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“Driven to Death”: 20/20 Reports on Gregory Rice Homicide, Meagan Jackson & Christopher Dontell’s Affair October 17 2025

Ryan Gill

ABC’s 20/20 premieres a chilling two-hour episode titled Driven to Death on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 9/8c. The episode, co-anchored by Deborah Roberts, unpacks a disturbing case out of South Carolina involving betrayal, obsession, and murder. At the center of the investigation is Meagan Jackson, the mother of four children, and her secret lover, Christopher Dontell, a deputy coroner. Together, they orchestrated the violent demise of Gregory Rice, a devoted father and Meagan’s former partner.

The episode promises exclusive interviews, court footage, and insights into a case that shook the community of Conway, South Carolina. What began as a missing persons report would soon expose a dark conspiracy and a calculated plan to kill.

A Disappearance Hides a Sinister Plot

Gregory Rice vanished on October 2, 2020, near Myrtle Beach. Initially reported missing by Meagan Jackson, the case quickly raised red flags for investigators. Rice was a reliable father who remained closely involved in the lives of his children. The abrupt disappearance alarmed both law enforcement and his extended family.

As police dug deeper, they discovered a tangled web of lies. Jackson was engaged in an affair with Christopher Dontell, a married deputy coroner. Their affair had begun while working together in the death care industry—Jackson as a body transporter and Dontell as a county official. Digital evidence, including cell phone data and surveillance footage, began to point to both of them. Rice’s remains were found on November 8, 2020, in the Little Pee Dee River, wrapped in a tarp, bound by zip ties, and weighed down with cinder blocks.

The Evidence That Broke the Case

Investigators recovered extensive digital and physical evidence linking Jackson and Dontell to the crime. Cell phone records revealed that both were in the vicinity of Rice’s apartment and later at the Myrtle Beach funeral home on the night of his death. Surveillance footage from Lowe’s showed Dontell purchasing zip ties, a tarp, and cinder blocks—the very items used to dispose of Rice’s body.

Dontell’s county-issued phone also contained disturbing messages, including conversations with Jackson discussing how Rice should “suffer a popped tire” or have his “brake lines cut.” These chilling texts helped build the state’s argument that the murder had been premeditated.

Further complicating the case, Jackson and Dontell violated no-contact orders while out on bond. They were caught meeting in secret and communicating while Jackson was under house arrest. This breach led to their re-incarceration and further damaged their credibility.

A Chilling Confession in Court

In a shocking turn, Christopher Dontell agreed to a plea deal in December 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact. In exchange for the dropped murder charge, Dontell agreed to testify against Jackson.

During the trial in June 2025, Dontell described the events in graphic detail. He claimed Jackson pulled up next to Rice, opened the van door, and fired multiple shots. Dontell then helped move the body to a funeral home cooler before disposing of it in the river the next day. He admitted to purchasing the so-called “murder dump kit” and described his fear of Jackson, who he said threatened to kill him if he refused to help.

His testimony included an apology to Savannah Rice, Gregory’s daughter, who was in court. He acknowledged his role in the cover-up and the pain it caused the Rice family. Despite cooperating, the court later handed Dontell a 20-year sentence—15 years for accessory after the fact and 5 years for conspiracy, to be served consecutively.

The Trial and Life Sentence of Meagan Jackson

Meagan Jackson’s trial began on June 10, 2025. Prosecutors presented a damning case built on digital evidence, expert testimony, and first-hand accounts from Jackson’s own children. Her daughter Savannah testified that her mother’s behavior had become erratic and abusive, and that she had overheard intimate moments between Jackson and Dontell. She also recalled a disturbing comment from Jackson: “I hope what happened to your dad happens to your sister.”

Jackson chose not to testify in her own defense. Her attorneys argued that there was insufficient proof of who fired the shots and accused Dontell of manipulating the narrative to reduce his own sentence. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Jackson guilty of murder.

She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During sentencing, both Savannah and her brother spoke emotionally about the destruction of their family. Prosecutors emphasized that Jackson had orchestrated a cold, calculated murder driven by jealousy and manipulation.

Aftermath and Where They Are Now

With both perpetrators behind bars, the families affected are left to pick up the pieces.

A Story of Betrayal, Deceit, and Justice

The 20/20 special Driven to Death reveals how a toxic affair spiraled into a calculated act of murder. Through witness testimony, digital forensics, and courtroom drama, the episode paints a portrait of lives shattered by betrayal. The case stands as a grim reminder of how deeply personal decisions can lead to irreversible consequences.

Airing October 17, 2025, this episode invites viewers to witness the tragic unraveling of a family and the relentless pursuit of justice. For those seeking answers and a closer look at the case, Driven to Death will also be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.

The 20/20 special “Life on the Line” revisits a harrowing crime that should never have ended in tragedy. Through powerful storytelling and firsthand accounts, the episode underscores the human cost of a flawed emergency system and highlights how one family turned personal loss into a nationwide campaign for change. Denise Amber Lee’s legacy now lives on not only through her family, but through every 911 dispatcher who answers the call better trained and more prepared because of her story.

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