He's the uncle of Bo Dukes. 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. DEFENSE: What was his expression, his demeanor when that happened? He pleaded not guilty. They wanted the state to fund the expenses for people like private investigators and expert witnesses for Ryan. Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 18th from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral hour at Mt. Brooke Sheridan: He said, "You've heard of the Tara Grinstead case?" A full skeleton. Create an obituary. Ryan Duke said he drove toward a pecan orchard, owned by a relative of Bo Dukes. Grinstead, an Irwin County High School teacher, went missing in October 2005. Jannis Paulk: there were several people, several men, who got a lot of scrutiny for a long time . Marcus Harper: It was like a calling. Visitation: Friday, Feb. 17th from 4 - 8 p.m. at B.E. 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. Duke also admitted to taking her purse and keys and leaving a glove at the residence. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Rothwell said the GBI never followed up after their names appeared in an investigative summary. Sympathy Ideas. In an exchange, the state asked Duke if he would lie when the stakes were high. It was updated on August 20, 2022.]. Tillitski testified that Duke was sleep-deprived and there were drugs in his system when he confessed in 2017. He recalled that moment. As such, in the State of Oregon Preneed Crematory Sales and Services are conducted under the trade name Neptune Cremation Service. I can't imagine the loss of a child. Duke was convicted on the charge of Concealing a Death and was sentenced to the maximum punishment of . I told him, you know, leave me alone . 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. Maria Woods Harber: They've gotten away with it for this many years anyway. CONNIE GRINSTEAD [Reading family impact statement]: His confession in 2017 seemed genuine and sincere, and he looked remorseful. But back in 2005, authorities either missed or ignored a tip that may have solved the case. What to do during a tornado: Where is your safe spot. 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. This is your truck, and this is your family's land," basically that was interpreted by Bo as a threat that we're partners now in this? She brought great things to Irwin County High School And I would hope that eventually the word Tara Grinstead will be a bright spot because she did bring a lot of good things to Ocilla. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. At his sentencing hearing, Tara's stepmother, Connie, expressed how Tara's family felt about Ryan Duke. Maria Woods Harber:and then her bed was unmade, like she had been in the bed. Two years later, in March 2019, he was the first to go on trial. So, he went to trial hoping jurors might show mercy for a man who had already confessed to his role in the crime. Ryan Duke Trial Day 7 Recap. Ryan Duke was sentenced to 10 years in prison for concealing the death of Tara Grinstead. I don't remember everything clearly I was stealing from her purse. She and her older sister Anita grew up in the Georgia town of Hawkinsville. 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. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Then, in 2017, a woman came forward with a remarkable story about her boyfriend but could it be trusted? By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. And the one we didn't want to think about was somebody killed her. On Sunday, Tara's mom called her several times, but Tara didn't answer. Your long suffering has been unimaginable. And he said he threw his arms up just like this [shrugs her shoulders], "What are you gonna do?". so, I talk to him, tell him everything I know. Brooke Sheridan: He has a beautiful mind. I cried for days, couldn't sleep for days. Maria says Tara was determined to live her dreams from a young age, competing in beauty pageants to help earn scholarship money for college. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelor's degree from USC Aiken. Jannis Paulk, who knows the family, paints a different picture of Bo. Year after year passed with no arrests. Send Flowers. 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: So, Bo was known in the community for being a little over the top, unfiltered. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Bo Dukes stayed in a bedroom in a trailer they rented in Fitzgerald, Ryan Duke testified. However, when it came to corroborating, Stephen testified in Bo Dukes trial that he couldnt confirm any of it. Praying for your family have strength. Zion Baptist Church, 1012 Adams St. View the obituary at www.BEBrownCo.com. Need help? OCILLA, Ga. Editor's Note: The video in this story is archive footage from our coverage of the case in the mid-2010s. John McCullough says he is still haunted by painful memories of being ignored by investigators. The state's witness called Grinstead's 79-year-old father, Billy Grinstead, to the stand, who broke down. Both men are awaiting trial in a neighboring county on charges related to burning Tara's body. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Ryan Dukes on this permanent online memorial. But McCullough was determined to get the truth out. I don't like to come very often she loved this place. A DNA sample from Ryan Duke was a perfect match. Hudson said at the time he thought the burn site was an innocent bonfire. John McCullough maintains he tried to get investigators a key tip in 2007 that could have cracked the case. Marcus always maintained his innocence but remained under suspicion. She could tell you anything to make you feel better. It just wasn't what I wanted. ", BO DUKES: Yeah. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Defense appeals delayed Ryan Dukes trial since the original 2019 start date. And he was like, 'I know what happened.". Brooke Sheridan [emotional]: I kept thinking about her family and I couldn't sleep at night. 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. Read More Published In Last Name "Dixon". Ryan's lawyers argued that gave Bo plenty of time to plant it. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. And remember that latex glove found at the crime scene? Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Ryan Dukes on this permanent online memorial. 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. According to the court, Ryan Duke became ineligible for state funds when he chose to go with private attorneys rather than a public defender. But police noted that her purse and keys were missing. The two then went to a party. He was the talk of Ocilla, Georgia, and none of it was good. Peter Van Sant: This is the murder of Tara Grinstead and there seemed to be little interest, is that right? He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. Leave a memory or share a photo below to show your support. He lit her on fire. 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. Send a gift to a service or familys home. They said in court filings that Duke was asleep at home when Grinstead was killed. Anita Gattis said her sister's disappearance threw her family into "an out-of-control spiral" that they've never escaped. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Ryan Dukes said he started to see Bo Dukes more often after he was discharged from the Army for being AWOL. I don't remember everything clearly. Combined services will be held at Antioch M.B.C., 2033 W. Congress Ave. on Saturday March. In 2017, more than 11 years after Tara vanished, Brooke Sheridan came forward with a potential answer. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael. DEFENSE: Mr. Duke, did you murder Tara Grinstead? Another video shown shows Duke leading investigators to where he says he dumped and burned her body. "Its been a 17-year nightmare for them," Irwin County District Attorney Bryce Johnson said. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. I didn't know who he was. Bo Dukes told investigators his friend, Ryan Duke, confessed he had accidentally killed Grinstead and needed his truck to transfer her body. Down to about 20 fragments of bone. Ryan Duke's attorneys believe their client's testimony was key in this case. That boyfriend was Marcus Harper, a former cop from Ocilla. Then, there was Tara's ex-boyfriend, Marcus Harper. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: He told me that he had killed Tara Grinstead. Ryan Duke took the stand Tuesday and immediately denied murdering Grinstead, claiming he didn't know how she died. The GBI tested that glove and found not only Tara's DNA on it, but the DNA profile of an unknown male. Dana Wilder: As little girls, we looked up to her she was famous. It was somethin' I felt like, you know, I had to do. And I think she was just trying to move on in a small town of Ocilla, everyone knew their situation. "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.". It took a jury less than an hour to convict Bo Dukes on all charges. Ryan Duke is standing trial for Grinsteads murder. 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. At his sentencing, Tara Grinstead's stepmother Connie addressed the court: CONNIE GRINSTEAD: He knew she wasn't ever coming back. McCullough, now a manager at a water company in Texas, had met Bo Dukes at Army boot camp in 2006. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. I didn't believe him. Peter Van Sant: Was it an emotional moment for you to realize someone had been arrested after all that time? "We believe in Ryan and we believed in him the entire time.". I didn't mean to.". Tara didn't bring home the Miss Georgia crown, but just competing was a huge achievement says Dana Wilder, who grew up in Ocilla. John 3:16 Sending love and prayers for the Duke family! Yet both these demands were denied by the court. Peter Van Sant: How many times did you call the GBI over what period of time and you still didn't get any . Tara Grinstead's father was in the courtroom on Tuesday while Ryan Duke was questioned. And Bo Dukes himself spoke directly to Tara's family: BO DUKES: To the Tara Grinstead family, I'm truly sorry. In 1999, Tara Grinstead won the Miss Tifton pageant, which landed her a spot at the 1999 Miss Georgia competition. 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. Stephen S. Dukes, 61, of York Haven died Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Select Specialty Hospital, Camp Hill. 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. They think the community can heal, pointing the finger at Bo Dukes for the murder. I ran. Marcus enlisted with the Army Rangers and spent time overseas. I didn't know who I was staring at. Brooke Sheridan: We actually met on Tinder. Jannis Paulk: FindTara.com. He later not only confided his secret to Bo but also asked for help to burn the body. Not guilty of malice murder and he was acquitted of all charges relating to Tara's murder convicted only of concealing her death. Ryan Duke testified he "passed out" after a night of drinking before Tara Grinstead allegedly died. Bo Dukes comes from a prominent family that owned a huge pecan orchard in the Ocilla area. Funeral homes; Help and advice. 