Adams completed his shift at the M-System Food Store, where he was a part-time clerk, and returned to his family's residence on Peach Street in Abilene, Texas on June 8, 1987. His sister last saw him at 10:30. He had just parked his red Datsun 280ZX and was standing next to a dark brown or gray older model two-door General Motors vehicle with triangular opera windows in the back and a possible malfunctioning headlight. It idling outside of their home, and Adams was conferring with its occupants. He didn't appear apprehensive. His sister assumed he went to bed after that. The next morning, Adams was discovered missing and his bed didn't appear to have been slept in. He has never been heard from again. His wallet was found on his bedroom floor; he'd evidently left it at the house that morning when he went to work.

Two people Adams knew owned a car matching the description of the one seen near his home that night. One was a coworker and the other a friend and former classmate. One of these individuals passed a polygraph test; the other was never tested. Adams's other friends, coworkers and acquaintances all passed polygraphs. Adams was not involved with drugs and didn't associate with drug users in 1987, and drugs aren't believed to be a factor on his disappearance.

Adams attended Cooper High School, where he was in the drummers and the marching band. He graduated five months early, and just prior to his disappearance he enrolled at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas to study architecture. He disappeared three weeks before he was planning to move to Lubbock to start school. He was close to his family and it's uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Adams was declared legally dead in 1994. He is presumed murdered, but no charges have been filed against anyone in his case.