A man named Ryan Duke was accused of the crime. I'm so sick of this stealing from her purse. Bones that were so degraded, no official cause of death could be determined. For those who loved Tara Grinstead, Bo Dukes' 25-year sentence for covering up her death was only partial justice. They found him guilty of one charge: concealing Grinstead's death. Ryan admitted he was asked by Bo to help dispose of Tara's body in the orchard and moved her to the burn pile. Brooke says she kept encouraging Bo to open up to talk about this dark subject that was destroying him. And I think she was just trying to move on in a small town of Ocilla, everyone knew their situation. At the time, Ryan Duke and Bo Dukes were 21 years old. Dana Wilder: Ocilla was Tara's life. The returned to the orchard once, where the ashes looked like a small campfire. And even when she no longer competed, Tara helped other women, like Dana, break into that world. Two years later, in March 2019, he was the first to go on trial. Who you can trust with your life? He was a graduate of A His former roommate and close friend was Ryan Duke. Ryan Dukes said he started to see Bo Dukes more often after he was discharged from the Army for being AWOL. John McCullough maintains he tried to get investigators a key tip in 2007 that could have cracked the case. I was a drug addict I'd been drinking. RYAN DUKE [GBI interview played at trial]: I can't lie. Ryan was thus sentenced to 10 years behind bars, which he currently seems to be serving. DEFENSE [closing arguments]: Bo Dukes should be on trial for the murder of Tara Grinstead, not Ryan. And the one we didn't want to think about was somebody killed her. A date was set to start Ryan Dukes trial, but a hitch came when his lawyers filed an emergency appeal to halt it. DEFENSE: Mr. Duke, did you murder Tara Grinstead? He said Bo Dukes admitted to killing her. Tara's alarm clock was under her bed, and a bedside lamp was broken. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. Universal. He later not only confided his secret to Bo but also asked for help to burn the body. we have made an arrest.". Looking at Ryans life, there isnt much of criminal history. Brooke Sheridan: Ryan Woke him up and said, "I killed Tara Grinstead.". It was in 2017 when Bo Dukes came out about his involvement in the case and even pointed the finger at Ryan. ", BO DUKES: Yeah. Nearly 12 years after Tara's disappearance, on February 23, 2017, Ryan Duke appeared in court, charged with Tara's murder. He is extremely intelligent. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. This DNA test was taken two years before defendant Ryan Dukes recorded confession. "We think the jury got it right, and we are very, very happy with the result," Defense Attorney Ashley Merchant said. I didn't believe him. The document claims that later, he used a payphone to see if shed pick up, and when she didnt, he was convinced that she was dead. DEFENSE: We know the State hasn't brought a single witness to tell you it was on the ground before Monday morning. And this time, the whole world seemed to be listening. Gary Rothwell [2008]: It is one of the most extensive investigations undertaken by the GBI. It turned out that he had completed his education from the Irwin County High School, which is where Tara used to work, three years before she went missing, and they might have come in contact there. And it was about to get even more unsettled when at Ryan's murder trial he took the stand and recanted his confession, saying it was really Bo Dukes who killed Tara. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Dana Wilder: As little girls, we looked up to her she was famous. Additional Legal Information Regarding Veterans Offerings, CloseAdditional Legal Information Regarding Veterans Offerings, Subscribe to the 12 Weeks of Peace E-Newsletter, Subscribe to the Thinking Ahead E-Newsletter, A Guide to Cremation and Burial for Veterans, Unique Ways to Memorialize Cremation Ashes, A Complete Guide for When A Loved One Passes, The Essential Veteran Death Benefits and Memorialization Guide, California Residents Goods and Services Info. Ryan Duke's attorneys believe their client's testimony was key in this case. This event is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other congressionally chartered or recognized organization of honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any of their auxiliaries. They believe Ryan Duke was the killer. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. Garlan says after he reported this to Jannis Paulk, he was never formally interviewed by anyone from law enforcement. Ryan testified he had never even gone to Tara's house, and the glove was only discovered there on Monday by Tara's neighbors over a day after she went missing. BRYAN DUKES OBITUARY. Please contact your local Neptune Society office for cremation prices, and to learn more about our cremation service. He graduated from Aiken High School in 1968 and was a . Find service information, send flowers, and leave memories and thoughts in the Guestbook for your loved one. Brooke Sheridan: Ryan looked at Bo and said, "It's your truck. Ryan Duke said he thought Bo Dukes was playing a joke on him, until he saw her corpse. State and defense teams made their pitches to jurors and began examining witnesses. And that's where she wanted to stay and where she wanted to be. Jannis Paulk: So, Bo was known in the community for being a little over the top, unfiltered. You need to own to what you've done and confess. For around 6 years, Tara Grinstead dated Marcus Harper, a former Ocilla cop who joined the Army Rangers. After a few drinks, McCullough says Bo began talking about Tara. Maria Woods Harber: This is where Tara Grinstead lived in 2005. JOHN MCCULLOUGH: The exact location, he didn't tell me, but had made the comment of, you know, we took her to the middle of the pecan orchard and burned her body. The state argues in 2017 Duke was swabbed, and his DNA positively matched that found on the glove. My condolences to the family. "I said, 'You need to confess. The 2005 disappearance of Tara Grinstead beloved teacher and local beauty queen mystified the people of Ocilla, Georgia, like Jannis Paulk, who lived just around the corner from Tara. But who would want to harm this vibrant 30-year-old woman? "I cant lie. AGENT GARY ROTHWELL: It is something we should've followed up, but we we didn't. I mean. Another video shown shows Duke leading investigators to where he says he dumped and burned her body. He lit her on fire. 