Michael Adams
A former Mason City man has admitted shooting his wife as part of a plea agreement.
The Kansas City Star says Michael Adams was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being accused of the July 2009 shooting death of Amber Hartwig, also formerly of Mason City.
Adams admitted shooting Hartwig in the head at the couple’s home in Belton Missouri near Kansas City after he had been drinking heavily during the day.
Hartwig’s 18-year-old daughter found her mother dead on the floor of the couple’s house with Adams sitting next to her smoking a cigarette.
Adams also shot himself and sustained a superficial wound to his chest after shooting Hartwig. The couple had been fighting before the shooting about Adams dressing as a woman, taking hormones to change his body and going by the name of Mischelle.
Hartwig had told Adams earlier that evening that she was leaving and taking their two children with her. Judge Jacqueline Cook sentenced Adams to 15 years in prison as well as four years for unlawful use of a weapon while intoxicated, with the terms running concurrently.
The plea agreement demands that he serve at least 85% of his sentence.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City