20/20 After Show: "Driven to Death"

Podcast: 20/20 After Show
Host: Deborah Roberts (A)
Guest: John Quinones (B)
Original air date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This After Show dives deep into the astonishing true crime case featured in the latest 20/20 episode: the murder of Greg Rice by Megan Jackson, the mother of his children. Host Deborah Roberts sits down with John Quinones, the reporter behind the investigation, to peel back the layers of a story filled with betrayal, manipulation, toxic relationships, and the rarely-seen world of body transporters. The episode provides behind-the-scenes reporting, personal reflections, and exclusive interviews—including with major figures directly involved in the saga.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The True Crime Story Unveiled (00:40–02:50)

• Setting: Horry County, South Carolina.
• Key Players: Megan Jackson (40, mother of four), Chris Dontel (Megan’s lover and fellow body transporter), Greg Rice (Megan’s ex and father of her children).
• Profession Spotlight: The little-known field of "body transport"—the people who move deceased bodies for funeral homes and coroners.
• What Drew Interest: The sheer strangeness—“It’s like a Hollywood thriller… a fantasy affair, a murder. But this is actually a true story.” — Deborah Roberts (00:25).

2. Megan Jackson’s Double Life and Family Dysfunction (03:22–05:26)

• Financial Background: Megan inherited money which she then used to ingratiate herself into Chris Dontel’s family, buying gifts and even helping pay for a pool.
• Parenting Insights: Megan was “overheard saying that she wanted to see her kids dead.” Food was scarce at home despite her wealth; the house had locks on bedrooms and windows, and her oldest daughter, Savannah, acted as caregiver.
• Quote: “From all accounts, she wasn't happy being a mother ... That’s why this job was perfect for her, because she could sneak called out at any time of the day.” — John Quinones (03:32).

3. The Affair and the Players Involved (04:32–05:27)

• The Affair: Megan and Chris start a torrid affair. Chris’s wife Erica is unaware; Megan leaves her longtime partner, Greg Rice.
• Chris's Motive: He claims the affair was mostly “for the money ... she started providing so much for them that that’s why he had an affair with her.” — John Quinones (04:44).

4. Impact on the Children (05:34–06:54)

• Savannah’s Trauma: Savannah, Megan and Greg’s daughter, provides gut-wrenching testimony about abuse and being forced to “parent the house.”
• Interview Technique: John shares his empathetic approach—talking to Savannah as a father would.
• Quote: “She was very fragile ... she really wanted to give her side because she testified at the sentencing trial for Chris Dontel.” — John Quinones (05:57).

5. The Death Mobile and Culture of Body Transport (07:10–08:26)

• Creepy Setting: John recounts riding in the “death mobile” with Chuck Benjamin, owner of the body transport company, who personifies the oddities of the profession (he sings to the dead, treats veterans with care).
• COVID-19 Surge: The company was overwhelmed during the pandemic.

6. Discovery and Disposal of the Body (08:26–10:21)

• Greg Rice’s Murder: After Greg is killed, his body is hidden at a funeral home then later dumped in the murky Little Pee Dee River, discovered by a local woman out fishing.
• Evidence: Chris Dontel caught on security cameras buying tarp, zip ties, and cinder blocks at Lowe’s.
• Quote: “Of course, there’s security cameras everywhere.” — John Quinones (09:19).

7. Police Investigation and Megan’s Interrogation (10:21–13:41)

• Megan’s Police Interview: Megan appears stoic and detailed, but inconsistencies quickly arise.
• Cell Phone & Camera Evidence: Authorities use digital evidence and traffic cameras to track Megan and Chris’s whereabouts.
• Motivation Speculation: The ultimate motive remains murky—possibly a desire to remove Greg from the picture for the affair/money.

8. The Exclusive Interview with Chris Dontel (16:13–20:20)

• After Sentencing: Post-sentencing, Chris gives his only interview to John Quinones, initially reluctant after receiving a harsher sentence than expected.
• Chris’s Defense: Claims he was manipulated by Megan, acted out of fear, not love.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • Quinones: “You had a great wife at home … Why did you continue the relationship with Megan?”
  • Dontel: “She made our lives easy. She was gonna be the answer to everything.” (17:59)
  • Quinones: “You did it for the money?”
  • Dontel: “It sounds terrible to put it that way, but yes.” (18:18)
• Erica’s Loyalty: Chris’s wife stood by him, kept his incarceration secret from their children, and remains committed to their marriage.
• Quote: “We believe that she was making our dreams come true, that she was going to fulfill even our wildest dreams. With the money.” — John Quinones (19:26).

9. The Courtroom: Shocking Testimony (22:06–24:59)

• Savannah’s Testimony: The murder trial opens with Megan’s own daughter testifying against her, describing abusive home life and shattering the expectation of familial loyalty.
• Quote: “She just looked hollow ... she said, I hope what happened to your dad happens to your sister.” — Savannah Rice (22:32–23:09).
• Emotional Fallout: Savannah, now living independently, wants no contact with her mother and is deeply traumatized.
• Child Abuse Charges Dropped: To avoid traumatizing the children further, prosecutors do not pursue additional abuse charges.

Notable Quotes & Moments

The Human Toll

• “My mom could be an evil woman.” — Savannah Rice on her mother, Megan Jackson (23:13)
• “She was very fragile … she really wanted to give her side.” — John Quinones (05:57)

The Profound Strangeness

• “There are basically, you know, Uber drivers for the dead.” — John Quinones, on body transporters (02:24)

Blunt Admissions

• Deborah Roberts on Megan’s calm under interrogation: “She’s so detailed in her explanation, but almost kind of cool and calm.” (11:15)
• Chris Dontel: “It sounds terrible to put it that way, but yes” [admitting to affair for money] (18:18)

Reflections on Forgiveness & Family Dynamics

• “She was the one that spoke up and is now doing her best to keep younger, younger children…” — John Quinones on Savannah (24:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Introduction to the story and main players | | 02:24 | The body transport profession explained | | 05:54 | Insights into Savannah’s testimony/interview | | 07:30 | Describing the "death mobile" and its owner | | 08:26 | Details surrounding Greg Rice’s murder | | 10:21 | Megan’s police interrogation segment | | 16:13 | Chris Dontel post-sentencing interview | | 17:59 | Chris admits affair was “for the money” | | 22:06 | Courtroom testimony from Savannah | | 23:13 | Savannah states: “My mom could be an evil woman” | | 24:57 | Child abuse charges discussed/dropped |

Language & Tone

The episode is analytical, yet empathetic—balancing journalistic rigor with a deep concern for the human lives affected. Both Deborah and John express astonishment at the morbid twists and heartbreak at the trauma endured by the children, particularly Savannah. The behind-the-scenes reporting brings extra emotional weight to the already harrowing crime.

Summary Takeaways

• The Megan Jackson case exposes not just a crime of passion and greed but ripples through a family already under strain, with lasting impacts on the most vulnerable.
• Rare insights into the world of body transporters underscore how ordinary, unseen professions can intersect with extraordinary criminal acts.
• The episode’s exclusive interviews and courtroom access offer new perspectives, especially hearing directly from a traumatized daughter and a remorseful participant.
• Ultimately, “Driven to Death” is a striking example of how true crime stories often reveal as much about flawed relationships, social support systems, and personal choices as about the crime itself.