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30 year old Georgia teacher Tara Grinstead missing
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rd



Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 9273
Location: Jacksonville, FL

PostPosted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:45 pm    Post subject: 30 year old Georgia teacher Tara Grinstead missing Reply with quote

We haven't found Sue Ann Ray yet north of Atlanta, and now Tara Grinstead is missing south of Atlanta. Whereas Sue Ann was last seen heading to her ex-husbands, Tara did not have an ex or a current relationship.

Her sister told Greta that Tara's cellphone was at home from coming home after the pageant with no calls on it. She had changed clothes, no suspected reason for her to have left willingly.

rd


from www.tiftongazette.com (fair use)

Schoolteacher missing

Author: J.D. Sumner
Publication Date: 2005-10-26

OCILLA — A former Miss Tifton who now teaches at Irwin High School is missing, police and school officials said Tuesday.

Tara Faye Grinstead, 30, of Ocilla was last seen around 11 p.m. Saturday after the Miss Sweet Potato pageant. Grinstead, Miss Tifton 1999, helped with hair and makeup for the pageant.

“We’re canvassing the county looking for her,” Irwin County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Billy Hancock said. “The only things missing from her house are her purse and keys, but her car is sitting out front.”

Because of the ongoing investigation, Hancock wouldn’t go into much detail, saying only that there were a few things that caught the investigators’ attention and that the GBI is assisting in the investigation.

Police were notified after Grinstead failed to show up for work Monday at the Irwin County High School. Friends say Grinstead, a ninth-grade history teacher and administrator, would never duck out of school without telling someone.

“She is just an exemplary teacher,” Suzanne Connor, wife of Principal Robby Connor and a close personal friend, said. “She lives for her students. I hope this community will rally behind her and help us to find her.”

Connor said that counselors had spoken with her students and were available to help.

Monday night Connor and other teachers distributed 2,000 flyers throughout the county in an effort to alert the community about their missing friend.

“Teachers for Tara” were also planning a prayer vigil for Grinstead Tuesday night at the Irwin County Courthouse.

Grinstead is described as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands about 5’3’’ tall and weighs about 125 pounds. Anyone with any information about her whereabouts is urged to call the Ocilla Police Department at 468-7494 or call their tip line at 468-TIPS (8477).

end quote

click to read the online true crime mystery novel Murder on a Horse Trail: The Disappearance of Chandra Levy

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rd



Joined: 13 Sep 2002
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Location: Jacksonville, FL

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some additional info from Tara's sister tonight on Nancy Grace. The bedroom alarm clock was on the floor by the bed and the time "off by six hours", according to the sister. Also I believe she said a lamp was broken.

The car was unlocked but Tara and her purse and keys were gone. It looks like a kidnapping, and if course Tara is gone. Kidnapped right out of her bedroom.

Until we start monitoring felons on probation and building as many cheap jail cells out in the desert that we need to lock up everybody breaking probation we will continue to lose good and decent women even in their own homes. There are only a few predators against the many, but we are like sheep being taken by wolves.

One dies and the rest live. Until the next time.

rd
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gozgals



Joined: 28 Jul 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:33 am    Post subject: Link OCT 28 some more information Reply with quote

Older Link but information:

http://www.macon.com/mld/telegraph/13016852.htm

Posted on Fri, Oct. 28, 2005


Police tracking down leads in missing-woman case

By Tim Sturrock

TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER


The whereabouts of an Irwin County high school teacher remained a mystery Thursday, but investigators said they are still pursuing leads.

Tara Grinstead, a 30-year-old Hawkinsville native, hasn't been seen since Saturday. Ocilla police were notified that she was missing after she didn't show up for work Monday at Irwin County High School.

Ocilla Police Chief Billy Hancock said Grinstead had attended a beauty pageant in Fitzgerald on Saturday before heading to a former Irwin County school superintendant's house. Grinstead was last seen at 11 p.m., Hancock said.

Maria Hulett, a friend of Grinstead's, said Grinstead watched a football game and had dinner with the former superintendant, his wife and family, and other friends that night.

Investigators are trying to piece together details of what happened after she left the gathering.

What they do know is the clothes she wore Saturday night were found in her house, along with her cell phone. Her car was parked outside, but her pocketbook and keys were missing, Hancock said.

