Disappearance of Tara Grinstead, Former Beauty Queen, Still a Mystery

On the evening of October 22, 2005, 30-year-old schoolteacher, Tara Grinstead, disappeared near her home in Ocilla, Georgia. After attending a beauty pageant and dinner party, she told friends she was going straight home. After she didn't show up for work on Monday, Grinstead, a former beauty queen, was reported missing, according to CNN.

Police found the clothes she wore Saturday night on her bedroom floor. Her cell phone was charging, her car was parked in the driveway and her purse and keys were missing. Adding to the confusion, Grinstead's car doors were unlocked, the car seat was pushed back too far for Grinstead's 5-foot, 3-inch frame and an envelope full of cash was found on the dashboard.

Her boyfriend of six years had broken up with Grinstead a year before, but had recently returned to town. Though he was dating someone, he continued to call Grinstead and they had argued a week before her disappearance. Though police are not ruling out the possibility of foul play, they also believe it is possible, according to CNN, that Grinstead may have "walked away from all the drama in her personal life."

Every day, 2,300 Americans are reported missing. The National Center for Missing Adults tracks about 48,000 "active cases," though the number has skyrocketed by nearly 11,000 due to the recent hurricanes.

Protocol for missing adults is different mainly because the person is an adult. Because of this, it is assumed that they can care for themselves. When they go missing, there is a chance that they went somewhere without telling anyone. Because of this "right," adults cannot be declared missing until it can be proven, usually after twenty-four hours.

If a loved one or friend goes missing, it is important to take necessary action and to not panic. Once you have sufficient reason to believe your loved one is missing, contact family and friends to ask if they know where they could be. Keep a record of everyone to whom you speak (name, date, time, phone number). Report the person missing to the police. Be sure to mention if the person had a physical or mental illness, was depressed or was acting out of character recently.

Collect your thoughts. Think about what the person was wearing last, any belongings they may have taken and check their phone bill to see who they were speaking to. Collect photos for the police and be sure they are good quality close-up poses (head and shoulders). The more up-to-date the photos, the better. Distribute posters and ask newspapers, radio stations and television stations for help. Submit the person's name on missing persons lists and websites. Always keep in touch with the police in regards to the case.

When someone goes missing, do not delay in searching. Do not keep the disappearance a secret. Do not touch anything belonging to the missing person. Don't put your telephone number on posters, but police numbers, so as to avoid hoaxes. Keep the missing person in the public eye. Stay strong and do not give up the search.

Rupa Mikkilineni, Missing Beauty Queen Was Mending Broken Heart, CNN.com

Missing Persons, Directory M. Articles

Theyaremissed.org

David Krajicek, America's Missing, Trutv.com

Frank Peters, Check List: What to Do if a Loved One Goes Missing. . ., Worldwide News