Bones that were so degraded, no official cause of death could be determined. CONNIE GRINSTEAD [Reading family impact statement]: His confession in 2017 seemed genuine and sincere, and he looked remorseful. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. 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" . The jury was left to decide if they believed what Ryan said in 2017, or his new version of events. May the holy spirit comfort you in this time of bereavement. As such, in the State of Oregon Preneed Crematory Sales and Services are conducted under the trade name Neptune Cremation Service. He could have at least told us that, but he didn't. But what about that latex glove with Ryan's DNA on it found in Tara's front yard? The morning started with testimony from Bill Barrs with the Ocilla Police Department, who was tasked with checking Grinsteads home. He will be replaced by one of the six alternates who also had been listening to the testimony. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael Dukes and Vicki Heilig Dukes. Yet both these demands were denied by the court. Posey says Duke corrected the GBI agent over 20 times during his confession, and said he believes that is key to note. John McCullough: And it had this very, you know, attractive woman on it. 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. Ryan worked at a plastics manufacturing plant, while Bo would occasionally work at his family's pecan farm. Maria Woods Harber: She was an excellent teacher. John McCullough: Yeah, Tara Grinstead, and said, you know, "missing.". At one. Prosecutors played that videotape of Bo's interview with the GBI. BO DUKES: As far as I know, he didn't know her. focused on the investigators who have worked the case over the years. GBI Agent Jason Shoudel was on the stand to testify. They found him guilty of one charge: concealing Grinstead's death. I was a drug addict I'd been drinking. But I think it's taken a lot of toll on them mentally and physically. Create an obituary. Born in Columbia, SC, Mike was a son of Vera Ballentine Dukes and the late Ernest Kenneth Dukes. Combined services will be held at Antioch M.B.C., 2033 W. Congress Ave. on Saturday March. On Monday, the state rested its case, but not before calling GBI agents and a forensic specialist to the stand. Bo Dukes comes from a prominent family that owned a huge pecan orchard in the Ocilla area. I don't remember everything clearly I was stealing from her purse. Marcus Harper: It was like a calling. 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. Show Your Sympathy to the Family. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. I thought he was out of his mind. It was very hard to grasp. The defense was up first and focused on the inconsistencies in the state's presentation. AIKEN, SC - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. Our prayer and sympathy are with the Dukes family ,may you find peace through pray, doing your time of grief. Marcus always maintained his innocence but remained under suspicion. We had search efforts like nothing you've ever seen. And remember that latex glove found at the crime scene? Dana Wilder: I never thought it was somebody from our community. "We believe in Ryan and we believed in him the entire time.". More than a decade later, the GBI charged Duke -- her former student -- with killing her and hiding her body in a pecan orchard. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. "We will always hate what this defendant did to Tara and to the people who loved her," she said. The couple broke things off but stayed in touch. Published by Mobile Register and Baldwin County from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17, 2023. John McCullough: I can't explain it [emotional]. 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. Dana Wilder: Ocilla was Tara's life. 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. First published on January 2, 2021 / 11:05 PM. The alleged drug addict was arrested once for a DUI in 2010 but was released on bond. According to the court, Ryan Duke became ineligible for state funds when he chose to go with private attorneys rather than a public defender. And what she had to say implicated a man whose name had repeatedly been given to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Funeral homes; Help and advice. He said Bo Dukes was "almost excited, cheerful," when they went to move Grinstead's body. 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. Bens account could not be taken as hed passed before Ryan and Bo were arrested. The talented signer was named Miss Tifton and competed in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. He lived most his life in Aiken and worked as a procedures writer at the Savannah River . RYAN DUKE [GBI interview played at trial]: I can't lie. But some things stuck out to Maria. To the Dukes family, please know I am praying for you. Send Flowers . AIKEN, SC - KENNETH MICHAEL DUKES, 66, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at his residence. GBI AGENT: So, by Friday, there's nothing left? 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. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. He lit her on fire. Duke's attorneys also focused on what they say is no evidence or DNA from their client found instead Grinstead's home. Prosecutors called two witnesses before dismissing the jury a lunchtime to debate how much of the Duke's confession could be shown. her main goal was to win Miss Georgia or at least to get to Miss Georgia, and she did. . But if you're ready for this Bo had already been interviewed by the GBI a year earlier in 2016. 