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. Neighbors knocked on her door but got no response. But when he took the witness stand during his trial, he insisted he was innocent. Bo was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Vicki Heilig Dukes. Brooke Sheridan: That family's peace to me was more important than his freedom. He is extremely intelligent. And as they were driving around town, a billboard caught his eye. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. To the Dukes family, please know I am praying for you. The two men drove about 200 yards up the road to where Tara Grinstead's body had been placed. Bo Dukes is serving 25 years for concealing her death, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and lying to investigators. Maria Woods Harber: So, when I came back out of the house, I saw right out from the front door, there was a latex glove. GBI Agent Jason Shoudel was on the stand to testify. The defense argued the case is about power and influence, which their client lacks. AIKEN, SC - KENNETH MICHAEL DUKES, 66, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at his residence. Vicki Heilig Dukes AIKEN, SC - Vicki Heilig Dukes, 65, died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. And she snuck up on me and I hit her. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Bens account could not be taken as hed passed before Ryan and Bo were arrested. Maria Woods Harber: She would never do that. Please contact your local Neptune Society office for cremation prices, and to learn more about our cremation service. Maria Woods Harber: Yes. No services are scheduled at this time. 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. Duke said he left the home in a panic but came back to remove the body. 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. He went looking for her the night she disappeared and sparked the search for the woman when he alerted authorities the next day. Brooke says she kept encouraging Bo to open up to talk about this dark subject that was destroying him. And it wasn't the only one overlooked. The defense questioned him about increasing drug use and alcohol consumption leading up to the time Grinstead went missing. 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. Peter Van Sant: How did you and Bo Dukes meet? John McCullough: I can't explain it [emotional]. "It should be an opening when we cremated her. The defense argued that Ryan's former best friend, Bo Dukes, was the man responsible for Grinstead's death throughout the trial. As for his alibi, Ryan claimed that he had been at his mobile home in Fitzgerald the entire night. Search by Name. Two years later, in March 2019, Bo was the first to go on trial. A unique and . Jannis Paulk even created a website to help authorities collect information. Ryan Duke had told investigators in 2017 he killed Tara Grinstead and helped burn her body. He was a family friend married, with kids who would later testify that he and Tara were having an affair. Maria Woods Harber: She was such a good person She just didn't deserve it. and that's nobody's business, but in this case, it made it tough. He said they had talked about getting together that Sunday, but Tara never answered her phone. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: We drove back into the back, and he showed me where her body was. The Ocilla police were called and entered Tara's home, and right behind them was Maria. Jannis Paulk: We shared that tip with the local sheriff's department. The day after Bo's confession, his one-time friend Ryan Duke was arrested. The jury saw pictures from Fitzgerald Farms, where agents searched for Grinstead's remains in 2017. Prosecutors said Duke took law enforcement to the pecan orchard where he confessed to burning and dumping Grinstead's body. 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. Blogs; Online will; Shop. As their relationship evolved, Brooke sensed that something seemed to be eating away at Bo. AIKEN, SC - Kenneth Michael Dukes, 66, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at his residence. John McCullough: I'm glad somebody's finally listening. "We will always hate what this defendant did to Tara and to the people who loved her," she said. "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. Published by Mobile Register and Baldwin County from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17, 2023. And I was like, "Yeah." "Any reason to continue this?" He was a graduate of A His fellow soldier? Ashley Hinkle, a forensic biologist with the State Crime Lab testified she swabbed the glove in June 2015. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. John McCullough: Yeah, Tara Grinstead, and said, you know, "missing.". It was a year after Tara's disappearance. Peter Van Sant: This really affects you, though, talking about this. His former roommate and close friend was Ryan Duke. Let others know about your loved one's death. Back then, hardly anyone thought this case would ever be solved. SHELLHOUSE RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC. "Ryan did not kill Ms. Grinstead. Peter Van Sant and Mary Woods Harber in front of Tara Grinstead's Ocilla home. focused on the investigators who have worked the case over the years. More than an hour into his testimony, Ryan Duke described the moment Bo Dukes led him to Grinstead's body. 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? 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