Murder of Carol and Reggie Sumner

{{short description|2005 double murder in the United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox civilian attack | location = Jacksonville, Florida (robbery and abduction) Charlton County, Georgia (murder) | date = July 8, 2005 | image_size = 200px | victims = Carol and Reggie Sumner | perpetrators = Alan Wade Michael J. Jackson Tiffany Cole Bruce Nixon | motive = Robbery | convictions = First degree murder Second degree murder Kidnapping Robbery }}

On July 8, 2005, American married couple '''Carol''' and '''Reggie Sumner''', both 61, were robbed, abducted and murdered by four acquaintances: Alan Wade (18), Michael Jackson (23), Tiffany Cole (23), and Bruce Nixon (18). After being taken from their home in Duval County, Florida, to Charlton County, Georgia, the Sumners were buried alive by Wade and Jackson in a pre-dug grave.

The perpetrators were arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, and robbery. In 2008, Wade, Jackson, and Cole were sentenced to death for first-degree murder while Nixon was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for second-degree murder. Cole, aged 26 at conviction, was the third youngest woman on death row in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Battiste|first1=Nikki|last2=Weinraub|first2=Claire|last3=Scott|first3=Tess|last4=Effron|first4=Lauren|title='We Call It Life Row': Two of the Youngest US Women on Death Row Describe Life Behind Bars|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/call-life-row-youngest-us-women-death-row/story?id=29165934|website=ABC News|access-date=14 May 2017|date=24 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213191640/https://abcnews.go.com/US/call-life-row-youngest-us-women-death-row/story?id=29165934|archive-date=13 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2022, the death sentence of Alan Wade was reversed and changed to life imprisonment. In 2023, the sentence of Tiffany Cole was also reduced to life imprisonment. In 2024, Michael Jackson was resentenced to death.

== Background == Carol Alford Sumner<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2005 |title=Bodies found may be missing Fla. couple |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2005/07/17/bodies-found-may-be-missing-fla-couple/31698394007/ |access-date= |website=Gainesville Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> was born on February 19, 1944. From her first marriage, she had a daughter, Rhonda Alford. Following her divorce, Carol remarried and experienced domestic violence from her second husband, with whom she had a son, Frederick Hallock. In February 1987, she survived a murder-suicide attempt, during which her husband shot her several times before killing himself. Throughout her life, Carol worked as a civil servant at The Citadel and the Charleston Air Force Base, a store worker for Belk, and a call center worker for Comcast Cable, as well as a registered nurse, paralegal, and private investigator.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Glenn|title=Shockingly evil|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/shockingly-evil/article_508fba1e-e979-58ab-abd0-c69da7f93141.html|website=The Post and Courier|access-date=14 May 2017|date=30 May 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130153825/https://www.postandcourier.com/news/shockingly-evil/article_508fba1e-e979-58ab-abd0-c69da7f93141.html|archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=MICHAEL JAMES JACKSON v. STATE OF FLORIDA |url=https://library.law.fsu.edu/Digital-Collections/flsupct/dockets/sc12-238/sc12-238ini.pdf |website=Supreme Court of Florida}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=ALAN WADE v. STATE OF FLORIDA |url=https://library.law.fsu.edu/Digital-Collections/flsupct/dockets/sc08-573/08-573Ans.pdf |website=Supreme Court of Florida}}</ref>

James Reginald "Reggie" Sumner<ref name=":7" /> was born on September 18, 1943. He had been Carol's boyfriend while attending Garrett High School together, reconnecting with her in 2000 after she recognized his voice during a call while working for Comcast. The pair married the following year in West Ashley, part of Charleston, South Carolina. Before retiring, Reggie worked for CSX Railroad.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

Both Sumners had diabetes and osteoporosis. In addition, Carol had arthritis, fibromyalgia, and hepatitis C-induced liver cancer, the latter through a contaminated blood transfusion, also requiring the use of a surgical boot. In March 2005, the couple decided to settle down in Jacksonville, Florida, where Reggie owned a house.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

