Seymour Man Charged with Murder of Ex-Girlfriend's New Boyfriend

Monday, August 18, 2025 at 10:14 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

The shooting incident took place on August 14.

Brent Wellman. Photo provided.

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - Murder charges were formally filed today against Brent Wellman in the death of Dennis Adams Jr.

Wellman, 33, of Seymour, has been charged with Murder, Resisting Law Enforcement (Use of Vehicle) as well as a Felony Firearm Enhancement. He is being held at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.

Charges were filed in Dearborn Circuit Court and Wellman is set to appear before Judge Negangard for his initial hearing today, August 18 at 11:30 a.m.

The charges stem from an incident on August 14.

Dearborn County Communications Center received a 911 call around 5:42 a.m. A homeowner reported a vehicle stopped on US 50, in front of their residence, located in the 11000 block of US 50 in Dillsboro and hearing gunshots. Dearborn County Communications received a second 911 call about the same time. The caller reported that he observed a blue vehicle, stopped in the high speed lane of east bound US 50. The caller stated that he stopped and when he approached the vehicle, he observed that the driver’s door was open, observed blood on the pants and face of the male occupant in the driver’s seat and another male in the backseat crawling to the front seat via the center console. The 911 callers advised that he left the scene and believes that the vehicle traveled down Texas Gas Road.

The Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of 11000 block of US 50 regarding the report of gunshots. Responders came across a vehicle sitting stationary in the roadway and facing the opposite direction of the officer. This vehicle was bright blue in color, compact SUV style vehicle with the window down. Contact was made with the driver, who was described as a white, male adult with a dark beard and wearing a ball cap and sweating. When the driver was asked what was going on, the driver shrugged his shoulder, avoided eye contact, and drove off.

Shortly after 6:00 a.m, a 911 caller reported that a bright blue compact SUV had crashed on Hueseman Road. When officers arrived, they located an unoccupied, blue Honda CRV with Kentucky license plates. When the license plate of the vehicle was ran, it returned to a Dennis W. Adams Jr.

Other officers responded to the area on U.S. 50 where the gunshot call and fleeing vehicle when an officer located a shoe. As the Deputy approached the wood line, a deceased male in the woods with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his right upper back/shoulder area. Officers requested a photograph from the vehicle registration on the Honda CRV, and it was used to identify Dennis W. Adams Jr. to be the deceased.

Numerous law enforcement agencies were assisting in searching for Wellman. The Indiana State Police ERT located a white male in Laughry Creek, near the wrecked CRV. The male was only dressed in his underwear and had redness to his body.

An autopsy for Dennis Adams Jr was performed at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office and Crime Lab. The pathologist reported that Dennis Adams Jr. died from injuries sustained from receiving multiple gunshot wounds.

A few days prior to the incident, investigators say Wellman called Adams' girlfriend wanting to drop off some of his property as Wellman had advised her that he was kicked out of his friend’s house, homeless and had no place to put his stuff. On August 13, Wellman called her and asked if he could wish their child a happy birthday. Wellman's request was denied, but he was told that he could pick up the child from a relative the next morning and take the child to school. Later on in the evening on the 13th into the 14th, they heard a noise that she compared to someone breaking into her residence. Both she and Adams went outside to look, did not see anyone and believed it was the air conditioner. Adams left for work on Thursday, August 14th around 4:45 a.m.

UPDATE: Death Investigation in Dearborn Co., Person of Interest in Custody