2005
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.”
Topic
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
16 facts from 5 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
2012
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.”
2017
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ruled Heather Turner's death undetermined because the sheriff's office was still investigating.
“the GBI decides to rule Heather's death as undetermined since the sheriff's office was still investigating.”
2017
The GBI announced an arrest warrant charging Ryan Alexander Duke with the murder of Tara Grinstead.
“Enough probable cause was discovered so we could swear out an arrest warrant charging Ryan Alexander Duke with the murder of Tara Grinstead.”
2019
In 2019 responding EMTs told the Georgia Bureau of Investigation they did not recall seeing blood on Andy Turner's face.
“responding EMTs told the GBI years later, in 2019, that they don't recall seeing any blood on his face when they arrived.”
2022
A GBI forensics expert testified that the inner part of the glove matched Ryan Alexander Duke's DNA, with a chance of 1 in 300 quadrillion that another person would also match.
“The inner piece of the glove matched Ryan Alexander Duke, uh, with a probability of it also matching one in 300 quadrillion individuals in the population.”
2023
The GBI reported that Lakesha Thompson's blood alcohol level was 0.3 and that she also had other drugs in her system, such as gabapentin.
“They say that Lakesha's blood alcohol level was point three, and she had other drugs in her system that could have added to the effects of alcohol, like gabapentin.”
2023
On September 27, 2023, Detective Andrea Rosas told the family that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had ruled Lakesha Thompson's death a suicide.
“It's now September twenty seventh, 2023, and she says the GBI has ruled Lakesha's death a suicide.”
2023
The GBI's official autopsy report lists only the body as evidence received, with no scene photos or investigative materials.
“in the official autopsy report, it says that the only evidence they received was the decedent.”
2024
A couple of weeks after the November 2024 meeting, the GBI changed Lakesha Thompson's manner of death from suicide to undetermined.
“the GBI officially changes Lakesha's manner of death from suicide to undetermined.”
2026
Major Francisco Romero said the GBI changed its ruling only because of pressure from Lakesha Thompson's family.
“He also says that the GBI only changed their ruling because of pressure from the family.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
Andrea Canning said investigators collected hundreds of DNA swabs during the case.
“I mean, they did hundreds of DNA swabs, you know?”
Undated
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”
Undated
Brooke Sheridan's affidavit to the GBI said the podcast was weighing on Bo Duke's mind.
“Brooke Sheridan in her affidavit with the GBI, when she talked to the GBI, she she said, you know, the podcast was something that was weighing on Bo's mind.”
Episodes