Meagan Jackson Learns Her Fate — Coroner Affair Murder Trial

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: All right, ladies and gentlemen, I've been informed that the jury's agreed to the verdict. Anything from the staff before we bring the jury in? [00:00:15] Speaker 2: Nothing from the state, Your Honor. [00:00:16] Speaker 1: Anything from the defense? Nothing from the defense, Your Honor. All right, ladies and gentlemen, those of you who are with us, I give this instruction every time before the jury comes in. And that is simply to let you know that we cannot have any type of outburst or anything of that nature, regardless of what the verdict is. This is just simply to let you know that if you're unable to contain your emotions, you need to excuse yourself in the courtroom now. Because regardless of what the verdict is, there's going to be no display or no outburst or any sign of emotion whatsoever. All right, so if you need to be excused, you can go ahead and excuse yourself now. All right, let's go ahead and bring the jury. All right, let's go ahead and bring the jury. [00:01:24] Speaker ?: All right, let's go ahead and bring the jury. [00:01:54] Speaker 1: All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. I understand the jury's reached verdict, is that correct? All right, and have you written the verdict on the indictment, signed it as the four-person indictment? Yes. All right, if you would please hand it to the bailiff. All right, I'll ask the clerk, if you would please post the verdict. [00:02:53] Speaker 3: In indictment number 2021, G.S. 260-1191, the state of South Carolina, county of Horey versus Megan Marie Jackson, as to the charge of murder, we the jury, by unanimous consent, find this defendant guilty. Signed by four-person Jeffrey Roberts, dated June 17, 2025. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if this is your verdict, please so signify by raising your right hand. Thank you. [00:03:22] Speaker 1: I'll let the record reflect that all the jurors raised their right hand, being pulled into the jury by the defense. No, sir. All right. All right, ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for your service. All right, anything in mitigation comes with the defense. [00:03:39] Speaker 4: Now, we may have to see if she'd be given credit for the time she was in jail, all of her sons, and credit for home detention. I don't have an exact figure, but I'm looking to present that to you in my room for a strong motion. [00:03:55] Speaker 1: All right. Ms. Jackson, anything you want to say? Does anybody want to speak on your behalf? Your Honor, she wishes not to speak. All right. Do you need a prior record? [00:04:11] Speaker 2: No, Your Honor. [00:04:12] Speaker 1: All right. I'll hear from the victims. It's done. [00:04:16] Speaker 2: And, Your Honor, did you need me to address the issue of home detention or not? [00:04:20] Speaker 1: No. It's done. [00:04:28] Speaker 2: Your Honor, this is from Zachary Rice, who was the older son of Gregory Rice at the time. Once Gregory Rice was killed, Zachary Rice took custody of the four half-siblings. And he did this fairly quickly, since we did not have Webex available to him. He says, five lives completely shattered, showed no remorse, waited five years for this, just celebrated Father's Day without him again. I would like the maximum in sentencing. Took my father's life, and I want her to pay I for an I and lose hers. And then, Your Honor, if I can have Ms. Vanner, I can come up. Your Honor, she's understandably emotional. She says, Your Honor, I believe that my opinion for how long she should be sentenced does not reflect what has already been done. This crime has torn apart my family, others' families, and friends beyond any measure. My siblings and I have all suffered greatly, not only from the loss of my father, but the loss of a mother, too. The loss of our lives. We have been waiting so many years for just a bit of closure, and this is it. We will never have the chance to freely live our lives without the thoughts of what has been done falling behind us. It has become a challenge to rebuild and grow from everything that happened. There are still days where I just cry and wish I could go back in time to maybe prevent what happened. I can't do that, though, and I will forever have the thought that I can't change anything alongside me. This trial and getting up on the stand has been one of the most heartbreaking and painful things I've ever had to do. It has also been one of the most relieving and rewarding things. I finally got to say what has been sitting in my brain the last four and a half years. It was a relief finally being able to tell the truth and to go towards a cause. I believe that 50 years to life would be a sufficient amount of time. I thank you for your time, for listening to what I had to say. Thank you. Does your honor wish the state to address sentencing? [00:06:37] Speaker 1: Your honor, there's anything you want to put on the record. [00:06:40] Speaker 2: Your honor, the state is asking for the maximum term of life imprisonment. We believe that there is clear evidence that this defendant not only plotted and planned this murder, but also tried to frame the victim for things that she was doing. As Savannah said, and as I said in explaining why Zach couldn't be here, this really did destroy a number of lives. Zach was forced to take in four children, his half-siblings. As a result of them being EBC, after Megan Jackson was arrested, we believe that there is nothing short of life in prison that would address this crime. [00:07:18] Speaker 1: All right, Ms. Jackson, you have been found guilty of murder by a jury of peers. The sentence of the court, I believe it's a state. The sentence of the court is going to be committed to the Department of Corrections for the remainder of your life. You will get credit for any time, sir. All right. Thank you, your honor. Thank you. All right, anything further from the state? [00:07:42] Speaker ?: Nothing from the state, Vernon. All right. Court is adjourned. Thank you very much. Thank you, everybody.