Episode 276

Summary

Sword and Scale - Episode 276 Summary

Release Date: November 3, 2024
Host: Sword and Scale
Title: Episode 276

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Introduction

In Episode 276 of Sword and Scale, host Mike Boudet delves deep into a harrowing true crime case that intertwines love, betrayal, and murder. This episode unravels the tragic story of Carol and Reggie Sumner, a couple who rekindled their high school romance after decades of separation, only to fall victim to a calculated and brutal crime orchestrated by individuals they considered friends.

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Background of Carol and Reggie Sumner

Carol and Reggie Sumner's love story began in a quaint South Carolinian town during the early 1960s. They started dating at 15, embodying the quintessential high school romance. However, Reggie's military service disrupted their plans, leading them down separate paths. Carol endured an abusive marriage with Richard, who not only struggled with alcoholism but also violently attacked her, leaving her with lasting scars. Despite these hardships, Carol's resilience saw her survive liver cancer in the late 1990s, further shaping her into a strong, determined woman.

Reggie's life was equally tumultuous. Growing up as the seventh of eleven siblings, he assumed a father-like role after his biological father died in a motorcycle accident. His dedication to his family and community made him a beloved figure among his relatives and neighbors.

After years apart, a fateful phone call in 2000 reunited Carol and Reggie, rekindling their love. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to be near Reggie's ailing friend, creating a life filled with happiness despite their ongoing health struggles.

Notable Quote:

"It's like finding a favorite blanket tucked away in the closet. They already knew and trusted each other."
— Mike Boudet [10:15]

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The Crime: Robbery and Murder of the Sumner Couple

On July 8, 2005, Carol and Reggie Sumner became victims of a heinous crime. Tiffany Cole, along with her accomplices Michael Jackson, Bruce Nixon, and Allen Wade, exploited the Sumners' kindness. The Sumners had recently sold Tiffany an extra vehicle under favorable terms, creating a bond of trust and gratitude.

Tiffany, harboring ulterior motives, orchestrated a plan to rob the Sumners. On the night of the crime, Tiffany and Michael waited outside while Allen and Bruce entered the Sumner home. They bound Carol and Reggie with duct tape, securing them in the trunk of a Lincoln Town Car. Contrary to initial claims by Michael, the couple was not immediately killed. Instead, they were buried alive in a pre-dug shallow grave, leading to their tragic deaths by asphyxiation.

Notable Quotes:

"You shouldn't need to shout into the void to get your health insurance questions answered."
— Rhonda Branson [00:16]

"I would like to Tell you about my brother and his wife Carol..."
— Tiffany Cole [08:10]

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Investigation and Rhonda Branson’s Struggle

Rhonda Branson, the Sumners' daughter, became frantic when her parents went missing. Battling her own struggles, including raising a younger brother and coping with her mother's liver cancer, Rhonda faced immense challenges while trying to locate her parents. Her numerous calls to the Jacksonville Police Department were met with bureaucratic delays and ineffective communication, intensifying her desperation.

Notable Quote:

"Foul play was becoming obvious. You don't need a little badge for that."
— Mike Boudet [23:30]

Rhonda's relentless efforts eventually led to the discovery of her parents' fate. The investigation revealed the lack of coordination among law enforcement agencies, which initially hindered the timely resolution of the case.

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The Perpetrators: Tiffany Cole, Michael Jackson, Bruce Nixon, and Allen Wade

Tiffany Cole:
A young woman grappling with personal turmoil, Tiffany's manipulation of the Sumners was fueled by her desire to escape her troubled life. Her deceptive facade masked her true intentions, leading her to exploit the Sumners' generosity.

Michael Jackson:
Not to be confused with the pop icon, this Michael Jackson was a cunning individual involved in the planning and execution of the crime. He believed he could outsmart law enforcement but ultimately failed, revealing inconsistencies in his statements.

Bruce Nixon and Allen Wade:
Both were young men dealing with their own hardships. Bruce, nearing adulthood and struggling to provide for his child, was coerced into the scheme. Allen, coping with the absence of his parents and his mother's health issues, found himself entangled in the criminal act.

Notable Quote:

"You just killed two people in your mind. You digging a hole, man, you gonna be like lightning."
— Michael Jackson [53:34]

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Interviews and Confessions

During the investigation, interviews with the perpetrators revealed conflicting accounts of the crime. Tiffany and Michael's testimonies were riddled with inconsistencies, while Bruce Nixon, overwhelmed by fear, eventually provided crucial information leading to the identification of the burial site.

Notable Quote:

"I can tell you right now, you won’t get anything out of it... There's no opportunity whatsoever."
— Tiffany Cole [54:36]

Despite their attempts to obfuscate their involvement, evidence such as crime scene photos and testimonies led to their convictions.

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Trial and Sentencing

In a gripping trial that captivated the community, Tiffany Cole was found guilty of first-degree murder with a jury recommendation of the death penalty (9-3 vote). Michael Jackson received a similar sentence, while Bruce Nixon, having cooperated with authorities, was sentenced to 45 years in prison instead of a life sentence. Allen Wade, due to mitigating circumstances, also received a death sentence but later had it commuted following a Supreme Court ruling requiring unanimous decisions for the death penalty.

Notable Quote:

"If you want to stop after that, I can't think you're old enough to make that decision for yourself, Bruce."
— Tiffany Cole [61:54]

Following the trial, Tiffany faced an unconstitutional sentencing due to the lack of unanimity in the jury's decision. Subsequent legal proceedings are anticipated to address these violations, potentially altering the outcomes for the convicted individuals.

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Conclusion

Episode 276 of Sword and Scale paints a poignant picture of how genuine love and unwavering kindness can be exploited, leading to unimaginable tragedy. The Sumner couple's story is a testament to resilience and the complexities of human relationships, while the perpetrator's downfall underscores the perils of deceit and manipulation. As the episode closes, it reflects on the unpredictable nature of fate and the enduring impact of such crimes on all involved.

Final Thoughts:

"Fate was about to step in yet again and claim the lives of the killers as well."
— Mike Boudet [68:37]

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Disclaimer:
This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and is intended for mature audiences.

For more true crime stories, visit SwordandScale.com and subscribe to the podcast for the latest episodes.

Transcript

[Mike Boudet]

If you know your party's extension, press or say 1.

[Tiffany Cole]

To leave a message in our company.

[Mike Boudet]

Mailbox, press or say 2.

[Tiffany Cole]

Spoiler alert.

[Mike Boudet]

It will be full representative.

[Tiffany Cole]

Would you speak to your mother in that tone?

[Mike Boudet]

Speak to a real human being.

[Rhonda Branson]

You shouldn't need to shout into the void to get your health insurance questions answered.

[Detective]

Pacific Source Health Plans. This is a real person. How can I help you? Human service, not automated phone trees. Pacific Source Health Plans.

[Tiffany Cole]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and.

[Mike Boudet]

Violence and is not intended for all audiences.

[Tiffany Cole]

Listener discretion is advised. Listen, I don't know what to do if I tell you this. Well, I don't want to go to prison.

