AIKEN, SC - Vicki Heilig Dukes, 65, died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Marcus Harper: Somebody pulled me to the side, and they were like, "Listen, you know, there's been some things said bringin' up your military past, bringin' up how you're Trained to kill" . And he asked me to help him get rid of her body. The defense argued that Ryan's former best friend, Bo Dukes, was the man responsible for Grinstead's death throughout the trial. It was now time at the trial for Bo's one-time Army buddy, John McCullough, to finally tell his story of Bo's confession. After a few drinks, McCullough says Bo began talking about Tara. Ryan Duke alibi: Tara Grinstead murder suspect now says he was asleep Caption Continuing Coverage By Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution March 14, 2019 The man accused of killing a. The GBI was overwhelmed with tips at the time and this one slipped through the cracks. The talented signer was named Miss Tifton and competed in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant. Maria Woods Harber: She was such a good person She just didn't deserve it. He was a classic muscle car enthusiast with a passion for Chevy Impalas. Marcus Harper: I received a phone call And the voice on the other end of the phone said, you know, "Brother, your 12 years of hell is over. We had search efforts like nothing you've ever seen. Ryan Duke at his first court hearing after his arrest in February 2017, charged with Tara Grinstead's murder. He lived most his life in Aiken and worked as a procedures writer at the Savannah River . Could he betray his friend? If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Ryan was born April 23, 1981. He was the talk of Ocilla, Georgia, and none of it was good. OBITUARY Ryan William Drakes April 23, 1981 - August 4, 2021. Published by Mobile Register and Baldwin County from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17, 2023. Rothwell said the GBI never followed up after their names appeared in an investigative summary. Jannis Paulk: We shared that tip with the local sheriff's department. New Jersey Residents: N.J. Lic. Send a gift to a service or familys home. More than a decade later, the GBI charged Duke -- her former student -- with killing her and hiding her body in a pecan orchard. The defense called him to the stand and, with his attorney standing next to him, he responded to each question with, "Under the advice of my council, I will be invoking my 5th Amendment right not to provide testimony today.". Ricou Browning, the stunt man who played the title character in underwater sequences of the 1954 classic "Creature from the Black Lagoon," died Monday at 93. Ryan Duke said he thought Bo Dukes was playing a joke on him, until he saw her corpse. "Over the course of the last three weeks reliving this heinous act that Ryan Alexander Duke committed ripped open the wounds," Gattis told the court before calling Duke "evil," "sneaky dangerous," and a "vile human. Another video shown portrayed Duke leading investigators to the pecan orchard he claims he took the lifeless body. Then, there was Tara's ex-boyfriend, Marcus Harper. "I was stealing from her purse and she snuck up on me. "(Bo Dukes) reaches down, he grabs her arm and flips her over," Ryan Duke said. Of the six charges, Duke was found guilty of one count of concealing Grinstead's death. To the Dukes family, please know I am praying for you. Duke says he didnt know Grinstead other than the fact that she was a teacher at the high school. Somebody has abducted her and holding her somewhere hostage. Peter Van Sant: Did he have names of who these two men were who claimed they had killed Tara? Bryan Samuel Dukes, 30, passed away on November 22, 2019 as a result of a work-related accident. A search of Grinsteads home revealed some oddities: her cellphone was still connected to a charger by the nightstand, her keys and purse were missing and her bedside clock was on the floor and was six hours off. Universal. And Bo Dukes himself spoke directly to Tara's family: BO DUKES: To the Tara Grinstead family, I'm truly sorry. "That was a presumption that we should have never, ever made, but it happened, and it's my fault," Rothwell said. Two months later, in February 2007, McCullough says he called three police departments in Georgia including Ocilla, where he left a voice message saying: John McCullough: "This is John McCullough. He lived most his life in Aiken and worked as a procedures writer at the Savannah River Site. