GA - Tara Grinstead, 29, Ocilla, 22 Oct 2005 #1 *Arrests*

[dark_shadows]

Well I spents hours going through this story,news articles,ect.

I also typed up a very long response on here only to have the post disappear when I tried to post it.Not happy...
Well I am going to ask a few questions,
Was Dolly an outside dog,if so why did she not bark when someone came to the home.Dolly knew the person.Also look at the photo of Dolly at the fence,it is right by the car.Either way inside or outside Dolly would have barked at a stranger.

Was the glove used or had it just fallen out of a persons glove pouch.I know that gloves fall out of our pouches alot because of the worn velco strips.Or maybe one fell out while a pair was being pulled out of the pouch,that happens.

Harper had keys to Tara's that he said were returned,yeah ok,how many duplicates were made?It looks like it was staged with the lamp and the clock.Don't those clocks have a backup battery in case the lights go out?
Somone changed the time,the cat did not change it.
The cell phone,even if the battery was not charged,it can be charged in the car.I do not know anyone who owns a cell phone and does not have a car charger.I would not leave home without my cell.
What is up with the Harper lawyer saying that Harper does not drink?
VAN SUSTEREN: So then about 1:30...

PAJADAS: I might add Marcus doesn't drink, but they were at a bar where a friend of his was playing in the band.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. So at 1:30, Marcus is off with a law enforcement officer.

Harper with a beer
The neighbor thing I have to question,I will do that later,I am too tired.
I say that the family did a good thing in hiring Maurice Godwin.I have a feeling that this man is going to expose the :silenced: "Blue Code of Silence ".
I say from what I have read and I am not even close to being done,Harper is the one that Mr.Godwin is going to give a seat to.............

 

[concernedperson]

Dolly was an outside dog. I agree she knew the abductor. The neighbors said she was barking in the early morning hours and it was annoying (could have been when Tara's car came home without Tara).

It looked like a scuffle in the bedroom especially since Dr. Godwin was able to pick up pieces of the ceramic lamp from under the bed.I agree Tara wouldn't leave of her own accord without her cell phone.

Thanks for your input DS it is really appreciated.

ETA: The glove was supposed to have been sent to the GBI crime lab but no info has been reported on the results.

 

[less0305]

It's highly suspicious to want searches stopped on land that the landowner gave permission to search. How is it that the sheriff can even stop a search on private property where the landowner has given permission? There is no law that says a person can't hire someone to bring some dogs over to sniff around their own open well and abandoned houses!! I hope Tara's family and the landowner don't let this go without a fight - and if it were me, it would be one humongous fight, the likes of which that sheriff had never seen before!!!!!!

 

[all4tara]

Psychologist investigating Grinstead case turns up new evidence

JERRY A. HUDSON
Douglas Daily News
OCILLA — "We believe we have collected verifiable evidence that a crime was committed," Anita Gattis, sister of missing Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead, said Monday.

Joining the search for Grinstead, Dr. Maurice Godwin, an investigative psychologist from Fayetteville, N.C., arrived in Ocilla on Thursday. Since then, he has gathered a number of items he believes will help provide answers to what has become a four and a half month-long investigation.

"I spent a total of about seven hours in Tara's house and have discovered some things I believe are going to help move this case forward," Godwin said.

On Monday, Godwin met with officials from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to hand over the evidence, which will be processed by the GBI's crime lab.

Among the items were swabs of what Godwin believes to be blood spatters located inside the home and the garage.

Godwin also delivered to the GBI several articles found over the weekend during a concentrated search of the Green Road area of Irwin County.

"We focused on this area because of several comments we received from some of the landowners," Godwin stated. "About a quarter mile north of Ocilla, we found [lingerie] that was the same brand Tara wore. We also located a blue latex glove in a ditch nearby."

A former police officer, Godwin is the president of Godwin Forensic Consultancy. According to a press release issued in regards to the Grinstead case, Godwin utilizes "aspects of psychological, geographical and environmental profiling in order to try and link individual(s) to specific locations."

He has authored a number of books and journal articles and has worked as a police consultant.

Following Godwin's investigation, Gattis commented, "He is just a phenomenal man and we are so thankful he has taken Tara's case. He contacted us wanting to help and it has been an eye-opening experience. I think we now have a firm idea of where to place our energies. Dr. Godwin has assured me that he will stay with us until the end, either Tara [is found] or someone jailed."

