Kirkwood Police say the victim, who lived alone, called police and said she had been sexually assaulted in her home on Harrison around 1:30 a.m. She woke to a man wearing a ski mask and armed with a knife. She was assaulted and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
According to police, Adams may have jogged in the area and observed the victim’s patterns. Adams allegedly entered the woman’s house through an unlocked door. The police used dogs to track Adams to his home, not far from the victim’s residence, and neighbors say they saw Adams arrested in nothing but his underwear at about 7:30 a.m. His parents were not home.
He was charged with burglary 1st degree, assault 1st degree, forcible rape and three counts of forcible sodomy, and each charge is accompanied by one count of armed criminal action. Adams is the son of Kirkwood’s Finance Director, John Adams.
Adams is being held at Saint Louis County Jail on bond set at $1,000,000.
Editors’ Note: The Kirkwood Call has made the decision to cover the Sean Adams case in order to present the facts to the student body and eliminate rumors. As every major news outlet in the St. Louis area has posted information about the arrest, we felt it was newsworthy. Our intent is to cover the incident respectfully and present the facts as more information is released. We ask all commenters to use respectful language, as obscene comments will not be approved.
KHS Grad • Nov 18, 2010 at 11:07 am
I pray for Kirkwood.
2010 Grad • Nov 15, 2010 at 5:37 am
to those who emphasise SUSPECT, remember that Mike Devlin at one point in time was just a “suspect” too. When you leave your pants with ID in the house you are still a suspect. It’s all just the legal jargin to keep from pointing fingers until the courts get a hold of him. And to those who held the vigil, be deeply ashamed of yourselves. Even without a definitive ruling, sean didn’t need a vigil. The victim did. Way to blow that one.
Interesting • Oct 26, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I never said we should be meddling in her business, I was just saying that maybe we should give a candlelight vigil for her, even if we do not know who she is, instead of for a suspected rapist. It makes more logical sense to me. Obviously we do not want to go to her house and make her feel more overwhelmed than she already is, but maybe we should at least display care and concern for her situation.
Khs student • Oct 25, 2010 at 11:03 am
nobody really knows who the girl is because she doesn’t want people to know who she is and that people with bother her like you are wanting to! she wants to be left alone and because of ppl like you is the reason why. sorry
Madison Dyson • Oct 22, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I think that s just horrible. I have a friend whoI think i still friends with him. All i can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!
Interesting • Oct 19, 2010 at 12:55 pm
You know what I find fascinating? Everyone on this site has said that they pray for the family of Sean, but what about the woman who got raped? Did you know that they held a candle light vigil for Sean? Whether he is innocent or guilty, what about the woman who got raped? Doesn’t she deserve our aid and attention? There was an article in the Times about her neighbors that renovated her home while she was at the hospital. Shouldn’t that be more what this is about? Anyway, Sean’s family can not be suffering as much as that woman’s family.
ex gf • Oct 14, 2010 at 10:58 am
praying for his family! i wish this could have been stopped or prevented
Raven • Oct 13, 2010 at 3:15 pm
People make bad decissions everyday: its life. He was a cool kid in school, and people should respect that the call is writting a story to clear up the rumors. But to all of you who are against this story being put on the call website I’ve got one word for you “reality”. It happens. Its funny how people don’t complain about the pointless stories like the “sillybands” but as soon as you start talking about a KHS grad getting in a bit of trouble all of a sudden everybodies offended. In my opinion this doesn’t effect the kirkwood community at all, people make bad choices in life the fact that he went to our highschool was irrelevant. My prayers go out to him and his family. Good kid, bad choice.
Zakaria • Oct 13, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I totally respect the right of the Call to report any news they feel worthy of their readers to read, but as a family member of a KHS graduate that did commit almost these same exact crimes, I would have been heartbroken to see this posted on the Call’s website. My family member is not the same person today and many were not aware of the crimes he committed simply because it wasn’t circulated around the Kirkwood community where everyone knows each other. Now, this young man’s father works in the community and believe me, he is ashamed of his son’s actions. No reason to make it worse and more visible for his colleagues and neighbors to relive it over and over again. It’s done and he will be held accountable for his crimes. It will be exciting for the Call to interview him 10years from now after he has been incarcerated to see how he has changed and how he reflects back to the damage he has done. I feel it is imperative that you remind yourself to go interview him in 10years as it was for you to post his story now. God Bless all his family and friends that have a long road ahead of them. This is just the beginning.
khs • Oct 13, 2010 at 10:59 am
yes chelsea. its of course safer with just one person gone. but think again. There are so many people like that in every community….we have had shootings and the devlin case. This is just another one. You still need to be safe.
Isabella • Oct 13, 2010 at 10:37 am
ummmm wheres his shirt…?