[Mike Boudet]

Hello and welcome. This is C season 11, episode 276 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. Ever take a road trip for a couple days, or maybe even weeks? I have. Those days were fun. Gotta admit, trading in the brand new sports car for an SUV so I could pack my dog Ollie with all of my worldly possessions and head north from South Florida. One of the best things I've ever done in my life, to be quite honest. One of the most rewarding, enjoyable times of my life. And things happen on trips like that. You run into delays like traffic jams, detours, bad weather. I got stuck in a hurricane and had some shenanigans happen in a men's bathroom in northern Florida. And no, it's not what you're thinking. But the point is that all kinds of things happen. Sometimes you lose your wallet or your keys or you lock yourself out of your car, and pretty soon the trip you're on isn't even close to the one you've imagined in your head, in your cabeza. Sure, you've met some cool people and even eaten at the dingy diner at the corner of Nowhere. Food was fucking great. But you missed out on a few really important things, too, because life just threw a few curveballs your way. And everybody knows. Everybody that's been on this earth for more than three seconds knows that happens. But it usually ends up okay in the end. Usually. In a quaint South Carolinian town In the early 60s, the love story of a married couple named Carol and Reggie unfolded like a fairy tale. Their tale began during high school, when they were just 15 and started dating. The classmates soon became the ideal couple, inseparable and deeply in love. Nothing like that. High school love. It's life or death, for some. Graduation in 1962 was supposed to mark the beginning of their married life, but Reggie's Call to military service disrupted their plans. Somewhere in the midst of this, they took different roads and went their separate ways. Carol, resilient and determined, found security in a job in the nearby Air Force base and briefly explored another marriage before eventually marrying a man named Richard. Unfortunately, Richard's struggles with alcoholism cast a dark shadow over their relationship. A domineering and abusive figure, he harbored an intense desire to keep Carol within his grasp. Any hint of independence from her would trigger merciless beatings. Regrettably, their young daughter saw a lot of the explosive scenes. Her father's anger and chaos seemed to dominate their family home. Carol mustered every fiber of strength she had and filed for divorce in 1987. The late 90s brought another cruel twist of Carol's life. With a diagnosis of liver cancer, her courageous battle left her a survivor, but one with a lifetime of daily medication and regular checkups. What a consistent horror. Cancerous. To accommodate her medical needs, she took a job at a call center, answering phones for the local cable company, where she could continue to work in a way that wasn't physically demanding. Reggie also had his share of life's challenges, including a marriage that eventually ended and a number of health problems of his own. Years passed for both Carol and Reggie until a fateful day in 2000. Carol, working at the call center, received a call from a familiar voice. Her body trembled at the sound because it was Reggie. He had no idea he was speaking to Carol, but she recognized the voice belonging to the love of her life. This mere phone call triggered a reconnection with her high school sweetheart. After 38 years of separation, can you even imagine? Their reunion was sweet and profound, leading to daily meetings, moving in together within weeks and exchanging vows in just a couple of months. I mean, it's not like they didn't have years to think about what they were missing. Rhonda, Carol's daughter, vividly remembered her mother's happiness that day and how the couple's love story came back to life. Despite their challenging medical histories, they found solace in each other, creating a life filled with happiness and love and comfort. They settled into Reggie's home in Charleston, partly to be near an ill friend who also needed their help. Carol's daughter felt like she truly had a father and a loving family. Carol and Reggie's love story, marked by tragedy and triumph, continued as they took each day as it came with gratitude for the love they had finally found in each other. This is Reggie's brother talking about both him and his sister in law, Carol.

[Tiffany Cole]

I would like to Tell you about my brother and his wife Carol. Reggie and Carol were the most innocent, kind hearted and wonderful members of my family. They were good neighbors, they were kind and they were trustworthy. They helped those that were in need and they had the gift of hospitality. Reggie would give you the shirt off his back if you knew you needed it. They were givers, they were contributors to society. We were raised in a large family. Reggie was a life of the family. He was a party of family reunions. He was always funny. Telling jokes and keeping people happy was his trademark. He would always insist on paying bills at a restaurant and he had a habit of showing up at your door unannounced with goodies and cheers. He was a wonderful brother. Reggie had a rough grown up in a house of 11 brothers and sisters. He was the seventh child of the Sumner family. He was the baby. Our father was killed in a motorcycle accident when Reggie was just six weeks old. At 32, my mother was a widow with seven children. She remarried and had four more children. Mr. Clark, our stepdad, passed away in 1953 and as the older brothers and sisters were moving out, getting married or joining the military, Reggie stepped up to the plate and became the father like figure and helped raise the younger siblings. He's been such a good leader. He always set the wonderful example for everyone. He was so loved by his siblings. Reggie was retired from CSX Railroad and although he and Carol were in poor health, they loved each other.

[Mike Boudet]

They loved staying together in love and relationships. Many people, myself included, run through several partners trying to find the right one. It's not easy. I think that's pretty obvious. You make a lot of mistakes along the way. Often circumstances, timing or personal growth lead people to just settle. Life has a habit of moving on and sometimes even getting in the way. So sometimes it's just easier to find comfort, stability and companionship in marriages that didn't start up or end up like Reggie or Carol's. Unlike fairy tales, it's a rare couple who meet and marry in high school without divorcing just a few years later. But rare and extraordinary love stories like theirs do exist. I happen to know firsthand. And yes, I know how lucky I am. Two people who have been through it, marriage and divorce, and then rediscovered each other after decades. They become even more extraordinary when they stay together until their golden years of retirement. Finally, they get to spend quality time with their loved ones, free from all the immaturity and the bullshit that goes with any relationship at any point. When you've worked on yourself through trial and error for decades and you finally meet someone else that has done the same thing. It's kind of magical. This is how Carol and Reggie felt about each other. Like their love was the rarest in the world and they were the luckiest people on earth.

[Tiffany Cole]

Reggie and Carol dated in high school.

[Detective]

And many years later they connected and got married.

[Tiffany Cole]

They lived in Charleston and by this.

[Detective]

Time we lived in Jacksonville. Carol was easy going person and a good cook.

[Tiffany Cole]

She kept Reggie well fed and enjoyed.

[Detective]

The good food and the good cook. She was the first time I visited them when they lived in Ladson, South Carolina.

[Tiffany Cole]

I spent a couple nights with them on that trip. There again, Reggie became the neighborhood big brother, dad and friend.

[Detective]

Reggie and Carol were only married a few years.

[Mike Boudet]

A few years with Reggie already seemed like a blissful lifetime compared to what Carol had to put up with in her longest second marriage to Richard. Being married to this tyrant made meeting Reggie all the sweeter. One afternoon back in the past, when Carol was at home with just her daughter Rhonda, Richard, who was now her ex, had decided to carry out a bit of a nefarious plan. You see, Richard was depressed and he didn't want to live anymore. So, you know, if he wasn't going to be on this earth anymore, then neither would his wife Carol. So that afternoon he entered the home, started an argument and shot Carol multiple times in front of their 10 year old daughter. Gunshots shattered the tranquility of their home and the vicinity. Neighbors knew something bad was happening, so they called police immediately. Emergency responders rushed Carol to the hospital where her life hung in the balance. Miraculously, she emerged from this whole ordeal. But her right eye bore the scars of the tragic incident. For the next year, 10 year old Rhonda was compelled to act as her mother's nurse, pulling her back from the brink of death. After the trauma of her abusive marriage and nearly losing her life, Carol had strong doubts about getting involved with anyone ever again. That is, until she reunited with Reggie, who brought a ray of light into her life. It was like finding a favorite blanket tucked away in the closet. One that you thought you had accidentally thrown away. They already knew and trusted each other. They already knew who they were. They had known for decades. Yet as the years unfolded, an unforeseen tragedy loomed. Little did they know that their love story would face yet another poignant chapter. A chapter that would include burying their love forever. In rural South Carolina during the 1960s, Carol and Reggie's teenage love was abruptly interrupted when Reggie answered the call of military service, leading Them on separate paths. Carol faced some pretty tough years previously living through an abusive marriage to Richard, who mercilessly shot her numerous times in front of their 10 year old daughter before ending his own life. Such a horrible thing to experience. Such a selfish prick. You have to be to do that to someone you claim to love. Carol's next challenge would be battling liver cancer in the late 1990s. As life's winding path unfolded, Reggie too faced challenges, including the end of a marriage. Remarkably, Fate intervened in 2000, reuniting Carol and Reggie after 38 years. They picked up right where they left off and were the happiest they'd ever been. But fate was about to force the loving couple into a dark detour. The couple were now living in Jacksonville, Florida, where they relocated to be near some of Reggie's family, while Carol's daughter remained in South Carolina.

