Tara Grinstead msg 10/22/05 Ocilla, Georgia Presumed deceased

[texasmom]

http://www.macon.com/news/local/crime/article134538299.html

FEBRUARY 23, 2017 3:09 PM
Man charged with murder in long-baffling Tara Grinstead disappearance

Ryan Duke, the accused killer of Tara Grinstead, arrives at the Irwin County Courthouse on Feb. 23, 2017. The GBI announced his arrest in an earlier news conference. Liz Fabian The Telegraph

BY JOE KOVAC JR.
jkovac@macon.com

Authorities have charged Ryan Alexander Duke with murder in the puzzling disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a high school history teacher and former beauty queen who went missing nearly 12 years ago.

Officials made the announcement at a Thursday news conference at the Irwin County Courthouse.

Few details about the arrest or killing were discussed. Authorities said Duke was a student at Irwin County High School and graduated about three years before Grinstead went missing.

A tip led authorities to Duke, said J.T. Ricketson, special agent in charge of the GBI office in Perry.

“The search efforts never ceased,” he said.

Connie Grinstead said her family always believed her daughter’s disappearance would be solved.

“We just didn’t know when,” she said.

 

Ryan Duke

[texasmom]

http://heavy.com/news/2017/02/ryan-alexander-duke-murder-tara-grinstead-teacher-student-charged-disappearance-georgia-beauty-queen-who-is/

Ryan Alexander Duke: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Published 3:47 pm EST, February 23, 2017 Updated 5:25 pm EST, February 23, 2017   
By Chris Bucher

Ryan Alexander Duke has been charged with murder stemming from the 2005 disappearance of Georgia teacher and beauty queen Tara Grinstead. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed during a press conference that Duke had been arrested and charged with her murder, over 11 years from when she went missing.

In 2011, investigators continued to pursue leads and the chief investigator from the GBI said that “this case has never gone cold.” He said that leads would come in on a weekly basis.

Here’s what you need to know about Duke:

1. Duke Was Charged With the Murder of Grinstead

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Duke, who is 33, for the murder of Tara Grinstead. The GBI announced the arrest and charge at a press conference February 23.

Officials said someone came forward with information and through a series of interviews with subjects that had never been interviews in connection with the case, investigators obtained enough information to arrest Duke. He was taken into custody February 22, and a warrant was issued the day after on February 23.

https://twitter.com/WTOCJarvis/status/834866763837865984/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Jarvis Robertson @WTOCJarvis
The Tara Grinstead case has been open for more than 10yrs. @WTOC11



2:45 PM - 23 Feb 2017
 
Grinstead was first reported missing from her Ocilla, Georgia home on October 22, 2005. Foul play was immediately suspected, but a lack of evidence had made connecting anyone to the disappearance difficult. Investigators continued to pursue leads, but came up empty with any information on her whereabouts. The GBI promised during the press conference that the investigation is still ongoing and they will interview more people in connection with the case and continue to search for Grinstead’s remains.


2. Duke Went to the Same School Grinstead Taught At

https://twitter.com/upandvanished/status/834858069641281536/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Up and Vanished @upandvanished



This is the man who killed Tara Grinstead.
2:10 PM - 23 Feb 2017 · Georgia, USA

Grinstead taught at Irwin County High School in Ocilla beginning in 1998. She taught 11th-grade history after graduating from Middle Georgia College. She later earned her master’s degree in education from Valdosta State University.

GBI investigators said that Duke had graduated high school three years before her disappearance in 2002.

3. Duke Is a New Suspect to Investigators & Media

https://twitter.com/MissVWaters/status/834859065549398016/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Veronica Waters @MissVWaters


"This gentleman never came up in our radar," says GBI of Ryan Duke, the man now charged with the '05 murder of Tara Grinstead @wsbradio
2:14 PM - 23 Feb 2017

Local media covering the story since Grinstead’s appearance in 2005 say that Duke is a completely new suspect in the investigation.

Hundreds of people had been interviewed over the past 11 years, but investigators were still left to little to no leads on the suspect.

 

GBI investigators said that Duke “never came up” on their radar while pursuing leads in the case.

 

Details of Duke’s alleged murder of Grinstead are still coming in and will be updated once they are made available.


 

[texasmom]

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/237650010-story

GBI charges Ryan Alexander Duke in Tara Grinstead case

POSTED:FEB 23 2017 12:14PM EST
UPDATED:FEB 23 2017 05:48PM EST

OCILLA, Ga. - Investigators have charged a man in the disappearance of a south Georgia teacher and beauty queen who vanished without a trace more than 11 years ago. The suspect, Ryan Alexander Duke, made his first court appearance late Thursday afternoon in Irwin County.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation filed arrest warrants for Duke charging him, among other things, with the murder of Tara Grinstead. During Duke’s first appearance, the judge revealed he is also being charged with burglary, aggravated assault and concealing a death.

