The case generated hundreds of tips over the years. Searching obituaries is a great place to start your family tree research. He denied that, but when asked why he lied to the GBI about killing Grinstead, Duke said, "I'm trying to make that right.". She and her older sister Anita grew up in the Georgia town of Hawkinsville. So, he went to trial hoping jurors might show mercy for a man who had already confessed to his role in the crime. And then, an important discovery. AGENT GARY ROTHWELL: It is something we should've followed up, but we we didn't. Read More Published In Last Name "Dixon". 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. GARLAN LOTT: The statement that I recall was, 'We killed and burned her body.". The defense argued that Ryan's former best friend, Bo Dukes, was the man responsible for Grinstead's death throughout the trial. It was somethin' I felt like, you know, I had to do. And what she had to say implicated a man whose name had repeatedly been given to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And she was very distraught. The defense had previously asked the judge to dismiss the case, an action that was quickly declined. Stunned as he was, McCullough was in a dilemma. Jannis Paulk: Ocilla is a big family. Ryan Duke said Bo Dukes had a wallet with Grinstead's driver's license. McCullough wasn't ready for what Bo would say next. 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. But when questioned about her disappearance, he had an alibi and was never charged. That was the last time Ryan Duke said he saw Tara Grinstead's body. But back then, Bo denied everything. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. 5260 Daniel J. Enea, Manager. He looked like a person who was ready to do the right thing, but his testimony on the witness stand only seemed coached, well-rehearsed and sought self-serving benefits. Jannis Paulk: We shared that tip with the local sheriff's department. Zion Baptist Church, 1012 Adams St. View the obituary at www.BEBrownCo.com. They said in court filings that Duke was asleep at home when Grinstead was killed. "He actually made the motion in the interview and put his hands up like this mimicking how he held her body," GBI Agent Jason Shoudel said. Peter Van Sant: One said she had clothes on, the other said she did not. A jury found Ryan Duke not guilty of murder but guilty of concealing her body. A unique and . Duke was convicted on the charge of Concealing a Death and was sentenced to the maximum punishment of . At his sentencing hearing, Tara's stepmother, Connie, expressed how Tara's family felt about Ryan Duke. The defense argued Duke was on pain pills and not in his right mind when he made the confession. Jannis Paulk: There were people who believed she ran away. AIKEN, SC - Kenneth Michael Dukes, 66, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at his residence. They went to the orchard one other time for a part in November 2005. Over the past 47+ years, our experienced team has assisted families, their loved ones, and caregivers in carrying out final wishes more affordably, with dignity and respect. Prosecutors said Duke took law enforcement to the pecan orchard where he confessed to burning and dumping Grinstead's body. Went to Elementary to high School with John sending Condolences to the Family in my Prayers. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelor's degree from USC Aiken. 28, 1957 - Feb. 10, 2023 Mr. John K. Dukes, Jr. entered into eternal rest on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. 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" . Tillitski testified that Duke was sleep-deprived and there were drugs in his system when he confessed in 2017. 2023 FOX Television Stations, jury found Ryan Duke not guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and burglary, state and defense attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments. He returned to the trailer, according to testimony, where Bo Dukes said he'd show him where Tara Grinstead's body was. "Its a portion of the human cranium. Ryan Dukes Obituary Remember Ryan Dukes. My deepest condolences to my church family, may God give you all the strength and peace during your time of sorrow. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.nationalcremation.com/location/irving- for the Drakes family. I was a drug addict I'd been drinking. Peter Van Sant: What emotional impact does this have for you when you see this house? Worried, he went to her house Sunday night and left the card after Tara didn't answer the doorbell. Mr. Dukes online guest book may be signed at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday evening at SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC Sign Guestbook Name: He said, "I don't know why he did it.". According to it, he broke into Taras house to steal money to buy drugs but was surprised by her when she suddenly came home. We pray that people will remember that the defendant was not the victim. Browning had been the last . Brooke Sheridan: I was felt like I was gonna be sick. Ryan Duke Trial Day 7 Recap. I am so sorry. Universal. A search of Grinsteads home revealed some oddities: her cellphone was still connected to a charger by the nightstand, her keys and purse were missing and her bedside clock was on the floor and was six hours off. John McCullough: I'm glad somebody's finally listening. Investigators said Grinsteads car was in the driveway when police arrived at the home. