Discovery of Webb's body called a 'bittersweet victory'
SAXONBURG — County and state law enforcement officials released details Thursday of how the case surrounding the killing of Saxonburg Police Chief Greg Adams was wrapped up, calling the case's resolution a bittersweet victory for family members and investigators.
State police Cpl. Chris Birckbichler, a patrol supervisor and cold case investigator based in Mercer County, said that investigators could only release certain details surrounding the case because of an ongoing investigation by state police in Massachusetts. But said that it was statements given by Webb's wife, Lillian, which led state police and FBI agents to Webb's grave, which was found in the yard of his wife's home in Dartmouth, Mass.
Birckbichler said that the remainder of Webb's life — he died on Dec. 30, 1999, according to his wife — was lived in seclusion at the home. Investigators believe the fatal encounter with Adams in 1980, which made Webb one of America's most-wanted fugitives for nearly 40 years, effectively ended Webb's criminal career as a small-town jewelry thief with mob connections.
“He (Webb) pretty much lived like a dog, cowering in a basement like a coward for the rest of his life,” said Birckbichler.
No members of Adams' family attended the event, but Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger reached out to them, saying he hoped that the resolution of the 37-year-old investigation into the police chief's killing would give the family some level of peace.
“I offer solemn congratulations to (Adams' family),” he said, “and I hope that they can gain some closure and move on from this tragedy.”
News broke last week that state police cold case investigators were close to locating Donald Eugene Webb, who killed Adams during a struggle after a traffic stop in Saxonburg on Dec. 4, 1980.
Goldinger, at Thursday's news conference, said that Webb lived with permanent pain and disfigurement after his encounter with Adams, who kicked him hard enough to shatter his ankle and also bit his bottom lip almost entirely off before being fatally shot in the chest by Webb.
Goldinger said that closing-out the Webb investigation was a relief for both investigators and the family, but stopped short of proclaiming that justice had been served.
“If there was any justice in this case, Adams inflicted it himself,” Goldinger said.
Subscribers can read more related stories from today's edition of Butler Eagle.
A 37-year-old mystery: http://butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209901
Life-or-death fight ended in chief's death: http://www.butlereagle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20170720/NEWS01/707209899
Wife was 'street smart': http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209897
Deal led to information: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209913
It took 3 weeks to dig the grave: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209917
Lillian Webb talks: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209911
Neighbors never knew about Webb: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209903
The dig that ended the investigation: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209915
Wife helps injured Webb following hospital stint: http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20170720/NEWS01/707209905
