Arrangements for a kind of “elopement”-style wedding were made quickly, with Nancy excitedly alerting only a handful of people, and asking Alison, her best girlfriend from her days at Mt. Vernon College, to be her maid of honor.
Jeremy, meanwhile, waited until the very last minute to invite a few close friends. In fact, he phoned one of his closet pals just a few hours before he was set to exchange his vows. Tom Turchan told one reporter that he was stunned when he answered the telephone to hear his longtime friend request that he, “Come to Christ Episcopal tonight at seven-thirty.”
“I’m not coming until you tell me what is going on,” Tom demanded.
“Turchan, I’m telling you to be there.” Jeremy provided no other information.
It was only after a protracted conversation with a surreptitious Jeremy that Turchan heard his friend say, “I’m getting married.”
Tom was astounded, and quickly hung up the phone to alert their friends in New York and Baltimore. When he got the other guys on the line, he could not believe that not a single one of them had received a call from Jeremy. It seemed that his friend had “forgotten” to tell anybody.
On August 11, 1977, Nancy slipped on the elegant wedding dress that she had borrowed from Alison. Her beautiful and generous friend had recently worn the stunning couture gown for her marriage to William Paley, Jr., grandson of media tycoon William S. Paley, the founder of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
Twenty-six years old, and four months pregnant, Nancy proudly clasped her bouquet, and effortlessly floated down the aisle of Georgetown’s Christ Church. The magnificent Episcopal Church was located at 31st and O Street in the posh Northwest section of the city where, over the years, it had been the site of several prominent weddings.
Nancy smiled from behind her diaphanous white veil as she passed the small group of friends who lined the pews, and made her way to the altar, which was tastefully decorated with sprays of delicate flowers. As she strode down the aisle, her gaze was fixed on Jeremy, who waited stone-faced, his shoulders squared, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. His blank expression revealed nothing of what was going through his mind—or heart—as he watched his stunning bride approach, his eyes illuminated by the pair of tall, white candles that flickered in front of him at the altar. The resident minister performed the brief but moving ceremony, which ended in a passionate kiss and a round of applause from the couple’s close friends.
Suddenly, Nancy had two secrets from her family: her marriage and her pregnancy. She had always lived up to her family’s expectations, but now it was clear that she was embarking on a journey in which she would live two separate, even contradictory, lives.
For more than one month, she and Jeremy kept their nuptials concealed, until they matter-of-factly announced to their families that they had wed in an intimate church affair. Nancy’s family received the news of their daughter’s runaway marriage with regret. Her mother was less than pleased that the event had been shrouded in secrecy, and was having a difficult time believing that her daughter could really be in love with a man who fell so short of her own lofty expectations. Nine years her daughter’s senior, Jeremy Ray Akers was not the kind of man Nancy’s mother would have chosen for her. And she made it a point of letting him know it right from the start. One of the questions she asked him during their initial encounter was who his family was, a question that friends say made Jeremy feel self-conscious and unimportant. Susan Richards did not appreciate her son-in-law’s abrasive manner, and found it more than disconcerting when he spoke to her with his face just inches away from her own. Something about her daughter’s new husband raised concern in her, and she could not shake the vague and uneasy feeling that her daughter was somehow in danger. Nancy’s brothers were equally turned off by their sister’s choice. They found her new husband brash and opinionated, and over the years they became increasingly uncomfortable during visits to Nancy’s home. They found Jeremy unpleasant and rude, and disliked that he went out of his way to make them feel unwelcome in their sister’s house. Jeremy’s relatives seemed to take the news in stride, and upon learning of the soon-to-be-born grandchild, embraced their son’s pretty new bride with sincerity and delight.