=== Planning of the crime === According to prosecutors, the murder was planned primarily by Michael James Jackson. Jackson and his girlfriend, Tiffany Ann Cole, were in Florida on a road trip to visit one of Jackson's friends, Alan Lyndell Wade. While there, Jackson and Cole were allowed to stay at the Sumner home in Jacksonville, as Reggie Sumner was already acquainted with Cole, who was formerly a neighbor while he lived in South Carolina. During their stay, Jackson decided that the Sumners would be easy robbery victims, having become aware of their poor health after seeing them take several prescription medications each day. Cole further informed Jackson that the Sumners had recently sold their South Carolina home for US$90,000 ({{Inflation|index=US|value=90,000|start_year=2005|r=0|fmt=eq}}) and that the couple owned several television sets. Cole and Jackson then made concrete plans to rob and murder the Sumners, with Jackson recruiting Wade into the plot.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kam|first1=Dara|last2=Saunders|first2=Jim|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/courts/2020/11/26/supreme-court-refuses-reinstate-death-sentences-including-duvals/6427100002/|title=Supreme Court refuses to reinstate death sentences, including Jacksonvlle[sic] case|publisher=News Service of Florida|date=November 26, 2020|access-date=December 19, 2022|archive-date=December 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219080242/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/courts/2020/11/26/supreme-court-refuses-reinstate-death-sentences-including-duvals/6427100002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/14397180/detail.html |title=Mom Testifies Against Son In Murder Trial | News - Home |publisher=News4jax.com |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153728/http://www.news4jax.com/news/14397180/detail.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> On June 14, in preparation for the murders, Cole rented a Mazda RX-8 in South Carolina. Two weeks before the murders, Wade told his childhood friend, Bruce Kent Nixon Jr., of Jackson's plans and agreed to involve him. While Jackson, Cole, and Wade bought gloves, duct tape, plastic wrap, Nextel phones, and a toy gun, Nixon stole four shovels from neighbors, which were then used by Nixon, Jackson, and Wade to dig a hole, measuring {{Convert|6|ft|m}} long and {{Convert|4|ft|m}} deep, in Charlton County, Georgia, {{Convert|4|mi|km}} from the border with Florida. The group then spied on the Sumners for several days. Jackson initially told the others that they would kill the couple through an overdose of medication after breaking into their house before deciding that they would abduct them and kill them elsewhere.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

== Crime == On the evening of July 8, 2005, Jackson, Cole, Wade and Nixon, drove to the Sumners' home. Initially wanting to avoid being recognized, Jackson and Cole waited outside while Wade and Nixon approached the Sumners' door and asked to use their phone. Upon being granted entry, Nixon threatened the couple with a fake gun, while Wade, carrying duct tape, bound, gagged, and blindfolded the Sumners. Wade and Nixon then searched for personal financial documents in the Sumners' home before calling Jackson for assistance in finding ATM information. Jackson was unable to locate the couple's personal identification numbers. While searching the Sumners' home, Wade, Nixon, and Jackson stole Reggie's coin collection, mail, and bank records, as well as several items of jewelry.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name="jax2007-10-20" /><ref name=":6" />

The Sumners, still bound and gagged, were then taken outside and locked into the trunk of their own Lincoln Town Car. Wade and Nixon drove the Lincoln to Georgia, while Cole and Jackson followed in a Mazda vehicle, until they reached a remote part of Georgia near which they had prepared a pre-dug grave for the Sumners. Wade and Nixon drove the Lincoln to the grave site, and Jackson accompanied them, while Cole remained by the road in the Mazda. After driving the Lincoln to the grave site, investigators believe the Sumners told Jackson their PIN codes, which he recorded on a yellow notepad, after which they were placed into the grave, still alive. Investigators believe that while Nixon returned to the Mazda with Cole, Wade and Jackson remained at the grave and filled it with dirt, after which they drove away, leaving Carol and Reggie Sumner buried alive; a medical examiner found that the couple suffocated to death.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |url=https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/340470/file/08-528_Ans.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2023-08-09 |archive-date=2023-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230134/https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/340470/file/08-528_Ans.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="jax2007-10-20" /><ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=104122 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730142652/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=104122 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-30 |title=Local News | Jacksonville, FL - St. Augustine, FL - Brunswick, GA |publisher=Firstcoastnews.com |access-date=2013-03-24}}</ref>

