Michelle Reynolds, Scott Harper On ID’s ‘Killer Clergy’: Church Minister’s Sex Affair Led To Murder Of Thad Reynolds, In Rome, Georgia

Murderers Michelle Reynolds and Scott Harper will have their story air on tonight’s Killer Clergy on Investigation Discovery (ID). The salacious crime story made headlines more than a decade ago in Rome, Georgia, where authorities say that Michelle Reynolds had a sexual affair with youth minister Scott Harper. That affair, they say, led to the stabbing death of Michelle Reynolds’ husband, Thad Reynolds.

The Killer Clergy episode that will reenact the crime case is titled “Unholy Confessions.” Michelle Reynolds and Scott Harper are currently in prison. The story will be recounted through interviews with local police and friends or family members of the victim.

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July 2004: Man Found Dead In Frito Lay Distribution Center

The body of Thad Reynolds, also known as Thad John Glenn Reynolds, was found in his office at the Frito Lay Distribution Center in Rome, Georgia. The 36-year-old man was a popular church member and deacon at the Hollywood Baptist Church. An autopsy report conducted on Reynolds showed that he had suffered multiple stab wounds to the body. Many of the wounds were defensive wounds as he fought for his life inside the office, according to Northwest Georgia News.

At the crime scene, police could see blood and papers strewn about the room. It was obvious that it was a targeted attack. Thad Reynolds was a good man with a good reputation in the town of Rome. It was baffling to consider who would want him dead.

Authorities set out to answer that question by digging through Thad Reynolds’ background. They learned that he had been married twice to his wife, Michelle Sullins Reynolds. Michelle was unhappy in the marriage the first time around. However, Thad never stopped loving her and wanted her back. Years later, he won her back, but this turned out to be a fatal mistake.

Being back together seemed like the right thing. However, everything changed when Michelle Reynolds began having an affair with the church’s minister, Richard Scott Harper. For police, this was a stunning revelation.

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Scott Harper, who many call Scotty, was a married man, and he was best friends with the victim and his family. Authorities learned that Scott Harper and his wife, Paige, often took church vacations with Michelle and Thad Reynolds. However, what seemed like wholesome family trips turned out to be nothing more than a way for Michelle and Scott Harper to see each other, often slipping in sex when they could.

People in the town of Rome knew that they were having an affair. They were seen around town and it was well-known that they often rented motel rooms for sex meet-ups.

Scott Harper was arrested, along with Michelle Reynolds, four days later. Police had more than enough evidence to connect them both to the crime. The emails that were sent back and forth between Michelle and Scotty indicated Michelle wanted Thad Reynolds dead, and she wanted her lover, Scott Harper, to do it.

Friends and former congregation members of Scott Harper were shocked that he could commit such a terrible crime. He always seemed dedicated to the church and his wife, but police say he let Michelle Reynolds manipulate him into doing something ungodly. Despite the crime committed, residents of Rome say that the crime should not paint the entire town, according to comments found at Inside Dateline.

“I’m from Rome, born and raised & I still live in Rome. I agree with George….Rome is NOT like that! They make Rome seem like we are a “small little town. These were two VERY dumb people and it has nothing to do with our town.”

“Give us Romans a break. Most of us were totally untouched by this trial, even though our local paper splashed it on the front page every day. Generalizations like your last one or the ones about football and cheerleaders or Rome being the typical small town where everybody are completely unfounded. We are close to 40,000 people of all faiths, hues, and ages living in an active city of arts and colleges (3 fine schools) and a private boarding school. There is much more to Rome than football or a smarmy little scandal.”

“Instead of yet another story focusing on Scotty and Michelle, perhaps it would be better to focus on the victims left behind in their wake…the four Reynolds girls, the three Harper girls, Kitty Walker (Thad’s mother), and Scotty’s parents who have also lost their son.”

https://www.facebook.com/RomeNewsTribune/posts/10152701505168631?match=bWljaGVsbGUgcmV5bm9sZHMscm9tZQ%3D%3D

Watch exactly how the murder took place by tuning into Investigation Discovery’s Killer Clergy tonight at 9 p.m.

What Do You Believe?

Some say getting too close with other married couples is part of the problem. Do you believe that the constant association with the other couple opened the door to the secret affair? Let us know in the comments. Last week’s Killer Clergy featured the case of James Castria.

Finally watching #killerclergy on @DiscoveryID on a Sunday. How appropriate, eh? #IDgo is a great app?? pic.twitter.com/opa7aJySOh

— Nikki Hoskin (@nikkihoskin1027) August 28, 2016

[Featured Image by AP Images]