LAWRENCEBURG, IN – Authorities in southeastern Indiana have announced their intention to pursue a life sentence against a local man accused of kidnapping and murdering his ex-girlfriend’s new partner, a 39-year-old father, during a violent incident that unraveled across Dearborn County last August.
The Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office filed a formal “Notice of Intent to Seek Life Imprisonment” on Tuesday against Brent Wellman, 33, who has been charged in the fatal shooting of Dennis W. Adams Jr. Court records reveal Wellman faces counts including murder, resisting law enforcement, and firearm enhancements.
The case centers on a deadly confrontation that unfolded in the early hours of August 14, after a period of escalating tension involving Wellman, his ex-girlfriend, and Adams. Through investigative records, authorities allege that Wellman plotted the attack after learning that Adams was dating his former partner, with whom Wellman shares a young child.
In the days preceding the shooting, Wellman reportedly contacted the woman to ask if he could store some possessions at her residence, claiming he had nowhere to stay after being asked to leave a friend’s house. It is unclear if any belongings were ultimately left at the property.
On August 13, Wellman also requested to visit the home to congratulate their child on a birthday. The child’s mother declined, suggesting instead that Wellman take the child to school the next morning. It remains uncertain if this arrangement was accepted or acted upon.
Later that same night, Adams was spending the night at his girlfriend’s house. The pair were startled by a noise outside, which the woman initially suspected might be someone trying to break in. After investigating, they dismissed the disturbance and attributed the sound to the air conditioner.
Adams left for work around 4:45 a.m. on August 14. Within an hour, 911 calls reported gunshots in the 11000 block of U.S. Route 50; a witness described a bloodied man in the driver’s seat of a blue car and another man climbing from the back seat.
Responding officers from the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department quickly encountered the vehicle, registered to Adams, and tried to question the driver—who resembled Wellman—but the man evaded them, leading police on a brief pursuit before crashing the car nearby.
A ground search led deputies to find a shoe and, shortly thereafter, Adams’ body, appearing to have suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his upper back. Meanwhile, Wellman was discovered hiding in a creek, dressed only in underwear and bearing visible abrasions.
Wellman has since been held without bail as he awaits trial in the county jail. His next court appearance is set for December 2 for a pre-trial hearing, with the case currently scheduled for jury selection on January 20, 2026, according to court documents.
Prosecutors have signaled their intention to seek the maximum penalty, arguing the attack was premeditated and particularly egregious. Officials have not publicly disclosed further details regarding potential motives, but confirmed that the investigation remains active as they prepare for trial.