[Detective]

Yes, I am in Charleston, South Carolina, and I need someone to go to my mother's home to see if she is alive. If she's there, I can't reach her. Does she have a health problem? Yes, she's got liver cancer and her husband is a severe diabetic. 2015 Reed Avenue. When was the last time we spoke with her? Tuesday morning. What's her name? Her name is Carol Sumner. Still white female. Yes. And her husband is Reggie, but he's, he's, he. He's bedridden, so he walks into the door.

[Mike Boudet]

Rhonda had just embarked on a lengthy mission to locate her mom and stepdad. A long journey that was just beginning.

[Detective]

And I'll lucky I've left probably 12 messages today alone. And they, they're both sort of hard of hearing, so I need somebody to really, really beat on the door. I just feel something's wrong at that point.

[Mike Boudet]

She was told she couldn't file a missing persons report over the phone and that she would need to call the Jacksonville police to make arrangements.

[Detective]

May I help you? Well, I need to file a missing person's report and I'm out of town. Can I do it over the phone?

[Tiffany Cole]

Okay.

[Detective]

Ma'am, who is missing? I'm sorry, Ma'am, who is missing? My mother and her husband. Okay. And why? You said they're missing them. What's going on? Nobody has heard or seen from, seen them or heard from them since Friday. They are in very poor health. And Officer Nelson spent several hours last night over at their home and he said that it was just, you know, it looked like they had been left, but they left the dog there and the dog is inside and something's wrong. She hasn't called me in over a week. And nobody. The last time they were seen or heard from was Friday, and Officer Nelson told me I needed to file a missing person's report, but I'm in Charleston, South Carolina. Okay. Is there anybody here that can file reports for them here in Jacksonville? No. Does anyone here have a key to their residence? Yes, I do. I mean, here in Jacksonville? No. The door was unlocked. Officer Nelson was in their house? The door was unlocked. He was inside their house? Yes. Okay. Why was the report filed last night? I called Jacksonville Police Department last night to have an officer go to their house. Why was the report out last night?

[Mike Boudet]

Exactly. That's what Rhonda wanted to know. Why wasn't a report filed? They were both disabled, hadn't responded to calls for days, and left the dog alone again. She was passed on to another dispatcher when she asked for Officer Nelson, the officer who actually entered the home and saw that her parents were gone.

[Detective]

Hello, ma'am? Yes, this is Ms. Franson. Yes. Okay. Did you talk to the officer yesterday? Yes, ma'am, I talked to him numerous times last night. He was. He went to the house and he said the door was unlocked and the dog was still inside. He got a little dog and he stayed there several hours trying to. He found her address book and he called the sister in law to find out if anybody heard of someone. And the last time anybody has seen or heard from them was Friday. And they are in very. She's being treated for liver cancer. And he's a diabetic. But he went into the house. He was. Yes, he was in the house because I'm sure he made a report, but I don't know if it's a missing person report. Let me check. He said he did not file a missing person's report. And that's what I'm calling to do now. Okay, and where are you at? I'm in Charleston, South Carolina, trying to get down there. Are you driving now? What do you mean by trying? No, I'm trying to make a raise to get there. I've got two small children, so I'm trying to make the races to get down there, but I don't want to. If I get in at midnight, I don't want to. You know, I'd like to get it filed as soon as possible because something's wrong.

[Mike Boudet]

My God. Don't ever lose your disabled parents in another state, I guess.

[Detective]

He also was able to retrieve the license tag number of their car because their car was also missing. They have a South Carolina driver's license in the South Carolina. Drop a license tax that they just moved to Florida. And he was able to retrieve that information, and he told me I needed to report the car stolen. Okay. I'm thinking. And they're not, are they. They're not going to hospice or anything like that? No. I've called every. I've called probably nine hospitals in that area and. And tried to be. If they had admitted or treated, and nobody. Nobody had them in their. In their system. Officer Nelson was able to retrieve information about if an ambulance had transported them, and that came up negative or what. You know, the ambulance did not visit the house. Right. There's not sense that they are just. And my mother and I are very close. We talk every single day. Every day. And I've not heard from her since Monday. I'm sorry. Last Tuesday. Last Tuesday morning after the Fourth of July, she called me, and I've not talked to her since then. And I figured that maybe they were sleeping or something. And then finally yesterday, I called the police department to have an officer go over there and see where I. They were dead. I didn't know. Right. The house was unlocked. The car was missing. And who said that the house right next door, either yesterday or the day before had been burglarized? And with me being a state and a half away, I'm. I'm very near. So did he make contact with the neighbors? He. He said he did, but I don't. The last time. He said the neighbors saw a light on Friday, and that's what I'm saying. The last time they were heard or seen was on Friday.

[Mike Boudet]

Foul play was becoming obvious. You don't need a little badge for that. The neighbors just had their house broken into. Poor Rhonda knew something was really wrong, but found herself answering 20 questions with each operator she reached. But the next question just seemed silly. She wanted to know if they had maybe just gotten in the car and gone on vacation.

[Detective]

No. Absolutely not. Not without calling me. He's a diabetic. His health is extremely poor. He's got a broken leg. She has an IV suture to her arm for her chemotherapy. I mean, it's not like they can just. They're not bedridden, but it's not like they can just get up and go. They're just. They're. She's got liver cancer. They're extremely ill. What. What's your last name, Miss? Branson. My last name is Branson.

[Mike Boudet]

What's your last name, Ms. Branson? Give that Just a second. Did you get the joke yet? Nah. Maybe you don't belong here then.

[Detective]

Would I also file a missing. The car missing with that person? Yeah, if you have the tag number and all that. No, Officer Nelson retrieved it from South Carolina records or whatever, but I don't know, it can be added on later. But if somebody took them and. And they're, you know, dumped them somewhere and they got the car, I mean, we might find the car before we find them, Right? I see what you're saying, but I don't have any way to. He didn't make a note in the record of. No, I don't see it. Any idea when he'll be back on duty? Seven o'clock tonight.

