Michelle Reynolds

Parties

• Michelle Reynolds — defendant; pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and burglary in connection with the 2004 death of her husband.
• Thad John Glenn Reynolds — victim; church deacon and marriage counselor; was a Frito-Lay district manager; was stabbed to death in 2004.
• Richard Scott Harper — youth minister/pastor; lover of Michelle Reynolds; pleaded guilty in October 2008 and was sentenced to life without parole; stabbed Thad Reynolds to death.

Background

Michelle Reynolds pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and burglary in connection with the 2004 death of her husband, Thad John Glenn Reynolds. She entered her guilty plea in Floyd County Superior Court in January 2010, two weeks prior to the scheduled beginning of her trial on murder charges. The case involved an affair and a plan to kill Thad Reynolds described as a “love triangle” by police and as an “all consuming affair” in the prosecution’s statement of what could have been proven at trial.

Thad Reynolds served as a deacon and marriage counselor at Hollywood Baptist Church in Rome. Richard Scott Harper attended Hollywood Baptist Church and served as a youth minister and later as a family pastor. Reynolds was described as a “devoted family man,” “absolutely devoted father, husband and Christian,” and he had the hobby of his family.

Thad Reynolds was survived by his wife, Michelle, and four daughters: Olivia, 12; Lydia, 6; Emma, 4; and Jenna, 1. The case included the goal of protecting Reynolds’ four daughters from their mother. The district attorney said the main issue for Thad Reynolds’ family was protecting Michelle Reynolds’ four daughters from her.

In statements in court related to the case, the prosecution described that Michelle Reynolds and Scott Harper were having an “all consuming affair” that led to a plot to kill Thad Reynolds. The prosecution also described jokes and conversations about making Thad Reynolds pass away faster and discussed “other ways” when Harper sent an e-mail telling her, “there are other ways.”

The offence

Thad Reynolds was murdered outside of his place of work, a Frito Lay distribution center on Calhoun Road. He was found stabbed to death at the Frito-Lay distribution center located at 2605 Calhoun Road. Police said he was stabbed 19 times.

Investigators maintained that Michelle Reynolds and Richard Scott Harper, who attended the same church, were having an affair and plotted to kill Thad Reynolds, and that Harper wielded the murder weapon. Police said Harper stabbed Thad Reynolds when he arrived at the northwest Georgia Frito-Lay distribution center where Reynolds was a district manager.

Michelle Reynolds was charged with the July 5, 2004 murder of her then-husband, Thad John Glenn Reynolds. She pleaded guilty in January 2010 to voluntary manslaughter and to a party to the crime of burglary for providing details to Harper about Thad Reynolds’ schedule and place of business in Floyd County Superior Court.

In Harper’s statement to the district attorney, Michelle Reynolds told him he would have to outlive Thad Reynolds in order to have her. The prosecution said the conversations included a plan to make two pots of spaghetti, one poisoned for Scott Harper’s then-wife Paige and Thad Reynolds, and another for themselves. The prosecution also said they discussed putting extra portions of butter in Thad Reynolds’ food to make his arteries clog so he would pass away faster. The prosecution further said that Michelle Reynolds told Harper, “If you talk with Thad, what if it gets ugly?” and that the defendant picked Harper up and they went behind the levy. The prosecution said she was distant and cold and that Harper thought he was losing her. The prosecution said the two families spent much time together at church functions and around town, especially in the days leading up to the murder, including attending the Fourth of July fireworks two days prior to the murder and having an Independence Day picnic together the day before.

The district attorney said Michelle Reynolds was very careful what she said to Scott Harper to disown herself from any action he was going to take. The district attorney also said even Scott Harper’s statement was not as cut and dried as, “Let’s murder Thad Reynolds.” The district attorney described the case resolution and said what they had little of was Michelle Reynolds’ involvement in the planning of a murder and that a statement from Scott Harper in 2008 gave the evidence of her part in the crime.

Police said Harper was the one who stabbed Thad Reynolds to death, and Michelle Reynolds was accused of conspiring to kill Thad Reynolds.

Investigation

Floyd County police Sgt. Dallas Battle described the investigation as lacking suspects and having no apparent motive initially. Police reported asking for public’s help. The murder occurred around 4 a.m., and Thad Reynolds was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:27 a.m. by Tony Cooper, chief deputy coroner, with Coroner Barry Henderson.

Battle said there was a scuffle outside and inside (Frito-Lay) and that the weapon was not recovered but was believed to be a knife. A sheath to a hunting knife was found near the car, and a red mini-van was seen leaving the area around the time of the killing. Police said they were looking for a red mini-van, stating: “We’re looking for a red mini-van. It’s the only lead we’ve got at this time.”

