
In the Dateline season 21 episode 26 titled "What Happened to the Beauty Queen?" the show delves into the disappearance of former beauty queen Tara Grinstead. Tara had been a teacher and a beauty queen from Georgia and was loved by many in her community. However, her disappearance left her loved ones and the entire town in shock.
Despite extensive searches by the police and the community, Tara’s case remained unsolved for over a decade. However, in February of 2017, a surprising breakthrough was made. A man named Ryan Duke was arrested and charged with her murder after making a confession. But even with Ryan Duke's arrest, there were still many unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Dateline's Andrea Canning delved into Tara’s life before her disappearance, speaking to her family, friends, and members of the community who were affected by her loss. The show examines Tara's last moments and what could have led to her disappearance. The episode also looks into Ryan Duke’s confession and investigates the evidence that led to his arrest.
The show portrays the emotional rollercoaster of Tara's family and friends as they waited for answers about what had happened to her. Interviews with Tara's loved ones portrayed just how much her disappearance impacted their lives. Her ex-boyfriend Marcus Harper and Tara's friend Rhett Roberts share their memories of Tara, while defense attorneys provide an insight into the legal side of her case.
The episode also examines the role that Tara's former student and Ryan Duke's friend Bo Dukes played in covering up the murder. Bo Dukes was later identified as an accomplice and was charged with tampering with evidence in the case. Additionally, the show highlights the work of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the role they played in solving the case.
Through interviews with investigators, journalists, and those involved in the case, the show provides a comprehensive and factual account of the events leading up to Tara's disappearance and the subsequent investigation. The show portrays the tireless work of the investigators and proclaims a sense of justice for Tara and her loved ones.
Overall, this episode of Dateline highlights the tragic loss of a promising young woman and the impact that Tara's disappearance had on those she loved. It reveals the inner workings of a murder investigation and how even with seemingly little evidence, justice can still be served.
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Genres
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CastLester HoltKeith Morrison
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Channel
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First AiredFebruary 22, 2013
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LanguageEnglish

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