Judge revokes bond for former Horry County deputy coroner charged in missing man’s murder

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – A former Horry County deputy coroner accused of murder is back behind bars after a judge revoked his bond, according to officials.

Jail records show 38-year-old Chris Dontell was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center by Horry County sheriff’s deputies late Thursday afternoon.

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson confirmed Friday morning Dontell violated terms of his bond.

Among the conditions of the bond was an order that Dontell not have contact with his co-defendant, 36-year-old Meagan Marie Jackson, according to the solicitor’s office.

A press release stated Circuit Court Judge William H. Seals, Jr. found Dontell had violated the conditions of his bond on “numerous occasions.” He had been out of jail since May on a $150,000 surety bond.

Dontell and Jackson are both charged with murder and criminal conspiracy in the death of 46-year-old Gregory Rice.

Rice, who is the father of Jackson’s four children, was first reported missing on Oct. 5, 2020. He was believed to have been heard from three days before.

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After weeks of searching, Rice’s body was found along the Little Pee Dee River near Pitts Landing off Highway 378 on Nov. 8, 2020, authorities said.

Dontell and Jackson were arrested a few days after Rice’s body was discovered. Dontell, who had joined the Horry County Coroner’s Office in July 2018, was subsequently fired.

Jackson reportedly violated conditions of her bond in June and was returned to jail. Court documents showed she had been in contact with Dontell both through phone and text messages, and visited locations where she was not allowed to be.

No trial date has been set.

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