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The murder of Thad Reynolds in Rome was linked to a love triangle involving his wife, Michelle Reynolds, and youth minister Richard Scott Harper. They had an affair and conspired to murder Thad.
Both were arrested within four days due to strong evidence and communications about the crime. Richard is serving a life sentence without parole at Phillips State Prison, while Michelle served 14 years of her 20-year sentence at Pulaski State Prison and is now free.
The Dateline: Unforgettable episode titled The Secret Life of the Homecoming Queen showcases the conviction of Michelle Reynolds and Richard Scott Harper as it airs on July 26, 2024, at 8 p.m. EST.
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The official synopsis reads,
"To many, it seemed like a romance between a former football player and homecoming queen. However, when it ends in death, police investigate. Dennis Murphy reflects on a secret relationship that led a churchgoing couple down a dangerous path."
How were Michelle Reynolds and Richard Scott Harper arrested?
The Harper and Reynolds families attended the Baptist Church together and watched fireworks the night before the tragedy. Michelle and Thad's marriage began to suffer after they remarried in 1997 mostly due to Thad's new goal to become a full-time minister.
As the two families engaged in activities such as drives and camping, Michelle Reynolds and Richard Scott Harper grew closer till they had established a s*xual relationship. The two dreamt of settling down together and realized that Thad had been an obstacle in the way.
The extramarital affair turned ugly when the two began conspiring towards Thad's death as a joke initially. While Richard Scott "Scotty" Harper was ready to leave his wife, Paige Harper, behind, Michelle was not sure of a divorce the second time. As the frustration mounted, the prosecutors argued that Richard looked into the matter.
He reportedly attacked Thad Reynolds at his workplace, Frito-Lay, around 4 a.m. local time on July 5, 2004. Thad was stabbed 19 times with a hunter's knife, per Rome News-Tribune.
Where are Richard Scott Harper And Michelle Reynolds now?
Richard Scott Harper and Michelle Reynolds were arrested and charged with the murder of Thad Reynolds and aggravated battery charges on July 8, 2004. While they were arrested four days after the heinous murder, their trial took four more years.
Moreover, Scotty took a plea deal wherein he agreed to testify against Michelle Reynolds in exchange for the death sentence for both of them, according to the Rome News-Tribune. He settled for a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for himself.
While Michelle was a participant in the conspiracy of the murder, she was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and burglary. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to the The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. She was serving her time at the medium-security Pulaski State Prison in Georgia before she was released on July 7, 2024.
However, Richard Scott Harper is serving his time at the Phillips State Prison in Georgia, per the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Catch all the details of Thad Reynolds' murder as the Dateline episode airs on Oxygen on Thursday.