[Mike Boudet]

We've all been there, right? Stuck in a chat message loop or automated phone tree or pushed through from one person to the next. You all have Comcast, right? All for a simple question. But this was about her missing parents, not about her cable bill. Every passing second could be a crucial second. Rhonda was desperately trying to make arrangements for her children so she could make the seven hour drive to Jacksonville, Florida. She asked for any officer to call her as soon as possible and what the address of the police department was so she could go there herself. But then she was directed to go straight to the house of her parents. The next call you hear is the one Rhonda made once she reached Jacksonville.

[Detective]

Mr. Condon? Yes. I need to have an officer out, please. I need to file a missing person's report. What's the address, ma'am? 2015 Reed Avenue. Our computer's gone. Okay. Who's missing, ma'am? My mother, her husband. What's your name? Rhonda Branson. Did you already call in a report? No, I haven't. I called in a report and I, I live in Charleston, South Carolina and I just came into town and I was told to call when I got here and I'm here and I need an officer here so I can follow the report.

[Mike Boudet]

Every time she spoke with a new 911 operator, she was asked the same repetitive questions, leaving her caught in a whirlwind of frustration when all she wanted to do was locate her parents as quickly as possible.

[Detective]

What we're trying to do is we. We have your call in the system already. Seemed like somebody said, oh, had you set up to have an officer to come talk to you? We're trying to figure out your parents. Have you reported both of them missing? Your mother and her husband? Yeah. Okay. How long have they been missed it? Since Friday. Since Friday. Were they in a car? Yes. As far as. I don't know. I live in Charleston, South Carolina, and I. Okay. They don't have any other relatives here? No. Okay. And you're in Jacksonville now? I'm at their house. You're at the house now? Yes. Okay. What's your. Okay. What's your mother's name? Carol Sumner. Okay. How old is she? She is 62. 62 year old. White or black female? White. White female. What's the husband's name? James Reginald Sumner.

[Tiffany Cole]

How old is he?

[Detective]

Nine. 1843 is his birthday. What kind of car were they lasting driving? Bluetown Car. Lincoln Town Car. Blue Lincoln Town Car. Do you know the tag number on that? Yeah. Ma'am, is the officer going to come out? Yes, ma'am, but I still need to put this information out so we. Bologna. Can we please? Listen, Ms. Branson, you may be upset, but we are doing our job and this is what we have to do. Because if they're missing that long and they're probably lost, we could have put a BOLO out. And if anybody see them somewhere else in the city, they can notify the officer that's on the way. So that's why I'm getting this information. I don't know the tag number, Officer. You don't know the tag number? Go ahead. Officer Nelson was able to retrieve the tag number from South Carolina. I didn't get it from him. He knows he got it.

[Mike Boudet]

Interesting that one of the reasons her parents had been missing for so long was that no one in the system was communicating with each other. Every call she made to 911 or the police was, like, starting all over again. Entering a new ticket in your customer support system. Ah, the efficiency of government. And then this lady gets an attitude with her on top of everything. By this time, Rhonda was exhausted. Wouldn't you be?

[Tiffany Cole]

That's what I want.

[Detective]

Sheriff's office. Matt. Yeah, I called one hour ago. A police officer was supposed to come out to the house. I can file a missing person's report.

[Tiffany Cole]

Address?

[Detective]

2015 Reed Avenue.

[Tiffany Cole]

2015 Reed Avenue.

[Detective]

Yes. One moment.

[Tiffany Cole]

Let's see what's going on.

[Detective]

Now.

[Tiffany Cole]

Were they supposed to come out there to you or were they supposed to.

[Detective]

Call you back over the phone? Yeah, there's something. Yes, 2050. No, 2015. 2015. I came in. I can't. I called from the driveway the second I drove in. Hold on just a second. Let me get your supervisor. Okay. Okay, thank you. Yes, hello? Yes. Yes, I'm waiting on an Officer to meet me at my mother's house so I can file a missing person's report. I call it 340. Okay. What's your address? 2015 Reed Avenue. Okay.

[Mike Boudet]

What Rhonda didn't know was that her parents kindness and generosity had backfired on them. As happens to good people from time to time, especially in the world we live in today. It's always someone trying to take advantage of you in one way or another. Just look around. Just look at those plus prices. Am I right? Remember that the neighbor's home had just been robbed. That was now becoming the assumption with Carol and Reggie. Their disappearance was in fact tied to a burglary, but not by the same burglars who entered the neighbor's home. Weird. The couple had very recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near relatives and also one of Reggie's closest friends who was dying of cancer. This man was divorced because he'd been in prison. His daughter Tiffany was living with her mom at the time. Tiffany was a good student, a cheerleader and a band member. But she also had a lot of demands at home, like basically raising her younger brother. By the 10th grade, she had tired of all of this and was starting to hang with the wrong drug using crowd when she discovered that her dad was ill and no one was around to help him. It was a win win situation. She would go stay with him and she would escape her demanding life. Within that time, she met the Sumners, Carol and Reggie. They could see that she had a kind heart and a helpful mindset. After all, she was supporting her dad in his time of need despite having serious health conditions of their own. They had also been helping out their friend Tiffany's dad in his struggles. The Sumners, in their extreme generosity, knew that Tiffany needed a car. So they sold her their extra vehicle. Not only did they give her a sweet deal, but they also let her make payments on the car with no interest. During their conversations, the Sumners made the ultimate mistake of discussing their finances with the girl they thought they could trust. The one that was doing drugs. Tiffany returned to her South Carolina home after her father died months later. But she remembered that the Sumners extended an open invitation to their home anytime she'd like to come and stay. She took them up on this directly after making the wrongest of wrong turns in her entire life. Hooking up with Michael Jackson at Myrtle Beach. And while hooking up with Michael Jackson was always a bad idea. This is not the same Michael Jackson you're thinking of. Apparently it's a pretty Common name. This one didn't have a glittery glove and a couple of weird dance moves. And also an affinity for children. This one was a little different, starting with the fact that he was white. And this particular Michael Jackson was even shadier than the one you already know and love, because when he robbed her, he stole her heart.

[Michael Jackson]

The girl was feeling me, but I wasn't feeling her. It wasn't like that. I don't want to. I don't want to be in the same room as you.

[Tiffany Cole]

How long you been hanging out with her, man?

[Michael Jackson]

I met that girl. Yeah, I met this girl, man. South Carolina. Met this girl, man. I robbed a girl, man. That's how I met her, man. Well, I didn't even rob her, man. It was just like, yeah, I robbed her, but it wasn't like robbing her, you know what I'm saying? She had a little black box, had coke in it, weed in it, and a bunch of money in it. But I was in her room. She didn't, you know, let me in the room. So technically I stole it. But, I mean, you know, whatever is whatever. And I mean, you're not gonna call, hey, this man just stole my dope. You know what I'm saying? You ain't gonna call and say no like that. I gave the coke away, gave weed away, kept it like 800. And I kept 800. But I messed up because she had my cell phone number because me and her chilled earlier that day. And then she called me, like, bring my box back. And I'm just click. I ain't talking to that girl. I ain't even answering the phone, texting me. I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do this. I'm just. You don't even know me, you know.

[Tiffany Cole]

When was that, though? I mean, how long have you known Tiffany?

[Michael Jackson]

Since May.

[Tiffany Cole]

Since May.

[Michael Jackson]

And that. Like I said, that shit started in a week. Later, she calls me, hey, I just want to talk to you. I talked to her. And then.

[Tiffany Cole]

This is Tiffany's dub. You saw Tiffany's box?

