(Continued)
By Marilyn Bardlsey
OCILLA, GA (Crime Library)
If Tara doesn't come home soon either on her own volition or through the efforts of rescue workers or others with information about where she is, the media spotlight may bring unwelcome intrusion into the lives of people close to Tara.
Yesterday, when interviewing Tara's father, Billy Grimstead, and her stepmother, Connie, I could sense that they were alarmed at the prospect of every detail of Tara's life being dissected and displayed for review and analysis by millions of strangers.
Tara's former boyfriend of six or so years, Marcus T. Harper, has declined interviews on the advice of his lawyer, according to his father, Larry. Even Larry does not want to comment to the media about his son. I can't say that I blame them. There are bound to be questions asked that are very intrusive. It's almost a "no-win" situation. On the other hand, if the media wants information about a person they will find it somewhere flattering or unflattering.
In the case of Tara's disappearance and similar cases, the media attention "is a deal with the Devil" quoting one of Crime Library's authors, Seamus McGraw. "Families and friends [of the missing people] trade the most intimate nuggets of details about their loved ones' lives for the prospect of getting them back."
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Tara Grinstead on Emotional Roller Coaster
Tara Grinstead's State of Mind
Search for Tara Grinstead Involves Entire Community
Beauty Queen & Teacher Tara Grinstead Goes Missing
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