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Georgia Mystery | Tara Grinstead Disappearance

In 1999, Tara Grinstead was a teacher and beauty queen. In 2003, she earned a masters degree in education. On October 22, 2005...she disappeared.

WXIA Staff

Published: 6:20 AM EST November 13, 2015
Updated: 6:20 AM EST November 13, 2015

ID=74400850In 1999, Tara Grinstead was a teacher and beauty queen. In 2003, she earned a masters degree in education.

On October 22, 2005...she disappeared.

At the time of her disappearance, Grinstead was 30 years old. Police said her cell phone and car were found at her home in Ocilla, Georgia, but her keys and purse were missing.

Several people, including an ex-boyfriend were questioned by police but no arrests were ever made.

"She had just left the Sweet Potato Festival, which is a big deal in Oscilla," Criminal Defense Investigator Charles Mittelstadt said. "After that, she joined some friends for a cookout."

After the cookout, no one heard from or saw Grinstead again.

"We knew something was immediately wrong," Wendy McFarland, a former co-worker said. "She was not the kind of teacher that would not show up without alert somebody."

When police showed up at her house, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was no sign of break-in, no sign of struggle and her dog, Dolly Madison, was still home.

After a massive community led search came up fruitless, investigators began looking at what was happening in Grinstead's life.

"She's got an ex-boyfriend whose a former Army Ranger," Morgan said. "There's a married police officer there's a business card in the door."

"We also know there was an odd incident involving a former student attempting to break into her home," Mittelstadt added.

Investigators also focused on one major piece of evidence...a single latex glove found adjacent to her house in the yard.

"It was tested and there was trace evidence DNA found in the glove,"

With the DNA evidence, investigators took the next step. However, no match was found leaving a huge void in the small town of Oscilla.

"10 years, 10 days, 10 months...," Wendy McFarland, a co-worker said. "(The void) doesn't get bigger or smaller...it just remains the a hole."

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