Battle said blood was found inside and outside the main entrance and near Reynolds’ car, which was parked close to the building. The investigator reported it is possible the killer thought there might be money inside the building and said that robbery remained a remote possibility, although nothing was apparently missing from the scene or the victim. Battle stated, “It could have been a robbery, but they didn’t keep any money (in the building)” and “(Reynolds’) wallet was there.” Battle said the center was used to load and unload Frito-Lay delivery trucks.

The body was discovered around 6 a.m., when an unidentified Frito-Lay employee arrived at the distribution center and called 911 after seeing the victim on the floor. The victim’s car was taken to the Floyd County Police Department for processing for evidence, and Battle said, “If they lift any prints, we’ll start there.”

Arrest

Four days after Reynolds was murdered, Floyd County police arrested his wife Michelle Reynolds and the Hollywood Baptist Church’s youth minister Richard Scott Harper, charging them with murder and alleging they had an affair.

Richard Scott Harper and Michelle Sullins Reynolds were arrested on July 8, 2004, charged with the murder of Thad Reynolds. On July 9, 2004, both suspects denied bond.

Trial

Michelle Reynolds pleaded guilty just two weeks prior to the scheduled beginning of her trial on murder charges. She appeared in Floyd County Superior Court at 9:30 a.m. and entered the guilty plea in front of Judge J. Bryant Durham.

The proceedings were described as shut with no trial forthcoming, and Michelle Reynolds agreed to be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

A district attorney Leigh Patterson read a description of events that led to Harper’s arrest.

During Harper’s sentencing hearing, Harper gave a tearful address to the court. Harper said: “There’s nothing I can say to undo what was done,” and he called his actions selfish and foolish, then apologized to his ex-wife and three daughters saying “I’m ashamed of the things I thought and did in 2004.”

Michelle Reynolds showed no emotion and uttered no words other than “yes, sir,” answering Judge J. Bryant Durham’s questions. After the hearing, a laugh escaped her lips as she was handcuffed. She had no answer for Thad Reynolds’ mother.

Sentencing

Michelle Reynolds was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2010. She was to have no contact with her children. She received credit for time served and had been in jail since July 2004.

The district attorney said Reynolds would have to serve 65 to 90 percent of her time before being considered for parole, according to Department of Corrections sentencing regulations. The district attorney said: “We will write letters and appear to oppose parole if and when she goes up for consideration.” The district attorney also said, “We discussed this with the family before we decided to offer this plea.” The district attorney said the decision to offer the plea was hard but one Thad Reynolds’ family supported.

The sentencing included that the case would be resolved without a trial. The district attorney said she had evidence showing they had an affair and that she had detailed progress of the affair, hotels they went to, the e-mails, text messages, cell phone records, and that evidence about the affair existed. The district attorney said what they had little of was Michelle Reynolds’ involvement in planning of a murder. She said that until they got a statement from Scott Harper in 2008 giving more evidence of her part, it would have been a very hard case to prosecute against her. The district attorney said: “I don’t think we would have gotten a plea or any resolution on (Michelle) Reynolds’ case without the details from (Scott) Harper.”

Appeals

The record included a lengthy period of motions and appeals and court actions:

• October 2004: District Attorney Leigh Patterson filed notice that she would seek the death penalty for both defendants.
• October 2005: The creation of a statewide public defender system slowed the trial process, with who would pay for the defense of Harper and Reynolds unclear.
• March 2006: Hundreds of motions were filed in the case and motion hearings began.
• August 2006: The case was halted for a defense requested Georgia Supreme Court review.
• October 2006: The Georgia Supreme Court declined to review the case and it was sent back to Floyd County.
• May 2007: The lead investigator in the Harper-Reynolds case was fired from the Floyd County Police department.
• July 2007: Defense attorneys appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court about whether the wrong person served on the grand jury that indicted Harper on murder charges.
• October 2007: The Georgia Supreme Court heard appeal about evidence and indictment.
• January 2008: The Georgia Supreme Court allowed the indictment to stand and ruled evidence from Harper’s desk inadmissible, and the case went back to Floyd County.
• February 2008: Harper and Reynolds were re-indicted under the same charges.
• April 2008: Harper and Reynolds entered pleas of not guilty under the new indictment.
• May 2008: Pre-trial motions concerning jury makeup were heard, and the first indictment was dropped.
• November 2008: Reynolds’ case was sent to high court for final pre-trial review.
• February 2009: The Georgia Supreme Court declined to review the case and it was sent back to Floyd County.
• September 2009: Trial date for Reynolds was set for the end of January 2010.