Grinstead, a former Miss Tifton and a contestant in the Miss Georgia pageant, lived alone and has never been married, family members said.

Hancock said investigators have received numerous tips about the Grinstead case.

"We do get people calling in with leads and we do check them out, and that happens pretty regularly," he said. "But nothing has panned out at this point."

Hancock said investigators are considering all possibilities, but the investigation is still considered a missing-person's case.

"We're not ruling out the possibility that she was abducted," he said. "We're not ruling out the possibility that she drove off with someone and something happened between the two of them."

Gary Rothwell, special agent in charge of the GBI office in Perry, said leads haven't been exhausted.

"Our investigators and local investigators have plenty to do" in this case, he said. "You always presume the worst and hope for the best and take in all possibilities for consideration."

Anita Gattis said she has been encouraged by communitywide searches for her sister and the media attention the case has received.

"I've been encouraged every day," she said.

Gattis said she has already been on the Fox News Channel and is scheduled to appear this morning on "The Early Show" on CBS.

Gattis said that nine months ago Grinstead ended a six-year relationship with a man and recently has been working on a doctorate in education.

Gattis said she has concluded her sister was abducted. Because there appears to have been no struggle at Grinstead's house, Gattis said she thinks her sister left with someone she knows.

"If someone came to her house, one of students, maybe in trouble, or one of her teachers needing help, she would have left," Gattis said.

After Grinstead left her house, Gattis speculated, someone likely abducted her.

"She's not the type of person to vanish for a few days," Gattis said.

Anyone with information about Grinstead's disappearance should call the Ocilla Police Department at (229) 468-7494.


Tim Sturrock can be reached at 744-4347 or tsturrock@macontel.com

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gozgals



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:38 am    Post subject: Tara's Website Reply with quote

http://www.findtara.com/index.htm


An Overview:

Who is Tara Grinstead?

She is a sister, a daughter, a teacher, a friend, a confidante, a coworker, a neighbor.

Tara teaches 11th grade History at Irwin County High School in Ocilla, GA. She is loved, respected and sorely missed by the students, her coworkers and the entire Irwin County community.

She dedicates her time to the children in the community both inside and outside of the classroom. Her absence has left a hole in the fabric of the community that will not mend without her return. Can you help us?

What Happened to Tara?

Tara disappeared from her home and has not been heard from since Saturday, October 22. On October 24, 2005 at 8:50am a report was made to the Ocilla Police Department by neighbors and coworkers who were concerned about her well being. Tara did not show up for work and they were unable to reach her. The last known contact with Tara was on Saturday October 22, 2005 at approx. 11:00 pm. There is no known description of the clothing she was wearing when she disappeared. Her house was locked and her car is parked at her home. The only items known to be missing are her purse and keys.

The photo at left shows Tara in the attire she was last seen in, however, she was NOT wearing these clothes when she disappeared. We provide this image in an effort to offer a connection. Did you see Tara interacting with someone suspicous that evening or witness something you found to be unusual? She attended a pageant at the Grand Theatre in Fitzgerald, GA that evening, visited with friends for dinner afterwards and then went home.

If you have any information that you believe may be connected to Tara's disappearance, PLEASE contact:
GBI Agent Dominic Turner or Det. Bill Barrs at (229) 468-7494 or (229) 468-TIPS.
Private Tip Line - anonymous call welcome - 912-386-2564

!! YOU MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS


-----If you are able to volunteer to help the search for Tara, please report to the command post between 9am and 4pm each day. We appreciate the support of both friends and strangers who have joined together to help.


*****Please see site for contact information!

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gozgals



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:00 pm    Post subject: America's Most Wanted File Reply with quote

AMW MISSING DATA FILE FOR Tara Grinstead

Physical Description :


Sex Female

Race White

Age at Disappearance 30

Age Now 30

Height 5'3''

Weight 125 lbs.

Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair) Brown


Eyes (Color and Correction) Brown




LOCATION


Last Seen Ocilla, GA

Other Possible Locations Georgia

Last Known Locations Georgia

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gozgals



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PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 12:00 pm    Post subject: Update on Tara Reply with quote

A recent update on Tara Grinstead.

