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Pastor admits to killing deacon in love triangle www.privateofficer.com
source:wsbtv — Former pastor Richard Scott Harper pleaded guilty to the 2004 killing of church deacon Thad John Reynolds Wednesday. Harper killed Thad Reynolds in a deadly love triangle, police said.
As part of the plea deal, Harper will testify against his former lover and Thad Reynolds’ widow, Michelle Sullins Reynolds, and in return, the state will not seek the death penalty against her.
Officials said Harper’s prerequisites in making the deal was that not only would he not face the death penalty, Michelle Reynolds wouldn’t either. Harper is expected to receive life without the possibility of parole.
On July 5, 2004, Harper stabbed Thad Reynolds, a 36-year-old father of four, to death when he arrived at the northwest Georgia Frito-Lay distribution center where Reynolds was a district manager. Police said Reynolds was stabbed 19 times.
Michelle Sullins Reynolds is accused of conspiring with her lover to have her husband killed. Thad Reynolds was stabbed to death in 2004.
Both Harper and the Reynolds family attended Hollywood Baptist Church in Rome where Harper was an assistant pastor and Thad Reynolds was a deacon and marriage counselor.
Harper was the one who stabbed Thad Reynolds to death, police said, and Michelle Reynolds is accused of conspiring to kill Thad Reynolds. Police said an affair between Michelle Reynolds and Harper led to the attack.
“I think he feels very responsible for the death of Thad Reynolds. He feels very guilty about it, ashamed about it and I think he was relieved to be able to come to court and accept responsibility for it today,” said defense attorney Christopher Adams.
“Of course I’d like to go forward with it but you have to work with the evidence you’ve got. And if I have the opportunity to shore my case up against another defendant, then I think I’m going to take it,” said district attorney Leigh Patterson.
