Arrest Made 11 Years After Pennsylvania Man’s Death Was Ruled a Homicide

Arrest Made 11 Years After Pennsylvania Man’s Death Was Ruled a Homicide

An arrest has been made in the 2015 cold case homicide of John Wesley Alleman in Middlesex Township.

On May 1, 2015, at around 7 a.m., dispatchers received a call reporting a suicide death. Inside his home, 68-year-old John Wesley Alleman was found deceased with a gunshot wound to the head. He was lying in bed, covered with a sheet and bedspread.

Investigators determined that he had not shot himself. The entry wound was on the right side of his head, and a self-inflicted gunshot wound was found to be inconsistent with how he was discovered. His right arm was bent and tucked against his body, and he was holding a pillow in his hand. His death was ultimately ruled a homicide.

Initial Statements to Investigators

His partner at the time, Betty Jane Adams, was interviewed by authorities.

Betty Jane Adam(Horry County Jail)

She told investigators that sometime between 5:30 and 6 a.m. that morning, she was in the bathroom when Alleman called to her from the master bedroom. According to Adams, the two argued, during which Alleman pulled out a gun and fired at her. She said the shot missed her and struck a wall.

Adams told investigators that after firing at her, Alleman turned the gun on himself.

However, no evidence was found during the investigation to corroborate her account of what happened.

At the time of the incident, Adams’ daughter and granddaughter were present in the basement of the home.

What Led to her Arrest

Eleven years after Alleman’s death, on May 18, 2026, Betty Jane Adams, also known as Betty Jane Brooks, was arrested in South Carolina. Authorities initially sealed her name for investigative purposes.

According to investigators, the arrest was based on a review of laboratory reports, crime scene photographs, and the autopsy findings.

Cumberland County District Attorney Seán M. McCormack at the presser (WHP)

Cumberland County District Attorney Seán M. McCormack stated that the firearm’s recoil during a self-inflicted gunshot wound did not match how Alleman was found at the scene.

Murder Charges Filed

According to McCormack, Adams now faces first-degree and third-degree murder charges.

Her formal arraignment is scheduled for August 10, and a preliminary court date is expected to be set in October.