Let us hope this case will be solved soon!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13066460.htm



Thu, Nov. 03, 2005

Still no suspects in missing woman case

By Tim Sturrock

TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER


OCILLA - After ten days of investigation, Ocilla Police Chief Billy Hancock said authorities have no suspects in the disappearance of Irwin County High School teacher Tara Grinstead.

"I don't feel like we're making any headway to calling someone a suspect and ruling everybody else out," he said.

"Certainly, anyone that had any acquaintances with her is someone that they're trying to question and get information from."

He said everyone has cooperated in the investigation.

Hancock said authorities are still considering any possibility and getting leads in the case, but no solid leads.

"We're still getting people saying, 'Have you checked down at this barn? Have you checked down at this two-lane path? We've seen buzzards circling, go check that,' " he said.

Grinstead was last seen Oct. 22 at 11 p.m. She was reported missing two days later when she didn't show up for her job as an 11th-grade history teacher.

Her keys and pocketbook were not at her house, but her cell phone and car were, Hancock said.

There was no clear sign of a struggle, Hancock said.

But he said investigators still don't know what happened to Grinstead any more than they did more than a week ago.

He said progress has been made in searching areas of the county. But he said searches have not turned up any trace of Grinstead. He said it will be more than a week before a search of the county will be over.

Searches have been conducted every day in various ways including on foot, by horse, with helicopters and with all-terrain vehicles; Wednesday, cadaver dogs were used, Hancock said.

"That's not because of any indication that we're looking for a body. We're looking for any possibility," he said.

Irwin County Sheriff Donnie Youghn said once the land search of the county is complete, searches will be based on leads and tips.

Hancock said the community is not losing hope.

"I think they're physically getting tired. Emotionally, I think their hopes are just as high as they were in the beginning," he said.

"Certainly, the enthusiasm of the community has been on and on and on."

Grinstead's sister Anita Gattis said she believes Grinstead was abducted but will come home.

"I have no doubt that Tara is alive. We just have to get her home," she said. "I know what she's made of and she's a survivor."

Her father has hired what she called a "private recovery agent," who she said is trying to find Grinstead.

She said the agent isn't as concerned with trespassing and civil rights as police or GBI, and so far has found new information, but she wouldn't say what that is.

So far, at least $25,000 has been raised for information leading to Grinstead's whereabouts, she said.

Gattis said anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip if they call (912) 386-2564.


Tim Sturrock can be reached at 744-4347 or tsturrock@macontel.com

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:05 am    Post subject: Crime Lib. Story- S. Huff Reply with quote

Well I'm not sure how this ties in but it proves interesting. Also, his writing usually tends to be pretty accurate regarding cases.


http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/1105/0701_tara_missing_2_weeks.html


Private Agent brings new leads to Tara Grinstead Probe



By Steve Huff

Ocilla, GA (Crime Library) -

Autumn comes slowly to Georgia. By the end of October, nights are cooling, but many trees still hold greedily onto their green. Sometime around Halloween, though, the first frost might fall. Soon thereafter, as November moves in and the daylight hours dwindle, leaves start to change. The further south you move, the less likely you are to see stark gold and crimson slashes in the trees because South Georgia is home to a great many pines, green year round.

The people searching in and around Ocilla, GA, for 30-year-old Tara Grinstead, a former beauty queen and well-liked high school teacher at Irwin County High School, had no time to notice the change of seasons. Saturday, November 5 ended with no sign of her, and set a grim milestone — the former Miss Tifton, GA, 1999, had been missing for two weeks.

News of the pretty history teacher's disappearance spread slowly at first. The Sunday after she vanished, October 23, her mother grew worried, and even called Tara's neighbors and asked them to check on her. Still — everyone has an off-day, even Tara Grinstead. In the months since she'd broken up with long-time boyfriend Marcus T. Harper, a former Ocilla, GA, police officer and Iraq veteran, Tara had experienced more ups and downs than those close to her had ever seen. After all, she'd been with Harper for 6 years.

After Harper's turn in the military, though, many around him seemed to feel something about him changed. Whatever the change was, it appeared to be the end of his relationship with Grinstead.

Tara Grinstead was devastated by the breakup. More than once she had an uncharacteristic emotional breakdown. Perry, GA, police captain Heath Dykes, a childhood friend, came to visit her at Irwin County, High.

