Rae Carruth released from prison 19 years after girlfriend's murder

NORTH CAROLINA -- Nearly two decades after hiring men to kill his pregnant girlfriend, former Carolina Panther wide receiver Rae Carruth walked out of prison a free man.[br /][br /]Just after 8 a.m. Monday, Carruth walked out of the prison gate, got into a white SUV, and drove off.[br /][br /][media ID="4534741" /][br /][br /]Rae Carruth was found guilty in 2001 for conspiracy to murder his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, in 1999.[br /][Ads /][br /]An official with the NC Department of Public Safety said Carruth will have 9 months of post release, which means he'll have to meet certain requirements such as meeting with a probation officer.[br /][br /]Carruth hired Van Brett Watkins and Michael Kennedy to kill Adams. Adams was pregnant with Carruth's child at the time. Due to the shooting, Adams' child was born prematurely.[br /][br /]That child, Chancellor Lee Adams, has cerebral palsy and currently lives in Charlotte with his maternal grandmother, Saundra Adams.[br /][Ads /][br /]After initially saying he would like to have custody of Chancellor, Carruth changed his mind saying he would not attempt to pursue a relationship[/url] with his son after being released from prison.[br /][br /]Still Carruth said he wants to "make amends with Chancellor and try to be the father that I should have been from day one."[br /][br /]Watkins remains in jail serving his 40-year prison sentence for killing Adams. Kennedy, who drove Watkins to commit the crime, was released from prison in 2011.