After driving back to Florida, the group wiped down the Sumners' car, which contained the shovels, leaving on a road near Sanderson, around {{Convert|20|mi|km}} from the grave site. Upon arrival in Jacksonville, Jackson withdrew more than $1,000 in cash from the Sumners' bank account by using their ATM card. The group rented a room at a local motel, where Jackson distributed the money. Wade and Cole later returned to the Sumner home to steal a personal computer, which they then pawned.<ref name=":3" /> Cole also pawned jewelry and other items stolen from the home.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Paul Pinkham |url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030708/met_254596766.shtml |title=Female murderer Cole receives death sentence |publisher=Jacksonville.com |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803091318/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030708/met_254596766.shtml |archive-date=August 3, 2011}}</ref> Nixon split from the others during the night and returned to his home in Baker County, Florida. On July 9, Nixon attended a party, where he told those present that he murdered a couple by burying them alive, showing off a bag of their prescription pills as proof.<ref name=":3" />

Carol Sumner was reported missing by her daughter on July 10. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office discovered the break-in during a welfare check and separately found their stolen car. An investigation was launched, which later found that between July 9 and July 13, 2005, an additional $5,000 had been taken from the Sumners' bank account. Surveillance footage identified Jackson and the Mazda car. At one point, Jackson exhausted the daily withdrawal limit and called the bank pretending to be Reggie Sumner. Over the phone, Jackson agreed to talk with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, still impersonating Reggie Sumner and claiming that the Sumners had abruptly left for Delaware to attend a funeral. Cole also pretended to be Carol Sumner when the officer on the phone asked for her. Afterwards, the detective involved traced the cell phone used by the caller through the United States Marshals Service, which showed that the same phone was used near the Sumner home during their disappearance. The Mazda was also identified to have been near the home and further confirmed through GPS data. South Carolina police were able to identify Cole and found that she had rented two motel rooms in Charleston. On July 14, Cole, Jackson, and Wade were arrested at the motel. In the room used by Jackson and Cole, the motel safe contained identification papers, credit cards, a checkbook, and other documents belonging to the Sumners, alongside mail and other material in their name in other parts of the room. The keyring of the Sumners was found in Wade's room while their coin collection was inside the trunk of Cole's car.<ref name=":3" />

During interrogation at a police station, officers found the Sumners' bank card thrown into a trash can by Jackson. He claimed that the card belonged to Wade's mother, but admitted to involvement and knowledge of their grave site, though implicating Wade and Nixon as the sole perpetrators in both the kidnapping and murder. Nixon was arrested in Florida and on July 16, he led police to the location of the Sumners' bodies. Shell casings, cigarette packs, and beer cans were recovered from the scene. A forensic analysis of both cars used in the murders found that they contained sand from the grave site.<ref name=":3" />