Other details

Harper’s attorney Christopher Adams told the court: “A lot of times we find out if the event could be undone — everyone would want it undone.” Adams said Harper’s tears were not “alligator tears” and told the court: “He cries those tears when nobody is looking … He cries those tears when he’s alone in his cell, and he cries those tears in the morning and at night.” Adams said it was an acceptance of responsibility of Harper’s part in the slaying that drove Michelle Reynolds to accept the plea, as stated by her attorney Jimmy Berry.

Jimmy Berry said: “In looking at the facts and circumstances our client felt some responsibility because she, as you heard, never told him to go do it,” and said: “But the innuendo is there and she certainly felt that was a moving force for her taking a plea.” Berry said: “We worked really hard with the DA to resolve the case to everybody’s benefit,” and said: “Certainly not having to try the case saves the county and state a considerable amount of money. Not that it’s the primary thing that you look at in these cases, but certainly that’s one aspect of it.”

District Attorney Leigh Patterson said: “They wanted for (the case) to be over and for the girls to be protected,” and also said: “I just cannot get over that someone would have such a blatant affair and use their position as a minister and church member and just not care what happened to their seven little girls.” Patterson said: “What they had little of was Michelle Reynolds’ involvement in the planning of a murder.” Patterson said: “‘Until we got a statement from Scott Harper in 2008, which gave us a little bit more evidence of her part in the crime. It would have been a very hard case to prosecute against her,’” and said: “‘I don’t think we would have gotten a plea or any resolution on (Michelle) Reynolds’ case without the details from (Scott) Harper.’”

Thad Reynolds’ mother, Kitty Walker, wanted to know “Why” and “Why not just walk away?” as stated five and a half years after his death. As Michelle Reynolds was sentenced she uttered no words other than “yes, sir,” answering Judge J. Bryant Durham’s questions.

Marriage and divorce records show Thad and Michelle Reynolds were first wed in 1987, divorced in 1993, and remarried in 1997.

A fellow employee reported noticing someone standing in the doorway to the office who appeared to be changing shirts as he pulled up, and police said a red minivan was parked next to Thad Reynolds’ car and that Harper drove off soon afterwards. The sheath to a hunting knife and Harper’s prescription glasses were found at the scene. Patterson said Harper bought the knife from Kmart on July 1, 2004, and video evidence showed him buying the knife. After the stabbing, police said Harper went to Floyd Medical Center, where he worked in the telecommunications department, to be treated for wounds to his right hand on the day of the murder. Court testimony said he then hid the knife and bloody clothes in the data center at FMC.

Thad Reynolds was described as a Frito-Lay district manager for the Rome/Cartersville area. He also served as an assistant chaplain at Redmond Regional Medical Center.

The case brought national media attention to Rome and the church where Thad Reynolds served as a deacon and Harper as a family pastor, and the seven young girls and their families endured intense media coverage from near and far.

Timeline

• July 5, 2004 — Thad Reynolds was found murdered at Frito Lay distribution center.
• July 8, 2004 — Richard Scott Harper and Michelle Sullins Reynolds were arrested, charged with the murder of Thad Reynolds.
• July 9, 2004 — Both suspects denied bond.
• October 2004 — District Attorney Leigh Patterson filed notice she would seek the death penalty for both defendants.
• October 2005 — Trial process slowed as a statewide public defender system was created.
• March 2006 — Hundreds of motions were filed; motion hearings began.
• August 2006 — Case was halted for a defense requested Georgia Supreme Court review.
• October 2006 — Georgia Supreme Court declined to review the case; it was sent back to Floyd County.
• May 2007 — Lead investigator in the Harper-Reynolds case was fired from the Floyd County Police department.
• July 2007 — Defense attorneys appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court about whether the wrong person served on the grand jury.
• October 2007 — Georgia Supreme Court heard appeal about evidence and indictment.
• January 2008 — Georgia Supreme Court let indictment stand and ruled evidence from Harper’s desk inadmissible.
• February 2008 — Harper and Reynolds were re-indicted under the same charges.
• April 2008 — Harper and Reynolds pleaded not guilty under the new indictment.
• May 2008 — Pre-trial motions concerning jury makeup were heard; first indictment dropped.
• October 2008 — Harper pleaded guilty to murder charges; death penalty offers to both defendants were addressed in connection with testimony.
• November 2008 — Reynolds’ case was sent to high court for final pre-trial review.
• February 2009 — Georgia Supreme Court declined to review the case; it was sent back to Floyd County.
• September 2009 — Trial date for Reynolds was set for the end of January 2010.
• January 2010 — Reynolds pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.