Chelsea • Oct 13, 2010 at 1:28 am
I think kirkwood is now one less person safer!..my family lives there and I dont care who you are..but I would never ever want to see anyone I know get hurt. But once again it wouldnt have happened if that lady would have locked her door.
Khs student • Oct 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm
My prayers to go out to this boys family and to him. We are allowed to make mistakes and though his mistake was major and harming to others he deserves a second chance to make it better and to learn from it. I do not believe that the call did anything wrong by reporting what they did,at least it was the facts and not lies.I would want to know if it happened in my neighborhood, so reporting it can only bring awareness that people do wrong no matter where your from or what school you go to.
Just a thought • Oct 12, 2010 at 11:35 am
II totally respect the right of the Call to report any news they feel worthy of their readers to read, but as a family member of a KHS graduate that did commit almost these same exact crimes, I would have been heartbroken to see this posted on the Call’s website. My family member is not the same person today and many were not aware of the crimes he committed simply because it wasn’t circulated around the Kirkwood community where everyone knows each other. Now, this young man’s father works in the community and believe me, he is ashamed of his son’s actions. No reason to make it worse and more visible for his colleagues and neighbors to relive it over and over again. It’s done and he will be held accountable for his crimes. It will be exciting for the Call to interview him 10years from now after he has been incarcerated to see how he has changed and how he reflects back to the damage he has done. I feel it is imperative that you remind yourself to go interview him in 10years as it was for you to post his story now. God Bless all his family and friends that have a long road ahead of them. This is just the beginning.
Dominic • Oct 11, 2010 at 1:55 pm
This is a terrible thing Kirkwood is really gone through a lot through the past five years and it is just sad to see something like this.
khs • Oct 11, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Look, whether he is innocent or guilty, we will have to let the court decide. It sure looks bad for him, but we just don’t know. Everyone saying that people are out to get Sean is wrong. We are simply asking questions to get to the bottom of the situation. Also, The Call should report this, it was in no way offensive and they have the freedom of the press to do so. They keep us informed, you should appreciate them for doing that.
Anonymous (2.0) • Oct 11, 2010 at 11:53 am
@KHS Student
Kirkwood as a whole can start rumors. Not the paper, sure they have freedom of speech and press, but they can’t lie and slander peoples names. You clearly know nothing of journalism or legal matters. I suggest that you just leave the issue be. Not to be rude but you really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Locke • Oct 10, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Makes me sad that a kirkwood kid would do something like this.
student • Oct 10, 2010 at 1:31 pm
When is his trial?
Becca Gerdes • Oct 9, 2010 at 7:56 pm
I can’t believe this. Sean seemed so nice. And to all you people to think this shouldn’t be in the Call, would you rather have the truth not be out there and have people saying even worse things about him? The job of the paper is to keep us informed, and that’s what they did.
Will Haenni • Oct 9, 2010 at 12:13 am
My prayers go out to his family in their time of need. From what I’ve heard they are very sweet people.
Michelle • Oct 8, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@khs student
it was on the news so its not as if a call writer had to go sneaking around to get any of the information. annoucing it over the intercom was very appropriate, it is not as if Dr. Holley was telling some big secret that no one was supposed to know about, he never used names nor did he elaborate on the incident… and im slightly confused as to why you call this a rumor…the entire article is written using the facts gathered from other creditable sources.
On another note, I think its ignorant for people to be so surprised that bad things could ever happen in kirkwood. people arent perfect and certainly kirkwood is no exception, bad things happen everywhere so why would there be any exemption for kirkwood and its citizens. while unfortunate we cant live in a cave where we think this is the perfect place to live
khs student • Oct 8, 2010 at 5:05 pm
well kirkwood is known for start rumors. I wonder how the call could ever so cleverly stop some rumor like this?
anonymous 3.14 • Oct 8, 2010 at 3:55 pm
i am very impressed that devan posted this story so quickly and so accurately to the public. it is in the right of the newspaper and its website to present a story that is relevant to kirkwood high school, because IT IS NEWS. This is not an opinions piece, not an editorial, not a column, it is a news story. It presents facts, not the opinions of a single person or people. The Kirkwood Call is doing a favor to the family by presenting the truth behind this unfortunate matter, and will hopefully in the end limit rumors. It is a newspapers job to present the news, and to present it factually, and that’s just what it is in this piece. Thank you to the first amendment, and thank you for keeping us updated on the truth.
Brendon • Oct 8, 2010 at 2:55 pm
The Call is going into territory I have yet to see, covering journalism LIVE. Congratulations, but be careful. There is no harm in presenting the FACTS, but make sure it is the FACTS.
