Bo Dukes, a Georgia man accused of hiding the body of beloved teacher Tara Grinstead, who disappeared in 2005, was captured on Saturday after he fled from new charges of rape and sodomy in an unrelated case.
The Telegraph reports that authorities captured 34-year-old Dukes at a family member’s house in Ocilla, following an extensive manhunt. Dukes fled his Warner Robins home last Tuesday after two women snuck out of his residence, then told police Dukes held them against their will.
Update: Bo Dukes has just been taken into custody.
Posted by Wilcox County Georgia Sheriff's Office on Saturday, January 5, 2019
Dukes is accused of holding the two victims at gunpoint, then raping one of them. A third woman arrived to Dukes’ home and helped the victims escape. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s security camera captured the two women running from the residence while wearing only towels.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Dukes is one of two men accused of taking part in Grinstead’s death and disappearance. In 2017, he was indicted on charges of concealing a death, tampering with evidence, and hindering apprehension of a criminal. A trial date has been set for April 1.
Grinstead was last seen in 2005, in Oncilla, Georgia, leaving a party. The former beauty queen’s disappearance remained cold for over a decade until a 2017 tip led authorities to Dukes. Ryan Duke, a friend of Dukes at the time, was also arrested, and confessed to killing Grinstead and hiding her body. Duke later said he falsely confessed so he could go to jail in order to avoid retaliation from Dukes.
In another unrelated case, Dukes was convicted in 2013 of conspiracy to steal government property. He served two years and was released in 2015. Yet, since he failed to pay $130,000 restitution and failed to fulfill 40 hours of community service, a judge scheduled him to return to federal court within 45 days in November, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The story is developing. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Bo Dukes, Tara Grinstead/Police Handout]
