Topic
22 facts from 2 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.
2005
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.”
2005
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.”
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.”
2005
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.”
2007
Maria Woods Dollar said Tara Grinstead's mother died about a year and a half after Tara went missing.
“Her mother actually passed away about a year and a half after she went missing.”
2009
A video from the so-called Catch Me Killer was posted to YouTube in 2009.
“This happened in 2009. I mean, these are kind of the internet has come so far s i in such a short amount of time.”
2016
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.”
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
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.”
2022
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.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
Gary Rothwell said an overlooked tip meant the Tara Grinstead case could have been solved at least nine years earlier.
“It's maddening because I consider myself a competent investigator and we could have solved this case at least nine years before it was solved”
Undated
The Dateline episode "The Orchard" covers the disappearance of a former beauty queen from a small Georgia town and the lengthy investigation that followed.
“This episode is about the disappearance of a former beauty queen from a small town in Georgia and the decades long investigation that followed.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
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.”
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
Bo Duke had been convicted on charges tied to Tara Grinstead's death, including making false statements to investigators and concealing a death.
“Bo had already been convicted on charges related to Tara's death, including making false statements to investigators and concealing a death.”
Undated
Ryan Duke was acquitted at trial in the Tara Grinstead case.
“the way this ends, Ryan Duke is acquitted, right? Like, there's there's an acquittal.”
Undated
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.”
Undated
Brad Davis said Ryan Duke initially confessed to the murder, saying he wanted to get into her house to find money to help with his drug habit, but later recanted on the stand.
“Ryan Duke initially confessed to the murder, um, saying that he wanted to get into her house to find some money”
Episodes