Tragic victim suffered head injuries
Suspected Wolverhampton murder victim Steve Adams died after receiving serious head injuries outside the Wolverhampton house where his stepson had moved less than a month earlier, it emerged today.
Suspected Wolverhampton murder victim Steve Adams died after receiving serious head injuries outside the Wolverhampton house where his stepson had moved less than a month earlier, it emerged today.
The 54-year-old was found on the path in Wood End Road, Wednesfield, at 9.10pm on Monday.
He was taken to New Cross Hospital where he died around an hour later.
A post mortem has still to establish the exact cause of death. Police launched a murder investigation, and a 20-year-old man has been helping with inquiries.
Detectives were last night granted permission to interview the suspect for a further 12 hours. That runs out today but officers could go to magistrates for more time before deciding whether to charge or release him.
Today, it also emerged that Mr Adams's stepson Jason, and his girlfriend Amy started to lodge with him shortly before the birth of the young couple's first child, also called Jason, nine days ago.
The couple had previously lived with Mr Adams, his wife Chris and her other son Darren at the family's home less than 100 yards along Wood End Road.
Amy returned there to have her baby on February 15. Darren, a 28-year-old garden centre sales assistant, said: "They moved down the road because there was more space. Dad was very pleased with the baby. It was his first grandchild. He was the best dad in the world.
"He loved his music, his family and his two dogs called DJ and Candy. This has come as a terrible shock to us all, especially my mum, but she is being brave."
Last night, police forensic experts were still combing the scene of the tragedy for clues while uniformed officers stood guard outside the property and the nearby home where Mr Adams, a Wolves fan, lived with his family.
Friends said that earlier in the evening, the keen karaoke singer had been drinking at the Cross Guns pub in Lichfield Road where he had also held a family party to celebrate his birthday on February 13. Staff at the pub declined to comment but Peter Moore, 41, a close friend for 23 years, said: "He was very popular – everybody knew him in Wednesfield. Karaoke singing was a hobby of his, and he particularly liked songs from the 70s and 80s. He sang a few of them at his birthday party."
Friends said he had previously worked at Hawks Bar, now B4, in Bilston and has also had jobs as a auto polisher and fairground worker. He had been married to Chris for almost 17 years.
Neighbour Linda Percival, 49, said: "I last saw Steve in the street on Monday night.
"I asked how he was, and he replied 'I am on top of the world and feeling great.'
"Two hours later, he was dead. This has devastated us all."
