Person
4 episodes · 50 quoted claims
Andrea Canning said that in 2005 Dateline did not cover crime exclusively, so a crime story needed to be big to air, and Tara Grinstead's case qualified.
“Dateline wasn't doing just crime. If a crime story was gonna end up on Dateline back then, it had to be big, and and that was a big story.”
Andrea Canning said Tara Grinstead's ex-boyfriend Marcus Harper was publicly suspected for a long time but had nothing to do with her disappearance.
“Marcus Harper, her ex-boyfriend. I mean, he was under the spotlight for such a long time and he had nothing to do with this.”
Andrea Canning said podcaster Payne Lindsey got people talking and renewed interest in the Tara Grinstead case.
“Payne Lindsey shook the trees, got people talking, got renewed interest in the case.”
Bo Duke came from a prominent Ocilla family that owned some of the town's orchards, and he had served in the military.
“they owned those orchards, some of the orchards in town, and um, he had been in the military.”
Andrea Canning said investigators collected hundreds of DNA swabs during the case.
“I mean, they did hundreds of DNA swabs, you know?”
Andrea Canning said the Tara Grinstead file was the biggest case file in Georgia Bureau of Investigation history.
“you're buried in the biggest case file in GBI history”
When called by Ryan Duke's defense at trial, Bo Duke invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
“he pleads the fifth. And you know, what does that say to the jury?”
Tara Grinstead's mother had died before the trial's outcome, and Andrea Canning said her friends and family felt the acquittal was an injustice.
“Her mother had passed away, um, but clearly it did not sit well with her friends and family.”
Andrea Canning said Gary Rothwell believes Ryan Duke killed Tara and does not believe Bo Duke did.
“Gary believes it's Ryan, he does not believe it's Bo.”
On Saturday, October 22, 2005, Tara Grinstead was helping student Dana Wilder prepare for the Sweet Potato Festival pageant in Ocilla, Georgia.
“Saturday, October twenty second, Dana Wilder was preparing for the festival's upcoming pageant with the help of her teacher, Tara Grinstead.”
Tara Grinstead's purse and keys were missing from her home, while her car remained unlocked in the driveway.
“But two other things were missing Tara's purse and keys. Her car, however, was still parked in the driveway, unlocked.”
Police were called to Tara Grinstead's home about seven months before her disappearance after Anthony Vickers arrived while Heath Dykes was inside.
“Seven months before she disappeared, police were called to her home. Anthony Vickers was outside.”
Tara Grinstead's ex-boyfriend Marcus Harper had dated her for over five years and was a former police officer who became an Army Ranger.
“Tara and Marcus had been together for over five years. He was a former Osceola police officer and later became an Army Ranger, serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Heath Dykes, Anthony Vickers and Marcus Harper all gave DNA samples, and none matched the glove found at Tara Grinstead's home.
“Officer Heath Dykes, Tara's former student Anthony Vickers, and her ex-boyfriend Marcus Harper all submitted DNA samples. None of them matched the glove.”
Gary Rothwell retired from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in 2012 after nearly 31 years, seven of them spent on the Tara Grinstead case.
“Agent Rothwell was nearing thirty-one years with the GBI, seven of those devoted to Tara's case. In 2012, he retired.”
Filmmaker Payne Lindsey launched the podcast Up and Vanished in 2016, investigating Tara Grinstead's disappearance.
“By 2016, the worlds of podcasting and true crime had collided. Young filmmaker Payne Lindsey was eager to try his hand at both.”
Bo Dukes was tried in 2019 for his role in Tara Grinstead's death, and a jury convicted him on all charges in less than an hour.
“Finally, in 2019, Bo Duke stood trial for his role in Tara's death. It took a jury less than an hour to convict him on all charges in her case.”
Bo Dukes pleaded guilty to reduced charges in two rape cases and is serving a combined twenty-five-year sentence.
“Bo Dukes later pleaded guilty to reduce charges in those rape cases. He is serving a combined twenty-five-year sentence for his crimes.”
Ryan Duke's murder trial began in May 2022 in Osceola, Georgia.
“A decades-old mystery was finally coming to a head in May of 2022 as Ryan Duke's murder trial got underway in Osceola.”
After being convicted of concealing Tara Grinstead's death, Ryan Duke received the maximum sentence of ten years with time served.