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken County, Cindy was a daughter of Vera Ballentine Dukes and the late Ernest Kenneth Dukes. And he was like, 'I know what happened.". 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What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? Sympathy Ideas. The two men drove about 200 yards up the road to where Tara Grinstead's body had been placed. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Brooke Sheridan: We actually met on Tinder. I cant live with myself Im so sick of this," Duke said in a recorded video. 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). 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.". Peter Van Sant: What did you see when you walked into her house? Not guilty of malice murder and he was acquitted of all charges relating to Tara's murder convicted only of concealing her death. Ryan Dukes. But what about that latex glove with Ryan's DNA on it found in Tara's front yard? May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Greg Kaplan, Phillip J. Tangel and Marcus Balsam are the editors. Investigators say Ryan confessed to killing Grinstead. Ryan Duke has been sentenced to spend the next five years in prison for his part in concealing the death of Georgia teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead. Maria Woods Harber: My best friend, Tara Grinstead, was a beautiful person on the inside and the outside. Bo Dukes who years earlier had sat in Tara Grinstead's class was arrested and charged not with murder, but with concealing a death, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and lying to investigators. Another was a former student who claimed he and Tara been secretly seeing each other. Bo says Ryan then repeated that a couple of days later. Then, there was Tara's ex-boyfriend, Marcus Harper. Dukes attorneys have said he made a false confession under the influence of drugs. Jannis Paulk [emotional]: It just brings up a lot. But questions remained about discrepancies between Ryan's version of events and Bo's. And in this trial, Agent Gary Rothwell finally explained what happened with those tips. Thanks to the loyal support of generations of families, we've now grown to 45 locations nationwide with continued expansion in the future. I can still see her standing at the door. Just weeks after Tara vanished at a party in a pecan orchard, one of Jannis Paulk's employees told her that he had overheard two young men tell a disturbing story. Jannis Paulk even created a website to help authorities collect information. John McCullough says he is still haunted by painful memories of being ignored by investigators. Brooke Sheridan: That family's peace to me was more important than his freedom. Grinstead, an Irwin County High School teacher, went missing in October 2005. Nearly 12 years after Tara's disappearance, on February 23, 2017, Ryan Duke appeared in court, charged with Tara's murder. Visit our Support Center. The state and defense attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments earlier in the day. "He said he killed Tara," Ryan Duke said. Texas Residents: For additional information regarding prepaid funeral contracts, please visit the website www.prepaidfunerals.texas.gov which is maintained by the Texas Department of Banking. Before the sentencing, Connie Grinstead, Tara Grinstead's stepmother, told the judge that "for over 11 years we went to bed every night wondering where Tara was and every morning we woke up with the same question - where is she?". 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. The jury saw pictures from Fitzgerald Farms, where agents searched for Grinstead's remains in 2017. Create an obituary. GBI AGENT: Of all the people, why Tara, what's the connection? But some things stuck out to Maria. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo below to show your support. "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. Marcus Harper: She obviously wanted to get married. But McCullough was determined to get the truth out. Rothwell said the GBI never followed up after their names appeared in an investigative summary. "I have talked to other agents and reviewed the documents and come to a recollection of what happened, and that is not an excuse for what happened.". Yet both these demands were denied by the court. ", GBI AGENT to BO DUKES: I'm gonna just kinda leave it open the floor to you, and just tell me about you knowing about Tara . Gooding testified her team found finger, teeth and cranium bones in the area. I can't live with myself. Both had been students at Tara's high school. The funeral will follow at 11 oclock in the chapel with The Rev. / CBS News, [This story previously aired on September 4, 2021. 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. But I think it's taken a lot of toll on them mentally and physically. "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. was dedicated to making her students feel wonderful. "We believe in Ryan and we believed in him the entire time.". John McCullough: Yeah and we were pretty close. 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. Maria Woods Harber: She was such a good person She just didn't deserve it. Ryan Duke said he didn't know what he was talking about or believe him at first. we all wanted to do something that we could do to help There were flyers. Maria Woods Harber: And the next morning I got a call saying that I need to get to Ocilla. Share. Prosecutors do not expect to file murder charges against Bo Dukes. Finally, he cracked. Somebody has abducted her and holding her somewhere hostage. Incredibly, McCullough says, no one returned his calls. The state's line of questioning tried to show the jury that Ryan Duke is capable of lying. Maria Woods Harber grew up with Tara. There was a 34-hour gap between when someone last saw her and when officers performed that welfare check on Monday morning. He claims he realized this after she was dead. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. There are reports of him being put under suicide watch a few times, yet nothing too serious came out of the incidents. Both had been students at. Bo Dukes shares details of what happened to Tara Grinstead with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Defense appeals delayed Ryan Dukes trial since the original 2019 start date. I just got off the phone with another department that had didn't do sh.". Born in Columbia, SC, Mike was a son of Vera Ballentine Dukes and the late Ernest Kenneth Dukes. AIKEN, SC - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. Show Your Sympathy to the Family. Ashley Hinkle, a forensic biologist with the State Crime Lab testified she swabbed the glove in June 2015. Peter Van Sant: What time did she go home? Defense attorneys began to call witnesses of their own Monday when the state prosecutors rested their case after over a week of arguments. her main goal was to win Miss Georgia or at least to get to Miss Georgia, and she did. Rothwell took the blame for the GBI assuming local law enforcement determined information indicating Ryan Duke and Bo Dukes as persons of interest were "unfounded." Maria Woods Harber: They've gotten away with it for this many years anyway. Ryan Duke said he was afraid of Bo Dukes, who repeatedly told him not to talk about Tara Grinstead. Ryan Duke testified he "passed out" after a night of drinking before Tara Grinstead allegedly died. 83 Peacefully passed away on February 23, 2023. so, I talk to him, tell him everything I know. And it wasn't the only one overlooked. And she snuck up on me and I hit her. Marcus Harper: I received a phone call And the voice on the other end of the phone said, you know, "Brother, your 12 years of hell is over. But back in 2005, authorities either missed or ignored a tip that may have solved the case. 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.". Both men were surprising suspects to the cops, who claimed that theyd never came up on the radar. Bo told them that he and Ryan had burned Taras body at the Hudson Pecan Company pecan orchard, and when the area was searched, some human bone fragments were found. The defense said Bo Dukes' attorney indicated his client would invoke the 5th Amendment if called to testify. In his own recorded words, Duke walked GBI investigators through how he killed, burned and buried Tara Grinstead. SMITHLAND -- D.V. Let others know about your loved one's death. Tara was. Ryan Duke alibi: Tara Grinstead murder suspect now says he was asleep Caption Continuing Coverage By Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution March 14, 2019 The man accused of killing a. Aiken, SC RYAN DUKES OBITUARY Ryan Dukes Aiken, - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. Brooke Sheridan: It was something very dark and I I chalked it up to, you know, serving his time in the military. Jannis Paulk, who knows the family, paints a different picture of Bo. and that's nobody's business, but in this case, it made it tough. It was very hard to grasp. Tara Grinstead didnt show up for work on October 24, 2005. I built a message board because I thought that there was a good chance that whoever knew what had happened to her would potentially come and say something. . An interesting turn of events came when Ryans 11-page confession, where hed detailed everything thatd transpired on that fateful evening, came to light. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. 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. He testified that Bo Dukes told him he had killed Tara Grinstead but Ryan did not know how she died. A devoted husband and grandfather, Duane was born on May 1, 1950, in South Gate, California, the son of Edwin and Florann (Boisseau) Dukes. Connie Grinstead argued that the family pleaded and begged for any news about Tara for years and that Duke's "silence was deafening.". Ryan Duke said he first started "hanging out" with Bo Dukes during his senior year of high school. Grinstead graduated from Middle Georgia College and began teaching at Irwin County High School in Ocilla in 1998. Find an Obituary. I didn't believe him. He testified he could tell the body was a woman's, wearing a t-shirt and some type of jogging pants. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. "(Bo Dukes) reaches down, he grabs her arm and flips her over," Ryan Duke said. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. I thought he was out of his mind. Neighbors knocked on her door but got no response. This DNA test was taken two years before defendant Ryan Dukes recorded confession. But who would want to harm this vibrant 30-year-old woman? The defense was up first and focused on the inconsistencies in the state's presentation. They laid out the evidence collected at Grinsteads property just following her disappearance. Tuesday, the witness list focused on the investigators who have worked the case over the years. Age. Miriam Sealy, Tara Grinstead's school friend and childhood neighbor, fought back tears as she read a statement in front of the court. Prosecutors asked Rothwell why no one followed up on a tip naming Ryan Duke and Bo Dukes as suspects. You need to own to what you've done and confess. Two months later, in February 2007, McCullough says he called three police departments in Georgia including Ocilla, where he left a voice message saying: John McCullough: "This is John McCullough. After a few drinks, McCullough says Bo began talking about Tara. SHELLHOUSE RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC. Tara's cell phone was charging inside the house. Both men are awaiting trial in a neighboring county on charges related to burning Tara's body. Marcus enlisted with the Army Rangers and spent time overseas. On the glove they not only identified Tara's DNA, but that of an unknown male. she was seeing other people. I ran. GARLAN LOTT: I assumed it was handled by law enforcement, yes. It just wasn't what I wanted. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Ways to honor John Dukes's life and legacy. I didn't mean to.". "I know they are disappointed in the verdict today like we are.". They believe Ryan Duke was the killer. The GBI was overwhelmed with tips at the time and this one slipped through the cracks. In Ryan's interview with the GBI, he said he had hit Tara, but Bo said Ryan told him otherwise: BO DUKES [GBI interview]: He jumped on her, while he was she was in bed and strangled her right there in her bed. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. John McCullough maintains he tried to get investigators a key tip in 2007 that could have cracked the case. It was part of town gossip that they had gotten into an argument after Marcus had come back to town earlier than expected that October. But when he took the witness stand during his trial, he insisted he was innocent. Rumors swirled about that cop whose card was found at Tara's house. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Ryan Dukes on this permanent online memorial. Ryan Dukes Aiken, - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. He pleaded not guilty. "I cant lie. I don't know. Send Flowers. Grinstead's best friend, sister, and step mother took to the stand to describe the pain they have felt since her 2005 disappearance. Tara Faye Grinstead was the youngest child of Bill and Faye Grinstead, born in 1974. Here's my number I'll do whatever has to happen for y'all to take me serious. "It was built out in the area where there just should not have been a fire," Hudson said. But there is no question that in her short and impactful life, Tara Grinstead touched people in rare ways even those who never met her, like John McCullough. RYAN DUKE [GBI interview played at trial]: I can't lie. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. The trial of the man accused of killing Tara Grinstead 16 years ago has been pushed back into 2022. Bo was sentenced to 25 years in prison. AGENT GARY ROTHWELL: We thought that that lead had been addressed by local law enforcement as unfounded and did not follow up. On March 1, 1969, he met Sandra Hageman on a . Oregan Residents: Please note that in the State of Oregon, Funeral Board Rule 830-040-0000(3) requires our trade name include the identification of our funeral activity or function. Bo then gave his account of moving and then burning her body, which began on a Wednesday and took two days. A DNA sample from Ryan Duke was a perfect match. But in the same sense, I always thought, "Well, it has to be.". There were billboards. If convicted of murder, Duke faces an automatic sentence of life in prison. Ryan Duke had told investigators in 2017 he killed Tara Grinstead and helped burn her body. Browse Atlanta Journal-Constitution obituaries, conduct other obituary searches, offer condolences/tributes, send flowers or create an online memorial. John McCullough: I have no idea. The state argues in 2017 Duke was swabbed, and his DNA positively matched that found on the glove. Dr. Fred W. Andrea III officiating. He graduated from Aiken High School in 1968 and was a . 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. RYAN DUKE: He starts laughing at me. Ryan Duke said he helped Bo Dukes load Grinstead's body onto a pile of wood, covered her with more wood and lit the pile on fire. Now the man accused of murdering Tara Ryan Duke would go on trial for murder almost 17 years after she went missing. Peter Van Sant and Mary Woods Harber in front of Tara Grinstead's Ocilla home. And as they were driving around town, a billboard caught his eye. After the defense rested their case, the state got the last opportunity to present witnesses as a rebuttal. I'm not gonna shy away to the fact that I was I was bitter. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as: names, dates, place of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Cind See the viral video from Bo Dukes' sentencing below: Georgia Supreme Court rules Ryan Duke can use state funds for defense in Grinstead case, Tara Grinstead case: Bo Dukes reports to prison for 25-year sentence, The trial was scheduled for October, but lawyers met this week and agreed to delay the case to spring 2022, Lent List: What is most often given up, and how you can find substitutes, Major water leak keeps Dublin City Hall closed, March kicks off by continuing the warm stretch, small rain chance. And he said he threw his arms up just like this [shrugs her shoulders], "What are you gonna do?". 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. IRWIN COUNTY, Ga. - An emotionaltrial in Irwin Countyconcluded Monday with a judge sentencing Ryan Duke to the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison - with five years already served. Need help? And I think she was just trying to move on in a small town of Ocilla, everyone knew their situation. According to the court, Ryan Duke became ineligible for state funds when he chose to go with private attorneys rather than a public defender. Roland & Karol Kay Hoffman. Receive a notification when services are updated. An Irwin County jury found Ryan Duke not guilty of murdering Georgia teacher and beauty queen Tara Grinstead. LAWYER: Any doubt in your mind, however, that you heard these two people laughing about killing and burning Tara Grinstead's body? I didnt know what else to do," Ryan said. Brooke Sheridan: He said, "You've heard of the Tara Grinstead case?" Peter Van Sant: Why would Ryan Duke have murdered Tara Grinstead? After college, Tara got a job at Ocilla's Irwin County high school, teaching 11th grade history. View Obituaries Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc. and Shellhouse-Rivers Crematory Ryan Dukes August 23, 1974 - April 26, 2018. One witness, Heath Dykes, testified to having a relationship with Grinstead while his was married. Yet hes still facing outstanding concealment charges in a neighboring Georgia county where Taras body had been burned. There was no other option. That's according to Lindsey Forshee, administrator for the Tift Judicial Circuit. He testified calmly, but inside was still seething at Bo. 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. She could tell you anything to make you feel better. Our prayer and sympathy are with the Dukes family ,may you find peace through pray, doing your time of grief. In 2005, the disappearance of beloved high-school teacher Tara Grinstead sent shockwaves through the town of Ocilla, Georgia. April 26, 2018 Aiken, South Carolina Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Ryan's Passing. McCullough, now a manager at a water company in Texas, had met Bo Dukes at Army boot camp in 2006. Ryan Duke testified he drove from Fitzgerald to Ocilla in an unsuccessful attempt to return Grinstead's wallet, and he left Bo Dukes in the trailer. He lived most his life in Aiken and worked as a procedures writer at the Savannah River .