 

Investigators said they still have not found Grinstead's remains, but believe Duke took her body from her home to conceal her death.

 

Ryan Alexander Duke

[texasmom]

I'm guessing they finally got a match on the DNA from the glove that was found in her yard.   

Justice for Tara!   

[Nut44x4]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now she needs to be found and brought home!!

[klaasend]

FINALLY!     

Shout out to SHELLBELL, if you don't remember your password or have troubles logging in email me at smklaas@hotmail.com

[texasmom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEZZuunu82U

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/hEZZuunu82U" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/v/hEZZuunu82U</a>

Stepmother makes statement after arrest in murder of Tara Grinstead
WSB-TV

Published on Feb 23, 2017
Law enforcement officials from several agencies gathered Thursday afternoon to announce that Ryan Alexander Duke had been arrested and charged in the 2005 killing of Tara Grinstead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaaQFbAXL50

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/WaaQFbAXL50" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/v/WaaQFbAXL50</a>

Small Georgia town braces for more arrests in teacher's murder
WSB-TV

Published on Feb 24, 2017
Ryan Alexander Duke has already been arrested in the murder of Tara Grinstead in 2005.

[Red]

Tara Grinstead: Ex-student accused of murdering missing Georgia teacher

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/23/tara-grinstead-missing-suspect-accused-killing-georgia-teacher.html

A man has been charged with murdering a south Georgia teacher and beauty queen who disappeared more than 11 years ago, authorities said Thursday.

Ryan Alexander Duke has been arrested in connection with the death of Tara Grinstead, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman J.T. Ricketson said.

Authorities said Duke was arrested Wednesday evening after a tipster came forward with new information this week.

"This gentleman (Duke) never came up on our radar through the investigation," Ricketson said. Asked if more arrests were possible, he said, "That's a very good question. Again, we have several more interviews to do."

Ricketson declined to say how Grinstead and Duke knew each other and would not say if authorities know what became of Grinstead's body.

Connie Grinstead, the missing woman's stepmother, told reporters she thanked God "for answered prayers."

"We always believed that it would be solved," she said, reading a statement at the courthouse news conference. "We just did not know when."

[Red]

Missing for 11 Years … 33 Year Old Ryan Alexander Duke Arrested & Charged with the murder of 30 Year Old Tara Grinstead

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2017/02/24/missing-for-11-years-33-year-old-ryan-alexander-duke-arrested-charged-with-the-murder-of-30-year-old-tara-grinstead/?preview=true&preview_id=83523&preview_nonce=2d427986d8

AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN THE 11 YEAR OLD TARA GRINSTEAD MISSING PERSONS COLD CASE …

It has been 11 years since 30 year old Tara Grinstead went missing, but there has now been an arrest in the case. According to reports, 33 year old Ryan Alexander Duke has been arrested and charged with the murder of Tara Grinstead. The Irwin County High School teacher was 30 years old when she vanished on Oct. 22, 2005 from her home in the farm town of Ocilla, about 165 miles south of Atlanta.

[Red]

Tara Grinstead missing: Ex-student used hands to kill teacher in home, warrant says

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tara-grinstead-missing-suspect-used-hands-to-kill-teacher-inside-home-warrant-says/

The suspect, 33-year-old Ryan Alexander Duke, was being held at the Irwin County jail in Ocilla, about 165 miles southeast of Atlanta.

“We always believed that it would be solved,” Connie Grinstead, the missing woman’s stepmother, told reporters at a courthouse news conference Thursday in which the GBI announced the arrest. “We just did not know when.”

CBS News’ “48 Hours” investigated the case in the episode “Stolen Beauty.”

The arrest provides some answers for a small farming community that has long grappled with Grinstead’s strange disappearance.

“When I heard, I just broke down in tears of relief, of anger, of sadness and frustration,” said Wendy McFarland, a fellow teacher and friend of Grinstead’s. “Everything that had been carried for the last 11 years and four months just bubbled to the surface.”

Duke burglarized the teacher’s home, and used his hands to kill her inside the residence, according to warrants that were read at a late Thursday court hearing, area news outlets reported. He then removed her body from the home with the intent of concealing her death, the warrants state.

During an arraignment soon after the announcement, Duke was charged with murder, aggravated assault and burglary, reports CBS affiliate WGCL. He was appointed an attorney by the court and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

[Red]

“We always believed that it would be solved,” Connie Grinstead

 

[texasmom]

Missing for 11 Years … 33 Year Old Ryan Alexander Duke Arrested & Charged with the murder of 30 Year Old Tara Grinstead

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2017/02/24/missing-for-11-years-33-year-old-ryan-alexander-duke-arrested-charged-with-the-murder-of-30-year-old-tara-grinstead/?preview=true&preview_id=83523&preview_nonce=2d427986d8

AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN THE 11 YEAR OLD TARA GRINSTEAD MISSING PERSONS COLD CASE …

It has been 11 years since 30 year old Tara Grinstead went missing, but there has now been an arrest in the case. According to reports, 33 year old Ryan Alexander Duke has been arrested and charged with the murder of Tara Grinstead. The Irwin County High School teacher was 30 years old when she vanished on Oct. 22, 2005 from her home in the farm town of Ocilla, about 165 miles south of Atlanta.