==Conviction== At Cole's week-long trial in October 2007, the jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before finding her guilty of first-degree murder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/Jury-Finds-Tiffany-Cole-Guilty-In-Double-Murder/2096486 |title=Jury Finds Tiffany Cole Guilty In Double Murder - News - Home |author=WJXT |work=News4Jax |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106073745/http://www.news4jax.com/news/Jury-Finds-Tiffany-Cole-Guilty-In-Double-Murder/2096486 |archive-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> They voted 9-3 for her to receive the death penalty.<ref name="jax2007-10-20">{{cite web|url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/14378135/detail.html |title=Jury Finds Tiffany Cole Guilty In Double Murder | News - Home |publisher=News4jax.com |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124195507/http://www.news4jax.com/news/14378135/detail.html |archive-date=January 24, 2010 }}</ref> Evidence included photos of Cole and two co-defendants in a limousine, celebrating with champagne and hands full of cash.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Five months later, a judge handed down two death sentences for the murders, and a sentence of life in prison for the kidnappings. Cole awaited execution at Lowell Correctional Institution Annex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xi7ik2_tiffany-cole-sentenced-to-death-becomes-only-woman-in-florida-on-death-row_news |title=Tiffany Cole sentenced to death, becomes only woman in Florida on death row - Video Dailymotion |publisher=Dailymotion.com |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201061354/http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xi7ik2_tiffany-cole-sentenced-to-death-becomes-only-woman-in-florida-on-death-row_news |archive-date=February 1, 2012}}</ref>

Cole was one of three women on Florida's death row, the others being Margaret Allen and Tina Brown, each sentenced to death in unrelated murders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/blog/article/spotlight-the-women-on-floridas-death-row/index.html |title=Spotlight: The Women on Florida's Death Row – Crime Library |publisher=Trutv.com |date=2012-12-27 |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231061704/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/blog/article/spotlight-the-women-on-floridas-death-row/index.html |archive-date=December 31, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="WPTV2012-09-29">{{cite web|url=http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/tina-brown-panhandle-woman-sentenced-to-dealth-penalty-for-teens-murder |title=Tina Brown: Panhandle woman sentenced to {{sic|dea|lth|nolink=y}} penalty for teen's murder |publisher=Wptv.com |date=2012-09-29 |access-date=2013-03-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115024925/http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/tina-brown-panhandle-woman-sentenced-to-dealth-penalty-for-teens-murder |archive-date=November 15, 2012 }}</ref> Of the previous 14 women{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} ever sentenced to death in Florida since the 1976 ''Gregg v. Georgia'' ruling, two were executed (Judy Buenoano in 1998, and Aileen Wuornos in 2002).

Wade and Jackson also received death sentences. Nixon, who had led police to the bodies and testified against the others, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 55 years in prison.<ref name=":0" />

