A Nebraska Man Smothered His Two Children to Death. Then, He Tried to Flee the Country.

Two young children were found dead in their Nebraska home and now authorities say their father will spend the rest of his life behind bars for smothering them to death.

In May 2021, a family friend performed a wellbeing check at the family's home and discovered the bodies of Emily Price, 5, and Theodore Price, 3, according to authorities.

The check was conducted at the request of the children’s mother, police said.

According to law enforcement officials, the Bellevue police previously were called to the home, but nothing appeared to be suspicious and they did not speak with the father, Adam Price, 36, according to media reports.

However, when Mary Nielsen, the children’s mother, could not get in touch with the children by phone, she became concerned and asked a family friend to check in on them, KETV reported.

Nielsen and Price are divorced, with Nielsen living in Illinois, police said. They reportedly shared custody of the children, but each parent was to be allowed to have daily contact with the pair when they were with the other parent.

Authorities said Price was arrested in California just hours after the children’s bodies were found.

He initially was charged with felony child abuse resulting in death. Autopsy results determined the children died from asphyxiation as a result of smothering, authorities said.

“Based upon new information that we have in the case, specifically the autopsy results, we’ve upgraded or asked the court to amend those charges to first-degree murder two counts,” Chief Deputy Sarpy County Attorney Bonnie Moore said at the time, and KETV reported.

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During the trial, prosecutors showed video evidence of Price withdrawing money from Bellevue banks after he called out of work. He was then seen leaving his home and caught days later with his passport in California.

Prosecutors presented a convincing case that he had planned to kill his kids and run away, KETV reported.

In February 2024, Price was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. On May 6, a judge sentenced Price to life in prison without parole.

During his sentencing, Price claimed, "I always have and always will love my wife and kids, please pray for them."

"Nothing is going to make this nightmare go away," Sarpy County Prosecutor Gage Cobb said after the hearing. "People who love their children don’t kill their children, people who love their ex-spouse don’t kill their children."

According to KETV, Price's attorney plans on filing an appeal. Attorney Tom Strigenz said the focus will be on Price's confession to a priest, and an unexplained medical issue that delayed the trial for one day.