Goodnight, Sugar Babe: The Killing of Vera Jo Reigle

A mentally challenged young mother whose life was marked by abuse within the Brooks household. She becomes a target of Cheri's manipulation and Zachary's violence. Her murder on the train tracks is the catalyst for exposing the broader conspiracy. The film portrays her vulnerability and the systemic neglect she faced.

The matriarch of the Brooks family, a secretive and controlling figure who exerts coercive power over others in the household. The film traces her traumatic childhood and sexual abuse history, which the documentary suggests shapes her predatory impulses and need for control. She enforces loyalty through fear, manipulating Vera and her children to maintain her grip on the family and its secrets. The narrative frames Cheri as a central driver of the crime and the conspiracy around Vera's baby.

A teenage father whose relationship with Vera deteriorates into escalating violence. He embodies impulsive aggression and a belief that Vera's pregnancy binds her to the household, intensifying the struggle for autonomy. His actions drive the abuse that makes Vera vulnerable to Cheri's manipulation. The film presents him as a key figure in the family's murderous plan.

Cheri's cousin and a transient, thrill-seeking ex-con who becomes entangled with the Brooks family after leaving prison. He participates in the abuse of Vera and acts as a pawn in Cheri's scheme, driven by desperation and a desire for quick money. The film portrays Danny as a catalyst who pushes the plan toward murder, reflecting a wider pattern of calculated violence.

Cheri's son who provides context on the family dynamics, openly comparing the Brooks clan to the Manson Family. He offers a perspective on the environment, suggesting a cultish, controlling dynamic that underpins the crime. His remarks help frame the case as more than a single murder, but a systemic pattern of manipulation and violence.