Who is Ryan Duke and why was he on trial?
FOR more than a decade, many have wondered what happened to Georgia history teacher Tara Grinstead.
She was last seen leaving a cookout in October 2005, and her disappearance still remains a mystery today.
Who is Ryan Duke?
Ryan Duke is known as a former Irwin County High School student and was accused of murdering Grinstead.
According to , he previously told investigators in 2017 that he had killed her after breaking into her home to steal drugs, but he later recanted his statement.
At the time, he said he had an accomplice who helped carry her body and burn it into ash.
However, his lawyers argued that he made a false confession under the influence of drugs, NBC notes.
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Why was he on trial?
Since Duke recanted his statement, the case ultimately went to trial on May 2, 2022.
He faced charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, and concealing death charges.
Just weeks later, on May 19, Duke was found not guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and burglary.
However, he was found guilty of concealing a death, according to .
He's scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, 2022.
While the verdict comes as a shock to many, Grinstead's family was able to get some closer in 2019 when Duke's friend Bo Dukes confessed to helping move and burn her body.
“Your long suffering has been unimaginable,” Dukes said in court at the time, via NBC.
“My actions were cowardly, callous, and cruel. I was more interested in self-pity and self-preservation than doing the right thing for Tara and for you.”
In 2019, Dukes was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Who was Tara Grinstead?
Born November 14, 1974, Grinstead was known as a former beauty queen and popular Georgia high school teacher.
Prior to her presumed death, she graduated from Middle Georgia College, competed in the Miss Georgia pageant three times, and was crowned Miss Tifton.
As of May 2022, her body has not been discovered, but an Irwin County Probate judge declared Grinstead dead in absentia in December 2010.
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