Dad murders mom; daughter calls 911 while Dad smokes cigarette (Belton, Missouri)

Dad MICHAEL ADAMS, JR. has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife. Their two children were in the home at the time of the shooting. The 18-year-old daughter called 911, and reported that her father had shot her mother. Dad was apparently sitting on the kitchen floor smoking a cigarette as she was calling. This case is sure to get a lot of media attention, since Dad was apparently undergoing a sex change.

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-belton-man-charged-071609,0,7150223.story

Belton Man Faces Judge on Murder Charges
Meagan Kelleher, Web Producer
July 20, 2009

BELTON, MO. - A Belton man who neighbors said wanted to become a woman has been charged in his wife's death.

Michael Adams, Jr., 37, appeared in court Monday, July 20. He has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of the mother of his children, Amber Hartwig, 36. Police said that Adams shot Hartwig while their two children were in the house.

On Monday, the judge appointed a public defender for Adams. He is being held on a million dollars cash bond.

The Cass County probable cause statement said that the couple had been arguing on Tuesday night at their home in the 400 block of Robie Dr. when Hartwig threatened to leave. Police said the two children, 18- and 10-years-old, reported hearing two gunshots. When the 18-year-old went into the kitchen, she saw her mother laying on the floor and her father sitting on the floor smoking a cigarette. She called 911 and said that her father shot her mother.

Adams also suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was hospitalized. The probable cause statement said Adams claimed to have no recollection of the shooting when questioned at the hospital.

Neighbors didn't want to talk on camera about the couple's relationship issues. But, off-camera multiple neighbors said it was obvious Adams was undergoing hormone treatments to become a woman. They said he was growing breasts, wore his hair in a pony-tail, wore woman's clothing, long painted fingernails and even used a woman's name.