Grinstead was last seen on Oct. 22. She was reported missing two days later after failing to report to Irwin County High School, where she taught history.

A $100,000 reward is currently being offered for Grinstead's return, along with a separate $100,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of her possible kidnapper.

 

[nanandjim]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica]As posted on Court TV today........

As of 11:30 am today, Irwin county Sheriff Donnie Youghn is blocking K-9 searchers from searching land around Tara's ex-boyfriend, Marcus Harper's, home. Tara's family has obtained landowners permission. This land does not belong to Harper or his mother Nancy Redman. Redman and Harper called Sheriff Youghn to get this search stopped. Tara's family was given a tip last week about gunshots being heard in this area the night Tara disappeared. There is an opened deep well on this property in question and the landowner wants K-9's to search it, as well as two abandoned house on her property. Her property joins the Redman property where Harper lives wih his mother at 219 Green Road in Ocilla[/font]

I hope that someone is posted there to watch the land because the sheriff could be halting the search giving someone time to move the body. This exact situation happened in the Vince Doan case in Ohio. In the end, Debbie Culbertson ended up suing the town and others because of the sheriff. I think the sheriff was charged and found guilty of obstruction of justice. Debbie's daughter, Carrie, has never been found.

There would be no reason to halt a search UNLESS there is fear that incriminating evidence or Tara's body will be found.

 

[concernedperson]

Well, now that the public is informed about what was discovered it will be a little harder for anyone wanting to keep this a secret. Green Road is where Marcus Harper lives with his mother.

 

[docwho3]

Well, now that the public is informed about what was discovered it will be a little harder for anyone wanting to keep this a secret. Green Road is where Marcus Harper lives with his mother.

Maybe the event needs to be tipped to a few news agencies and maybe the states atty or appropriate agency higher up the chain.

 

[concernedperson]

Maybe the event needs to be tipped to a few news agencies and maybe the states atty or appropriate agency higher up the chain.

I sent it to Nancy Grace last night. I believe the family needs to contact the FBI. The pic on the front page of the Douglas paper that All4Tara posted showed Dr. Godwin handing over items to the GBI and GBI people writing down all the evidence turned over. Dr. Godwin is leaving a trail for sure that is well documented.

 

[concernedperson]

Maybe the event needs to be tipped to a few news agencies and maybe the states atty or appropriate agency higher up the chain.

Well Doc, apparently news people have gotten on board. I can't post the whole statement so I will glean from it.

1. Dr. Godwin has extended his stay and will also return in about 3 weeks.

2. Nancy Grace's producer sent an email and Nancy will take a look at what is going on when she returns from assignment.

3. CTV producers called yesterday and will be in Ocilla on Monday,March 20th.

4. People Magazine called yesterday and will be in Ocilla next week.

5. CNBC had scheduled to film " The Big Idea" on Wednesday of this week and in light of the latest the family expects the format for that show to change.

6. Multiple GBI agents were back in Ocilla yesterday.

This is from someone who is close to the family and had permission from Anita to post this.There is suppose to be more but they can't say without going through the proper channels.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

Mr Harper obviously has something to hide. Anyone would be more than willing to let them search whatever property needed to be searched if it meant finding a loved one. If it was me they could bulldoze my whole yard front back sides everything anything I wouldnt care. He is obviously very nervous about something..

 

[concernedperson]

New Crime Library article. This is unbelievable. Interesting that amateur sleuths could upset the apple cart in local authorities minds. Oh! And did you know that searching for a loved could be called misdemeanor stalking?

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0306/1401_tara_grinstead_tensions_mount.html

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Mr Harper obviously has something to hide. Anyone would be more than willing to let them search whatever property needed to be searched if it meant finding a loved one. If it was me they could bulldoze my whole yard front back sides everything anything I wouldnt care. He is obviously very nervous about something..

Yes he does, doesn't he!
And he does seem very nervous.

 

[Mellen]

New Crime Library article. This is unbelievable. Interesting that amateur sleuths could upset the apple cart in local authorities minds. Oh! And did you know that searching for a loved could be called misdemeanor stalking?

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0306/1401_tara_grinstead_tensions_mount.html

This is great news! I had started to despair that local politics would prevent the truth from ever coming out. It's nice to hear that MH is shaking in his boots a bit.

 

[concernedperson]

This is great news! I had started to despair that local politics would prevent the truth from ever coming out. It's nice to hear that MH is shaking in his boots a bit.

