When Gregory Rice vanished in October 2020, people in Horry County, South Carolina, didn't immediately suspect a Hollywood-style thriller. Life in Conway usually feels a bit more grounded than that. But as the days turned into weeks, and a fisherman eventually found a tarp-wrapped body in the Little Pee Dee River, the story of Gregory Rice and Meagan Jackson spiraled into one of the most bizarre and chilling criminal cases the state has ever seen.
Honestly, it’s the kind of thing you’d think was too "on the nose" for a TV drama. A secret affair. A deputy coroner. A body transport van. And at the center of it all, a mother of four who prosecutors say was a master manipulator.
The Night Everything Changed for Gregory Rice
October 2, 2020, started out like any other Friday for Greg Rice. He was 38 years old and trying to navigate a messy co-parenting relationship with Meagan Jackson, the mother of his children. They weren't together anymore, but their lives were inextricably linked.
By 10:00 PM, Greg was seen at his apartment complex. Cell phone data—which always tells the truth even when people don't—showed that the last person he spoke to was Meagan. She left his complex around 10:06 PM.
Greg was never seen alive again.
Three days later, Jackson reported him missing. She played the part of the worried ex-partner. She told people he’d struggled with drug use and could be abusive. It was a narrative that seemed designed to explain away a sudden disappearance. But while she was talking to police, she was also texting her lover, Christopher Dontell.
Dontell wasn't just some guy. He was the Horry County Deputy Coroner.
Think about that for a second. The person responsible for investigating deaths in the county was allegedly helping hide one.
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A Secret Affair and a Cinder Block
The investigation into the disappearance of Gregory Rice and Meagan Jackson's involvement didn't take long to heat up. Detectives started looking at Jackson's "new" life. She had moved into a new neighborhood right after Greg "disappeared," and she was spending a lot of time with her neighbor, Christopher Dontell.
They were having a massive, messy affair. Jackson was even pregnant with Dontell's child at the time.
Then, the physical evidence started rolling in. Fishermen found Greg’s body on November 8, 2020. He had been shot five to seven times. One bullet was found in his brain. He was wrapped in a tarp, secured with zip ties, and weighed down with a cinder block.
Investigators didn't have to look far for the source of those supplies. Surveillance footage from a local Lowe’s showed the Deputy Coroner, Christopher Dontell, buying the exact same items—the tarp, the zip ties, the blocks—used to sink Greg's body.
The Body Transport Connection
One of the grimmest details of this case is how they moved the body. Jackson worked as a body transporter for funeral homes. She literally had a Honda Odyssey van equipped to carry the dead.
According to Dontell’s later testimony—granted, he was trying to save his own skin at that point—Jackson lured Greg to a spot on the road, opened the car door, and shot him several times. Then, she allegedly forced Dontell to help her lift the body into her transport van.
They didn't just dump him immediately. They took him to a Myrtle Beach funeral home and tucked him into the cooler.
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Imagine that.
The next day, while Greg’s family was wondering where he was, Jackson was reportedly showering at home and watching TV with her daughters while Greg sat in a morgue cooler.
The Trials and the Truth
The legal saga of Gregory Rice and Meagan Jackson took nearly five years to fully resolve. In December 2024, Christopher Dontell finally cracked. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and accessory after the fact, agreeing to testify against Meagan Jackson in exchange for a 20-year sentence.
He told the jury that he was "scared" of Jackson. The defense, led by attorney Case Brittain, absolutely mocked this. They called her "that little woman" and asked how a grown man, a law enforcement official, could be so intimidated.
But the jury didn't buy the defense's version of events.
During the trial in June 2025, the prosecution painted a picture of Jackson as a "master manipulator" who wanted to destroy Dontell’s marriage and keep Greg out of the picture for good. They showed text messages where Jackson talked about "popping a tire" or cutting brake lines.
The most heartbreaking moment came when Savannah Rice, Greg and Meagan’s daughter, took the stand. She broke down in tears, shaking as she described the loss of her father. It was a stark reminder that behind the "true crime" headlines, there were four kids who lost their dad and, effectively, their mom.
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Where the Case Stands Now in 2026
If you’re looking for a "twist" ending where everyone gets away, you won't find it here. On June 17, 2025, after only two hours of deliberation, the jury found Meagan Jackson guilty of murder.
The judge didn't hold back. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
As of early 2026, Jackson is serving that life sentence. Christopher Dontell is also behind bars, serving his 20-year term.
What can we actually learn from this mess? Honestly, it's a reminder that digital footprints are permanent. The license plate readers, the Lowe's surveillance, and the cell phone pings were what eventually tied these two to the riverbank.
Actionable Insights from the Rice-Jackson Case:
- Trust the Data: In modern missing persons cases, the "digital trail" (texts, pings, and CCTV) is usually more reliable than witness statements. If you're ever following a case, look for the technical evidence first.
- The Power of Immunity: Dontell's plea deal is a classic example of how prosecutors use a "smaller fish" to catch the primary actor. Without his testimony, the specifics of the funeral home cooler might never have come to light.
- Victim Advocacy: Gregory Rice's family has since filed lawsuits against the county and the individuals involved. This highlights the importance of civil litigation in seeking accountability when public officials (like a deputy coroner) are involved in crimes.
The story of Gregory Rice and Meagan Jackson ended in a South Carolina courtroom, but the impact on their four children and the local community's trust in the coroner's office will likely last for decades. It's a somber lesson in how a "secret life" can eventually destroy everyone involved.
For those following the aftermath, the next steps involve the ongoing civil suits regarding the conduct of the Horry County Coroner’s Office during that period. These proceedings aim to ensure that the systemic failures that allowed a deputy coroner to use his position to cover up a murder are never repeated.