Thanks, Red!   

This link will work for the front page article, Red's link has the "preview" extension on it.

http://scaredmonkeys.com/2017/02/24/missing-for-11-years-33-year-old-ryan-alexander-duke-arrested-charged-with-the-murder-of-30-year-old-tara-grinstead/

[texasmom]

Video at the link:

http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/tara-grinsteads-best-friend-baffled-by-arrest-in-disappearance-case/413834205

Tara Grinstead's best friend 'baffled' by arrest in disappearance case


"I want to know why. Was she stalked? Was she hurt?"

Justin McDuffie, WMAZ 11:49 AM. EST February 25, 2017
 
Tara Grinstead's best friend says her disappearance has haunted her for years.

“I’m baffled I just can’t believe it,” Maria Woods Harber said. “I feel like I’m going to wake up tomorrow, and this is going to be a dream just like the day she went missing.”

Harber is Tara Grinstead’s best friend and can’t believe police have named Ryan Duke the suspect in her murder, more than 11 years later.

“I've heard the name and another connected but it was never red flags,” Harber said.

She's says Grinstead knew Duke since she was a teacher at Irwin County High, but is sure she never taught him.

“Why didn’t you come forward sooner,” Harber said. “Why have you done this because he’s taken away a lot of my life. He’s taken away her family’s life.”

Even after Thursday’s announcement, she still has questions that have gone unanswered.

“I want to know why,” Harber said.  “I want know when, was she targeted was she stalked, was she hurt. I pray that she didn’t feel any pain.”

 

[Nut44x4]

Great article...I too was wrong.
https://www.huntakiller.com/blog-articles/2017/2/26/the-tara-grinstead-investigation-a-lesson-in-humility

[texasmom]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dozens-digging-for-remains-of-tara-grinstead/498308864

Dozens digging for remains of Tara Grinstead in south Georgia
by: Tony Thomas Updated: Feb 28, 2017 - 5:30 PM

BEN HILL COUNTY, Ga. - Dozens of people are searching a pecan farm in a south Georgia town for Tara Grinstead’s remains.

A crew of more than 40 people are involved in the massive dig set up in the city of Fitzgerald in Ben Hill County.

"There are agents from eight different GBI officers. I have five crime scene specialists here. We actually enlisted the services of two anthropologists in case we find any skeletal remains," GBI Special Agent in Charge JT Ricketson said.

The new evidence they've uncovered, live from the scene on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m.

Grinstead, a teacher and former beauty queen, was reported missing in October 2005 from her Ocilla home.

Last week, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local Georgia authorities announced an arrest in the case. Ryan Alexander Duke was charged murder, burglary, aggravated assault and concealing a death.
 
The GBI said that someone walked into the sheriff's office earlier last week with information that led to several new interviews and an arrest.

"Through these interviews, enough probable cause was discovered so we could swear out an arrest warrant charging Ryan Alexander Duke with the murder of Tara Grinstead," said GBI Special Agent in Charge J.T. Ricketson.

During his first court appearance, we heard for the first time authorities believe Duke used his hands to kill Grinstead.

Investigators told a judge they first believe Duke went to Grinstead’s home for a burglary and he killed her and then took her body elsewhere to hide it.


 Follow
 Tony Thomas ✔ @TonyThomasWSB
Breaking : GBI digging in a Ben Hill County for the remains of Tara Grinstead. Authorities say some "evidence" has been found .
2:09 PM - 28 Feb 2017


 

[texasmom]

https://twitter.com/TonyThomasWSB/status/836703730020012034

Tony ThomasVerified account
@TonyThomasWSB
Reporter for WSB-TV in Atlanta.

Tony Thomas‏ Verified account @TonyThomasWSB 
34 minutes ago

Judge issued a gag order in Tara Grinstead murder case . I learned the latest on search efforts just before ruling came down @wsbtv at 6.

