Heartbreaking second woman, 2, visits grave of grandad killed in unsolved homicide

The parents of a young father shot dead in an unsolved murder 18 years ago have told how their ongoing heartbreak is made worse by the fact he never got to live to see his granddaughter born.

Adam Chadwick’s daughter Ruby is now 20, the same age he was when he was gunned down by a masked gang on his sister’s doorstep in a suspected case of mistaken identity in Leeds in 2008.

Ruby, who was just a toddler when her dad died, has become a mother herself and little Renzy, who turned two earlier this month, is pictured in a heartbreaking photograph at Adam’s grave.

Adam’s mum Jackie, 64, said: “He would be a granddad now and he never got to see his granddaughter. It’s just heartbreaking. He only had three years with Ruby, now she is 20 years old and she’s got her a child of her own now.

“When he became a dad, he step up to his responsibilities and he was a great dad. He would have been a marvelous granddad. he would have doted on Renzy just the way he did he doted on Ruby.”

Jackie added of Ruby: “She’s gone from this young lady, very reserved and shy and she’s stepped up like her dad. He changed when Ruby came along and she’s done the same. Having Renzy has given her responsibility and she’s stepped up the way her dad did.”

Adam was visiting his sister Gemma’s house in June 2008 when a mystery woman knocked on the door asking to speak to “Michelle”. He told her that nobody of that name lived there and she left, but an hour later she returned and asked the same question.

Gemma’s boyfriend once again said they didn’t know “Michelle”, but before he had a chance to close the door three masked men tried to burst into the house and fired two shots, one of which hit Adam in the head.

The three men ran off and jumped into a suspected stolen Ford Focus C-Max, registration number YH54SBV, before dumping it minutes later.

Despite extensive appeals, including a reconstruction on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme and a reward of £10,000, no-one has been convicted of Adam’s murder and Jackie hopes she and husband Martin, 65, live to see the day justice is served.

She told us: “When we think of Adam and talk about him, it’s like he’s still with us. We remember the happy memories of the 20 years we had with him. They can’t take them from us. He was loving, caring, never any bother.

“We just keep living in the hope that someone out there who hasn’t comes forward yet finally does when they feel strong enough. We just hope we’re still here to see justice done. He should have been in a safe place for him. He loved being at his sister’s house.

“It doesn’t seem like 18 years to me. He’d be 38 this year. I still see him as a 20 year old. I could never imagine him as a 38 year old.”

Jackie, whose dad died shortly after Adam was killed, added: “I think when this all happened, Ruby was the strength we needed to get through. We continued to have her every weekend and continued to make memories with her.

“I knew I had to be strong for Ruby. I don’t think if Ruby was here that I would still be here.”

Gemma named her son Adam in his memory and Jackie said the lad, now eight, is like his uncle. She said: “Gemma always talks about him. He would have been a big part of his life.

“He loves football like his uncle Adam did. It would have been lovely for them to play football together.”

Adam’s dad Martin said: “I just want to remember him as he was. I want the appeals to stop and get the evidence we need.”

Detective chief superintendent Marc Bowes of West Yorkshire Police said the force remained “committed to bringing those responsible” for Adam’s murder to justice and continues to appeal for information.

He said: “Allegiances can shift over time and I would urge anyone who has that vital piece of information to help us find Adam’s killers but has not done so, for whatever reason, to now get in touch.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call police on 101 quoting Operation Pimento. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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