By the close of Saturday, November 5, Tara's past problems with some of the men in her life were public knowledge in a way the very private Grinstead would never have wanted.

Much had been made in news reports on various cable networks of Anthony Vickers, the 20-year-old former student of Grinstead's who had allegedly developed a crush on her. At one point, Vickers had been arrested for pounding on the door to Grinstead's residence. Searches were done on property owned by the Vickers family in Wray, GA, on November 4, to no avail.

In a move perhaps considered curious by some, the Grinstead family also hired a private "agent" to assist in the search, who could be reached by a private, anonymous tip line. According to Tara's sister, Anita Gattis, the hired investigator had by November 4 discovered some interesting new clues about what may have happened to Tara Grinstead the night of October 22. Speaking with Albany, GA, NBC affiliate, WALB, Gattis said, "Her vehicle was unlocked. That's very uncharacteristic of Tara. She always locks it, always, always, always. There's some question about the position of the seats. She was short, 5'3". That's a big red flag..."

Some wondered about an unnamed juvenile who had once been in Grinstead's homeroom at Irwin County High. After the history teacher received a series of very threatening phone calls, a trace on her phone determined he was the source. It is unclear what measures were taken, but he was moved from her class.

Friday, November 4 probably saw one of the more dramatic developments to date in the ongoing search for Tara Grinstead — in an interview with CBS anchor for "The Early Show," Hannah Storm, Anita Gattis revealed that though Grinstead had sought to re-unite with former love Marcus Harper, they had fought prior to Tara's disappearance:

"They had had a very bad argument, I just found out, several days before she went missing, concerning an 18-year-old that he was dating. My sister did not think that (the 18-year-old's) parents would approve of a 30-year-old dating an 18-year-old. I'm told that she threatened to tell the parents, and they had a very heated argument over this."

Gattis also mentioned that Harper had hired a lawyer. When Marilyn Bardsley of Court TV's Crime Library tried to speak with Harper earlier in the week, his father said that he would not comment on the advice of a lawyer, and Harper's father declined to speak as well.

The mystery continued to unfold. The night of November 5, Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA reported that the search in Irwin County would continue for at least 7 more days.

Though there were these curious developments in the second week of the search for Tara Grinstead, there were still no known sightings of the former Miss Tifton, nor any concrete evidence as to her fate. Only a hint came from a source close to the investigation as the third week began — a hint that the answer to the question of what happened to Tara Grinstead could be close:

Some things were found today that would lead you to believe that Tara could be found soon. I wish I could elaborate but I can't...

The same source expressed a concern that had troubled very few in the area before... that none of the men questioned by authorities about their relationship to Tara might be involved. That she might have fallen prey to a stranger, or someone with whom she had only a tangential acquaintance.

Perhaps in a small city like Ocilla, that fear embodied an idea of the worst sort of fate for a missing person — that they fell into the hands of a random stranger.

Woman's T-Shirt Reportedly Sent for Testing

Tara Grinstead on Emotional Roller Coaster

Tara Grinstead Publicity Mixed Blessing

Tara Grinstead's State of Mind

Beauty Queen & Teacher Tara Grinstead Goes Missing

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rd



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Location: Jacksonville, FL

PostPosted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It might be tunnel vision, I don't know, but I see so many tragic parallels when women disappear that I can't help but compare them. Chandra's mother asked her about her friend and mentor and suspected boyfriend, Congressman Condit, having an affair with an 18 year old girl a few years prior, an affair that the father said ended so badly he cried telling Chandra's mother about it.

The calls from Chandra to her boyfriend stopped then, and two weeks later she disappeared. Threatening to tell about an affair with an 18 year old seems to have ended Tara's life as well.

Nancy Grace is covering this story now. The police found a latex glove, the kind used by professionals for medical work, on day one in Tara's front yard. The news just released today. The ex-boyfriend was a former police officer and you can be sure has access to these gloves in various facilities in the county.

Also, a long t-shirt of the kind commonly worn by Tara to sleep in was found out in the woods somewhere in the county. I saw pictures of searchers in rowboats in a swampy pond. They will probably find her body in such a swamp in the area of that shirt. The shirt was logoed with something about the local county woman's softball league.

