Woman who cracked Tara Grinstead murder case breaks her silence

For nearly a dozen years, investigators were stymied by the disappearance of Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead.

In February, authorities said a tip led them to arrest Ryan Duke, a former student charged with murder.

Thursday, the news program “CBS This Morning” aired portions of an interview with Brooke Sheridan, the girlfriend of Bo Dukes, who has been charged with concealing Grinstead’s death.

Dukes’ attorney, John Philip Fox, issued a statement Thursday indicating that Sheridan gave media interviews without the consent or participation of Dukes.

“The information relayed by Ms. Sheridan is based solely upon her perception and interpretation of multiple events, including events to which she had not been a party,” the statement read. “Her views, opinions and representations should not be construed as being those of Mr. Dukes.”

Sheridan tipped off the GBI that Dukes told her that Duke convinced him to help dispose of the body of their former history teacher.

When “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant asked about a motive for the crime, Sheridan said, “He said, ‘That’s something that only God and Ryan know.’ ”

Sheridan’s conscience led her to turn in the man she loves, she told Van Sant.

“And I knew that he would probably serve the rest of his life in jail,” Sheridan said. “That family’s peace to me was more important than his freedom.”

J.T. Ricketson, the GBI special agent in charge of the Perry office, said he was made aware of Sheridan’s public statements Thursday morning.

“I can’t comment on anything,” Ricketson said.

Citing a “media feeding frenzy,” Irwin Superior court Judge Melanie B. Cross issued a gag order barring anyone from the district attorney’s office, defense attorneys, court staff, or current and former law enforcement officers from talking about the case.

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 9:18 AM with the headline "Woman who cracked Tara Grinstead murder case breaks her silence."