A Heart-Wrenching True Crime: The Betrayal of Carol and Reggie
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Chapter 1: A Young Love Story
In the early 1960s, Carol and Reggie, high school sweethearts from South Carolina, shared a deep bond. They strolled through school together, hand in hand, laughing and whispering secrets. Yet, despite their idyllic romance, their paths diverged after graduation. Reggie enlisted in the U.S. Navy, traveling the globe, while Carol navigated through two marriages, both of which ended in divorce.
A Life-Altering Incident
On February 18, 1987, Carol was at home with her ten-year-old daughter, Rhonda, when her estranged second husband arrived unannounced. Upon answering the door, Carol was shot six times in front of her daughter. The assailant fled but was later discovered dead in his car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Although Carol survived, she sustained life-altering injuries, leaving her blind in one eye and in chronic pain, requiring Rhonda to become her primary caregiver.
After eight years of gradual recovery, Carol was dealt another devastating blow in 1995 when she was diagnosed with liver cancer, a result of a hepatitis C infection contracted through a blood transfusion following the attack. Rhonda recalls her mother's anguish, saying, "I just can't escape this man. He's killing me all over again." Despite her struggles, Carol was determined to reclaim her life and found a part-time job as a customer service representative, marking her first step towards independence.
New Beginnings
In 2000, while working at the cable company, Carol received a phone call from Reggie, her first love. The two quickly reconnected and spent over an hour reminiscing about the last four decades. Carol returned home brimming with excitement, reminiscent of her youthful self. Their first date confirmed their mutual feelings, and within six months, they were married. Soon after, they decided to relocate to Jacksonville, Florida, to enjoy their retirement together.
Chapter 2: The Unforeseen Disappearance
Though Rhonda felt a pang of sadness seeing her mother move away, she was pleased to see her find happiness again. Over the years, they maintained regular communication. However, in July 2005, Rhonda's calls went unanswered, raising her alarm. After 24 hours of silence, she set off on a four-hour drive to Jacksonville to check on them.
Upon arriving, Rhonda found the house in disarray, with lights on and their dog, Mikey, still at home. Carol's purse, their medications, and their shared cell phone were all left behind, which prompted Rhonda to contact the police and report them missing.
A Sinister Discovery
Authorities quickly initiated a missing persons investigation, but progress was slow until the couple's car was found abandoned. A suspicious call from someone pretending to be Reggie led investigators to believe something was amiss. Tracing the call revealed a connection to a car rental company, which confirmed that a vehicle similar to the Sumners' had been rented by Tiffany Cole.
Using satellite tracking, police located the rental car at a motel in South Carolina. On July 14, six days after the couple's disappearance, officers apprehended Tiffany, her boyfriend Michael James Jackson, and their associate Alan Wade. The room was filled with items belonging to the Sumners, alongside Reggie's cherished coin collection.
The Shocking Confession
Initially, Tiffany downplayed their involvement, claiming they only intended to rob the couple. However, accomplice Bruce Nixon eventually confessed, divulging the harrowing details of the crime that left many investigators in tears.
Tiffany had been acquainted with the Sumners when they were neighbors. When she and Michael found themselves homeless, they decided to visit the Sumners, who welcomed them into their home. During their stay, the couple mentioned a recent financial gain from selling their house, which piqued Tiffany and Michael's interest.
On July 8, Bruce and Alan posed as stranded motorists to gain entry into the Sumners' home. They overpowered Carol and Reggie, binding them with duct tape before ransacking the house. The couple was then forced into the trunk of their car and driven to a grave site in Georgia, where they were buried alive.
Justice Delivered
The investigation revealed that the perpetrators had accessed the Sumners' banking information before committing the crime. As they suffocated beneath the dirt, their cries for help went unheard. Bruce Nixon eventually led investigators to the burial site