Ep 2. The Beauty Queen Mystery

In season 2 episode 2 of the true-crime show Disappeared, titled "The Beauty Queen Mystery," the disappearance of 20-year-old Tara Grinstead is examined. Grinstead was a popular high school teacher and a beauty queen from Ocilla, Georgia. When she failed to show up for work one Monday morning in October 2005, her worried colleagues and friends called the police.

The investigation into Grinstead's disappearance was baffling from the start. Although her car was found parked in the driveway of her home, there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry. Her house appeared untouched and nothing was missing, except for her keys and purse. The curtains were drawn and the lights were on, indicating that she had been home at some point during the weekend. However, her bed was unmade, suggesting that she had left abruptly.

The local police department, which had never dealt with a case like this before, was ill-equipped to handle the investigation. They focused on the theory that Grinstead had run away with a boyfriend, even though her family and friends maintained that she was happy and stable in her life at the time of her disappearance.

As media attention on the case grew, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was brought in to assist with the investigation. They discovered a few potential clues, including a latex glove found near Grinstead's house and a broken lamp that was likely used as a weapon. However, they couldn't make sense of the evidence and the case eventually went cold.

Over the years, Grinstead's disappearance remained a mystery. Her family and friends were left with nothing but questions and theories about what had happened to her. However, in 2017, a break in the case finally emerged when a man named Ryan Alexander Duke was arrested and charged with Grinstead's murder.

The episode delves into Duke's background and his connection to Grinstead. It also explores the role that the media played in keeping the case in the public eye and potentially helping to bring it to a resolution. Viewers will hear from Grinstead's family members and friends, as well as investigators who worked on the case over the years.

Overall, "The Beauty Queen Mystery" is a captivating and thought-provoking episode that examines the intricacies and challenges of investigating a missing persons case. It serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up on a case, no matter how cold it may seem, and the potential for justice to be served even years later.