[Michael Jackson]

It was. Yeah, it had coke in it. She thought she was a little drug dealer, man. She had a little bit of a.

[Tiffany Cole]

It was all Tiffany's. Yeah, yeah.

[Michael Jackson]

It was like half ounce of coke, some hydro weed, and the cash I gave. Like I said, you can check my record. I got no drug problem. No drug record, no nothing. I was never in the drug. Everybody keep asking me, man, y'all must have been on crack or something, man. I ain't never been in the drugs, man. But Nah, I gave the dope away and kept the money, and that was it. And then, like I said, a week later, man, you're hanging.

[Tiffany Cole]

I know.

[Michael Jackson]

That shit's crazy, isn't it? I mean, it's ironic as hell, but. And then, like I said, man, when the whole thing started, this, man, like I said, man, Tiffany knew these people, man. She knew they had money.

[Mike Boudet]

True, Tiffany was making poor choices even before Michael Jackson came along. But her infatuation with this stereotypical bad boy intensified matters. Things escalated fast. Whether she really wanted to take the money or was just trying to impress Michael, the result was the same.

[Tiffany Cole]

How do you get from that to let's go get their money?

[Michael Jackson]

Because when somebody comes up to me and says, look, there's over $100,000 at stake, you know what I'm saying? There's over $100,000. Supposedly they sold a townhouse for like 90 something thousand. And, you know, this, this, and this. And I'm just sitting there listening to this shit. And at first in my mind, it's like, yeah, yeah, whatever. But then again, at the same time, you ain't just gonna steal somebody credit card And Jack, no $90,000, you know what I'm saying? Without a motherfucker picking up a phone, say, hey, are you. Are you Credit card company gonna call and say, are you meaning to take this money off? You know what I'm saying? That's common sense. So it's like, no, no, no, no. I can. I can do this perfect. You know what I'm saying? They know me. They trust me. This, this, and this. Hey, look, I'll do the credit card. Y'all get the card. I'm down with whatever, you know what I'm saying? I'll do the rest. I got my computer, I'll do the rest. Y'all get the card. Don't matter. I'll go to the atm, I'll show my face. I mean, come on, that. That's bold, you know what I'm saying? That's bold.

[Tiffany Cole]

I'm.

[Michael Jackson]

You know what I'm saying? So it's like, y'all do whatever, I'll do the rest. I mean, man, that's another thing. A murder. I'm not gonna show my face sound.

[Tiffany Cole]

But don't you already know they're dead? Yes. Okay, before you go to the atm. Yes. Okay. You already know they're dead. No, no, no running ATM with them alive.

[Mike Boudet]

By the time Michael and Tiffany put the Sumner's money into their own hands, the couple was indeed dead. But Michael And Tiffany weren't the only ones who benefited. Two other players were in the mix. Bruce Nixon and Allen Wade. Allen Wade was 18 years old and living with his mom, who was doing the best she could to keep him out of trouble. Here she talks about a call she received from middle school when he was just a preteen.

[Rhonda Branson]

He never got over me leaving his dad. He never got over his dad leaving him. He had missed so much school, even though I was dropping him off in the morning, that I either had to withdraw him from school or I was going to end up in jail. That's what they told me. So I withdrew him from school in the eighth grade.

[Mike Boudet]

A separate phone call resulted in even more dire consequences.

[Rhonda Branson]

They said he had said he was going to commit suicide. I drove out there immediately and I talked to one of the counselors or a teacher or somebody, and the police were there. They were chasing him through the neighborhood because he had left the school grounds. And when they finally found him, they. Baker acted him.

[Mike Boudet]

The Baker act is a law that allows parents or authorities to place children in psychiatric facilities if they present harm to themselves or others coming from South Florida. I know all about the Baker Act.

[Rhonda Branson]

I know he thinks I didn't love him. I tried. I mean, I love him. I. He doesn't understand that I depended on him to be the strong one. And that was wrong of me. I threatened to kick him out, never dreaming that he would go. I was thinking, okay, I threatened to kick him out. He's going to say, I'm. I'm sorry, Mommy, I'm sorry. I'll behave. I'll behave. I did not want him to leave, but he did.

[Mike Boudet]

Alan's dad wasn't in the picture, and now his mom had cancer because she had to have chemotherapy and radiation. And my heart goes out to all of you who are listening right now and have cancer. Some of you are in the audience right now listening to this. Carol, I'm thinking about you. The other Carol. Shout out. Stay healthy. Anyway, yeah, cancer's a bitch. But because she had to go through all this shit, the chemotherapy, the radiation, the just endless hospital visits, Allen left and was taken in by a friend of his mother until she was able to be stronger and take care of him. He was only 15 at the time. Unfortunately, this woman who took care of Allan when he was 15, she. She wasn't financially capable of taking care of him, so she asked for compensation. Embarrassed. Allen's mom didn't want to pay for someone to take care of her son. According to her, she Took him back because she didn't know what else to do. He was her baby. A year later he met 23 year old jobless Michael Jackson and started constantly hanging out with him, eventually moving into an apartment with Michael.

[Rhonda Branson]

Michael seemed to be an intelligent kind of guy, friendly when I first met him, just talkative and just kind of on the showy side, you know, like he had a big personality, he was very confident and I thought, well, you know, he's a little cocky, but you know, he's a boy. It was in the parking lot. This is after I had learned about Michael's real personality. I was driving through the parking lot coming home and I saw him sitting there on the back of a car and I said, Michael, do you know where Alan's at? And he proceeded to tell me that that was none of my business, he was taking care of Alan and I just leave Alan alone, he's my concern now. And I said, is that a stolen car you're sitting on? And he got right up in my face in the window and threatened me that you just stay out of my business and just go on if you don't want anything to happen to Allen.

[Mike Boudet]

Allen's mom knew immediately that Michael was bad news. Moms know these sort of things instinctually. So she started apartment hunting for her and Allen and managed to find a two bedroom place that she could barely afford. When they moved in, she begged Allen not to tell Michael where they were living.

[Rhonda Branson]

And I had told him, I said I don't want Michael to know where I'm at because I, I was afraid of Michael because of, he threatened me and I was afraid if I got in the middle of something he would harm Alan. And Michael came to my apartment and I just exploded on him. I just went off on this boy and he sat there and looked me stone faced in the eye. The whole time I was yelling at him with a stupid smirk on his face. He had no regard for my feelings for Alan's feelings for anybody. And he finally, just when I finally stopped, he got up and just said, I don't care what you think. And he walked away.

[Mike Boudet]

There was one more character in this gang of robbers. It was 18 year old Bruce Dixon. Bruce was a follower, an NPC if you will. Someone with his own set of troubles and empty family life. Bruce and Alan were longtime friends and in fact he would later state that he viewed Alan's mom as his own. But Bruce was about to be a young dad and was stressed over not being able to provide a life for his child. Until he was introduced to Michael Jackson and Tiffany. Michael and Tiffany were in Jacksonville partying together when the group met each other. Tiffany would be heading back to South Carolina, but the couple wanted one more night in Florida. The four came up with a plan to rob the Sumners and it would start with Tiffany and Michael spending a night or two with them. She still needed to sign papers for the car title and this would be a way to introduce them to her boyfriend and of course get a first hand view of the home, the one they intended to rob. On the evening of July 8, Michael Jackson convinced Bruce, who just turned 18, to canvas the Sumner neighborhood for four shovels, one for each of the robbers. They all took part in digging a 4 by 6 foot hole in the woods nearby and then returned to the Sumner home to collect. Their accounts differed from one another in an effort to save their own lives, but the bare truth was that the Sumners were thrown into that hole one by one. The teens and young adults were interviewed, but not one confessed.

