11/21/2015
If anyone has any information please contact the Jefferson Township Police Department
$20,000.00 REWARD
This is not a sales promotion. This is not an advertisement for our business. This is about a family that has been devastated and is desperately seeking closure. This is an impassioned plea for your help!
On the night of September 19th our Aunt Lisa and Uncle Thomas received a call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately this was more than a nightmare. The police were calling to tell them that around 3:00 AM their beloved son Michael, was hit by a vehicle and they needed to get to the hospital immediately. Tragically they would never get the chance to say goodbye. Michael passed before they got there. Michael was killed at the age of 24.
If you live locally you have probably read an article or heard in passing about the hit and run death of Michael Adams on Route 15. Being exposed to the constant barrage of 24-hour news coverage, we all tend to become desensitized, forgetting that there are local families just like yours that are affected by horrible catastrophes. The worst part for our family is to know that the person responsible for killing Michael is walking around freely. It has been a little over a month and it seems like Michael’s death is being forgotten about. I can tell you emphatically that our family has not forgotten. The sleepless nights continue. The intense pain and sense of loss is something they say will subside but we know it will never go away. The most punishing emotion is the feeling of guilt and regret. In our hearts we logically know there was nothing we could have done to prevent this tragedy but the mind cruelly replays the “what if” scenarios over and over.
Even with law enforcement working diligently they have few clues. We are asking for your help in bringing Michael’s killer to justice. Please share this post on your page. Someone, somewhere knows who is responsible. Here is what we know about the last few hours of Michael’s life.
It was a Friday evening when Michael set out to meet up with friends at a local club. Michael and his friends enjoyed the night and lost track of time, staying until the club closed. Being a commercial truck driver, Michael was very aware of the dangers of drinking and driving. Therefore Michael made the fateful decision to leave his vehicle and walk to his parent’s house, a mile away in Lake Shawnee. Michael set off walking on the shoulder of Route 15 North on the left hand lane. Michael made it about ¼ mile. As he approached the Edison Road off ramp while still walking on the left hand shoulder, he was run down by what police believe to be a larger sized vehicle. The violent impact did not immediately kill Michael. As Michael fought for his life, in his most critical time of need, he was left to die on the street. Alone. The driver never stopped. The driver never called for help. Against the most basic form of human decency, the driver chose to ignore the human being who had just been struck down and continued on his/her way. Michael was found a short time later by a Good Samaritan who called 9-1-1.
Michael was a Veteran, a son, a brother, an uncle and most importantly, a kind and gentle soul who was loved by many. He had dreams and a bright future ahead. He did not deserve to be left for dead on a desolate highway. It is impossible to say in a situation like this, but had the perpetrator stopped and offered help, Michael might still be here. A person with such little regard for human life does not belong in our neighborhood. While this criminal enjoys their Thanksgiving meal surrounded by their loved ones, our family will sit around a table with heavy hearts and one empty seat as we grieve the loss of young Michael whose promising future was stolen by a thoughtless criminal with no conscience. We beg you to help us by sharing this post and spreading the word. Although nothing will bring Michael back, we owe it to him to bring his killer to justice. Please tell your loved ones how much you love them and squeeze them extra tight this Holiday season. We would give anything to have that opportunity with Michael again…. Please share on your page and help us get .
Michael’s family is offering a $20,000.00 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. If you have any information please call Morris County Crime Stoppers 973-COP-CALL (973-267-2255)
