In the small town of Santa Claus, Indiana, a domestic disturbance on October 14, 2025, ended in a grim discovery. John Earl Adkins, a 49-year-old male, was found deceased in his home from gunshot wounds. A veteran of the United States Coast Guard and the Safety Director at Holiday World, Adkins was known for his love of woodworking, cooking, and working on the farm.
He was born in Cordele, Georgia, to John and Genell Pipkin Adkins.
The events leading to his death began to unfold around 12:17 p.m. when the Spencer County Sheriff's Office received a call from a woman named Jamie Adkins, 48. In the call, she stated that she had just shot her husband. Officers from the Santa Claus Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Spencer County Sheriff's Office were immediately dispatched to the residence. Upon their arrival, they were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home.
After making entry into the residence, law enforcement officers discovered John Adkins's body. They also found Jamie Adkins inside, alive but suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide. Authorities have indicated that autopsies are scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of death for both individuals. The investigation is ongoing, with no other suspects mentioned by the authorities.
