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A murder charge has been dismissed against a former Horry County deputy coroner, who pleaded guilty Wednesday, Dec. 4, to two lesser crimes in connection with the shooting death of Gregory Rice of Conway in October 2020.

Christopher Dontell, 41, of Conway entered guilty pleas to single counts of conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact to murder in South Carolina鈥檚 15th Judicial District court at the Horry County Justice Center in Conway. Charges of murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping were dropped, and a seven-woman, five-man jury that had been seated to hear the case was dismissed.

Dontell disposed of Rice鈥檚 body in the Little Pee Dee River, and conspired with his then girlfriend, Meagan Jackson, to kill Rice, the father of her four children.

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Murder trial for former Horry County deputy coroner set to begin

• By Casey Jones casey.jones@myhorrynews.com

Jackson, who was in the body transport business, had stored Rice鈥檚 body at a funeral home in Myrtle Beach that she had access to, then informed Dontell of the crime and persuaded him to dispose of the body.

Evidence that would have been presented at trial pertaining to the accessory and conspiracy charges were read in the court during a plea hearing by 15th Judicial District Senior Assistant Solicitor Mary-Ellen Walter, who prosecuted the case.

The evidence included video of Dontell at a Lowes Home Improvement Center purchasing items to dispose of the body, and video of him driving to and from the place where the body was eventually found.

Other evidence included texts from Jackson to Dontell about target practice and cutting the brake line on Rice鈥檚 vehicle, and asking him to dispose of the body.

鈥淲hat happened here was what should have happened three years ago,鈥� said defense attorney Aimee Zmroczek, after the plea was accepted and the jury dismissed.

鈥淗e was always guilty of accessory to murder after the fact, and was always willing to plea to that; but he was not guilty of murder,鈥� Zmroczek said, noting Dontell wasn鈥檛 charged with the accessory count until June 12 of this year, more than three years after the body was found.

鈥淗e couldn鈥檛 plead guilty to what he did until he was charged with that,鈥� the attorney said.

Zmroczek said Dontell was manipulated by Jackson, and he regretted the affair and the crimes he committed on her behalf. "He feels terrible about it."

Dontell is expected to testify when Jackson faces murder and other charges in relation to Rice鈥檚 death, although his testimony wasn鈥檛 part of the plea deal, Zmroczek said.

Rice was shot five times, including four times in the groin area.

After he was summoned by Jackson, Dontell 鈥渢ook the body and wrapped it in a tarp and put it in the river.鈥� The body was discovered on Dec. 8, 2020, more than a month after Rice was reported missing.

Dontell鈥檚 sentencing will be delayed until after Jackson鈥檚 trial, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 10, 2025. Judge Alex Hyman told Dontell that he could face up to 20 years in prison by pleading guilty 鈥� up to five years on the conspiracy charge and up to 15 years on the accessory after the fact charge.

Walter, in a press release issued by the solicitor鈥檚 office, said 鈥渨hile the State appreciates that (Dontell) is finally accepting responsibility, it is important to note that he did not do so until the jury was sworn and the state was poised to make its opening statement, after he lost all substantive pre-trial motions.鈥�

She added: "Greg Rice was a loving dad to five children, and, because of his death, his oldest son had to assume his father鈥檚 role to his four younger siblings.鈥�

Zmroczek said that Dontell and his wife lived in the same community as Rice and Jackson, and their children played together.

She said Dontell and Jackson established a relationship in early 2020, and described Jackson as "manipulative."

Dontell has spent 1,358 days in jail since his arrest, and would be credited for time served when sentenced. Zmroczek said Dontell will not be seeking bond in the lead-up to Jackson鈥檚 trial.

Zmroczek said Dontell鈥檚 wife was present in the courtroom and is supportive of her husband.

鈥淗is wife, bless her heart, has forgiven him,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir kids are very young."