The door was locked. Duke said he never took Grinstead's belongings to police when he tried to return them. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. OBITUARY Ryan William Drakes April 23, 1981 - August 4, 2021. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. 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. Find an Obituary. Her colleagues at the school where she worked called the Ocilla Police Department to check on the 11th-grade teachers home. Dr. Fred W. Andrea III officiating. But back then, Bo denied everything. . And Bo Dukes himself spoke directly to Tara's family: BO DUKES: To the Tara Grinstead family, I'm truly sorry. Anita Gattis said her sister's disappearance threw her family into "an out-of-control spiral" that they've never escaped. The funeral will follow at 11 oclock in the chapel with The Rev. The Ocilla police were called and entered Tara's home, and right behind them was Maria. So, he went to trial hoping jurors might show mercy for a man who had already confessed to his role in the crime. The talented signer was named Miss Tifton and competed in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant. John McCullough: And it had this very, you know, attractive woman on it. Bryan Samuel Dukes, 30, passed away on November 22, 2019 as a result of a work-related accident. Prosecutors said Duke took law enforcement to the pecan orchard where he confessed to burning and dumping Grinstead's body. Another main focus on Tuesday was the glove found just outside Grinsteads home. And she told them about her employee's tip three years earlier regarding Bo Dukes and Ryan Duke. Jannis Paulk: Ocilla is a big family. I didnt know what else to do," Ryan said. focused on the investigators who have worked the case over the years. Bo Dukes apologies to Tara Grinstead's family at his sentencing. 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. last opportunity to present witnesses as a rebuttal. He admitted to helping his friend burn the body until, "it looked like it was all ash.". The state focused on Ryan Duke's 2017 recorded confession to GBI agents. Jannis Paulk: there were several people, several men, who got a lot of scrutiny for a long time . "He said he killed Tara," Ryan Duke said. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.nationalcremation.com/location/irving- for the Drakes family. Ryan Dukes said he started to see Bo Dukes more often after he was discharged from the Army for being AWOL. The two men drove about 200 yards up the road to where Tara Grinstead's body had been placed. Two years later, in March 2019, he was the first to go on trial. Looking at Ryans life, there isnt much of criminal history. BRAD RIGBY | PROSECUTOR: This case is about Bo's lies, lies that lasted from 2005 to 2016. Ryan Duke's attorneys believe their client's testimony was key in this case. However, his lawyers, who are working pro-bono, claimed that even in that situation, he should get his due of the funds to ensure a fair trial. The returned to the orchard once, where the ashes looked like a small campfire. Send a Card. "Ryan Duke, the man in that chair, confessed to the murder of Tara Grinstead," prosecutor Brad Rigby said. That was after investigators finally reached out to John McCullough. And in this trial, Agent Gary Rothwell finally explained what happened with those tips. JOHN DUKES OBITUARY John Lewis Dukes John Lewis Dukes, 64 of Monroe, Louisiana, an automotive service writer, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2015. 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. Duke was convicted on the charge of Concealing a Death and was sentenced to the maximum punishment of . 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. I don't know. Ways to honor John Dukes's life and legacy. Jannis Paulk: So, I sat down with an agent and we just went through everything. Search by Name. The weight of what McCullough says Bo told him became unbearable. 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. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. Browse Atlanta Journal-Constitution obituaries, conduct other obituary searches, offer condolences/tributes, send flowers or create an online memorial. 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. John McCullough: I mean, nobody ever called me back, ever, even whenever I reached out to the GBI, which is the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I definitely didn't wanna settle down in small town America. Grinstead, an Irwin County High School teacher, went missing in October 2005. I didn't believe him. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Investigators say Ryan confessed to killing Grinstead. 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). However, when it came to corroborating, Stephen testified in Bo Dukes trial that he couldnt confirm any of it. Receive a notification when services are updated. "Any reason to continue this?" 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. The defense said Bo Dukes' attorney indicated his client would invoke the 5th Amendment if called to testify. Brooke Sheridan: He has a beautiful mind. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. GBI AGENT: So, by Friday, there's nothing left? Investigators chased down dozens of leads across the country, but tips emerged that led right back to the high school where Tara was a teacher and perhaps someone who had sat in her classroom. After college, Tara got a job at Ocilla's Irwin County high school, teaching 11th grade history. They found him guilty of one charge: concealing Grinstead's death. Share. But some things stuck out to Maria. Brooke Sheridan: I had to tell some I had to tell. It was a year after Tara's disappearance. Peter Van Sant: This really affects you, though, talking about this. More than an hour into his testimony, Ryan Duke described the moment Bo Dukes led him to Grinstead's body. Maria Woods Harber: Well, it's very emotional. Mobile Register and Baldwin County Homepage. Peter Van Sant: The kind of guy you want to share a foxhole with, right? For those who loved Tara Grinstead, Bo Dukes' 25-year sentence for covering up her death was only partial justice. It just wasn't what I wanted. SMITHLAND -- D.V. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. For all that has transpired, there's one question that troubles Maria Woods Harber: what really happened to Tara on the night she disappeared? Maria Woods Harber: My best friend, Tara Grinstead, was a beautiful person on the inside and the outside. And it wasn't the only one overlooked. He denied that, but when asked why he lied to the GBI about killing Grinstead, Duke said, "I'm trying to make that right.". He was the owner operator of Dukes Tax Service and Taxxman Payroll Solutions. But who would want to harm this vibrant 30-year-old woman? The state's witness called Grinstead's 79-year-old father, Billy Grinstead, to the stand, who broke down. Prosecutors do not expect to file murder charges against Bo Dukes. Duke is to be sentenced Monday. He testified he could tell the body was a woman's, wearing a t-shirt and some type of jogging pants. Peter Van Sant: One said she had clothes on, the other said she did not. "I said, 'You need to confess. My deepest condolences to my church family, may God give you all the strength and peace during your time of sorrow. Brooke says she was studying in Savannah to become a pharmacist when, in 2015, she came face-to-face with her online date. 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. I don't remember everything clearly I was stealing from her purse. CONNIE GRINSTEAD [Reading family impact statement]: His confession in 2017 seemed genuine and sincere, and he looked remorseful. She did not want to end it. This program is not financed by or connected in any manner with any governmental agency or veteran's or other organization. Maria Woods Harber: Tara really did want to get back with Marcus. State and defense teams made their pitches to jurors and began examining witnesses. I mean, she had the biggest smile. "Approximately 20 bone fragments that could be considered human bones.". She snuck up on me and I hit her. Visitation: Friday, Feb. 17th from 4 - 8 p.m. at B.E. And remember that latex glove found at the crime scene? Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Maria Woods Harber: She's been an inspiration. Peter Van Sant: Why would Ryan Duke have murdered Tara Grinstead? John McCullough: I have no idea. No. Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 18th from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral hour at Mt. 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. He was a classic muscle car enthusiast with a passion for Chevy Impalas. DEFENSE [closing arguments]: Bo Dukes should be on trial for the murder of Tara Grinstead, not Ryan. SHELLHOUSE RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC. Neptune Society is the largest provider of affordable cremation services in the nation. He lit her on fire. 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