by Seamus McGraw

Tara Grinstead

advertisement

OCILLA, GA (Crime Library)  —

A mystery donor, apparently moved by the public grief for missing high school teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who might have been involved in her disappearance.

The new reward brings to $200,000 the amount offered in the case.

The identity of the donor remains a closely guarded secret, said Steve Rogers, a friend of Grinstead's family who announced the new reward. Rogers would say only that donor— a person who has experienced a similar loss and has endured the media scrutiny that often accompanies it — has asked, at least for the time being, to remain anonymous.

Grinstead's supporters are still hammering out the details of how the reward money would be managed and precisely how it would be distributed, Rogers  said. But, according to the family, $100,000 is being offered for information leading to Tara 's safe return. But for the first time, a second reward is offered, tacitly acknowledging the possibility that Tara did not simply wander off on Oct. 22, but that she was forcibly abducted.

"We are announcing that we have received a donation of $100,000 to be used directly for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person that took Tara," Rogers said.

The explicit assertion contained in the offer - that Tara may have been a victim of foul play, and the implication that she may no longer be alive - goes further than investigators are willing to go.

Authorities still have no evidence indicating whether the young woman, who was by all accounts emotionally overwrought following the break up of a six-year relationship earlier this year, vanished on her own volition or whether she was abducted. There are no suspects in her disappearance, and authorities have never officially indicated whether they believe a crime was committed.

Next Page

Return to full Tara Grinstead coverage

Message Board

Photo Gallery

Video Clips

Texas EquuSearch Brings Special Technology to Grinstead Case

Beth Twitty To Join Hunt for Tara Grinstead

Tara Sightings & New Timing Questions

New Search Planned for Tara Grinstead

Taras Family, Friends Hoping for a Miracle

Beauty Queen & Teacher Tara Grinstead Goes Missing