[texasmom]

https://twitter.com/LJphotog54/status/836701194634543105

LeVar James‏ @LJphotog54 
52 minutes ago
More
 Nearly 40 GBI investigators are on the scene of this field searching for remains of Tara Grinstead. @TonyThomasWSB @AllThingsWSB @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/rh2CCHNGmN

[texasmom]

Lot of rumors about someone named Bo Dukes being involved.  No relation to Ryan Duke, just a good friend. 
Looks like maybe he's connected to the property being searched too...hmmm

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=134249876

William Newton "Newt" Hudson

Birth:    Dec. 12, 1926
Ocilla
Irwin County
Georgia, USA
Death:    Aug. 12, 2014
Wilcox County
Georgia, USA

Obituary for William Newton (Newt) Hudson
William Newton (Newt) Hudson died August 12, 2014, at his home in Rochelle, Georgia, with his family at his side.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 14, at 2 P.M. in the Rochelle United Methodist Church with Reverend Nancylee Cater officiating and assisted by Reverend James Faircloth . His oldest grandson, Scott Hudson, will give the eulogy. Interment will follow at the Frank Cemetery in Ocilla, Georgia, at 4 P.M. The family will receive friends from 9:30 A.M until 12:00 noon at the W. N. (Newt) Hudson Agricultural Center, on Thursday morning, prior to the funeral service.
Mr. Hudson was born December 12, 1926, in Ocilla, GA, to the late Dudley D. Hudson and Ella Frances Williams Hudson. In 1944, prior to his high school graduation, he left school and joined the Navy. He served in the South Pacific for 18 months during World War II. After the war, he returned to and graduated from Irwin County High School. After his high school graduation in 1947, he also graduated from ABAC and was a 1950 Honor graduate of the University of Georgia.
After his college graduation, Mr. Hudson taught classes to World War II Veterans in Irwinville. He accepted his first Extension job in Gwinnett County and later served Colquitt County as assistant County Agent. In 1955, he accepted the position of Extension Agent for Wilcox County, where he served for 28 years. After his retirement, Mr. Hudson was elected to the State Legislature and served in the State House of Representatives for 20 years, serving as co-chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Co-Chairman of the Health and Ecology Committee, Chairman of the Industry and Trade Committee, Vice Chairman of the Rules and Regulations Committee, and also served on the Appropriations Committee. During his tenure as State Representative, Mr. Hudson worked tirelessly for the people of his district and was instrumental in passing significant educational, agricultural and industrial legislation that benefited southern Georgia.
Mr. Hudson was a long time member of Rochelle United Methodist Church, Elks Lodge, Rochelle Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, and member of American Legion #71. He also served on numerous boards within the community, the Colony Bank Board, Middle GA EMC Board, and the Wilcox County Fish and Game Board. Mr. Hudson was an avid huntsman and fisherman and loved growing pecans. He greatly enjoyed the beauty of nature and spending time on his farm, along with a deep love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family.
Mr. Hudson is survived by his wife, Gayle Davis Hudson, Rochelle; son, Randy and Mary Jo Hudson, Ocilla; daughter, Dixie Hudson, Rochelle; daughter, Suzanne and Bobby Conner, Ocilla; Six grandsons and one granddaughter, Scott Hudson, Ocilla; Casey Conner (Holly), Ocilla; Shane Hudson (Whitney), Tifton; Wesley Conner, Ocilla; Bo Dukes (Emily); Jake Dukes, Atlanta; and Randi Conner, New York, NY; Two great grandsons and three great granddaughters, Nate Hudson, Miles Hudson, Addison Conner, Avery Conner, and Hadley Hudson; One sister, Beverly Hudson Bauerband, Boynton Beach, FL; One “Bonus” son, John Rycroft, Fitzgerald; one “Bonus” daughter , Andrea and Roger Sutton, Fitzgerald; “Bonus” grandchildren, Rhett Rycroft, Rylee Rycroft, Rob Rycroft, Raegan Rycroft, and Sophie Sutton.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Hudson was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Gracie Dix Hudson. Six brothers, Wilson Hudson, Ted Hudson, Homer D. Hudson, Randall Hudson, Milton Hudson and J. W. Hudson also preceded him in death.
His beloved grandchildren will serve as their grandfather’s pallbearers.
Frazier and Son Funeral Home in Rochelle is in charge of arrangements.

[texasmom]

http://qpublic7.qpublic.net/ga_display.php?county=ga_benhill&KEY=+4+9+++++10

Owner Name    Hudson, Randy D    Today's Date    February 28, 2017
Mailing Address      P.O. Box 527    Parcel Number     4 9 10
      Ocilla, Ga 31774    Tax District    COUNTY (District 02)
Location Address     BOWENS MILL HIGHWAY    2015 Millage Rate    33.139
Legal Description    3087-90 3095-97    Acres    145
Property Class(NOTE: Not Zoning Info)      V5-Consv Use     
Neighborhood   
Zoning         Homestead Exemption    No (S0)
Landlot/District     297/4     Parcel Map   Maps available with subscription

2016 Tax Year Value Information 
Land
Value   Improvement
Value   Accessory
Value   Total
Value   Previous
Value
  $ 225,750      $ 0      $ 3,000      $ 228,750      $ 228,750

[texasmom]

http://www.hudsonpecan.com/pecans/