ryan dukes obituary

And that was corroborated. Dukes is in prison for concealing Grinstead's death. AIKEN, SC - MICHAEL RYAN DUKES, 43, died April 26, 2018. He said they had talked about getting together that Sunday, but Tara never answered her phone. Brooke Sheridan: I had never connected with somebody and had fun with somebody like I have with him. Marcus always maintained his innocence but remained under suspicion. RYAN DUKE [GBI interview played at trial]: I can't lie. GBI Agent Shoudel testified Duke knew what he was doing, and that Duke told investigators he was mentally and physically cognitive. He said Bo Dukes admitted to killing her. They think the community can heal, pointing the finger at Bo Dukes for the murder. While Reinhardt acknowledged that Duke seemed remorseful on the stand, he pointed out Dukes' decision to not tell anyone had an impact on Grinstead's family and friends. DEFENSE: We know the State hasn't brought a single witness to tell you it was on the ground before Monday morning. And why the f- would you do it here on my family's pecan orchard? For years, Marcus Harper lived under a cloud some might say a thunderstorm of suspicion. In closing, as Tara's family looked on, the prosecution held to their argument that Ryan had told the truth back in 2017. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.nationalcremation.com/location/irving- for the Drakes family. I cant live with myself Im so sick of this," Duke said in a recorded video. he's very shut shut off emotions, feelings he doesn't talk about. There were billboards. Sometime in the night, Bo and Ben left while he and Stephen were sleeping. Send a gift to a service or familys home. 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 numbers. First published on January 2, 2021 / 11:05 PM. John McCullough: He was like, "yeah, do you remember that bulletin that you had asked me about with that girl on it?" I cried for days, couldn't sleep for days. And then, an important discovery. Ryan Duke said he drove toward a pecan orchard, owned by a relative of Bo Dukes. We pray that people will remember that the defendant was not the victim. He testified he could tell the body was a woman's, wearing a t-shirt and some type of jogging pants. Defense appeals delayed Ryan Dukes trial since the original 2019 start date. The Associated Press contributed to this story. They believe Ryan Duke was the killer. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home Services for Ray are being provided by Alexander Funeral Home, Inc. - Charlotte. Neighbors knocked on her door but got no response. And everybody has to live with that," Superior Court Judge Bill Reinhardt said before giving out his sentence. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael. Bo Dukes comes from a prominent family that owned a huge pecan orchard in the Ocilla area. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as: names, dates, place of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships. Bones that were so degraded, no official cause of death could be determined. 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. Peter Van Sant: Why would Ryan Duke have murdered Tara Grinstead? And the reason he knew she wasn't coming back, is because he had put load after load of wood on her body and burned her. However, his lawyers, who are working pro-bono, claimed that even in that situation, he should get his due of the funds to ensure a fair trial. Maria Woods Harber: So, when I came back out of the house, I saw right out from the front door, there was a latex glove. View Obituaries Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc. and Shellhouse-Rivers Crematory Ryan Dukes August 23, 1974 - April 26, 2018. With no hard evidence, authorities couldn't make an arrest. Nearly 12 years after Tara's disappearance, on February 23, 2017, Ryan Duke appeared in court, charged with Tara's murder. The day after Bo's confession, his one-time friend Ryan Duke was arrested. Find service information, send flowers, and leave memories and thoughts in the Guestbook for your loved one. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. No. Outside, in front of Tara's house, authorities found something that didn't seem to belong a latex glove. Two years later, in March 2019, he was the first to go on trial. Police never called him a suspect, but Marcus was more closely investigated than anyone in the disappearance of his former girlfriend, Tara Grinstead. Who you can trust with your life? He was the talk of Ocilla, Georgia, and none of it was good. Ryan Duke said he didn't know what he was talking about or believe him at first. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael Dukes and Vicki Heilig Dukes. I was a drug addict I'd been drinking. was dedicated to making her students feel wonderful. He could have at least told us that, but he didn't. The state says DNA later showed the glove did have his DNA on it. Another video shown portrayed Duke leading investigators to the pecan orchard he claims he took the lifeless body. Went to Elementary to high School with John sending Condolences to the Family in my Prayers. He was a classic muscle car enthusiast with a passion for Chevy Impalas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Aiken SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare (www.letlovelive.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Bo Dukes is serving 25 years for concealing her death, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and lying to investigators. Maria Woods Harber: She was charismatic, determined, a beautiful personality. See the viral video from Bo Dukes' sentencing below: Georgia Supreme Court rules Ryan Duke can use state funds for defense in Grinstead case, Tara Grinstead case: Bo Dukes reports to prison for 25-year sentence, The trial was scheduled for October, but lawyers met this week and agreed to delay the case to spring 2022, Lent List: What is most often given up, and how you can find substitutes, Major water leak keeps Dublin City Hall closed, March kicks off by continuing the warm stretch, small rain chance. Defense attorneys began to call witnesses of their own Monday when the state prosecutors rested their case after over a week of arguments. Not a one. