The York County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether former NFL player Phillip Adams was following a new religion or ideology before he killed six people, then himself in a mass shooting in South Carolina earlier this month, according to documents released Friday.
During a search of his bedroom, officers found numerous notebooks with “cryptic writing with different designs and emblems.” Police said it is unclear if Adams’ newfound beliefs were part of the motive for the mass shooting, that claimed the lives of six people including Adams’ doctor.
Adams’ sister, Lauren told USA Today that he did not mention anything about following a new religion or ideology.
She also said Adams told her that he was writing a book, but he was not willing to share what he was writing about. She said she peeked over his shoulders one day and noticed that “his handwriting changed drastically.’’
“I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ she said. “Just makes me think more that something was going on inside his head. … It was almost like another person was writing.’’
Adams played in the NFL between 2010 and 2015 before moving back in with his parents in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
According to his sister, his behavior “shifted dramatically” over the last two years.
“His mental health degraded fast and terribly bad,’’ Lauren said. “There was unusual behavior. I’m not going to get into all that [symptoms]. We definitely did notice signs of mental illness that was extremely concerning.”
His family has said his brain will be tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