This is the best news ever. The sheriff is protecting his rental turf. GBI wasn't informed about all the tips. The icebrg is melting.It doesn't bring Tara back alive but it does show who the perp may be and the blue code of silence is not appreciated by the general public. If we keep digging then the truth will come out.

It is about our inability sometimes to get the truth out there. It is when we know something isn't right but we buck heads. It is about families and friends who want answers. It is about the victim. The victim deserves every bit of effort that we can muster.

 

[concernedperson]

I know I am getting pretty obnoxious. But this is real importent. It is time for Tara to be found and the perp brought to justice.

 

[newtv]

I sent it to Nancy Grace last night. I believe the family needs to contact the FBI. The pic on the front page of the Douglas paper that All4Tara posted showed Dr. Godwin handing over items to the GBI and GBI people writing down all the evidence turned over. Dr. Godwin is leaving a trail for sure that is well documented.

here I am CP- I heard about this case - its really sad-let me catch up with u on the reading.

 

[newtv]

I would be very surprised if it is NOT harper..it is clear he is the one with the ability to kill her-the know how of how to dispose of her-cover up, etc.
In some way he must have a motive-not sure what it is but its always the one close to you.
The motive might just be control..and noone vanishes into thin air.
This reminds me of Jorans parents not allowing a search of their land..if there is no reason to be worried why block anything.

 

[dark_shadows]

Thanks for your input DS it is really appreciated.

Hello Concernedperson,
Thank-you for these words.
I found this site and here are some things that I found.Forgive me if you had already seen them.

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

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.

There were even some who suggested that reports of the young woman's emotional upheaval, together with rumors that she had been feeling physically ill in the weeks before her death, might indicate that the young woman might have been with child. Of course there was no evidence to support that suggestion, in fact, according to those close enough to her to know not just her mental state but to judge the seasons of her body, Tara was menstruating at the time of her disappearance and tampon packages were found in her trash can at home after she vanished.

And in strange twist, Vickers has also apparently found his way out from under the cloud of suspicion. According to the source, the young man received a frantic telephone call from a woman the other day. The woman was so emotional that Vickers couldn't understand her, and thought it might have been Tara. He immediately notified police who traced the call and found that it had been a wrong number dialed by an inarticulate and emotionally overwrought stranger. The coincidence was so bizarre the source said, and Vickers was so certain that the woman on the other of the phone was Tara, that the source and others are convinced that it could not possibly have been a ploy.

According to law enforcement sources, the driver told police that the anonymous young woman had struck up a conversation with him and asked to use his cellular phone — Tara had uncharacteristically left her cell phone behind at her home when she vanished.

Early reports had placed great significance on an alarm clock found beneath Tara's bed after she was reported missing. The clock was six hours off, and there had been widespread speculation that perhaps the clock had somehow been stopped, perhaps during a struggle in the room.

But it turns out, according to a source familiar with the case, that the clock was actually a keepsake, Tara's childhood alarm clock. It had not kept proper time in years and had long been six hours off, but Tara had apparently kept it for sentimental reasons.

Gattis feels her sister left with someone she knew on the night she disappeared. Her house was locked but her car, a pearl white Mitsubishi 3000 GT, was unlocked and in the carport, with $100 in the console and clay on the tires.

"Tara never left her car unlocked, and never drove on dirt roads," Gattis said.

"There was no struggle in the house. Tara was a singer; that was her talent in pageants," Gattis said of her sister, thrice crowned Miss Tifton and a contestant in several Miss Georgia pageants. "If someone was removing her, she'd project her voice. And she took self-defense. She'd go out kicking and screaming and fighting."

 

[concernedperson]

Conflict mars search effort

By J.D. Summer
Ocilla-

A weekend search for missing Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead was marred by conflict between law enforcement and searchers.

snip.....

While the searchers were canvassing the area they reported hearing gunshots-as many as a hundred over an hour period-near the Harper property.

Searchers also reportedly saw a person they say looked like Marcus Harper walking a large red dog and carrying a "AK47" type rifle.

http://www.tiftongazette.com/homepage/local_story_073221816.html?keyword=topstory

 

[newtv]

they should have tested the clay on the tires to see if it was from a particular area..

as well..when is a sherriff ever supposed to personalize things such as saying- "out of respect for me".., whats it got to do with him?/ Nothing!
So, he is obviously just making things hard to protect harper.
I guess they cant get a search warrant because no probable cause?? Where is Grisom, (CSI), when I need him..