon had only been married for less than a year, and that she left him. Napoleon was very violent, and had pulled a knife out on her. April said Napoleon’s real name was Thomas Strode, and that he was a very violent individual. They asked April where Thomas was, and she said if they found Simeon, they’d find Thomas. The two men were thick as thieves.
The police went back to the station, and ran a background check on Thomas. He had quite the record as well for burglary and drug charges. They didn’t get an address, Thomas didn’t stay in one place for long and that’s what the police were afraid of.
What Really Happened to Asia?
After a few days of looking for Thomas and Simeon, the police received a call from Simeon himself. He said he was ready to talk and tell the truth.
Simeon said they were all hanging out at Asia’s mom’s house, when she told them she had to go back to school. She told them to leave, and went upstairs to pack up her things. Simeon said Thomas turned to him and said "I could really kill her.” Simeon thought he was kidding, but he said that night Thomas snapped.
Asia was getting ready to lock the house up, and turn the alarm on, when Thomas hit her over the head with a vase. He then pulled his knife out and started stabbing her in the chest. Asia kept asking “why are you doing this to me?” Thomas then forced Simeon to help him take her into the basement. Simeon said Asia’s pants ripped off as they were dragging her downstairs.
Asia was placed in a chair, and was unconscious, when she came to, Thomas hit her in the face with a shovel. Simeon said he was then forced to hit her with the shovel. He said that Thomas threatened to hurt him and his family if he told anyone. Simeon said that Thomas “made” him slit Asia’s throat.
When Asia died, they left her body in the basement, and went through her purse. They stole about $500 in cash, credit cards and her keys. They left the house, and then returned the next morning.
Simeon said they wrapped Asia’s body in a comforter, and took her upstairs to the second floor, and placed her in bed. He said Thomas told him to leave, and a few minutes later he saw smoke coming out of the house.
The police asked Simeon where Thomas was, and he said he was at another one of his girlfriend’s house. Thomas was arrested without any incident.
When they questioned him, they said he was very arrogant, and blamed the whole thing on Simeon. The police must have believed Simeon over Thomas, but they were both guilty of this crime.
Arrests and Convictions
In 2008, Thomas Strode and Simeon Bozic were both charged with murder. Simeon was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison. Thomas Strode was also convicted on charges of robbery, arson, possession of a instrument of crime and conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Thomas Strode showed no emotion as he was sentenced.
Thomas Strode
Simeon Bozic
Other
Shelah Harper created the Asia Adams Save Our Children Foundation (www.asiaadamssaveourchildren.org) It’s a program to raise abuse awareness.
Shelah Harper
FINAL THOUGHTS
Both of these men should have received life in prison. I don’t think anyone is safe from them. They killed Asia because she told them to leave, and they didn’t get their way. I believe that Thomas was the one in control, but Simeon willingly helped kill Asia, too.
Thomas lied to multiple women, and Asia was one of many who believe in his lies. He didn’t care about her, and proved it when he killed her and didn’t show any emotion when he sat in that court room.
My heart breaks for Shelah, Asia was her only child. She is doing some amazing work in memory of her daughter, and helping others along the way.
Sources
https://www.ebony.com/news/college-students-murder-used-by-her-mother-to-raise-abuse-awareness-981/
https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/true-crime/murder-of-asia-adams-by-thomas-strode-highlighted/
https://www.firehouse.com/home/news/10507711/fire-set-to-cover-up-murder-in-pennsylvania
