Betrayal and Murder: Jackson Convicted in Ex-Boyfriend's Death

A chilling tale of a love triangle, betrayal, and murder has reached its dramatic conclusion in a South Carolina courtroom. Meagan Jackson, a former body transport worker, has been found guilty of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Gregory Rice, with the help of her lover, former deputy coroner Christopher Dontell. The verdict caps a years-long saga that involved a secret affair, a web of lies, and the shocking discovery of a body wrapped in a tarp and dumped in a river.

The prosecution painted Jackson as a "master manipulator" who sought to destroy her ex-partner and infiltrate Dontell's life and marriage. The affair between Jackson, 35, and Dontell, 37, began in 2018 while both were working in jobs that involved handling deceased bodies. At the time, Jackson was in a long-term relationship with Gregory Rice, with whom she had four children, and Dontell was married with a child and another on the way.

As their affair progressed, Jackson's behavior grew more sinister. She moved into the same neighborhood as Dontell, befriended his wife, Erica, and even sent anonymous text messages to Erica, revealing the affair and trying to frame Rice as the source.

The murder of Gregory Rice, 46, occurred in October 2020. Dontell, who had taken a plea deal in exchange for his testimony, provided the key evidence that led to Jackson's conviction. He testified that Jackson lured Rice to his home and shot him multiple times with a .22-caliber handgun. Dontell, who claimed he was afraid of Jackson, then helped her dispose of the body. He purchased cinder blocks, silver tarpaulin, and zip ties—the same items used to wrap Rice's body before it was thrown into the Little Pee Dee River.

The trial was filled with emotional testimony, including a statement read on behalf of Jackson’s own daughter, Savannah. She spoke of the immense pain the crime had caused her family, stating that they had lost both a father and a mother.

In the courtroom, Dontell's testimony was crucial. He recounted how Jackson, in a "complete nonchalance," ordered him to help dispose of the body, and threatened to kill him and his family if he spoke to anyone. This testimony, combined with phone records and surveillance footage, proved to be overwhelming for the jury.

Jackson's defense tried to discredit Dontell, arguing he was an untrustworthy witness who was only trying to save himself. However, the jury sided with the prosecution, delivering a guilty verdict. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She still faces separate charges of unlawful child neglect, which revealed that she had padlocked her children in a room and forced them to use containers for a toilet. Dontell, for his part, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and accessory after the fact, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The case serves as a stark reminder of how a seemingly normal life can unravel in a web of deceit, obsession, and violence, leaving shattered families and a community in shock.