The family of the Saxonburg police chief slain nearly 40 years ago is suing the family of the man who allegedly shot him due to new evidence in the case.

Chief Greg Adams, who was 31, was killed Dec. 4, 1980, while conducting a traffic stop on Butler Street.

Donald Eugene Webb, 52, of Massachusetts was accused of the shooting, but was never caught.

Attorney Tom King, who is representing Adams' widow Mary Ann (Adams) Jones and her sons, Benjamin, 39, and Gregory Adams Jr., 37, filed a writ Thursday seeking damages in excess of $1 million from Webb; his wife, Lillian Webb; and her son, Stanley Webb.

Jones is named twice as a plaintiff — once on behalf of herself and once as administratrix of her husband's estate.

King said the civil action is based on new evidence the FBI released to the Adams family.

“This case has a lot of twists and turns,” King said.

Reminiscent of a spy movie, the apparent break in the case involves a secret room.

King said the FBI found a hidden room on the other side of a closet in Lillian Webb's house in Dartmouth, Mass.

“She had a secret room in the house,” King said.

He said the FBI, which is expected to release information later this month, also found a cane in the room. Adams was able to shoot his assailant in the leg.

“If he was hit in the leg, it's possible he will be using a cane,” King said.

Adams was shot in the chest and under an arm. He also sustained head injuries.

After being wounded, Adams reported Webb's license plate number.

Adams died en route to Butler Memorial Hospital.

Webb's car was located in Warwick, R.I., a few weeks later. He was last confirmed seen in 1981.

King said the FBI found a driver's license Donald Webb was using under the name of Lillian Webb's first husband, who died of natural causes.

At the time of the shooting, Webb was a career criminal known to use multiple aliases and was wanted by the FBI for failing to appear in court for an attempted burglary charge.

Following the shooting, Webb spent nearly 26 years on the FBI's most wanted list.

Jones expressed gratitude to the FBI and other law enforcement for not giving up on the case.

“I am eternally grateful,” she said.

Jones recalled that after the 9-11 terror attacks, the search was suspended. “I just thought it was over,” she said.

Jones credited all the investigative agencies for still working on the case nearly 37 years later.

She said the civil action is meant to get answers from the Webbs, who appear to know what happened to Donald Webb.

King agreed.

“We just want to find out where this guy is,” he said.

The filed writ was forwarded from the Butler County prothonotary to the office of county Sheriff Mike Slupe.

His office is sending the information to Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

“We spoke with the sheriff of Bristol County,” Slupe said.

Slupe said the Webbs should be receiving a visit from Hodgson's office Monday.

King said the Adams family just wants a resolution.

“We want to solve the murder and see justice done,” he said.