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Where is Meagan Jackson Now & What Did She Do? 2025 Update & Background

by · October 16, 2025

Meagan Marie Jackson became a central figure in one of South Carolina’s most shocking murder cases when she was convicted in June 2025 of killing Gregory Rice, the father of her four children. Her name, now synonymous with betrayal and manipulation, stands at the heart of a case that involved an illicit affair, a calculated killing, and the destruction of two families. But behind the courtroom headlines and media coverage lies the story of a woman whose life took a dark and irreversible turn.

Born and raised in the Carolinas, Jackson was known to friends and neighbors as a mother and healthcare worker with a background in death care. She worked as a subcontracted body transporter for the Horry County Coroner’s Office, a job that put her in close proximity to death on a daily basis. It was through this work that she met Christopher Dontell, a married deputy coroner with whom she began an affair. That relationship would ultimately lead to the murder of Gregory Rice and a cascade of criminal charges.

A Life of Upheaval and Escalating Tensions

Prior to her arrest, Jackson’s personal life was marked by instability. In 2019, she lost her mother and ended a 16-year relationship with Rice. These events triggered major upheaval in her living situation. According to family members, Jackson was left without secure housing and entered a period of emotional and financial difficulty. She moved with her children into a new neighborhood—one that placed her even closer to Christopher Dontell and his family.

What began as a working relationship with Dontell soon evolved into a secret romance. Prosecutors later revealed that Jackson was pregnant with Dontell’s child at the time of Rice’s murder. Witnesses testified that she began spreading allegations about Rice being abusive, though no formal records or charges supported those claims. Her daughter, Savannah Rice, would later testify that Jackson’s behavior grew erratic and emotionally abusive toward the children. Arrest warrants also revealed allegations of child neglect, including claims that she locked her children in a room where they were forced to urinate in jars.

By 2020, Jackson’s relationship with Rice had deteriorated further, with increasing arguments and bitterness surrounding custody and co-parenting. Jackson confided in Dontell about wanting Rice out of her life. Digital evidence presented at trial included disturbing text messages in which she fantasized about Rice’s car crashing or sabotaging his brakes—messages that prosecutors said demonstrated intent and premeditation.

The Murder of Gregory Rice and the Cover-Up

On October 2, 2020, Meagan Jackson lured Gregory Rice to a meeting spot near Flintlake Drive. According to the testimony of co-defendant Christopher Dontell, she opened the door of her van and fired multiple shots, killing Rice on the roadside. Jackson and Dontell then moved his body into her work vehicle—a Honda Odyssey used to transport corpses—and stored him in a funeral home cooler overnight.

The next day, Dontell purchased a tarp, zip ties, and cinder blocks from a Lowe’s store. He later dumped Rice’s body into the Little Pee Dee River. Surveillance footage, GPS records, and phone data confirmed their movements. Jackson reported Rice missing on October 5. A month later, his remains were recovered.

Jackson was arrested on November 11, 2020, and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and multiple counts of child neglect. While out on bond, she violated court orders by maintaining contact with Dontell. Both were re-incarcerated for these violations. Despite maintaining her innocence, the case against her continued to build.

Conviction and Where She Is Now

Meagan Jackson stood trial in June 2025. The evidence presented by prosecutors painted a picture of manipulation, control, and a calculated plan to remove Rice from her life. Her daughter Savannah testified against her, describing disturbing conversations and years of emotional trauma. Prosecutors argued that Jackson was the mastermind, and that Dontell had been manipulated into assisting her after the murder.

Jackson did not testify in her own defense. Her attorneys attempted to cast doubt on Dontell’s credibility, suggesting he may have been the actual shooter and had entered a plea deal to protect himself. The jury was unconvinced. After less than two hours of deliberation, they found Meagan Jackson guilty of murder.

She was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of October 2025, Jackson is incarcerated in a South Carolina correctional facility, where she will remain for the rest of her life. She has also been stripped of parental rights, with her surviving children left to rebuild their lives without either parent present.

The Legacy of Her Actions

The ripple effects of Meagan Jackson’s actions continue to be felt across two families and the broader community. Her affair with a married public servant, the murder of a father, and the unraveling of a fragile family system exposed deep fractures in the lives of everyone involved. For her children, Jackson’s choices represent a devastating betrayal. For the Rice family, her name will forever be tied to the loss of Gregory—a man they say only wanted to raise his children and move forward with his life.

Meagan Jackson’s story serves as a chilling reminder of how private deceit, left unchecked, can spiral into public tragedy. Behind the stoic courtroom photos and legal proceedings stands a woman whose calculated decisions led to irreversible consequences—and a life forever defined by violence and loss.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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