Person
2 episodes · 6 quoted claims
Gary Rothwell said a tip described a bonfire party where a couple of guys made statements claiming they had killed Tara and burned her in a pit.
“a bonfire party outdoors with a bunch of people, local kids. And that a couple of guys had had, uh, made statements.”
Local investigators interviewed the source of the bonfire tip and used a helicopter to check the scene but could not corroborate it.
“went out to the scene and used a helicopter and tried to verify it and and couldn't corroborate it.”
Gary Rothwell said the GBI did not follow up on the bonfire lead because it was understood to have been addressed by local law enforcement, and called that a mistake.
“we did not follow up ourselves, and that was a mistake.”
DNA on the latex glove found at Tara Grinstead's home contained a profile from Tara and a profile from an unknown male.
“The DNA was of two people. One profile was of Tara, the other profile was of an unknown male.”
Gary Rothwell said the Tara Grinstead investigation was the largest case in the history of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“Yes, this is the largest GBI case, and, uh, it remains so to this day.”
Gary Rothwell said investigators processed probably over 200 DNA samples from men while trying to match the glove DNA.
“So we processed probably over 200 samples of men.”