Crime & Safety
Jury Finds Defendant Not Guilty Of Murder Of Former GA Beauty Queen
Ryan Duke was found not guilty on five counts, including felony murder, but was found guilty of concealing the death of Tara Grinstead.
IRWIN COUNTY, GA — Ryan Duke, the defendant on trial in the killing of Georgia teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead, was found not guilty on three counts of murder Friday morning.
An Irwin County jury returned verdicts of not guilty for one count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of burglary. The jury found Duke guilty of one count of concealing a death of another.
Concealing the death of another carries a sentence of between one and ten years and a fine between $1,000 and $5,000.
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The verdict, streamed live on the Law & Crime YouTube channel, comes on the ninth day of the trial.
On Wednesday, Duke took to the stand in his defense and told the jury he lied when he gave a confession to authorities. He told the jury his former friend Bo Dukes killed Grinstead, and he helped him burn her body later.
Find out what's happening in Across Georgiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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