Crisp County DA confirms arrest of Bo Dukes in connection to disappearance of Tara Grinstead
Second arrest made in case of missing Irwin County teacher
By Jon Gosa
ALBANY — A second arrest has been made in the missing person case of Irwin County history teacher Tara Grinstead.
Crisp County District Attorney Brad Rigby confirmed Friday that Bo Dukes was arrested Friday morning and charged in connection with the disappearance of Tara Grinstead.
Rigby confirmed that Dukes was charged with concealing the death of Tara Grinstead, tampering/destroying evidence and hindering the apprehension of a criminal.
Last week, a break in the more than decadelong investigation led to the arrest of 33-year old Ryan Alexander Duke of Ocilla, a former student at Irwin County High School, where Grinstead taught. The GBI announced the arrest of Duke during a high-profile press conference at the Irwin County Courthouse last Thursday.
A former Miss Tifton, Grinstead was last seen around 11 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2005, when she left a pageant. Since then, she has been the subject of a nationwide search. At the time of her disappearance, she had shoulder-length brown hair and weighed about 125 pounds, authorities said. She is 5-feet-3 inches tall. Her 42nd birthday would have been Nov. 14.
Ocilla police reported at the time that her vehicle was found in the driveway of her secured home on Monday morning following her disappearance. Co-workers and neighbors reported her missing after she didn’t report for work at Irwin High, where she taught history to ninth- and 10th-graders. Police said at the time the only items that appeared to be missing were her purse and keys.
Ryan Alexander Duke was officially charged with the murder of Tara Grinstead, according to GBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Ricketson, but earlier this week a gag order was issued by a Tift Circuit Superior Court judge prohibiting the discussion of the case by investigators.
Rigby, however, confirmed that Bo Dukes, no relation to Duke, was arrested Friday morning, but could not confirm if Dukes had bonded out of jail.
“He was arrested Friday morning, and I know there was a $15,000 bond, but I do not know if Mr. Dukes made the bond,” said Rigby. “And Bo Dukes is of no relation to Ryan Duke from what I know.”
Attempts to contact Dukes’ attorney Friday were unsuccessful.
Related Articles
Dougherty Jail graduates first class of female GED recipients
“It was an escape. I can say this has been challenging. I want to express my gratitude for being able to attend this program.”
From cotton to cloud: In the data center debate, is rural Georgia once again being asked to carry the cost?
Across much of rural Georgia, the abandoned cotton warehouses and shrinking tax bases remain — enduring reminders that industries built to serve distant markets do not necessarily stay rooted in the communities that first sustained them.
Dawson Council approves $400,000 lifeline in emergency meeting as financial accountability remains elusive
Less than a week after city officials publicly acknowledged the City of Dawson cannot continue operating without additional financing, the Dawson City Council convened a hastily called emergency meeting Tuesday evening and unanimously approved authority to borrow up to $400,000 through a tax anticipation note.