Five months after they exchanged their nuptials on January 6, 1978, Nancy and Jeremy proudly welcomed their first son, Rehm Johnson Preston Akers. He was named for members of both Nancy’s and Jeremy’s families. His first name was for Nancy’s maternal grandfather, John Rehm, and his second name was for a great-great uncle on Jeremy’s side, Albert Sidney Johnston, who served as a general in the War Between the States. But, it was unrealistic to expect that people call the young boy by such a dignified, adult title, and he was instead nicknamed Finny, after his godfather’s son.
Shortly after Finny celebrated his first birthday, Jeremy landed a very exciting job in Dade County, Florida. His impeccable and impressive credentials earned him a spot in the office of the state attorney. His position as Assistant State Attorney under Janet Reno promised an exciting career investigating, evaluating, preparing, and trying criminal cases. During Jeremy’s four years with the office, he was assigned to the Economic Fraud Division, where he specialized in white-collar crime, political corruption, and food stamp and Medicare fraud. He also supervised and directed criminal investigative teams that consisted of law enforcement officers from the local police departments, state agencies, and the state attorney’s office.
The family moved to a small Mediterranean-style house on a lovely residential street near the bay. The home, which was surrounded by palm trees and flowering bougainvillea, was located in chic Coconut Grove, a trendy hotspot on Florida’s east coast. Just south of downtown Miami, the rambling tourist town was lined with expensive shops and stylish restaurants. The beautiful, upscale community was an ideal spot for Nancy to enjoy the outdoors. And the quiet, suburban streets provided a perfect setting for her to stroll with the baby carriage. Nancy later recalled this as one of the most idyllic times of her life, living in a beautiful house with a tile floor, lush vegetation, and great weather, surrounded by what seemed to be the perfect family.
Since she was not working, her time as a new mother gave her an opportunity to rediscover her love of painting and sketching. Finny benefited from his mother’s creative flair, and enjoyed imaginative arts-and-crafts projects she designed for him and the afternoon outings to parks and museums they took. An avid reader, Nancy regaled her young son with storybook adventures. As a youngster, she put him to bed each night to the whimsical children’s story, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. The fantastical tale of the little white rabbit preparing for bedtime was her baby boy’s favorite, although he also became attached to a number of the books in his library of fairy tales and adventures during the course of his childhood.
On weekends, Nancy and Jeremy packed a bag and took their young son on hikes through the park, stopping by the playground to watch, whoop, and holler as he zoomed down the slide or played on the jungle gym. Nancy shared her husband’s love of the outdoors, and the couple took Finny on countless adventures, including a magical journey through the Everglades. Nancy even indulged her husband’s love of exotic animals, embracing the pair of parrots and the gigantic macaw that he brought home for his son. Over time, the family’s collection of pets grew to a menagerie of dogs, cats, fish, mice, birds, and even a few snakes that Jeremy had found on his long hikes. And while she would have preferred to be the owner of a single cat or dog, Nancy held her tongue and simply smiled at each new pet her husband added to the constantly growing collection.
Being the first and only grandchild in his mother’s family, and the first baby born to Gladys and William Akers’ eldest son, Finny was in great demand. Every summer, Nancy and Jeremy arranged for their little boy to visit with his grandparents in Sheffield. It was a journey that the youngster looked forward to for much of the year. The slender, dark-haired toddler with the mop of corkscrew curls adored his father’s parents, and counted his trips to
their quaint, rural Southern town among the highlights of his young life.
The fact that Grandpa Bill was retired from his job with the railroad meant that he was home and free to dote on his darling grandson twenty-four hours a day. Finny also spent time with a host of relatives from his dad’s side, and learned all about the family members for whom he was named. And for one week, Nancy and Jeremy joined their son in Alabama at a vacation house on the lake that the elder Akerses rented in nearby Muscle Shoals.
Being away for most of the summer meant that Finny was unable to see his grandparents and his great grandparents on his mother’s side. Desperate to spend time with their precious Finny, Roderick and Susan Richards made frequent trips to visit with the family during the winter months. It became customary for them to fly down to their daughter’s home to celebrate Thanksgiving with their grandson, and then to host the family at their stately mansion in Scarsdale for extended Christmas holidays at which Nancy’s beloved grandfather, John Rehm, got the opportunity to dote on his great grandson.