“Ryan received the maximum sentence, ten years with time served. He's scheduled to be released early next year.”
A detective who ran additional license plate numbers from cars in Jeff Spence's yard got a hit on one vehicle on a Tennessee highway heading toward Mississippi.
“And lo and behold, he got a hit on one of them that was headed, uh, on a highway in, you know, in Tennessee toward Mississippi.”
Andrea Canning sent out 50 VHS audition tapes and got two calls, one of which led to her first local news job in Greenville, Mississippi.
“I sent out 50 tapes. Uh, you know, I'm dating myself here. VHS tapes, um, and I got 2 calls, 1 from Nebraska and 1 from Greenville.”
Kirby Carpenter tried to join the military but had to leave because of a heart condition, according to his mother.
“he tried to go into the military, um, but he had a heart issue. And so, you know, his his mom told us that he had to, he had to leave, um, because of that.”
Jeff Spence was convicted of stealing a prized buck named Goliath, described as worth about $1 million.
“And um, he was convicted of stealing Goliath, this million-dollar deer. Did you ever think that a deer could be worth $1 million?”
Andrea Canning says Jeff Spence ran a deer-breeding business and possibly bred German shepherds, among many failed ventures.
“One of his businesses was that that he was a deer breeder. He was also like a, I think he bred German shepherds.”
Carolyn's husband Gio feared for his life after Jeff Spence suggested he take out life insurance with Jeff as beneficiary.
“And then Gio, literally being afraid for his life after that life insurance conversation, like, why don't you take out life insurance? I'll be the beneficiary.”
Andrea Canning covered the killing of Kentucky officer Jason Ellis in Bardstown, who was ambushed after stopping to move branches from a road.
“I did a story in, uh, Kentucky, in Bardstown, where an officer, Jason Ellis, in Kentucky was was gunned down because there were branches in the road.”
Jeff Spence was held at Parchman prison when Andrea Canning prepared to interview him by phone.
“I was all set up in Mississippi to do the interview. He was in Parchman prison at the time.”
According to Carolyn, her sister Caitlin sided with their father Jeff immediately after the family conflict.
“according to Carolyn, it seemed like she sided with her dad immediately.”
Andrea Canning expresses the view that money mattered more to Jeff Spence than his family and that the killing was over money.
“It seems to me that money was more important to Jeff than his family unit, because this was over money.”
Producer Rachel White says Kirby Carpenter dealt heavily in cash, gold and silver, which explains why he carried so much cash.
“what you have to understand is that Kirby Carpenter dealt a lot in cash, in gold, in silver.”
The first trial of Jeff Spence ended in a hung jury split six to six.
“that 1st trial, I think, end up with a hung jury, and it was split six to six.”
Caitlin Spence pleaded guilty to accessory to murder after the fact and received time served with probation.
“She pleaded guilty to, um, accessory to murder after the fact.”
Jeff, Caitlin and Karen Spence all initially faced capital murder charges; Karen and Caitlin are now free and Jeff is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.
“All three Jeff, Caitlin and Karen Spence faced capital murder charges, so Karen and Caitlin now are free, and Jeff, of course, is serving a life sentence for 1st degree murder.”
Kirby Carpenter's son from another relationship stayed with him every other week, which filled the household when the Spences moved in.
“Kirby had a son who would also be with him every other week, so the house was full.”
Kirby Carpenter lived in Tippah County in northern Mississippi, whose county seat is Ripley.
“At the northernmost edge of Mississippi, you'll find Tippah County, where rolling hills melt into lush forests and green pastures.”
Kirby Carpenter hosted his family for Thanksgiving at his country home on Thanksgiving Day 2022.
“On Thanksgiving Day, 2022, he hosted them at his sprawling country home.”
Kirby Carpenter joined the Marines after high school but his military career ended because of a heart defect.
“After high school, Kirby joined the Marines. He graduated from basic training, but his military career was cut short due to a heart defect.”
By 2020 Kirby Carpenter owned a gold and silver shop, a liquor store and a steakhouse diner.
“By 2020, he had a small town empire. He owned the Gold and Silver Shop, a liquor store, and a steakhouse diner.”
Ray Palmer and his investors owed Kirby Carpenter close to $200,000 from the sale of Arrowhead Wine and Spirits.
“Ray and his investors still owed Kirby close to $200,000.”