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. Prosecutors said Duke took law enforcement to the pecan orchard where he confessed to burning and dumping Grinstead's body. "He said he killed Tara," Ryan Duke said. "I hope Mr. Duke lives the rest of his life begging God for forgiveness every day from his dying breath," she said before asking the court to give him the maximum sentence. GBI Agent Shoudel testified Duke knew what he was doing, and that Duke told investigators he was mentally and physically cognitive. They wanted the state to fund the expenses for people like private investigators and expert witnesses for Ryan. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Send Flowers. In April 1952, flicka was the 500th baby born at Paso Robles. Gary Rothwell [2008]: It appeared that Tara may have left on her own. Ryan, Penny A. None of the insurance products promoted at this sales event are endorsed by those organizations, all of which offer free advice to veterans about how to qualify and apply for benefits. On March 1, 1969, he met Sandra Hageman on a . Dana Wilder: I never thought it was somebody from our community. Ashley Hinkle, a forensic biologist with the State Crime Lab testified she swabbed the glove in June 2015. Maria Woods Harber: She was charismatic, determined, a beautiful personality. SMITHLAND -- D.V. We had search efforts like nothing you've ever seen. April 26, 2018 Aiken, South Carolina Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Ryan's Passing. Rothwell said the GBI never followed up after their names appeared in an investigative summary. But in the same sense, I always thought, "Well, it has to be.". I don't like to come very often she loved this place. Your long suffering has been unimaginable. Another was a former student who claimed he and Tara been secretly seeing each other. McCullough wasn't ready for what Bo would say next. The judge dismissed one of the jurors he says was sleeping throughout the trial. | All testimonials are written by persons unlicensed and not qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct a funeral. "Over the course of the last three weeks reliving this heinous act that Ryan Alexander Duke committed ripped open the wounds," Gattis told the court before calling Duke "evil," "sneaky dangerous," and a "vile human. It was very hard to grasp. He recognized her from Irwin County High School, where he was a student, and she was teaching at the time. we all wanted to do something that we could do to help There were flyers. Bo began with what he says Ryan told him the day after Tara disappeared. Peter Van Sant and Mary Woods Harber in front of Tara Grinstead's Ocilla home. We know who did," defense attorney John Merchant said. He returned to the trailer, according to testimony, where Bo Dukes said he'd show him where Tara Grinstead's body was. An Irwin County Probate judge declared Grinstead dead in absentia in December 2010. "Any reason to continue this?" 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Bo Dukes told investigators his friend, Ryan Duke, confessed he had accidentally killed Grinstead and needed his truck to transfer her body. She wasn't wearing shoes. Roland & Karol Kay Hoffman. 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. Visitation: Friday, Feb. 17th from 4 - 8 p.m. at B.E. John 3:16 Sending love and prayers for the Duke family! I ran. GBI AGENT: So, you immediately see this and you're like "what in the hell did you do? They think the community can heal, pointing the finger at Bo Dukes for the murder. She described the various DNA tests performed on the glove hoping to find clues, "It was about 90% unknown male and 10% Ms. Grinstead,". Jannis Paulk's former employee, Garlan Lott, told the court he had overheard that 2005 conversation between Ryan and Bo at a party in the same pecan orchard where Tara's body had been burned. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Aiken SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare (www.letlovelive.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). A native of Concord, NC, Vicki was a daughter of the late David Leon and Mam . I didn't know who he was. I definitely didn't wanna settle down in small town America. "We believe in Ryan and we believed in him the entire time.". Maria Woods Harber: Yes. Maria Woods Harper: They've had a really hard time. On the glove they not only identified Tara's DNA, but that of an unknown male. As for his alibi, Ryan claimed that he had been at his mobile home in Fitzgerald the entire night. Send a gift to a service or familys home. Brooke Sheridan: I said, "You need to confess. Grief Support. AIKEN, SC - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. 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. Ryan steeled himself before the verdict was read. / CBS News, [This story previously aired on September 4, 2021. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael Dukes and Vicki Heilig Dukes. Speaking in court before Ryan Dukes' sentencing, Anita Gattis said her sister's disappearance threw her family into ''an out-of-control spiral'' that they've never escaped. Therefore, on May 20, 2022, the jury only found him guilty of concealing a death he was acquitted of every other count. Bo Dukes apologies to Tara Grinstead's family at his sentencing. Brooke Sheridan: We actually met on Tinder. The defense called him to the stand and, with his attorney standing next to him, he responded to each question with, "Under the advice of my council, I will be invoking my 5th Amendment right not to provide testimony today.". Ryan Dukes. But questions remained about discrepancies between Ryan's version of events and Bo's. Texas FD #3523, #5075, #3185, #3349, #3705 Survivors include his grandmother, Vera Ballentine Dukes; aunts, Cheri McGee (Wayne), Debbie Wallace (David), all of Aiken, Linda Tinney (Mel), Pepin, WI, Pamela Clark (Rick), Ridgeville, SC; uncle, Jeff Dukes (Debbie), Aiken. The jury saw pictures from Fitzgerald Farms, where agents searched for Grinstead's remains in 2017. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: We drove back into the back, and he showed me where her body was. His hope for mercy was dashed. In closing, as Tara's family looked on, the prosecution held to their argument that Ryan had told the truth back in 2017. Maria Woods Harber: She was an excellent teacher. The defense said Bo Dukes' attorney indicated his client would invoke the 5th Amendment if called to testify. Defense appeals delayed Ryan Dukes trial since the original 2019 start date. AIKEN, SC MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. While Reinhardt acknowledged that Duke seemed remorseful on the stand, he pointed out Dukes' decision to not tell anyone had an impact on Grinstead's family and friends. It's kind of odd, isn't it? That's according to Lindsey Forshee, administrator for the Tift Judicial Circuit. Police never called him a suspect, but Marcus was more closely investigated than anyone in the disappearance of his former girlfriend, Tara Grinstead. The defense argued Duke was on pain pills and not in his right mind when he made the confession. 1449 N Claiborne Ave New Orleans, LA KARLIN DUKES OBITUARY Karlin C. Dukes Sr., age 83, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Monday, November 7, 2016. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. She and her older sister Anita grew up in the Georgia town of Hawkinsville. Ryan William Drakes Obituary. Aiken, SC RYAN DUKES OBITUARY Ryan Dukes Aiken, - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. Maria Woods Harber: Tara had a boyfriend for a long time And during the summer of 2005, they broke up. Ryan Dukes Aiken, - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. The family of Tara Grinstead got a chance to address the jury before the judge gave Ryan Duke a maximum sentence after he was found guilty of concealing the body of Tara Grinstead. Show Your Sympathy to the Family. But when questioned about her disappearance, he had an alibi and was never charged. You need to own what you've done and confess," Sheridan told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant in 2017. One witness called to the stand was Garlan Latt, who they hoped would disprove Ryan Duke's testimony that he was not the killer and Bo Dukes was the mastermind. It was now time at the trial for Bo's one-time Army buddy, John McCullough, to finally tell his story of Bo's confession. Dr. Fred W. Andrea III officiating. "What happened in this orchard was senseless" says Woods Harber of her best friend. The jury was left to decide if they believed what Ryan said in 2017, or his new version of events. Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 18th from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral hour at Mt. "Ryan Duke, the man in that chair, confessed to the murder of Tara Grinstead," prosecutor Brad Rigby said. "As hes doing that he started getting emotional and said, She was so small, referring to the size of her in his arms,". 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. He was a . And it wasn't the only one overlooked. They said in court filings that Duke was asleep at home when Grinstead was killed. He was a classic muscle car enthusiast with a passion for Chevy Impalas. Prosecutors do not expect to file murder charges against Bo Dukes. Searching obituaries is a great place to start your family tree research. She was a member of Millbrook Baptist Church. He wasn't sure who said what. "It's like he wasn't there," Ryan Duke said when asked about Bo Dukes' demeanor while the body burned. Grinstead's best friend, sister, and step mother took to the stand to describe the pain they have felt since her 2005 disappearance. Peter Van Sant: And by Ryan saying to him, "Hey, buddy. Witness Randy Hudson owned the pecan orchard where Grinstead's body was allegedly disposed. Weeks later she called the GBI to turn in the boyfriend she loved. From arguing that the glove with Ryans DNA was planted outside Taras house by Bo to him testifying it was the latter whod woken him up that night and admitted to killing Tara, the trial included it all. The couple broke things off but stayed in touch. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Ryan Dukes on this permanent online memorial. Peter Van Sant: Did he have names of who these two men were who claimed they had killed Tara? The alleged drug addict was arrested once for a DUI in 2010 but was released on bond. But there was more Brooke says Bo then admitted his own involvement in the crime, saying: Brooke Sheridan: "And I helped him burn her body.". The GBI tested that glove and found not only Tara's DNA on it, but the DNA profile of an unknown male. Investigators say Ryan confessed to killing Grinstead. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He pleaded not guilty. 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