Appeals court throws out pending charges for men convicted of hiding Georgia teacher’s death

FITZGERALD, Ga. - An appeals court has thrown out pending criminal charges against two men previously convicted of concealing the death of Georgia teacher Tara Grinstead.

Her 2005 disappearance baffled her family and investigators for more than a decade.

Tara Grinstead (Family photo) (Provided by family)

The backstory:

Tara Grinstead, a 30-year-old high school teacher and former beauty queen, disappeared in October 2005 from her small hometown of Ocilla, Georgia. Her mysterious disappearance baffled her family and investigators for over a decade. Despite extensive searches and a billboard campaign seeking tips, the case remained unsolved until February 2017, when significant arrests were made.

Ryan Duke talks to his lawyer during a pre-trial hearing on March 9, 2022. (FOX 5) (FOX 5 Atlanta)

What we know:

In 2017, Ryan Duke confessed to investigators that he had broken into Grinstead’s home to steal money for drugs. He claimed that he was startled when Grinstead appeared, leading him to strike and kill her. Both Duke and his friend, Bo Dukes, admitted to burning Grinstead’s body in a rural pecan orchard in Ben Hill County. However, during his 2022 murder trial, Duke recanted his confession, blaming Dukes for the murder and stating he had lied to police out of fear and intoxication. Despite this, Duke was found guilty of concealing Grinstead’s death in Irwin County, while Dukes was convicted in 2019 for covering up the killing. Both are currently serving prison sentences, with Duke sentenced to 10 years and Dukes to 25 years.

Bo Dukes waits to learn his fate after being convicted of concealing the murder of Tara Grinstead in March 2019. (FOX 5) (FOX 5 Atlanta)

What we don't know:

Grinstead’s body was never fully recovered. In 2017, Duke led investigators to the pecan grove where he claimed the body was burned. Investigators found bone fragments, but DNA analysis was inconclusive, leaving some questions about the full circumstances of her death unanswered.

Timeline:

• October 2005: Tara Grinstead disappears from Ocilla, Georgia.
• November 2005: A man reports to the sheriff’s office that Duke and Dukes confessed at a party to killing Grinstead and burning her body.
• February 2017: Duke and Dukes are arrested following their confessions.
• 2019: Bo Dukes is convicted of covering up the killing.
• 2022: Ryan Duke is found guilty of concealing Grinstead’s death but acquitted of murder.
• Two weeks post-2022 trial: A grand jury in Ben Hill County indicts Duke on additional charges.

What they're saying:

The Georgia Court of Appeals recently ruled that the statute of limitations had expired for the pending charges against Duke and Dukes related to the burning of Grinstead’s body. The court concluded that law enforcement had probable cause to arrest the two men by late November 2005, based on the party confession reported to the sheriff’s office. This decision led to the dismissal of the pending charges in Ben Hill County.

The other side:

Prosecutors argued that the statute of limitations should have started with the men’s confessions in February 2017. A lower court initially agreed with this interpretation. However, the appeals court determined that the clock began ticking in November 2005, when the initial tip was received, thus invalidating the later charges.