[Michael Jackson]

Well, going off when I was with.

[Tiffany Cole]

Gutch said we didn't have anything to do with anybody getting hurt. Is that right?

[Detective]

I was away from everything that was going on. Tell me what happened. Let's start at the house.

[Tiffany Cole]

I know you were at the house. What happened when you left the house?

[Detective]

Well, what the hell.

[Tiffany Cole]

Yeah, you said you were in the car waiting and they called you to come around.

[Detective]

That's when I followed him out to the spot where I learned out the woods.

[Mike Boudet]

And who did you call? And Mike or David or wife who's.

[Tiffany Cole]

In the car with you?

[Detective]

So you were driving and he was.

[Tiffany Cole]

In the passenger seat.

[Detective]

So where's the.

[Tiffany Cole]

Where'd Randy and Carol at that point?

[Mike Boudet]

He was in the trunk.

[Tiffany Cole]

Both of them in the trunk. Do you know if they were alive at that time?

[Detective]

I don't even know. I just said when no one else got spot I seen behind.

[Tiffany Cole]

How about behind?

[Mike Boudet]

Who did you see?

[Tiffany Cole]

How did Reggie and Carol get in the trunk?

[Detective]

I don't know. I wasn't even in the car. I just picked him up and put her at home.

[Mike Boudet]

Let's be very clear here. Carol and Reggie were alive in the trunk of that car. Their mouths were duct taped and they were embracing each other, crying, wondering how a girl they treated like their own daughter could have done this to them. I want you to close your eyes and picture yourself in that situation.

[Tiffany Cole]

What about when you left the house? Who was driving? Ellen. Ellen and Bruce was in what part of the car at any time were you in that car? In The Lincoln. But Mike was in the car at different points.

[Detective]

Not in the Lincoln.

[Tiffany Cole]

Not in the Lincoln. Well, when they got rid of the.

[Mike Boudet]

Body, they all had to drive back out.

[Detective]

So Mike would have been in the.

[Tiffany Cole]

Lincoln then they would have died on the bridge.

[Mike Boudet]

Might get back from where they were.

[Detective]

If they drove back out, remember where the car was.

[Tiffany Cole]

Right. But did they drive Mike back to you?

[Detective]

Oh, Mike come walking out first, and then they come out with the car because Mike, I guess, had to leave them through the woods or whatever. I don't exactly know how that happened, but Mike came walking out first, and then they came out with the car.

[Tiffany Cole]

At any point, did they talk about hurting Reggie or Carol in front of you?

[Detective]

They didn't say nothing like that in front of me.

[Tiffany Cole]

When did you first hear them talk about duct tape or rap?

[Detective]

That's when they was in the house talking about what they were doing. I was up on somebody. I don't know. When I turned over the radio today, as they hit the button, and they were saying something like, where's the duct tape? Or something like that. You know, saying that, I guess to keep them together or whatever.

[Tiffany Cole]

When you left the summer's house, said Mike was with you, and they. Alan's driving Bruce Pastor seat, and they're annoying. Can you follow on them?

[Detective]

Mm.

[Michael Jackson]

Okay.

[Tiffany Cole]

You guys talking on the phone back and forth at that point?

[Detective]

Well, Mike was. Mike was talking down. I mean, I was just driving, you know, saying. Still just kind of like, I don't know, in my old little world behind them, you know what I'm saying?

[Tiffany Cole]

What are you thinking at this point? Well, then you got all this stuff, and you got thunders in the trunk of the car in front of you.

[Detective]

I thought. I mean, I don't even know. I was kind of freaking out in my. You know what I'm saying? Not trying to be totally obvious about it, you know, saying. But at the same time going, you know, this is not. This is not an ideal.

[Rhonda Branson]

You know what I'm saying?

[Detective]

This is not.

[Tiffany Cole]

You got talked about robbery, though. I mean, you're gonna go get the stuff, but you didn't. Didn't count on the end result. There is that pretty much. I'm not. I don't want to put words in your mouth.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay, but, I mean, that's pretty much.

[Tiffany Cole]

You were gonna go get your stuff. That was it where it's supposed to end.

[Detective]

That was where it supposed to end.

[Mike Boudet]

Tiffany was a liar, and she knew exactly how to manipulate others. The scheme began with the exploitation of two elderly Souls, kind friends who had stood by her father's side during his darkest hours. Despite dealing with their own serious problems. They were happy to give a helping hand simply because they were happy and wanted to give back. Their altruism reached beyond their own relatives, extending directly to Tiffany's father and Tiffany herself. Yet beneath the pretense of Tiffany's gratitude lurked a treacherous plot that she had masterfully orchestrated. She understood the horrible beginning and the inevitable conclusion. Next, Michael was brought to the station after waiting his turn in jail. Michael, the oldest, may or may not have been the sharpest of the four, but he sure thought he was. He thought he was so smart, in fact, that he believed he'd be able to wiggle out of previous incriminating statements and somehow bargain himself out of life in prison.

[Michael Jackson]

Plain and simple.

[Tiffany Cole]

Bluntly recorded.

[Michael Jackson]

What do I gotta do? What do I gotta say? I don't care what I gotta write, say, do point. This, this and this. My biggest thing, man, is I'm trying to push this thing a little bit faster. If I gotta do this, this and this, then I'm trying to go home.

[Detective]

Probably, you know, you start by telling.

[Mike Boudet]

The truth about what happened.

[Michael Jackson]

So they ain't no way to, like, get a lesser charge, you know what I'm saying? Like.

[Tiffany Cole]

Cause I already, like petty theft or something.

[Michael Jackson]

No, no, no, because I already know y'all got all of us on the same indictment. That right there is pushing for conspiracy. Like I said.

[Tiffany Cole]

Tell me something about Allen, Bruce or Tiffany that you think.

[Mike Boudet]

We don't know shit.

[Michael Jackson]

I don't know what y'all don't know.

[Tiffany Cole]

Well, start at the beginning then.

[Michael Jackson]

Murder, armed robbery, kidnapping. My biggest thing. How do y'all charge me?

[Tiffany Cole]

That sounds really good and all except for I think you told us something about. You tell us something about the graves. Graves? Or the hole. Yeah, problem with that?

[Michael Jackson]

What about the hole?

[Tiffany Cole]

You told us they were pre dug. You told us that where they put that the hole was pre dug. You told us it was to scare them. And then you told us you held the flashlight while they shoved the dirt onto it.

[Michael Jackson]

Oh, don't give me a lot of shit.

[Tiffany Cole]

That night you told the truth. Night you hoped. You hoped that would be enough to get you out of there that night. Because you didn't have direct involvement in your mind in dealing with any of this. Okay? But there ain't no damn way you got dropped off somewhere else. And you were. You were not even there. You were smoking with somebody else while everybody else just disappeared. Took care of all this stuff that you had no idea?

[Detective]

No.

[Michael Jackson]

Everybody disappeared. Tiffany was there. Tiffany was there with me and Jacob.

