", Brooke Sheridan: He says, "I just want her family to know. Maria Woods Harber: She was such a good person She just didn't deserve it. Ryan Duke is standing trial for Grinsteads murder. Another video shown shows Duke leading investigators to where he says he dumped and burned her body. Maria Woods Harber: Tara had a boyfriend for a long time And during the summer of 2005, they broke up. Year after year passed with no arrests. "You should be punished according - not for murder, not for burglary, not for aggravated assault, because that's the way the system works. Ryan is the one talking about 411 getting connected to Taras house.". The funeral will follow at 11 oclock in the chapel with The Rev. There were billboards. I just got off the phone with another department that had didn't do sh.". Not guilty of malice murder and he was acquitted of all charges relating to Tara's murder convicted only of concealing her death. Peter Van Sant: One said she had clothes on, the other said she did not. Miriam Sealy, Tara Grinstead's school friend and childhood neighbor, fought back tears as she read a statement in front of the court. He lived most his life in Aiken and worked as a procedures writer at the Savannah River Site. Brooke Sheridan: I had never connected with somebody and had fun with somebody like I have with him. Marcus enlisted with the Army Rangers and spent time overseas. Tara's car was parked in the driveway. Peter Van Sant: This is the murder of Tara Grinstead and there seemed to be little interest, is that right? John McCullough: Yeah, Tara Grinstead, and said, you know, "missing.". Rumors swirled about that cop whose card was found at Tara's house. Tara was. And remember that latex glove found at the crime scene? But if you're ready for this Bo had already been interviewed by the GBI a year earlier in 2016. Who you can trust with your life? He testified that Bo Dukes told him he had killed Tara Grinstead but Ryan did not know how she died. Who is he and where is he now? He is preceded in death by his. the judge said. Ryan Duke said he first started "hanging out" with Bo Dukes during his senior year of high school. He then allegedly struck her with his fist and ran away. Blogs; Online will; Shop. In an interview with the GBI, Bo Dukes said he was ready to end the secret he had kept for years, and went into detail. Ryan Duke testified he "passed out" after a night of drinking before Tara Grinstead allegedly died. We had search efforts like nothing you've ever seen. NEW ELLENTON, SC -- CYNTHIA SUSAN DUKES DARR, 52, died Sunday, October 9, 2011 at her residence. Example video title will go here for this video. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. The defense argued that Ryan's former best friend, Bo Dukes, was the man responsible for Grinstead's death throughout the trial. I cant live with myself Im so sick of this," Duke said in a recorded video. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. GARLAN LOTT: The statement that I recall was, 'We killed and burned her body.". He was the owner operator of Dukes Tax Service and Taxxman Payroll Solutions. A full skeleton. Jannis Paulk: It was Bo Dukes and Ryan Duke. Brooke Sheridan: He said, "That's something that only God and Ryan know." The funeral will follow at 11 oclock in the chapel with The Rev. Neptune Society is the largest provider of affordable cremation services in the nation. BRAD RIGBY | PROSECUTOR: This case is about Bo's lies, lies that lasted from 2005 to 2016. The defense argued the validity of the report and test. The GBI tested that glove and found not only Tara's DNA on it, but the DNA profile of an unknown male. Prosecutors played that videotape of Bo's interview with the GBI. I was high. Brooke Sheridan: We actually met on Tinder. But police noted that her purse and keys were missing. Duke said he left the home in a panic but came back to remove the body. Ryan William Drakes, age 40, of DeSoto passed away on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. Jannis, who ran a local web design company, became an expert on the case keeping a close watch since Tara was reported missing. Two years later, in March 2019, he was the first to go on trial. Soon after his arrest, Ryan Duke was indicted on the charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, and concealing the death of another, to all of which he pleaded not guilty. Incredibly, McCullough says, no one returned his calls. He wasn't sure who said what. In 2012 he was charged and convicted of stealing more than $150,000 worth of military supplies. Marcus Harper: Somebody pulled me to the side, and they were like, "Listen, you know, there's been some things said bringin' up your military past, bringin' up how you're Trained to kill" . And even when she no longer competed, Tara helped other women, like Dana, break into that world. Peter Van Sant: What time did she go home? Maria Woods Harber: My best friend, Tara Grinstead, was a beautiful person on the inside and the outside. Call Call. "Approximately 20 bone fragments that could be considered human bones.". Dukes invited McCullough to Ocilla to spend Christmas with his family. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. The last witness in the case was GBI Agent Mitchell Posey, who was brought in to prove Duke wasnt lying in his 2017 recorded confession, "The question was How did you identify Tara? The answer was The pictures on the wall," Posey said, "Ryan is the one talking about the G&G in front of it. But who would want to harm this vibrant 30-year-old woman? Tara's family could do little but pray for a breakthrough. State and defense teams made their pitches to jurors, pretrial hearing that Duke "spontaneously and unsolicited" confessed, Boy, 16, found shot dead in Lawrenceville backyard, New charges complicate Jalen Carters 'character' question, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, Sheriff's office fires deputy seen on video body-slamming man to ground during arrest, Delta pilots approve contract to raise pay by more than 30%, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Georgia elementary school principal charged with child cruelty, false imprisonment, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K. Neighbors knocked on her door but got no response. The state focused on Ryan Duke's 2017 recorded confession to GBI agents. Universal. Grinstead, an Irwin County High School teacher, went missing in October 2005. . But when questioned about her disappearance, he had an alibi and was never charged. Make a Memorial Donation . Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Share. Dukes is in prison for concealing Grinstead's death. Ryan Duke testified he saw Tara. Investigators say Ryan confessed to killing Grinstead. In 2017, Brooke Sheridan came forward to the GBI saying that her boyfriend, Bo Dukes, told her that he had helped his friend, Ryan Duke, cover up Tara Grinstead's murder. She could tell you anything to make you feel better. Since then, Duke's trial has been moved back several times. Bo told Brooke that Ryan stole his pickup truck that night and used it to transport Tara's body to a remote part of a pecan orchard farmed by Bo's family. My truck was Luminoled photographs were taken. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelor's degree from USC Aiken. And he said he threw his arms up just like this [shrugs her shoulders], "What are you gonna do?". Bo told her they moved Tara's body to a pit, where it took two days to burn, destroying all evidence. A devoted husband and grandfather, Duane was born on May 1, 1950, in South Gate, California, the son of Edwin and Florann (Boisseau) Dukes. Brooke Sheridan: It was something very dark and I I chalked it up to, you know, serving his time in the military. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: He told me that he had killed Tara Grinstead. John McCullough: He had told me that his friend accidentally strangled her and he needed help getting rid of the body so that way there was nothing to find. It was told to me when I was in Georgia. we all wanted to do something that we could do to help There were flyers. her main goal was to win Miss Georgia or at least to get to Miss Georgia, and she did. 83 Peacefully passed away on February 23, 2023. At his sentencing hearing, Tara's stepmother, Connie, expressed how Tara's family felt about Ryan Duke. It took a jury less than an hour to convict Bo Dukes on all charges. Greg Kaplan, Phillip J. Tangel and Marcus Balsam are the editors. Shaheen Tokhi and David Dow are the associate producers. AIKEN, SC - Vicki Heilig Dukes, 65, died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Gary Rothwell [2008]: It appeared that Tara may have left on her own. Marcus Harper: She obviously wanted to get married. Anthropologist Dr. Ashley Gooding was brought in by the GBI in 2017 to help dig and identify possible human remains in the pecan orchard Duke claimed to have burned and buried Grinstead's body. The state's line of questioning tried to show the jury that Ryan Duke is capable of lying. Brooke Sheridan: He said, "You've heard of the Tara Grinstead case?" Produced by Alec Sirken and Lauren Clark. You need to own to what you've done and confess. DEFENSE: We know the State hasn't brought a single witness to tell you it was on the ground before Monday morning. Bo Dukes apologies to Tara Grinstead's family at his sentencing. It was an opening like that. Leave a memory or share a photo below to show your support. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. He eventually went to court in 2022, with the central defense being hed given a false confession in 2017, partially owing to the fact he was afraid of his former friend Bo. The alleged drug addict was arrested once for a DUI in 2010 but was released on bond. And she was very distraught. Here's my number I'll do whatever has to happen for y'all to take me serious. You need to own what you've done and confess," Sheridan told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant in 2017. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Ryan Dukes Aiken, - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018.A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael Dukes and Vicki Heilig Dukes. The family will receive friends Thursday morning, May 3rd beginning at 10 oclock at Shellhouse Rivers Funeral Home. Both had been students at Tara's high school. Peter Van Sant: What were some of the theories as to what had happened to Tara? Duke said he was on drugs at the time he broke into Grinstead's Ocilla home and doesnt remember how exactly he killed her. Jannis Paulk: She was dating, I think, more than people realized that she was dating. The defense argued Duke was on pain pills and not in his right mind when he made the confession. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. Peter Van Sant: This really affects you, though, talking about this. The defense argued the prosecution has no evidence tying Duke to the house that night and Duke's confession was made under the influence of medication. I don't remember everything clearly I was stealing from her purse. Need help? But I think it's taken a lot of toll on them mentally and physically. A jury found Ryan Duke not guilty of murder but guilty of concealing her body. And that's where she wanted to stay and where she wanted to be. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. After a few drinks, McCullough says Bo began talking about Tara. Your family's land." Outside, in front of Tara's house, authorities found something that didn't seem to belong a latex glove. His lawyers demanded the case be thrown out as the statute of limitations had already passed before asking for the trial to be moved to another venue in Irwin County. Born on January 20, 1989 in Easton, Bryan is the son of Kathy Elburn Dukes . Bo was facing a maximum 25-year sentence. . While it might have not been explosive "smoking gun" testimony, it did paint a picture of the scene police officers were met with during a welfare check at the high school teachers home 17 years ago when she failed to show up to work on a particular Monday in October 2005. focused on the investigators who have worked the case over the years. Jurors also heard from a latent fingerprint examiner who came in 2017 to try to identify and confirm the prints found on a glove in Grinstead's yard. Jurors also heard voicemails left in the home. She had a lot of life ahead of her. DEFENSE [closing arguments]: Bo Dukes should be on trial for the murder of Tara Grinstead, not Ryan. "Ryan did not kill Ms. Grinstead. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified at apretrial hearing that Duke "spontaneously and unsolicited" confessedto killing Grinstead after breaking into her home to steal money for drugs. Bo confessed all of this to Brooke, who stuck with him. He denied that, but when asked why he lied to the GBI about killing Grinstead, Duke said, "I'm trying to make that right.". If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. "It's like he wasn't there," Ryan Duke said when asked about Bo Dukes' demeanor while the body burned. He said Bo Dukes admitted to killing her. It was somethin' I felt like, you know, I had to do. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. OCILLA, Ga. Editor's Note: The video in this story is archive footage from our coverage of the case in the mid-2010s. Peter Van Sant: And by Ryan saying to him, "Hey, buddy. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. Obituary. Tara Grinstead was a 30-year-old history teacher at the Irwin County High School in Ocilla, Georgia, when she was reported missing on October 24, 2005. In addition to his parents, Ryan was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Jason Dukes, paternal grandfather, E. Kenneth Dukes; maternal grandparents, David Leon and Mamie Rae Lundsford Heilig and an aunt, Cindy Dukes Darr. Brooke Sheridan: He has a beautiful mind. "Its been a 17-year nightmare for them," Irwin County District Attorney Bryce Johnson said. It was updated on August 20, 2022.]. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. An Irwin County jury returned "Not Guilty" verdicts on five of the six charges Ryan Duke faced related to the disappearance and death of former Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead, acquitting him of her 2005 murder on Friday, May 20, 2022. One of those always showing off and talking big and running his mouth. Jannis Paulk: So, Bo was known in the community for being a little over the top, unfiltered. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.nationalcremation.com/location/irving- for the Drakes family. Ryan Duke came into the picture of the Tara Grinstead case when he was charged with her murder in 2017, twelve years after her sudden disappearance. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. But some things stuck out to Maria. The two men drove about 200 yards up the road to where Tara Grinstead's body had been placed. He said, `` you 've done and confess, '' Ryan Duke in... 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