Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights will chronicle the murder of Alicia DeBolt, a Kansas cheerleader, by Adam Longoria. The episode, titled “Stolen Cheers,” will air on ID this Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET.
An official synopsis for the upcoming episode states, “Teen Alicia DeBolt goes missing shortly after making the cheer squad; police question members of the football team and fellow cheerleaders, but the truth behind this mystery is more sinister than anyone in her small Kansas town could have imagined.”
On August 21, 2010, Alicia DeBolt left her home in Great Bend, Kansas, to go to a party just before midnight and never returned. DeBolt’s family reported her missing the following day, and three days later, police found her burned remains at the Venture Corp. plant. According to CBS News, her remains had traces of duct tape on her ankles and face.
The investigation into DeBolt’s murder revealed that a man named Adam Longoria had been pursuing the teenager. Investigators used hundreds of text messages shared between the two, among other evidence, to implicate Longoria. Some texts showed that he had picked up the girl the night she went missing. He was eventually convicted of the crime.
Who was the suspect accused of Alicia DeBolt’s murder?
At the time of Alicia DeBolt’s murder, Adam Longoria was 36 years old and worked at the Venture Corp. plant. Authorities had found DeBolt’s burned remains near the plant just outside of Great Bend, reported CBS News. The discovery was made three days after DeBolt went missing after leaving her home for a party.
During the investigation, detectives narrowed in on Longoria after uncovering the text messages he and DeBolt shared. The two first met at a party in July 2010, after which he started pursuing the teenager. Among those messages, a few showed that Longoria had picked up Alicia DeBolt on the night she disappeared. Furthermore, multiple other pieces of evidence authorities used to incriminate him included the gasoline on his gym shoes and video surveillance showing him buying $1.32 of gas on the night DeBolt went missing.
Moreover, Longoria’s now ex-girlfriend claimed that he smelled of gasoline when he returned home on the night DeBolt disappeared. She said that he had borrowed her car for the night and that the vehicle also reeked of gasoline. CBS News stated that Longoria had asked several witnesses to lie about his whereabouts from the night of the incident. Forensics also revealed that they found his semen mixed with DeBolt’s DNA in the vehicle.
Authorities arrested Longoria after he fled Great Bend, driving in a stolen SUV from the asphalt company. This occurred just hours after investigators searched his house.
Was Adam Longoria convicted of Alicia DeBolt’s murder?
In April 2012, Adam Longoria stood a capital murder trial in Alicia DeBolt’s murder. However, prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. Jurors had to determine that he committed criminal sodomy, aggravated criminal sodomy, or attempted rape during the killing. The prosecution presented all evidence unearthed during the investigation, including text messages shared between the two.
On the other hand, Longoria’s defense attorneys tried to discredit the state’s evidence. They alleged that a tiny amount of DNA found in the girl’s mouth belonged to an unknown male, who may have been the possible killer. While suggesting that the real killer was still out there, the defense also told the jury that Longoria had previously bragged about having sex with the girl. They claimed this was likely how her DNA could have ended up in his car.
Regardless, the jury convicted Longoria of capital murder, and in June of that year, he received life in prison without parole. Jurors had also convicted him on burglary and theft charges. Fox News reported that he also received additional terms of 17 months and 7 months in prison, respectively.
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights will air the upcoming episode on Alicia DeBolt’s murder case on February 14, 2024.