While Nancy adored Jeremy’s family, and looked forward to her visits to Alabama, her husband did not feel as loving toward her family. She was aware that he was uncomfortable in their presence, and he showed little enthusiasm when she announced that they were coming to stay. She knew that he found it difficult to control his tongue around her mother, and tried her best to keep Susan Richards at bay.
The Akers family was in sunny Florida only a short time when Jeremy stumbled upon his old law school pal, Don Boswell. The young attorney was aware that his friend had moved to Florida after graduating from the University of Virginia, but he never dreamed of running into him in the lobby of the Miami courthouse.
Don was equally shocked when he heard the deep, baritone voice of his former law school roommate clear across the corridor. But what really caught Don’s attention was his pal’s outrageous getup. In spite of his conservative views, Jeremy had never been one to follow trends, and on this day, his fashion statement reinforced that notion.
Anxiously, Don shouted Jeremy’s name across the sunny passageway, and then watched as the slender, blond-haired man in the canary-yellow pants and red suspenders turned to see who was calling him. When he recognized his friend’s familiar grin, he excitedly ran over to shake his buddy’s hand. It had been nearly five years since they last spoke. Don and Jeremy had lost touch soon after Jeremy left Charlottesville for California. Since neither man was adept at writing or sending holiday cards, reuniting in the busy downtown courthouse was a welcome surprise.
Delighted at the good fortune of coming upon Don after all the preceding years, Jeremy insisted that their fateful meeting be toasted with a celebratory drink. Happily, Don agreed, and the two headed off to a local tavern to down a few beers and catch up on old times. News that his pal had gotten married and had a son came as a shock to Don, since he never considered Jeremy the marrying kind.
When Jeremy proposed that they stop by his house so that he could introduce Don to his new wife and young son, he willingly obliged. He was curious to meet the woman who had agreed to marry his nutty friend, and was surprised by the intelligent, free-spirited person he encountered when he arrived at the spacious house near the bay. Not only was Nancy attractive and smart, but Don also found his friend’s wife funny, artistic, and incredibly kind. She was well-read and could talk for hours about everything from the classics to free verse. She was also, Don noted, artistic, with real talent in painting and drawing. Pleased by his interest, Nancy proudly exhibited some of her recent works for Don.
Over the next several years, Don and Nancy grew to be friends. A consummate bachelor, Jeremy’s old pal liked to stop over for dinner every few months, and enjoyed taking Nancy and young Finny out for cruises on his sailboat. But Don stopped short of making his dinner visits routine. After all, he was single, and did not want to impose himself on Jeremy and his family.
During one conversation that he had with Nancy, Don was surprised to learn that she had been the one to pursue his old law school pal. He was even more taken aback when she spoke about Jeremy as though he fit some romantic profile she had conjured up in her head. Don had never viewed his friend as the romantic type, and he certainly never expected Jeremy to turn up with a wife and a child.
After five years with the office of the state attorney, Jeremy was offered the opportunity of a lifetime, and he excitedly raced home to tell Nancy that he had been asked to come on board as a trial lawyer for the United States Department of Justice in the nation’s capital.
It was a dream come true—not only for Jeremy, who was about to begin the kind of job he had always aspired to, but also for Nancy. She relished the idea of returning to the city where she not only had spent glorious days as a student, but had also launched her own career as a political speechwriter. Neither Nancy nor Jeremy had any inkling that their move to Washington, DC would set them on a path that would ultimately prove deadly.
CHAPTER NINE
At forty-one years old, Jeremy had reached the pinnacle of his legal career. As a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, he was assigned to the Environmental Enforcement Section of the department’s environment and natural resources division. It was an area that he found most rewarding and was exhilarated at the prospect of working on assignments that could potentially make a significant impact on the environment.