Nancy is asking about the crime scene and trying to make sense of it. The necklace Tara was wearing to help in the beauty pageant was lying on the bedroom floor, along with the alarm clock. The lamp was broken, and next to it the cell phone was still in its charger. The family says they cannot find the earrings Tara was wearing that night. Her purse and keys are also gone.

Nancy speculates Tara was undressing and something went terribly wrong and Tara got her purse for some reason. I don't know if Nancy does this deliberately or not, but that is not even close to what happened.

There was no indication of a breakin. Clearly Tara knew the man who broke that lamp and scattered her alarm clock on the floor and she let him in, or at least opened the door to speak to him. But she knew him.

The bedroom is a scene of being attacked, an attempt at a sexual assault because she wasn't willing. That is what went wrong. She had probably been in bed all night because it was probably 5:30 in the morning.

The purse was taken with her for the keys and to make it look like she ran away. As the story above says, the family has questions about the position of the car seat. She was driven in her own car and dumped in a swamp, then he drove her car back and parked it in the carport and left in his own car.

It was very early morning, If a neighbor knows this not to be the case, they haven't said so. I doubt that we will hear anyone rule this out. It is very clear what happened.

rd
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gozgals



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PostPosted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:13 pm    Post subject: comment and a link on search stopping! Reply with quote

Rd: I certainly can understand your blinders when it comes to cases espically when they so closely relate to Chandra's. I see the comparison on what you noted.

I too caught most of Nancy Grace's show last night. The GLOVE is what stuck in my mind too. If my facts are correct, LE had this since the beginning of the investigation, ( I take it they are looking at it, and testing it). That is quite a strange find, wouldn't you say but I guess they didn't want the public to know this information. I did not know for sure he was a former PO, the boyfriend, or so he claims! He stated- he broke up with her, but it was the other way around according to the sister! Hum.

I wonder if this GUY was a wanna be PO and could not cut it, but either way.....Don't like it.

Also, it seemed to be a rather large area to check out. Lots of swamp area in that part of GA.

The clothing found too. This case is not going to turn out well. It is rather sad.

And I just found this..

I think it is rather sad, and hope it means they have answers or maybe you have may make a suggestions as to whay this may have happened!

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13117648.htm


Posted on Wed, Nov. 09, 2005




Ocilla police call off search for missing teacher

By Tim Sturrock

TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER


More than two weeks after the search began for missing Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead, volunteers and public safety officials have completed their search of the county, Ocilla Police Chief Billy Hancock said.

"Essentially, we are through unless we get any additional leads that would call us back," he said.

Investigators are still trying to determine what happened to the Hawkinsville native and Irwin County High School teacher, who was last seen Oct. 22.

Cadaver dogs, horses, helicopters, four-wheelers and people on foot have searched every day since she was reported missing, Hancock said. More than 50 public safety agencies from across the state have assisted in the search of Irwin County, which spans 358 square miles, he said.

Hancock said some clothes have been found, but there's no indication they belong to Grinstead.

"I don't know whether to be excited that they didn't find anything or disappointed," he said. "It could be viewed both ways."

Hancock said that a latex glove, found outside of Grinstead's home shortly after she was reported missing, is being processed for fingerprints and DNA. He said it's not yet known if the glove is related to her disappearance.

Hancock said little has changed in the investigation and that there are no suspects in the disappearance of Grinstead, a former Miss Tifton and a past contestant in the Miss Georgia pageant.

Investigators have said they are looking into every possibility, though Irwin County Sheriff Donnie Youghn has said he is losing hope that Grinstead is safe.

Grinstead was last seen or heard from about 11 p.m. Oct. 22 at a former Irwin County schools superintendent's house, where she and some friends cooked out and watched a football game with the former superintendent and his family. Two days later, she was reported missing when she didn't show up for work at the high school.

The clothes she wore Oct. 22 and her cell phone were found at her home. Her unlocked car was outside, but her pocketbook and keys were gone, police said.

Grinstead is single and lived with her dog and cat. There was no clear sign of a struggle at her home, police said. A broken lamp was found inside her bedroom, and her alarm clock was found under her bed.

Grinstead's sister, Anita Gattis, said civilian searchers will continue looking for her.

Grinstead's stepmother, Connie Grinstead, said her family plans to meet with investigators to talk about future searches.

"We still don't know where Tara is, so I think we have to keep looking," she said. "We can't just give up."