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. 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. Finally, he cracked. An interesting turn of events came when Ryans 11-page confession, where hed detailed everything thatd transpired on that fateful evening, came to light. As Jannis recalls, early on, suspicion focused on the men in Tara's life. View Obituaries Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc. and Shellhouse-Rivers Crematory Ryan Dukes August 23, 1974 - April 26, 2018. 83 Peacefully passed away on February 23, 2023. He recognized her from Irwin County High School, where he was a student, and she was teaching at the time. One of those always showing off and talking big and running his mouth. Find an Obituary. Ocilla Police Chief Billy Hancock called theGeorgia Bureau of Investigationto help. | All testimonials are written by persons unlicensed and not qualified to make funeral arrangements, embalm or conduct a funeral. PROSECUTION: The man in THAT chair, confessed to the murder of Tara Grinstead. On Sunday, Tara's mom called her several times, but Tara didn't answer. Ryan then allegedly went back to her house to move her remains to the orchard using Bos truck. 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. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Ryan Duke at his first court hearing after his arrest in February 2017, charged with Tara Grinstead's murder. JOHN DUKES OBITUARY John Lewis Dukes John Lewis Dukes, 64 of Monroe, Louisiana, an automotive service writer, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2015. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. He is extremely intelligent. Duke was convicted on the charge of Concealing a Death and was sentenced to the maximum punishment of . Brooke Sheridan: He said, "That's something that only God and Ryan know." Jannis Paulk: So, I sat down with an agent and we just went through everything. As for his alibi, Ryan claimed that he had been at his mobile home in Fitzgerald the entire night. SHELLHOUSE RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC, Share your thoughts and memories with family and friends of Ryan, Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc. and Shellhouse-Rivers Crematory, Shellhouse Funeral Home/Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home/Shellhouse-Rivers Crematory. Alfred A. Dukes NORTH AUGUSTA, SC - Memorial Services for Mr. Alfred A. Dukes, 75, who entered into rest January 4, 2015, will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Posey Funeral Chape Ryan's lawyers argued that gave Bo plenty of time to plant it. In 1999, Tara Grinstead won the Miss Tifton pageant, which landed her a spot at the 1999 Miss Georgia competition. I cried for days, couldn't sleep for days. His fellow soldier? she snuck up on me and I hit her. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Back in 2008 Van Sant spoke with Special Agent Gary Rothwell. Anita Gattis said her sister's disappearance threw her family into "an out-of-control spiral" that they've never escaped. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: Again, I didn't believe him he asked me to come with him out to to the pecan orchard. Peter Van Sant: And by Ryan saying to him, "Hey, buddy. Browning had been the last . Miriam Sealy, Tara Grinstead's school friend and childhood neighbor, fought back tears as she read a statement in front of the court. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. Bo confessed all of this to Brooke, who stuck with him. Brooke Sheridan: I had to tell some I had to tell. Vicki Heilig Dukes AIKEN, SC - Vicki Heilig Dukes, 65, died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Born in Columbia, SC, Mike was a son of Vera Ballentine Dukes and the late Ernest Kenneth Dukes. Bryan Samuel Dukes, 30, passed away on November 22, 2019 as a result of a work-related accident. "Mr. Dukes, do you plan to invoke your 5th amendment right to every question?" On the glove they not only identified Tara's DNA, but that of an unknown male. 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. A DNA sample from Ryan Duke was a perfect match. Peter Van Sant: This really affects you, though, talking about this. The GBI was overwhelmed with tips at the time and this one slipped through the cracks. Jannis Paulk: There were people who believed she ran away. Ryan Duke was sentenced to 10 years in prison for concealing the death of Tara Grinstead. "You should be punished according - not for murder, not for burglary, not for aggravated assault, because that's the way the system works. Year after year passed with no arrests. Bo Dukes stayed in a bedroom in a trailer they rented in Fitzgerald, Ryan Duke testified. Rothwell said the GBI never followed up after their names appeared in an investigative summary. Duke said he was on drugs at the time he broke into Grinstead's Ocilla home and doesnt remember how exactly he killed her. 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. Tara Grinstead's father was in the courtroom on Tuesday while Ryan Duke was questioned. 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. 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. On March 1, 1969, he met Sandra Hageman on a . Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Read More Published In Last Name "Dixon". AGENT GARY ROTHWELL: We thought that that lead had been addressed by local law enforcement as unfounded and did not follow up. It was an opening like that. ". After a few drinks, McCullough says Bo began talking about Tara. 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