[Mike Boudet]

It is physically impossible to break that hole.

[Tiffany Cole]

Hole for two. For two people to dig that hole.

[Mike Boudet]

In that amount of time span.

[Tiffany Cole]

It's not gonna happen. It can't.

[Mike Boudet]

You might have had a backhoe.

[Tiffany Cole]

Yeah, because we had to have a backhoe to get them out.

[Michael Jackson]

You can't even say that. Because, I mean, I don't know what the hole looked like. I didn't see Marines, man dig a 6 by 6 man in 20 minutes. I mean, just because mentally, you know what I'm saying?

[Tiffany Cole]

Are you Tiffany, Alan, or Bruce? Marines?

[Michael Jackson]

Oh, nah.

[Tiffany Cole]

Okay. Yeah, y'all probably ain't digging a little six by six, okay?

[Michael Jackson]

You just kill two people in your mind. You digging a hole, man, you gonna be like lightning, man. You feel like you just did an ounce of coke.

[Tiffany Cole]

Why would there be four shovels?

[Michael Jackson]

Like I said, run prints, man. Run forensics, run everything, man. Damn that. I ain't burying no people. I ain't touching the people.

[Mike Boudet]

Michael was shameless, trying every angle he could think of to escape or minimize charges. Next, he attempted the ol. Quid pro quo. Remember that? Quid pro quo. We all learned what that meant at the same time. I think I give you something, you give me something back. You know politics. He began telling the detectives that he knew the whereabouts of another criminal they were after, and he would tell them his secret.

[Michael Jackson]

Ooh, I know where to do that right now.

[Tiffany Cole]

I don't know anything about that. Do you?

[Michael Jackson]

No. I mean, if y'all can look it up, I mean, it'll come back accurate. He's been in the most wanted for a minute now. I mean, not only that, it's just. I'm trying to figure out something, man, where I can get a bond solved, okay?

[Tiffany Cole]

I can tell you right now, I.

[Michael Jackson]

Ain'T trying to go nowhere.

[Tiffany Cole]

I mean, I won't be straight up with you, okay? Because we haven't. We've been pretty much straight up from the get go. Ain't getting a bond, okay? It ain't gonna happen. I'm gonna not get a bond, okay? Because this is a capital murder, okay? And the capital murder offense has a no bond in the state of Florida. You're not getting out, okay? There's no opportunity whatsoever. I mean, you could tell me right now where Hoffa's buried, who helped, you know, whoever shoot Candidate. It's not gonna matter. You're not gonna get out, okay?

[Mike Boudet]

Finally, after hours of arguing his case, Michael gave the Detective. Some linear information, but he still blamed everyone but himself.

[Michael Jackson]

So, anyway, it's already been laid out. Tiffany gonna go in the house. She gonna be like, look, I'm gonna go in there, I'm gonna get them all comfortable, relaxed. They gonna, you know, feel normal. I'm in here. It ain't gonna be no worries. Next thing you know, y'all gonna come up, hey, can I use the telephone? Call to use the telephone, and then. Let me get that, you know what I'm saying? Next thing I know, I'm just. You know what I'm saying?

[Tiffany Cole]

Well, Tiffany's in the house.

[Michael Jackson]

What do you mean? No, this was the plan. Now, this ain't what happened. This is the plan.

[Tiffany Cole]

Okay.

[Michael Jackson]

Okay. I'm just sitting there like, yeah, damn, That's. That's just like, it'll work. You know what I'm saying? And you're right. In my mind, I'm sitting thinking, I'm about to give paid off of this, you know what I'm saying? These fools going to be dumbasses, and I'm going to get some money out of there. You know what I'm saying?

[Detective]

Sure.

[Michael Jackson]

Hey, I might as well go for it, you know? I'd be a fool not to. I mean, I'm damn near for clean. I'm not putting my hands on nothing. But then again, I'm sitting there thinking, I still don't know why I just walked up to the ATM machine. Oh, yeah, I know it. No, actually, I don't.

[Tiffany Cole]

You did it for the money.

[Michael Jackson]

No, but still, at the same time.

[Tiffany Cole]

Why am I going to walk up.

[Michael Jackson]

Face showing, you know what I'm saying? That die. I. I still run that in my head. That's why I said, man. It was like some of this shit was, man.

[Tiffany Cole]

Okay, so y'all got a plan.

[Michael Jackson]

So. Okay, yeah, okay.

[Detective]

How did.

[Michael Jackson]

How did y'all act on the plan? No, I'm gonna say that now the night of the plan is supposed to unfold. We go all the way to these people's house, you know what I'm saying? We go to their house.

[Mike Boudet]

All four of y'all in the Mazda.

[Michael Jackson]

Yeah, all four of us in the Mazda. Drop me off in the park. I don't want to be nowhere near this house. I don't want to see shit.

[Mike Boudet]

You just heard him say that the other three in the group dropped him off at the park, and he wasn't anywhere near the house. He was claiming that he was basically just given the ATM card after the Sumners were robbed and killed for Some reason. Yeah, that really makes sense. Sure. Does anybody buy this?

[Tiffany Cole]

Let me explain something to you, okay? By law in Florida, if, And this is really far fetched if. Cuz we've talked in pretty good detail about what happened and everything else in the past. Okay, if nothing else happened other than what you told us, that you were there and you said Allen and Bruce did all this stuff, but you were there and you had knowledge of it, you can be charged with everything. You're just as guilty as they are.

[Michael Jackson]

And what if I wasn't there though? What if I just, you know, knew about it? That's the thing. What if I actually was not there? I just kind of knew about it when I was saying that I was there. And I'm telling you this, this and that. So you know what I'm saying? I'm hoping I can go home right there.

[Tiffany Cole]

That sounds really good and all except for. I think you told us something about. You tell us something about the graves. Graves or the whole. Yeah.

[Detective]

No problem with that.

[Michael Jackson]

What about the hole?

[Tiffany Cole]

You told us they were pre dug. You told us that where they put that the hole was pre dug. You told us it was to scare them. And then you told us you held the flashlight while they shoved dirt onto it. Oh, don't give me.

[Michael Jackson]

I said a lot of shit that night.

[Tiffany Cole]

You told the truth that night. You hoped that would be enough to get you out of there that night because you didn't have direct involvement in your mind in dealing with any of this. Okay? But there ain't no damn way you got dropped off somewhere else and you, you were not even there. You were smoking with somebody else while everybody else just disappeared, took care of all this stuff that you had no idea.

[Michael Jackson]

No, everybody disappeared. Tiffany was there. Tiffany was there with me and Jacob.

[Mike Boudet]

Matter of fact, it is physically impossible.

[Tiffany Cole]

To make that hole. For two people to dig that hole.

[Mike Boudet]

In that amount of time span.

[Tiffany Cole]

It's not gonna happen.