Connie Grinstead said every day that she doesn't see her stepdaughter becomes a little more difficult and she worries a little more.

"Everybody still seems dedicated in the search to find Tara," she said. "Nobody seems ready to give up. As her family, we will never give up until we find her."


To contact Tim Sturrock, e-mail tsturrock@macontel.com

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rd



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PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took a drive up to Ocilla today to look around. It's about four hours from Jacksonville. I drove all the major routes south and southeast between Ocilla and Douglas, 32, 129, 90, and 158.

It's swampy ponds in places, but not nearly as swampy as the map leads one to believe. Every pond has a house next to it, and all the roads are sparsely populated with small farms but populated. The roads are very quiet. Even on a Sunday afternoon I meandered slowly along in my old jeep and only one pickup truck came up on me and passed me. Saw very few people outside. It's a very quiet place.

I had time to think while I looked at what someone who wants to hide a body would be looking at. The more I thought about it, the less I like the idea that someone tried to hide Tara's body far off in the wilderness. Most roads off these small highways are red clay dirt roads, but they're lined with country homes. Even if it was early in the morning, people are going to notice a car going out such quiet dirt roads.

My focus was on 129 south of Tara's house. I took a look at her house , saw the carport I saw on Greta's show, but some other car was parked there in the carport and another car was parked across the front yard in front of the front steps, but no one was outside.

Anyway, Tara lived just a couple of blocks down 129 from the courthouse and just a couple of blocks on down 129 is the county jail. Her house is about three blocks in from 129.

The jail caught my eye. Her ex being a former Ocilla cop and her living only a few blocks from the jail, and the jail surrounded by heavy woods with a creek that runs along it and under 129 across to the other side and on into woods on that side was eerily spooky to me.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought that someone who was setting her up as suicidal would not take her far from her house. They night even slip a pair of sweatpants on her and drag her off back along the creek just before you get to the jail to make it look like she was attacked while jogging.

For that I can see her car used to drive her a few blocks away, drag her into the woods, and then drive back. If her car is seen, it doesn't identify her murderer. It could be argued she was jogging and who knows who murdered her, ala Chandra. Worst case if the car is seen, the murderer can leave her car there and sneak back to the house a few blocks away and get into his car and drive away.

A poor second choice is dropping her off the bridge over the Sapilla River on 158, but I'm sure overpasses were well searched and there was a fisherman there today, so although easiest to do it's also easiest to search.

I think the closer she is to her house, the more questions there are about what could have happened to her, so I won't be surprised if Tara is found just a few blocks away off of 129, maybe along the creek that runs by the jail. Then again, maybe they have searched that very well and it's not the case.

Here's the difference between disappearing in a small town in Georgia and disappearing in Washington, D.C. The Ocilla police chief, Billy Hancock, was quoted last week in The Herald-Leader, "We still need volunteer searchers. We hope to finish this thing up by mid-week. We appreciate all the help from the public safety community and volunteers. We encourage them to keep their eyes open for anything they may see."

The DC police turned away volunteers, even offers of help from local professional search organizations with dogs were turned away. Not in Ocilla, Georgia. At least Tara has that.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rd: you are a beautiful person! I don't think I can add more. This is what I would have done, but you, you, you, are wonderful. Thank you for being a great person, and a one I can be proud to say I know:

Quote:
I took a drive up to Ocilla today to look around. It's about four hours from Jacksonville. I drove all the major routes south and southeast between Ocilla and Douglas, 32, 129, 90, and 158.


Also, it blows my mind it is not all swamp area there but by the media coverage it appeared that way. Glad you put that to rest.

I'd like to mention, I did not know that it was only 4 hours from Jacksonville, I guess my trip meter is a tad bit off from years of doing the routes between GA/FL and NC.

back to your coverage of this wonderful journey to search.

Quote:
The more I thought about it, the more I thought that someone who was setting her up as suicidal would not take her far from her house. They night even slip a pair of sweatpants on her and drag her off back along the creek just before you get to the jail to make it look like she was attacked while jogging.


Hum I find that of interest rd, considering there is very widespread rumor this is one of the causes of her death. Many are going with that theory. Close to home as opposed to far may make sense in a way. And dragging to one of the swamps may just prove too much of a hassle and as you said---with all the country area, one might be noticed.

