by Seamus McGraw

OCILLA, GA — (Crime Library) For months before her sudden and mysterious disappearance last week, Irwin County High School teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead was troubled by two contentious relationships, one with her estranged long time boyfriend, and the other with a former student who had become almost obsessed with her, according to sources familiar with the young woman's history.

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In fact, in the days leading up to her disappearance, sources say, Grinstead was so overwrought that she missed school one day and left early on another.

Whether either of those relationships can shed light on Grinstead's whereabouts, or on her fate remains an open question. But investigators have said they are considering both as they try to determine what happened to Grinstead, a 30-year-old teacher from small town Hawkinsville Georgia, who was last seen after a local beauty pageant on Oct. 22.

Tara Grinstead

Investigators are also trying to determine the origin of a latex glove — the kind used by paramedics, doctors and police officers — on the front lawn of her home after she was reported missing.

So far, authorities are dealing with the young woman's disappearance as a missing person's case. It is possible sources say that Grinstead, who is said to have been "on an emotional roller coaster," over the breakup of her long term relationship, a relationship that she had hoped would lead to marriage, may have engineered her own disappearance, or taken some other drastic steps. But neither have investigators from the Ocilla Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ruled out the possibility that Grinstead, a well-known and popular teacher, may have been the victim of foul play.

Former Student Interviewed

Among the relationships that have attracted the attention of authorities is the missing woman's dealings with a 20-year-old former student. The student had apparently become smitten with Grinstead, and on at least one occasion, was so aggressive that Grinstead called police when he showed up at her home and began banging on her door. The young man was charged with disorderly conduct. Authorities interviewed the man on Monday.

Friends and others familiar with the probe say that her sometimes-stormy relationship with long time boyfriend Marcus T. Harper may help authorities piece together Grinstead's state of mind before she disappeared.

Tara Grinstead

According to several sources who spoke on condition that they not be named, the couple began their relationship six years ago, and it was, in most respects, a classic small town romance. Harper, who could not be reached for comment for this story, had, according to friends of Grinstead, a fascination with law enforcement, and a driving desire to join the local police department, while Grinstead, a church going teetotaler, focused her attention on education and on the local beauty contest which she had once won.

In fact, according to several sources, Grinstead was deeply in love with Harper, he had a key to her home, a source said, and she had anticipated that someday they would marry. But that all changed after 9-11 when Harper left the police department and joined the U.S. Army, becoming a member of the Rangers, an elite branch of the special forces. He served, according to friends in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But during his stint in the military, and later as a contractor working in Iraq, the relationship changed.

According to one source, Harper became disenchanted with the relationship and, the source said, the couple began to bicker frequently. There was never any hint of violence between the pair, according to several sources, and in April, they finally broke up. By all accounts, Grinstead was deeply distressed by the breakup.

In fact, although she dated at least one other man, one friend told Crime Library that she remained deeply in love with Harper. In mid October one friend said, Grinstead had made efforts to reconnect with Harper, and when he resisted, she became so overwrought that she took a long drive and had to pull over and call for assistance to get home. The next day, uncharacteristically, she called in sick to school. A few days later, when a policeman from a neighboring community whom she had dated turned up at school, she left early. That too was unusual for the highly devoted and motivated ninth grade teacher.

More Questions Than Answers

It is unclear when Grinstead and Harper last saw each other, although according to several witnesses, he was in the town of Fitzgerald on the night of Oct. 22, which was the night of the annual Sweet Potato Festival and beauty pageant that Grinstead had attended. According to authorities, Grinstead had left the pageant and gone to have dinner at the home of the former local school superintendent and his family. She was last seen around 11 p.m.

She was reported missing Monday morning when she failed to turn up a school. Police responded to her home and found little out of place. The clothes she wore that night were found in the home, as was her cellular phone, which according to sources familiar with her habits, she never left behind. Authorities still don't know whether it is significant, but a clock had fallen to the floor and broken, and one of the meticulous young woman's lampshades was askew.

Tara Grinstead

Her car was parked outside — again, uncharacteristically it was unlocked, but her pocket book and keys were missing.  Authorities also are perplexed by the discovery of a single latex glove on the front lawn.

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