[Mike Boudet]

During the interview with Michael, he had already said some things that placed him at the hole. For instance, saying that Carol and Reggie managed to get the duct tape off their mouths and hands while they were in the trunk. Like admitting that he heard them praying together and confessing their love to each other. And like coldly telling how Carol was moaning when they put her in the hole. She was moaning because she and Reggie were buried alive. They died by inhaling the dirt from their early grave. After 38 years, the Sumners rekindled their high school romance. Carol had already suffered in an abusive marriage that ended and her husband Shooting her in the face and then killing himself. And currently, Carol and Reggie both had significant health issues that they were struggling with. Yet they were living their dream, a life together in sunny Florida when their good friend fell ill. They nursed him in his dying days and rewarded his daughter for her help with their altruism and ultimately, their lives. On July 8, 2005, Tiffany and three male acquaintances robbed the Sumners. When two of them entered the home and bound them with tape while they pointed a realistic looking toy gun at them. Carol and Reggie both pleaded, saying they would give the intruders all the money they had. Michael and Tiffany waited in a car outside because Michael had given the order that he didn't want the Sumners to see his or Tiffany's face. According to Michael, he was going to inject them with a lethal dose of medicine and wait until they died to bury them. But that is not what happened. The couple was alive when the dirt was piled on top of them. Think for just a second of the horror of that. The sounds you would hear and then silence and darkness. By the time Michael's last interview occurred, it was too late for him. Tiffany and Alan weren't saying where the bodies were, but Bruce Nixon was. Bruce was terrified.

[Tiffany Cole]

Just tell us where they're at, okay? Let's just tell us where they're at. If you want to stop after that, I can't think you're old enough to make that decision for yourself, Bruce. Oh, God. I know I can't do that for you, man. I'm telling you, I'm not allowed to make that decision for you. Okay? Now you want me to be straight up? That's straight up. I gotta be straight up with you, too. We need to know where those bodies are. If you don't want to tell us anything else, tell us where those bodies are. I wouldn't tell y'all. I'm just. Bruce, look at me. I want to tell y'all. Bruce. Bruce, I'm. I'm looking at this. When I walk in here. I saw this. It's killing you, man. I know it is. Hey, if you don't kill me in prison, too. If you don't want to tell us anything else, just tell us where these folks are at. Bruce. That I'm going straight to prison. Bruce.

[Mike Boudet]

Just tell us where these folks are at, Bruce.

[Tiffany Cole]

Right when I tell you I'm good, I get handcuffed. I'm probably going to see my baby or nothing. I going to get to finish school. I'm not going to get nothing. We. We can't change what's happened, bro. I didn't kill him. Okay? That's what we need. That's what we need. We've asked to be honest about the accused. I tell you, I'll prove truth, you tell me lies. I can't prove lies. You promise me you'll be here by whole time I go through it? I will. You promise you, you write it on the paper and tell me. I'll tell you right now, to your face. I'll walk you through this whole thing. This whole thing. And you'll be on my side if I tell you the truth? I'm right here with you, man. It breaks my heart to be in here, that you're going through all this. But I'll be right here. If nobody be right here with you, I'll be here. All right. Is it. Can you draw better or can you tell us? I know you're kind of upset. Yeah. All right. Okay. Hold on. Just give me a second. I'll tell you. But this is what happened. Okay? All right. Alan told me that we were gonna rob some people and some money and stuff. Did he know these people? They all knew. Carrying the house and stuff. Okay, go ahead. Dude, I needed money. Cause I ain't got a family. So after that we went to the house or whatever we were planning on going out there and we were gonna go to the house and.

[Michael Jackson]

I was.

[Tiffany Cole]

Gonna go to the house and we were just gonna tell for money and stuff. And get their ATM cars and get over dumplings and stuff. What's that? We taped up their mouth and see what they would tell us. I mean, they would tell us, oh, they're banging over or nothing. But that dude, whatever his name, Michael something, I don't know his name, told us the put him tape them up and put them in the trunk of the Lincoln. He never said we were going to kill him. He never said I brought him. He told me to bring him out there, where that was. They had a hole down there, dude. And then he said that he was just going to scare them into telling them the numbers. And then when he was doing that, I walked away to the car, the old RX8. And I was walking up there. And then about 30 minutes later, they walked back and asked where it was. So they took care of them. Where were y'all at, bro? Bruce, I'll be there the whole time.

[Mike Boudet]

Those moments in the interview were particularly emotional. Not just because young Bruce Nixon was terrified and heading for a death sentence or lifetime in prison, but because the detective had A son the same age as Bruce. When he saw the boy trembling and crying, he moved his chair a little closer, threw his arms around him and held him for what seemed like a very very long time. During a 2007 week long trial, Tiffany Cole received a guilty verdict for first degree murder. The jury's vote nine to three recommended the death penalty. After seeing incriminating evidence such as photographs capturing Tiffany and the two co defendants reveling in a limousine, toasting with champagne and clutching wads of cash. The Sumner's cash. Five months later a judge issued dual death sentences for the murders, accompanied by a life sentence for the kidnappings. Alan Wade and Michael Jackson also received death sentences. But Bruce Nixon, because he cooperated with law enforcement, because he talked and he was guilty and he had something to offer, he got off with a little less, put it that way. Bruce had taken law enforcement to the locations where the bodies were buried and testified against the others. He entered a guilty plea for second degree murder, earning him a 45 year prison sentence instead of life. But fate would intervene. Ten years later, it was Tiffany Cole.

[Detective]

Who was the familiar face that Carol and Reggie Sumner invited into their home in July of 2005. She and two other friends used that friendship to plan their crime asking for a place to stay during a long trip. News for Jax brought updates to the community every step of the way. A neighbor tells family that she remembers seeing a strange car come and go from the Sumner's house. And family says that they that Carol.

[Mike Boudet]

And Reggie probably were just being nice.

[Detective]

Allowing the group to stay overnight so they didn't have to make the trip to and from Charleston all in one day. The Sumner's bodies were found days later in a shallow grave in Charlton County, Georgia. They had been buried alive. Evidence technicians showing the shovels and crime scene photos at trial. The three were convicted in separate trials. Tiffany Cole always pleaded to have her life spent at her sentencing hearing. Cole begged for a life sentence so she could help others. Ultimately that hearing ended in tears for Cole. She was sentenced to death in a 9 to 3 decision. Something that's now unconstitutional after a Supreme Court ruling last year that found death penalty decisions need to be unanimous. Now Cole will get a new sentencing hearing and it's likely the two others who were convicted in the murders of the Sumners will also get new hearings because their death sentences were also not.

[Mike Boudet]

Unanimous at the resentencing. Allen Wade was given life due to mitigating circumstances newly introduced. But Michael Jackson was again sentenced to death with a unanimous vote at the end of the road. As we all eventually will turn back and look behind behind us, we'll be able to finally see how some of the winding and narrow detours came back together on a straight, wide highway to our destination. We can make sense of the map. Sometimes Carol and Reggie experienced some treacherous turns, but they found each other through it all. They In a way, we're both the luckiest people on Earth and the unluckiest. That's how life is. That's how fate works. In unpredictable ways. Yet the same fate that reunited these lovers for a second chance also brought with it tormented figures from their past. With their own darkness and their own unresolved issues. Fate was about to step in yet again and claim the lives of the killers as well. But yet another turn at the last second occurred and their lives were spared. None of it really makes any sense. Sometimes life doesn't make any sense. Carol and Reggie may have met a dead end, so to speak, but at least they were able to go out knowing they tried to do some good in the world. They tried. And life's ultimate surprise was allowing them one final embrace with each other in their last moments on Earth. That does it for another one. Thank you so much for joining us. If you like the show, Sword n Scale Television is available for you right now. There's seven episodes available and many more coming soon. We're going to start doing two a month pretty soon, so great time to sign up. Sword and Scale.com Stay safe.