-----^Also, I will make a correction- I did see it noted he was a former PO, it had been up in the air on a few stories but I heard or read it confirmed. Thanks for alerting me too.

I'm hoping your conclusion is correct. The bridge may be a theory too, but as stated, it usually easy to find a body thrown out into an area as such.

(except if you are in denial as WAYNE WILLIAMS- sidenote- who I don't believe is innocent, maybe of some of the child killings)!

Thank you rd for the rundown. You are an asset and I'm glad to see you did this search.



Peace to you sir.

Prayers for Tara and her family. Hoping we get news soon.

GOZ, a few links added below.


Last edited by gozgals on Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
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gozgals



Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 2892
Location: A Place Called Vertigo

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:45 pm    Post subject: Honoring Taras Birthday plus reward news: Reply with quote

This was posted on Tara's site, and I also saw it on AMW-- which I will post their link as to the coverage.




Observing Tara's Birthday
A candlelight ceremony and birthday celebration was held at Tara's home tonight (11/14) to honor her and her 31st birthday. It was a touching event - with a glaringly absent guest of honor. We will post pictures of the event on Tuesday

I didn't see the pics yet.



------------REWARD INFORMATION:REWARD ~~ NOW $80,000 ~~
Private Anonymous Tips -
912-386-2564



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA- NOVEMBER 14, 2005- AGE 31

God bless you

http://findtara.com/

GG)
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gozgals



Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 2892
Location: A Place Called Vertigo

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:54 pm    Post subject: Searches still continue by family, friends, etc Reply with quote

As rd stated--- even if LE does not search still clues come about, family, friends, etc are still searching for Tara. See older link below.




http://www.13wmaz.com/news/top_stories.aspx?storyid=19782


Family Still Searches

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Editor: Raymond Ruda
Originally Created: 11/9/2005 6:20:12 PM
Last Update: 11/10/2005 7:19:44 PM

November 9, 2005 - 6pm


By:Tiffanie Wallace


A day after the end of the official ground search for a missing teacher, her family members announced they plan to continue searching local fields and woods.

Hawkinsville native Tara Grinstead disappeared more than two weeks ago.

Tuesday night law enforcement completed the countywide search. Now Police Chief Billy Hancock says future searches will only take place based on tips.

Citizen searches for Tara are still going on. Family and friends are manning the command center.

Chief Billy Hancock says his crews will search based on new leads. Hancock says the search won't be over until Tara comes home.

If you have information about Tara Grinstead's disappearance, call (229) 468-7494 or (229) 445-0948

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope lives on!

GG)
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gozgals



Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 2892
Location: A Place Called Vertigo

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:32 pm    Post subject: AMW Update Reply with quote

http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=35468


Missing Woman's Birthday Marks 23rd Day Of Her Disappearance
On Monday, November 14, nearly 200 of Tara Grinstead's friends and family gathered outside the missing woman's home to hold a candlelight vigil. It was the 23rd day of her disappearance--and her 31st birthday. Despite nearly a month without any word from Grinstead, her family remains hopeful that the former beauty queen will return.>>The Full Story
>>See The Clues In Tara's Home --- cont. at link all....

Last updated: November 15, 2005

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rd



Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 9273
Location: Jacksonville, FL

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Goz, I know you and the others here would do the same thing if you had the opportunity. I just had the misfortune to be close enough to visit this sad site of grief.

I thought it would be farther, but when I checked the map US 1 runs diagonally from Jacksonville straight to Waycross and then US 32 continues through Douglas right to Ocilla. The straight shot there makes it not that far of a drive.

I am reminded of the lottery winner's granddaughter in WV who disappeared with her car found in the driveway of a friend's home, and at least two weeks later she was found wrapped in plastic behind a small building or trailer right there on the property.

That is literally unbelievable, I could only think that she was brought there after the initial search, but then there was the case of two or three boys who everyone was searching for and there they were in a car trunk in the front yard.

I have to tell you, finding disappeared people in the yard after what should be ground zero of the search is a lesson to go back to ground zero and start over. The street ends a block away into woods, woods lie a couple of blocks away along a creek running by the county jail.

I think that's where he hid her. But hopefully her family will find her soon, along with some closure.

rd
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