Mo. man pleads not guilty in shooting death
Posted: 09.21.2009 at 3:17 PM

HARRISONVILLE, MO. (AP) -- A western Missouri man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of his children's mother.

Michael Adams Jr. of Belton appeared at his arraignment Monday at Cass County Circuit Court wearing a baby blue jumpsuit, shoulder-length hair and makeup.

Police say he shot 36-year-old Amber Hartwig in the head July 14 before shooting himself and causing a superficial wound.

Hartwig was the mother of Adams' two children.

Relatives say Adams and Hartwig argued on the day of the killing about his cross-dressing.

The couple's 18-year-old daughter found her mother dead on the kitchen floor while her father, wearing women's clothing, sat on the floor smoking a cigarette.

Adams is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 19.

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