The story of Nancy Latham sounds like the plot of a suspense thriller, but it is a real-life tale of betrayal that unfolded in the charming low country of South Carolina. Once part of a wealthy and seemingly perfect Charleston couple, the real estate agent and former state lottery official found herself the target of a murder-for-hire plot masterminded by the people closest to her. The shocking case, which involved a manila envelope filled with maps and photos known as the “hit packet,” became the focus of NBC’s Dateline podcast, Murder & Magnolias, hosted by Keith Morrison. Here is a detailed look at how Nancy Latham ended up in the crosshairs of a hired gun and how a routine traffic stop exposed the dark scheme.
The Picture-Perfect Life That Wasn’t
For years, Chris and Nancy Latham were the envy of Mount Pleasant’s high society . Chris was a high-powered Bank of America executive earning a six-figure salary, while Nancy had built a successful career as a real estate agent and served as the treasurer on the South Carolina Lottery Commission . They had two daughters and appeared to have it all. But beneath the surface of family vacations and charity galas, their marriage was beginning to fracture.
By 2011, after more than two decades of marriage, the relationship had soured. The turning point came during what was supposed to be an idyllic two-week family vacation at a lake house in July of that year. On the last night, Chris took Nancy out on a pontoon boat. In the middle of the lake, he told her he wanted a divorce . The reasons for the split remain a point of contention. Chris claimed he had discovered evidence of an affair on Nancy’s phone. Nancy, however, has always denied this, stating that Chris had become distant and was likely having multiple affairs of his own .
Despite the tension, the couple continued to live together and keep up appearances for the sake of their daughters. But the divorce proceedings that followed were bitter and contentious, setting the stage for the violence that was to come .
The Routine Traffic Stop That Uncovered a Deadly Plot
On April 5, 2013, everything changed. Police in Charleston pulled over a driver named Aaron Wilkinson for a routine traffic violation. During the stop, officers discovered that Wilkinson was in possession of a gun and ammunition. Facing charges, Wilkinson did something unexpectedโhe started talking about a murder .
Wilkinson told police that he had come to South Carolina from Kentucky with a specific mission: to kill Nancy Latham. He claimed he was part of a murder-for-hire plot and that he was working with a former cellmate, Samuel Yenawine. The target, he said, was the estranged wife of a wealthy Charleston banker . This information immediately set off alarms, leading police to dig deeper into the Lathams’ bitter divorce.
Aaron Wilkinson revealed that Samuel Yenawine had received a down payment and a detailed information packet to carry out the killing. This packet, which investigators would later call the “hit packet,” was a manila envelope filled with printed maps of Nancy’s neighborhood, photographs of her home and car, her daily schedule, and other personal details .
Unraveling the “Hit Packet” and the Conspirators
The evidence in the “hit packet” pointed directly back to Chris Latham and his inner circle. Investigators traced the printed documents to a printer in Chris Latham’s office. The handwritten notes included in the packet were analyzed and the handwriting was matched to Chris’s girlfriend, Wendy Moore .
Wendy Moore was not just Chris’s romantic partner; she was also his former assistant at the bank . The connection to Samuel Yenawine was also through MooreโYenawine was her ex-husband . The plan, as it emerged, was for Wendy Moore to hire her ex-husband and his friend Wilkinson to kill Nancy so that Chris could avoid a costly divorce settlement and alimony payments .
Authorities learned that Wendy Moore had met with Yenawine and Wilkinson at a motel in North Charleston. She rented them a room and provided them with the “hit packet,” along with a cash payment of $5,000 as a down payment for the murder . Samuel Yenawine’s girlfriend at the time, Rachel Palmer, was also implicated in helping the men rent a car in Kentucky for the trip to South Carolina .
Arrests, Suicide, and Jailhouse Calls
Following Aaron Wilkinson’s confession, arrests were made swiftly. Chris Latham, Wendy Moore, Samuel Yenawine, and Rachel Palmer were all taken into custody . Chris Latham pleaded not guilty, maintaining his innocence and accusing his estranged wife of lying .
While awaiting trial, the case took another dark turn. Samuel Yenawine was found dead in his Georgetown County jail cell, having committed suicide . His death meant that the key witness left to testify about the direct handoff of money and the packet was Aaron Wilkinson, a man with a criminal record whose credibility would certainly be attacked by the defense.
However, prosecutors had another powerful tool: recorded jailhouse phone calls between Chris Latham and Wendy Moore. In these calls, the two discussed the case, and their conversations suggested a coordinated effort to hide their connection to the plot. These recordings proved crucial in tying the two together .
The Trial and Verdict
The trial began in 2014. In August of that year, the jury delivered its verdict. Chris Latham, then 51, was found guilty of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. However, the jury was deadlocked on the charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and illegal possession of a firearm .
Wendy Moore was convicted on all counts against her . Chris Latham was sentenced to ten years in federal prison. Wendy Moore received a much harsher sentence of 180 months (15 years) . Rachel Palmer, who had given birth shortly before the trial, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to time served .
At his sentencing, Chris Latham continued to proclaim his innocence. “I want to be crystal clear,” he said, according to the Post and Courier. “I am 100% innocent” .
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Life After the Verdict
Despite her husband’s denial, Nancy Latham (who has since remarried and goes by Nancy Cannon) was relieved the ordeal was over. She had lived in fear for her life, constantly looking over her shoulder. Following the convictions, she filed a civil lawsuit against her ex-husband and the others involved .
Chris Latham served the majority of his sentence and was released from federal prison in January 2022. He returned to the Charleston area, specifically Sullivans Island, South Carolina, where he maintains a low profile while abiding by the rules of his supervised release .
The shocking details of the case continue to captivate true crime audiences, largely thanks to the Dateline podcast, Murder & Magnolias. Hosted by the iconic Keith Morrison, the series features exclusive interviews with Nancy Cannon, providing a firsthand account of the terror she experienced and the intricate web of deceit that her husband and his girlfriend wove . The podcast delves deep into the evidence, including the infamous “hit packet,” and examines how a fairytale life in the land of magnolias turned into a nightmare of betrayal and murderous intent.
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