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. I ran. Ryan Duke said he first started "hanging out" with Bo Dukes during his senior year of high school. So, he went to trial hoping jurors might show mercy for a man who had already confessed to his role in the crime. 28, 1957 - Feb. 10, 2023 Mr. John K. Dukes, Jr. entered into eternal rest on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. And the next month, Bo Dukes, who years earlier had sat in Tara's class was arrested and charged not with murder, but with concealing a death, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and lying to investigators in is original GBI interview. SMITHLAND -- D.V. The GBI was overwhelmed with tips at the time and this one slipped through the cracks. 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. BO DUKES [GBI interview]: Again, I didn't believe him he asked me to come with him out to to the pecan orchard. Now the man accused of murdering Tara Ryan Duke would go on trial for murder almost 17 years after she went missing. State and defense teams made their pitches to jurors, pretrial hearing that Duke "spontaneously and unsolicited" confessed, Boy, 16, found shot dead in Lawrenceville backyard, New charges complicate Jalen Carters 'character' question, UGA football star Jalen Carter facing charges in fatal crash: What we know, Sheriff's office fires deputy seen on video body-slamming man to ground during arrest, Delta pilots approve contract to raise pay by more than 30%, Prominent Roswell restaurant owner charged with sexual crimes involving 2 minors, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Georgia elementary school principal charged with child cruelty, false imprisonment, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K. A native and lifelong resident of Aiken, Ryan was a son of the late Kenneth Michael Dukes and Vicki Heilig Dukes. At one. We know who did," defense attorney John Merchant said. One of those always showing off and talking big and running his mouth. Peter Van Sant: Did he have names of who these two men were who claimed they had killed Tara? There was no other option. Born on January 20, 1989 in Easton, Bryan is the son of Kathy Elburn Dukes . Bo then gave his account of moving and then burning her body, which began on a Wednesday and took two days. Bens account could not be taken as hed passed before Ryan and Bo were arrested. State and defense teams made their pitches to jurors and began examining witnesses. For all that has transpired, there's one question that troubles Maria Woods Harber: what really happened to Tara on the night she disappeared? In 2017, more than 11 years after Tara vanished, Brooke Sheridan came forward with a potential answer. Investigators say Ryan confessed to killing Grinstead in a voluntary interview shortly before his arrest: "I used to break into people's houses, just to steal money. / CBS News, [This story previously aired on September 4, 2021. Ryan Duke has been sentenced to spend the next five years in prison for his part in concealing the death of Georgia teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead. I was high. The trial of the man accused of killing Tara Grinstead 16 years ago has been pushed back into 2022. An Irwin County jury found Ryan Duke not guilty of murdering Georgia teacher and beauty queen Tara Grinstead. The defense said Bo Dukes' attorney indicated his client would invoke the 5th Amendment if called to testify. Dana Wilder: I never thought it was somebody from our community. Gary Rothwell [2008]: It appeared that Tara may have left on her own. An Irwin County jury returned "Not Guilty" verdicts on five of the six charges Ryan Duke faced related to the disappearance and death of former Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead, acquitting him of her 2005 murder on Friday, May 20, 2022. He said he lied to the GBI agent that interviewed him about breaking into Grinstead's house and fatal striking and choking her. He will be replaced by one of the six alternates who also had been listening to the testimony. Peter Van Sant: How did you and Bo Dukes meet? The couple broke things off but stayed in touch. John McCullough: He had told me that his friend accidentally strangled her and he needed help getting rid of the body so that way there was nothing to find. For twelve years, the cops and private investigators tried to uncover the truth and bring the case to its deserved conclusion, but nothing came of it. John 3:16 Sending love and prayers for the Duke family! Ryan Duke is standing trial for Grinsteads murder. Maria Woods Harber: She was an excellent teacher. Both men were surprising suspects to the cops, who claimed that theyd never came up on the radar. Bo told them that he and Ryan had burned Taras body at the Hudson Pecan Company pecan orchard, and when the area was searched, some human bone fragments were found. Zion Baptist Church, 1012 Adams St. View the obituary at www.BEBrownCo.com. And I was like, "Yeah." He pleaded not guilty. He then allegedly struck her with his fist and ran away. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. I just got off the phone with another department that had didn't do sh.". Ashley Hinkle, a forensic biologist with the State Crime Lab testified she swabbed the glove in June 2015. Texas FD #3523, #5075, #3185, #3349, #3705 He's the uncle of Bo Dukes. "Its been a 17-year nightmare for them," Irwin County District Attorney Bryce Johnson said. I don't remember everything clearly I was stealing from her purse. It was updated on August 20, 2022.]. Investigators chased down dozens of leads across the country, but tips emerged that led right back to the high school where Tara was a teacher and perhaps someone who had sat in her classroom. Dukes attorneys have said he made a false confession under the influence of drugs. His senior year of high School with John sending Condolences to the family my... Duke leading investigators to the cops, who claimed they had talked about together. Tara 's house and fatal striking and choking her that Sunday, but he did seem. Made their pitches to jurors and began examining witnesses the murder the night, Bo and Ben left he... Im so sick of this, '' Irwin County District attorney Bryce Johnson.. Tara vanished, brooke Sheridan: I never thought it was somebody from our community and lifelong resident Aiken... So sick of this, '' defense attorney John Merchant said Drakes.! 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