Ryan Duke pleads not guilty in Tara Grinstead murder case, arriagnment waived

OCILLA, Ga. - A waiver of arraignment states that Ryan Duke, the man charged in the 2005 disappearance of Tara Grinstead, has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the indictment, which includes three murder charges.

A public defender waived the arraignment on behalf of Duke. He was not in court because he is represented by the Public Defender’s office, who typically waives all of the defendant's appearances in court for arraignment.

MORE: Sheriff's Office: 2nd arrest made in murder of Tara Grinstead

Tara Grinstead went missing in October 2005 and was a beauty queen and teacher in Ocilla.

Duke was arrested on February 23, more than 11 years after Grinstead's disappearance, in connection to the case. Arrest warrants for Duke indicate that he used his hands to kill the 30-year-old teacher inside her Ocilla home.

READ: Search continues for Tara Grinstead's remains after man charged with murder

He was indicted on malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary and concealing a death on April 12.

Shortly after Duke's arrest, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation searched for Grinstead's remains at a pecan orchard in Fitzgerald. It still is not clear whether any of her remains were found.

READ: Judge modifies gag order in Tara Grinstead murder

Another suspect, Bo Dukes, was arrested on March 3 and charged with concealing a death, hindering apprehension of a criminal and tampering with evidence. The arrest warrant stated that Dukes helped destroy Grinstead's body.

Dukes posted bond and was out of jail on the same day. A trial date has not yet been set.