Former NFL player Phillip Adams had “unusually severe” chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, when he fatally shot six people before taking his own life in April, researchers said Tuesday.
Adams’ brain scans were comparable to those of former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez, who also suffered from the condition and died by suicide in 2017 while serving a life sentence for murder, said Boston University’s Dr. Ann McKee, who conducted the examination on Adams’ brain tissue.
“We have seen this behavior. We have even seen homicidal behavior in others diagnosed with CTE,” McKee said. “It is difficult to say that it alone resulted in these behaviors because usually, it’s a complicated issue with many other factors.” But “it is, in fact, not what I would consider unusual in this disease.”
Adams, 32, was suffering from Stage II of the condition, which may have contributed to his “behavioral abnormalities,” McKee said.
CTE has four stages, with Stage IV the most severe and typically associated with dementia.
Phllip Adams killed 9-year-old Adah and 5-year-old Noah Lesslie.
“Mr. Adams’ CTE pathology was different than the other young NFL players with CTE” whose brains have been examined post-mortem, McKee said. “It was different in that it was unusually severe in both frontal lobes.”
McKee said Stage II CTE is linked to aggression, impulsivity, depression, paranoia and anxiety, as well as poor executive function, which can affect problem-solving, time management and organization.
Adams fatally shot Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70; his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, and two of their grandchildren, Adah, 9, and Noah, 5, in Rock Hill, SC, police said. The doctor lived near Adams’ parents and may have treated the former player and possibly refused him additional medication before the slayings, reports have said.
Adams also killed two air conditioning technicians — James Lewis, 38, and Robert Shook, 38 — who had been working on the Lesslie home at the time of the attack, cops said.
Police later found Adams dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
His family agreed to have his brain tested for CTE, which can only be diagnosed through an autopsy.
Dr. Ann McKee compared Phillip Adams’ brain scans to those of ex-New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez, who also suffered from the condition and killed himself in 2017 while serving a life sentence for murder. AP
Phillip Adams killed Dr. Robert and Barbara Lesslie along with their grandchildren. Robert Lesilie may have denied Adams medication before he was killed.
McKee said the years Adams spent playing football “definitely … gave rise” to the disease.
The condition has been found in a number of former football players, with one recent study showing signs of the disease in 110 of 111 NFL players examined.
Adams played in 78 NFL games for six teams over six seasons, including the Jets.
Phillip Adams also killed air conditioning repairmen James Lewis and Robert Shook. Dr. Ann Mckee says that years of playing in the NFL gave rise to his condition. AP
Dr. Ann McKee at Boston University said ex-NFL player Phillip Adams was in stage two of CTE when he killed six people and himself, and that his condition may have been a factor in his behavior. APMcKee lamented that Adams and at least some of the other former players who suffered from the condition never got the help they needed — and urged the NFL to take action.
“He tried to get help. This was a man who was not thinking clearly,” she said of Adams.
“There are huge obstacles for these former players to find help,” McKee said. “They have to make many medical appointments, fill out extensive paperwork, and that is usually beyond the ability of people who are impaired.
“If they don’t have an advocate, they fall through the cracks.”
Phillip Adams’ family said he had gone to the NFL for help with his condition but was denied, and that they believe football is responsible for his condition and horrific actions. APShe said the league needs to offer a “comprehensive care package” to its retired players who may need the help.
After the shootings, Adams’ father, Alonzo Adams, said, “I think the football messed him up.”
The Adams family said in a statement Tuesday that they were not surprised that he had suffered from the condition but were shocked to learn how severe it was.
Dr. Robert Lesslie with his granddaughter Adah, who were tragically killed by Phillip Adams. Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University said CTE can lead to homicidal behavior.
“After going through medical records from his football career, we do know that he was desperately seeking help from the NFL but was denied all claims due to his inability to remember things and to handle seemingly simple tasks, such as traveling hours away to see doctors and going through extensive evaluations,” their statement said.
— With Post wires