Among his duties, he was responsible for the investigation, evaluation, preparation, negotiation, and trial of cases arising under federal environmental statutes. During his five years with the Department, he worked on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA” or “Superfund”), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Federal Insecticide Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
At first, the couple rented a lovely Tudor-style townhouse in Foxhall Village on 44th Street, barely a mile from Georgetown in the trendy northwest section of the city. The brown and cream-colored semi-detached residence was part of an upscale housing complex and was inhabited by a number of young, upwardly mobile families.
Neighbors on the lovely tree-lined street remember Nancy had a kind of movie-star quality. Shapely and attractive, her presence was imposing. She was larger than life with her thick, dark hair pulled tightly in a bun, and the oversized sunglasses she wore even when it was raining gave her an air of glamour. Her outfits were always colorful and modern, and she accented them with whimsical scarves slung loosely around her throat. Her style was that of a modified hippie, with billowy, multi-hued ensembles and fashionable, chunky-heeled shoes.
Physical appearance was important to Nancy. While she gave the impression of being very much a bohemian-style woman, she made sure never to miss her monthly facial appointment at Elizabeth Arden, or her weekly manicures and pedicures at the local salon. Her clothing, for the most part, bore the fancy Laura Ashley label, and she made it clear that she would rather own one dress with her favorite designer’s name than ten items that were “off the rack.”
Residents of the block found Nancy’s husband equally charismatic. Handsome and athletic, the short, well-toned man was often seen taking Finny to the nearby park on Q Street, where the father and son would practice baseball, toss a Frisbee or fly a kite. Once there, Jeremy seemed unable to resist joining the local boys in a game of hoops. Securing his young son on a park bench, he always pulled off his T-shirt to reveal a chest of muscles that impressed even the youngsters on the court. He seemed to like to run around shirtless while playing ball with whoever was in the park. One of the boys, eleven-year-old Avery Drake, passed the Akers place twice a day on his way to and from school. He immediately recognized the man with the bulging biceps and pumped-up physique as the same person he always saw doing yard work or tinkering with his car.
Now that Nancy was back in the District of Columbia, and her son was of school age, she realized that she would have to ret
urn to the workforce. It was clear to her that her husband’s government salary would not go far in the Capital City, where rents were high and everyday life was expensive. And Nancy was determined to send Finny to private school, and had been informed by Jeremy that she would be responsible for footing the steep tuition bill. Her husband believed in public education, and made it clear to Nancy that if she wanted five-year-old Finny to go to private school, she would have to pay for it herself. For Nancy, the idea of enrolling her son in the District’s public school system was not an option. Education was her highest priority and she was well aware that the public schools were less than the ideal environment for her son.
Another reason she needed to work was born out of a financial arrangement that she and Jeremy had worked out with each other. In her husband’s mind, Nancy was responsible for herself, and that meant paying her share of the family’s expenses. From the start of their marriage, she and Jeremy had, for the most part, kept their finances separate, and even after the birth of Finny, the arrangement remained very much in place.
She casually joked to friends about the agreement, in which Jeremy was responsible for the rent and she was to pick up most of the smaller household bills. Her explanation helped friends understand why she insisted on keeping the house at a cool fifty-eight degrees in the dead of winter, and why she and Jeremy served drinks to their guests in jars that had once held fruit preserves.
Friends say that Jeremy was never happier than when he was working for Justice. He saw himself as the guy on the side of the good of the public at large, working to put the bad guys away. His job was prestigious but the salary he was earning was substantially less than the going rates for attorneys in private practice. When Nancy discussed the possibility of moving out of the city to a nearby suburb with more affordable rents, Jeremy turned up his nose. He did not want to have to battle the traffic to work each day, and he told his wife that he preferred to live close enough to his job that he could walk to the office.
Fatal Romance: A True Story of Obsession and Murder Page 11
