No you didn’t miss it , If she did in fact visit a former student , and he was a male , it was most likely the killer ……. Bo and Ryan lived in Fitzgerald during this time
Just finished Season 1. I've been thinking the same thing & it's been bugging the hell out of me. Now Ryan's saying they were hooking up, right? I've been tossing around the idea that she stopped by to see Ryan before the BBQ & went to meet him at the party afterward. Ryan ended up in a blackout drunk or was passed out when she showed up. Bo raped and/or killed Tara. When Ryan came to, Bo told him that it was he who killed Tara & that he (Bo) would help him cover it up. Because Bo was his BF, Ryan trusted him. Seems 100% more logical than the story the police & prosecutors are trying to sell.
If Ryan was actually in a secret relationship with Tara. I would think he'd have known her phone number and wouldn't have needed to dial 411 to call her later to see if she answered.