Anonymous 2.0 • Oct 8, 2010 at 1:30 pm
This is not only a school paper, but the community receives copies as well. He graduated and was out on his own to make his own life choices, clearly he made a wrong one if he is being accused of this heinous crime. Nobody wrote that he doesn’t deserve friends and he -has- lost respect. Nobody respects a sex offender. I can’t say that he is a criminal until he is proven in trial, but you have no right to bash a paper reporting news that is relevant to our community and even our students. You can have your opinion, but don’t try to use it to knock a paper. Keep it to yourself.
lauren • Oct 8, 2010 at 1:22 pm
the first amendment rights state–
The First Amendment protects free speech, free press, religious freedom, the freedom of assembly and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The Call takes pride in the advantage they have that there is no prior review and writers have the right to write what they feel is representing the student body. To say that journalism rights should be restricted would be against the administrative decision to allow writers to express their first amendment rights. He was a KHS student and his decisions have affected a lot of people in our school and community. The administrative team is looking out for the best of the students, going on the announcements had nothing to do with this article or the Kirkwood Call in general. Administration is looking to help those affected by the situations and help make something so horribly wrong the best that they possibly can. Again, the Call is not passing any judgement on the students or the situation, it is simply reporting the event in an unbiased way.
khs student2 • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:59 pm
and the editors note I thank for that but it should not be on the call. I feel like it should just be on the regular news and not the call. I feel like thats not right and thats my opinion
khs student2 • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:56 pm
and journalism rights should be restricted because all people do is invade other people’s privacy in most cases.
khs student2 • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:54 pm
they still shouldn’t be making announcements over the intercom. If something like that happened people shouldn’t be announcing it all around the school. Its heartbreaking that kirkwood high school couldn’t see it coming and didn’t help him. Yes he had probably done it but I bet all of you that if you did something like this than you wouldn’t want your old school and old friends knowing you as that, His true friends are there for him and you are hurting his family writing comments saying he doesn’t deserve friends and saying he is losing respect. “the truth even has enemies”
Anonymous (2.0) • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:18 pm
@KHS Student
Posting facts about a suspect in a crime in no way makes our students look bad, it’s simply posting facts. Before you try to attack someone’s story maybe you should try to understand what journalism is in the first place.
lauren • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:18 pm
He made the decision to go into someone’s house and do the things he did. He knew that it was wrong and he would be punished. He knew this would become public, everything does. When you chose to do something you chose the punishments that go along with this situation. The Call is the school’s newspaper, and they report school news as well as news in the community. I am impressed by the way they had the report as quickly as they did. They stated the facts that the police and news reported to the public. The facts of the situation. The facts of the decision he made. As horrible as this is and as difficult this is going to be with his family the Call still should be reporting this. They did not judge him, state any opinions, call him mean or tell anything but the truth. He chose to do this which has caused him to lose respect. When you do horrible things to innocent people you lose people’s respect, which is as expected. It is horrible that this is a KHS graduate, but that just brings the situation closer to the students, which is why The Call is reporting the news. Thank you Call for keeping us updated on events in our community that effect us at KHS.
Sam Wolter • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:11 pm
“KHS Student,” you may want to reexamine your previous post. For the Call to post this story is anything but immature. The story reports the facts and makes no personal comments; it does exactly what a newspaper is supposed to do. Whatever you may feel about Sean, this is news and needs to be reported. Comments like this display how little some students know about journalism and life in general.
Student • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:06 pm
al·leged
–adjective
2.
doubtful; suspect; supposed: The alleged cure-all produced no results when it was tested by reputable doctors.
student • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:05 pm
this is news about kirkwood it obviously needs to be covered. and at no point did this article say anything was proven, it just stated the facts.
another khs student • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:04 pm
They are not bashing KHS, they are presenting the facts of the situation and what they know from police reports. The Call has done nothing wrong.
khs student • Oct 8, 2010 at 11:04 am
I think its actually immature that the call would write something like that. Just like lexi was saying. He was sweet so now he is known as a very bad person and Kirkwood shouldn’t be naming their own students that. Have a little respect for the kid. You guys are invading his property and then making an announcement about if you need to see the counselor than please go, You are giving kirkwood students a bad name that you had to write a story about it. That is a new low for Kirkwood High School.
Lexi Heyer • Oct 8, 2010 at 9:53 am
OMG i knew him because of wrestling cheer leading!! I seriously cannot wrap my head around this. He was so sweet
LKDA • Oct 8, 2010 at 12:10 am
“Adams allegedly entered the woman’s house through an unlocked door”, he’s a SUSPECT. watch your choice of words. nothings been proven.
Bobby Smith • Oct 7, 2010 at 10:26 pm
please don’t post anything stupid, sean won’t read it, and it will hurt his family more.
alex brooks • Oct 7, 2010 at 8:47 pm
oh my god