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Ryan Duke's murder trial was scheduled to start Oct 4 in Irwin County, Georgia, but lawyers in the case met with Judge Bill Reinhardt Wednesday and agreed to delay the case due to rising COVID-19 . Tara didn't bring home the Miss Georgia crown, but just competing was a huge achievement says Dana Wilder, who grew up in Ocilla. Ryan Dukes said he started to see Bo Dukes more often after he was discharged from the Army for being AWOL. Maria Woods Harber: She was absolutely elegant onstage. she was seeing other people. He eventually went to court in 2022, with the central defense being hed given a false confession in 2017, partially owing to the fact he was afraid of his former friend Bo. Blogs; Online will; Shop. He lit her on fire. Ryan is the one talking about 411 getting connected to Taras house.". The jury heard the confession Duke made in 2017. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. There were billboards. The defense called a psychologist, Dr. Christopher Tillitski, who evaluated Ryan Duke in 2019. He looked like a person who was ready to do the right thing, but his testimony on the witness stand only seemed coached, well-rehearsed and sought self-serving benefits. Maria Woods Harber: She's been an inspiration. Ryan testified he had never even gone to Tara's house, and the glove was only discovered there on Monday by Tara's neighbors over a day after she went missing. Jannis Paulk, who knows the family, paints a different picture of Bo. So, it's kind of crappy right now. DEFENSE [closing arguments]: Bo Dukes should be on trial for the murder of Tara Grinstead, not Ryan. In May 2022, at the Ocilla courthouse just up the road from Tara's home, Ryan Duke's attorneys argued that the state had the wrong man. Find the obituary of Sandra Lee Dukes (1958 - 2021) from Clayton, DE. He graduated from Aiken High School in 1968 and was a . John McCullough: I'm glad somebody's finally listening. . If convicted of murder, Duke faces an automatic sentence of life in prison. Not guilty of malice murder and he was acquitted of all charges relating to Tara's murder convicted only of concealing her death. Ryan Duke had told investigators in 2017 he killed Tara Grinstead and helped burn her body. He was a graduate of Aiken High School and received his bachelors degree from USC Aiken. Hudson said at the time he thought the burn site was an innocent bonfire. They think the community can heal, pointing the finger at Bo Dukes for the murder. McCullough wasn't ready for what Bo would say next. This is your truck, and this is your family's land," basically that was interpreted by Bo as a threat that we're partners now in this? And that's where she wanted to stay and where she wanted to be. Duke is to be sentenced Monday. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. It was somethin' I felt like, you know, I had to do. CONNIE GRINSTEAD [Reading family impact statement]: His confession in 2017 seemed genuine and sincere, and he looked remorseful. As their relationship evolved, Brooke sensed that something seemed to be eating away at Bo. Prosecutors called two witnesses before dismissing the jury a lunchtime to debate how much of the Duke's confession could be shown. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: He told me that he had killed Tara Grinstead. Brooke Sheridan: I had never connected with somebody and had fun with somebody like I have with him. That tip went nowhere. Maria Woods Harber: She would never do that. May the holy spirit comfort you in this time of bereavement. "He said he killed Tara," Ryan Duke said. "I know they are disappointed in the verdict today like we are.". Ryan Duke was sentenced to 10 years in prison for concealing the death of Tara Grinstead. According to the court, Ryan Duke became ineligible for state funds when he chose to go with private attorneys rather than a public defender. Jurors heard the forensic analysis on that piece of evidence. "I hope Mr. Duke lives the rest of his life begging God for forgiveness every day from his dying breath," she said before asking the court to give him the maximum sentence. Visitation: Friday, Feb. 17th from 4 - 8 p.m. at B.E. "What happened in this orchard was senseless" says Woods Harber of her best friend. The case generated hundreds of tips over the years. I built a message board because I thought that there was a good chance that whoever knew what had happened to her would potentially come and say something. IRWIN COUNTY, Ga. - An emotionaltrial in Irwin Countyconcluded Monday with a judge sentencing Ryan Duke to the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison - with five years already served. Jannis Paulk [emotional]: It just brings up a lot. It was part of town gossip that they had gotten into an argument after Marcus had come back to town earlier than expected that October. Marcus Harper: What they're sayin' at the local grocery store, and at the local restaurants They don't think that it's gettin' to someone who's my family or my friend? Outside, in front of Tara's house, authorities found something that didn't seem to belong a latex glove. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. GBI Agent Shoudel testified Duke knew what he was doing, and that Duke told investigators he was mentally and physically cognitive. 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