Indiana Man Found Hiding in Woods Wearing Only Underwear After Abducting and Killing Ex’s New Boyfriend, Police Say
DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA — A 33-year-old Indiana man is facing life in prison after prosecutors say he abducted and killed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, then tried to hide from police in the woods wearing only underwear.
Officials say Brent Wellman fatally shot 39-year-old Dennis W. Adams Jr. in the early morning hours of August 14 before fleeing the scene and attempting to evade officers near U.S. Route 50.
Prosecutors Seek Life Sentence
The Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office filed a formal Notice of Intent to Seek Life Imprisonment against Wellman on October 7, accusing him of a cold-blooded, premeditated killing driven by jealousy and rage.
According to prosecutors, Adams had recently begun dating Wellman’s ex-girlfriend, with whom Wellman shares a child. Days before the murder, Wellman allegedly called his ex asking to store belongings at her home after being kicked out by a friend.
On the night of August 13, Wellman again reached out, asking to stop by to wish his child a happy birthday. His ex refused, suggesting instead that he could pick up their child in the morning and take them to school.
By the next morning, the situation had turned deadly.
Gunfire Erupts Along U.S. 50
At approximately 4:45 a.m., Adams left his girlfriend’s home to go to work. Within an hour, a 911 caller reported gunfire and a stopped blue vehicle along eastbound U.S. Route 50, describing a bloodied man in the driver’s seat and another climbing from the back seat to the front.
When deputies arrived, they found Adams’ car crashed nearby.
“A deputy with the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department located the vehicle and attempted to speak with the driver, described as a white male adult with a dark beard who avoided eye contact,” the report said.
The suspect — later identified as Wellman — sped away. The pursuit ended shortly after when officers found Adams’ body nearby with a gunshot wound to the upper back.
Police Find Suspect Barefoot and Covered in Redness
As officers combed the woods near the crash site, they discovered a single shoe lying off Route 50, leading them deeper into the wooded area.
Minutes later, officers found Wellman half-submerged in a creek, wearing only underwear, and covered in redness. He was taken into custody without further resistance.
Investigators said Wellman appeared disoriented and injured, suggesting he had attempted to hide or flee through rough terrain after the crash.
Awaiting Trial
Wellman remains jailed without bond, facing charges of murder, abduction, resisting law enforcement, and using a firearm in the commission of a crime.
His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 2, and jury selection for his trial is set to begin on January 20, 2026, according to court records.
If convicted, prosecutors plan to seek a life imprisonment sentence.
This shocking case has shaken the Indiana community, revealing how jealousy and rage turned deadly in a quiet rural town. For updates on ongoing crime stories and national investigations, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.