EX-NFL star Phillip Adams left "cryptic writing and emblems" in his home before slaying six in a horrific bloody rampage, say cops.

The sportsman "had been acting differently and was possibly following a new religion or ideology," reported investigators in South Carolina.

Adams fatally shot Robert Lesslie, a South Carolina physician and author, along with three family members and two air conditioner workers in Rock Hill on April 7, 2021.

York County Sheriff's Office later carried out a search of the mass murderer's Rock Hill house.

The force reported that during the search of Phillip Adams' room, "numerous notebooks were located with cryptic writing with different designs and emblems.

"Detectives had also learned that Adams had been acting differently and possibly following a new religion or ideology."

Nine firearms were found by officers at his home, reports CNN.

The search warrant also said that investigators found three dozen casings for .45 caliber and 9mm ammunition, along with more than 20 "projectiles".

However, investigators remain baffled about the meaning – if any – of the "cryptic" writings in the dead player's notebooks.

In regards to questions over the potential impact of him being involved in "a new religion or ideology", deputy sheriff Devin Askew wrote on the search warrant: "Detective were unclear if this was a potential motive or if there was another motive involved."

According to police, the former NFL player went to the home of Robert and Barbara Lesslie and slayed them, along with two of their grandchildren, nine-year-old Adah Lesslie and Noah Lesslie, aged five.

James Lewis, a 38-year-old air conditioning technician from Gaston who was doing work there was also gunned down.

Adams also shot Lewis’s colleague, Robert Shook, 38, of Cherryville, North Carolina.

He was flown to a Charlotte hospital in a critical condition “fighting hard for his life".

Tragically Shook, who was reportedly shot multiple times by Adams, 33, died from his injuries after a three-day fight.

Adams killed himself on Thursday, April 8 with a .45 caliber weapon.

According to the sheriff's office search warrant, a "red cell phone located on the front steps was seized as evidence.

"The phone had been dropped in between the two locations of where the victims were located.

"The phone was later discovered to belong to a Phillip Adams, after detectives looked up the phone number and confirmed the connection to him."

Information showed that "he resided at 4280 Marshall Road in Rock Hill, which is within the county of York, South Carolina.

"A lawful search warrant was obtained [for his house]. The Special Weapons and Tactics team later surrounded the residence… and after hours of attempting to make contact with the suspect, the suspect was located deceased.

"The SWAT team then secured the rest of the [house] and detectives with the York County Sheriff's Office went in and continued the investigation."

They found "two firearms under the couch in the sun room", a ".45 caliber 'Tommy Gun' style firearm, and a 9mm caliber 'MP5' style firearm.

"Both of these firearms were submachine gun/rifle style firearms matching the statement made by the victim, R Shook," the report added.

The force also seized "any and all medical records including private and occupational records for Phillip Adams".

These were obtained from the Riverview Family Medicine, Rock Hill as investigators believe that "potential evidence related to the crime may be located at Riverview, and potential evidence related to a motive for the incident may be located through medical records".

The search warrant revelations come days after reporters were told that Adams would be given a CTE scan posthumously to determine if any degenerative brain disease led to his deadly actions.

Adams' family gave doctors the okay to go forward and test for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as a CTE, the brain disease commonly found in football players.

The York County coroner's office was to conduct the testing in collaboration with Boston University.

A 2017 study by the institution found that most players suffered from some degree of the disease. Results could take up to six months.

Adams' six years in NFL were filled with injuries – including to his brain.

In 2012 while playing for Oakland, he suffered two concussions over just a three-game span.

The New York Institute of Technology’s Center for Sports Medicine director Dr Hallie Zwibel told the New York Post that it was likely Adams developed CTE while playing football.

"He could have been taking hits all the time [and] only wound up with only one or two concussions, but the cumulative hits he has taken is so many that it could have made him develop a degenerative brain disease," Zwibel said.

"It really affects people to an enormous degree in their ability to enjoy relationships and friendships, to really function in the world," Zwibel added.

"They get very frustrated, understandably, with the deficits that they’re having," the doctor said.

Alonzo Adams, his dad, is adamant that "football messed him up".

"I can say he's a good kid. I think the football messed him up," the father said.

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