In 2017, the Florida Supreme Court ordered new sentencing hearings for Cole, Wade, and Jackson because their juries had not unanimously recommended the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/death-sentence-thrown-out-in-murders-of-couple-buried-alive |title=Death sentence thrown out in murders of couple buried alive |date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116185511/https://www.news4jax.com/news/death-sentence-thrown-out-in-murders-of-couple-buried-alive |archive-date=November 16, 2017 }}</ref> A 2016 U.S Supreme Court ruling, ''Hurst v. Florida'', found that Florida's prior law permitting non-unanimous jury verdicts in death penalty cases violated the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oyez.org/cases/2015/14-7505|title=Hurst v. Florida|website=Oyez|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830060410/https://www.oyez.org/cases/2015/14-7505|url-status=live}}</ref> prompting Florida to resentence more than 150 convicted felons under death sentences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2018/aug/19/scotus-unanimous-death-penalty-jury-verdict-decision-affecting-florida-cases/|title=SCOTUS' Unanimous Death-Penalty Jury Verdict Decision Affecting Florida Cases {{!}} Criminal Legal News|website=www.criminallegalnews.org|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830060416/https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2018/aug/19/scotus-unanimous-death-penalty-jury-verdict-decision-affecting-florida-cases/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/death_penalty_representation/project_press/2017/year-end/florida-supreme-court-reaffirms-decision-to-deny-relief-for-unco.html%26ved%3D2ahUKEwirwsLz-qnkAhVirlkKHSSBA6MQFjAAegQIBRAB%26usg%3DAOvVaw3J3bgKNhybmHzYI2felTRq|title=Florida Supreme Court Reaffirms Decision to Deny Relief for Unconstitutional Sentences Issued Prior to 2002|date=December 1, 2017|website=American Bar Association|access-date=August 30, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920203632/http://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/death_penalty_representation/project_press/2017/year-end/florida-supreme-court-reaffirms-decision-to-deny-relief-for-unco.html%26ved%3D2ahUKEwirwsLz-qnkAhVirlkKHSSBA6MQFjAAegQIBRAB%26usg%3DAOvVaw3J3bgKNhybmHzYI2felTRq|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, Wade was resentenced to life in prison.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jury-deliberations-begin-in-buried-alive-murder-case-thursday/77-a2b90b41-9047-42fa-b26e-9e56263f4dd4 | title=Man convicted of murdering Jacksonville couple by burying them alive receives life sentence | date=16 June 2022 | access-date=20 February 2023 | archive-date=13 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813164247/https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jury-deliberations-begin-in-buried-alive-murder-case-thursday/77-a2b90b41-9047-42fa-b26e-9e56263f4dd4 | url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023, Jackson was resentenced to death.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fladeathpenalty.substack.com/p/michael-j-jackson-resentenced-to | title=Michael J. Jackson resentenced to death following jury's 8-4 recommendation | date=14 August 2023 | access-date=August 16, 2023 | archive-date=August 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816105718/https://fladeathpenalty.substack.com/p/michael-j-jackson-resentenced-to | url-status=live }}</ref> Cole was resentenced to life imprisonment on August 23, 2023, after the jury voted 10-2 in a three-hour deliberation to spare her life.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/verdict-watch-jury-deciding-fate-of-buried-alive-defendant/77-2779ad26-cdb3-4121-a4dc-42d2d153a420 | title='I truly forgive you': Family addresses defendant in 'buried alive' case | date=23 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2023/08/23/verdict-spares-tiffany-cole-death-in-jacksonville-buried-alive-case/70663608007/ |title=Jurors spare Tiffany Cole death penalty in 2005 'buried-alive' case in Jacksonville |first=Anne |last=Schindler |website=The Florida Times-Union |date=August 23, 2023 |accessdate=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127142137/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2023/08/23/verdict-spares-tiffany-cole-death-in-jacksonville-buried-alive-case/70663608007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Documentaries == Due to the brutality and notoriety of the case and the fact that one of the perpetrators was a young woman later sentenced to death, the case has been the subject of several TV documentaries, including the third episode of the second season of ''Your Worst Nightmare'', an hour-long interview of Tiffany Cole and Emilia Carr with Diane Sawyer for ''20/20'' in 2015, and an episode of ''Wicked Attraction'', "Good Deeds Punished", in 2010.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

This story is also recognized on ''Deadly Women's'' second episode of the fifth season, "Loathe Thy Neighbor", and the subject of a 2024 episode of the podcast Sword and Scale.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=inflco20100506157 Florida Supreme Court affirmation of Alan Wade's death sentences], May 6, 2010 *[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=J35212&TypeSearch=AI Inmate Population Information Detail - Tiffany Cole] *[http://crime.about.com/od/womenondeathrow/fl/The-Crimes-of-Florida-Death-Row-Inmate-Tiffany-Cole.htm Profile of Tiffany Cole at about.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306033721/http://crime.about.com/od/womenondeathrow/fl/The-Crimes-of-Florida-Death-Row-Inmate-Tiffany-Cole.htm |date=2017-03-06 }} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sumner, Carol and Reggie}} Category:2005 murders in the United States Category:July 2005 crimes Category:July 2005 in the United States Category:2000s in Jacksonville, Florida Category:2005 in Florida Category:Murder in Florida Category:Robberies in the United States Category:Charlton County, Georgia Category:Kidnappings in the United States Category:Deaths by live burial Category:2000s trials Category:Deaths by person in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Trials in Florida Category:Capital punishment in Florida Category:Murder trials in the United States Category:Violence against disabled people in the United States