Psychologist investigating Grinstead case turns up new evidence

JERRY A. HUDSON
Douglas Daily News

OCILLA — "We believe we have collected verifiable evidence that a crime was committed," Anita Gattis, sister of missing Irwin County teacher Tara Grinstead, said Monday.

Joining the search for Grinstead, Dr. Maurice Godwin, an investigative psychologist from Fayetteville , N.C. , arrived in Ocilla on Thursday. Since then, he has gathered a number of items he believes will help provide answers to what has become a four and a half month-long investigation.

"I spent a total of about seven hours in Tara 's house and have discovered some things I believe are going to help move this case forward," Godwin said.

On Monday, Godwin met with officials from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to hand over the evidence, which will be processed by the GBI's crime lab.

Among the items were swabs of what Godwin believes to be blood spatters located inside the home and the garage.

Godwin also delivered to the GBI several articles found over the weekend during a concentrated search of the Green Road area of Irwin County .

"We focused on this area because of several comments we received from some of the landowners," Godwin stated. "About a quarter mile north of Ocilla, we found [lingerie] that was the same brand Tara wore. We also located a blue latex glove in a ditch nearby."

A former police officer, Godwin is the president of Godwin Forensic Consultancy. According to a press release issued in regards to the Grinstead case, Godwin utilizes "aspects of psychological, geographical and environmental profiling in order to try and link individual(s) to specific locations."

He has authored a number of books and journal articles and has worked as a police consultant.

Following Godwin's investigation, Gattis commented, "He is just a phenomenal man and we are so thankful he has taken Tara 's case. He contacted us wanting to help and it has been an eye-opening experience. I think we now have a firm idea of where to place our energies. Dr. Godwin has assured me that he will stay with us until the end, either Tara [is found] or someone jailed."

Grinstead was last seen on Oct. 22. She was reported missing two days later after failing to report to Irwin County High School , where she taught history.

A $100,000 reward is currently being offered for Grinstead's return, along with a separate $100,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of her possible kidnapper.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By: Tiffanie Wallace


Nearly five months ago school teacher Tara Grinstead disappeared. Now her family hopes an investigative psychologist will uncover new clues.

No one seems to know what happened to the hawkinsville native even after community searches, interviews and national press coverage.

Dr. Maurice Godwin is a former police office who now specializes in psychological, geographical and environmental profiling.

Friday he spent the day examining Grinstead's home for evidence other investigators overlooked.

Godwin found fingernails, suspicious spots on the floor and an opened window in Grinstead's room.

Godwin says anything out of place can be considered possible evidence until it's tested.

DR. MAURICE GODWIN: PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATOR
"This is a cold case and it's going toward being ice cold."

Dr. Maurice Godwin says he's given hundreds of cases a year to investigate, but usually only takes on three or four.

Grinstead's sister, Anita Gattis, says the family hopes Godwin will find something that leads them to Tara.

ANITA GATTIS: GRINSTEAD'S SISTER
"It is phenomenal Dr. Godwin has agreed to breath new life into this investigation."

Aside from collecting possible evidence from the home, Godwin wants to examine the roaming signals of Tara Grinstead's cell phone.

He hopes to find out where she went the last night she was seen.

Grinstead was last seen October 22, 2005.

Back to Main Page

COPYRIGHT: (2006) All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from Dr. Maurice Godwin.