In his memoir Tibetan Peach Pie, author Tom Robbins refers to Stiles' life and death. Either Grady invited Layne to his home to talk things over, or Grady went to Layne. Grady Franklin Stiles Jr. (June 26, 1937 November 29, 1992) was an American freak show performer and murderer. I heard a bang and then I heard another one, she testified, saying Stiles had shot her boyfriend. Joe", "Vestavia John P. Strohm | Songs, Reviews, Credits", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grady_Stiles&oldid=1107061954, People convicted of murder by Pennsylvania, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Those with it became part of the family's touring circus act, while those without it helped the family in other ways. His deformity was the genetic condition ectrodactyly, in which the fingers and toes are fused together to form claw-like extremities. The real Stiles was an abusive alcoholic who was convicted of murdering a man, and who himself died violently. It was a pretty open and shut case. Unfortunately, it was not to last. Wyant committed the murder, shooting Grady in the head while he watched television in his Florida home. Why murder him?var cid='1263266665';var pid='ca-pub-3237174271067217';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-procaffenation_com-box-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1002%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.style.maxHeight=container.style.minHeight+'px';container.style.maxWidth=container.style.minWidth+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); Who was the assassin?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'procaffenation_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',631,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-procaffenation_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Who hired him?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'procaffenation_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',630,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-procaffenation_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The Stiles family suffers from ectrodactyly. His ill-tempered drinking coupled with a feeling of invincibility from getting away with murder made Grady even more abusive than he was before. The chilling answer is yes, and like the fictional character, this real-life Lobster Boy was a cold-blooded killer. Her other son, Grady Stiles III, even claims that she was only talking about it, and hadn't actually ordered Stiles's killing. He was given fifteen years probation, and soon after the trial re-married Mary Teresa and continued to physically abuse his family. His ghastly defining moments were killing his daughter's fianc the night before their wedding - then his own family members hired a teenage boy to kill the dad himself. Backpackerverse.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. As the children grew up particularly Stiles' daughter Cathy, who did not have ectrodactyly and was therefore somewhat the apple of her father's eye the Stiles' family legacy began to take a rather dark turn. So, the circus welcomed them with open arms. Stiles son and daughter make sporadic appearances in the circus. In addition, his anger had no limits and he would easily choke people with his claws. Stiles seemeddoomed to a rough life from his birth in 1937. They all toured as The Lobster Family. ( 1973-01-06) A magician shows how magic the multiplication of 3 really is, including a family of 3 and a football team whose uniforms are numbered in threes. It goes without saying that shed had enough. What the Greatest Showman Got Totally Wrong, The Bittersweet Story of Jumbo the Elephant, The Abusive 'Lobster Boy' Freak Performer Killed His Daughter's Fiance The Day Before Their Wedding, sentence was given as 15 years' probation, who claimed he was only trying to protect his mother. His daughter Cathy calls him "Satan himself.". Who was GradyStiles, really? [1] Due to his ectrodactyly, he was unable to walk. Stiles was convicted of third-degree murder in 1979. In the process he developed impressive upper body strength. As sinister as that sounds, the family claims it was done to end the cruel reign of the 55-year-old, who they accused of being a mean and nasty . He'd also taken up smoking, and was finishing three packs of cigarettes per day, which left him with emphysema. Cathy was born with the same deformity but Donna was not. He attacked his wifeand murdered his daughter's fianc. But Maria Teresa and her now-grown children were not without their limits. He was born in 1937 and died at the age of 55 from a bullet to the back of his head. Donna never spoke to her father again, but soon after the trial, Grady remarried Mary, who left her husband. For more strange physical conditions, check out this list of unusual disorders. Meet Grady Stiles, The Murderous Lobster Boy Who Killed His Daughter's Fiance COLLECTION 15 LISTS The Greatest Show on Earth Step right up! Not one of them denied that they had intended to kill Grady Stiles. He used his amazingly strong arms to torture his wives and children. Lobster Boy had, by this time, divorced his first wife, remarried another woman, and had two more children. The pair had planned to be married the next day. Many members of the Stiles family were born with a genetic condition called ectrodactyly. Intrigued by this looks at Grady Stiles Jr., popularly known as Lobster Boy? He then said, "I told you I would kill him.". Grady Stiles (June 26, 1937-November 29, 1992) An American freak show performer and murderer. It was 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and he was taken to trial, where he openly admitted his guilt and was convicted of 3 rd degree murder. Two of his children also had lobster claws. Im sorry this happened, but my family is safe now. The two married and had several children together, two of which inherited Grays ectrodactyly. Six Ways to Get to Know Your Partner Better, Extraordinary Ideas That You Can Try To Create A New Room For Your Little Superhero, Why Complete Stucco Remediation Is Essential For Your Homes Health. 7 Common Sitting Positions That Reveal Secrets Of Ones Personality. six iconic Ringling Brothers freak show performers, Andre the Giant photos that you wont believe arent photoshopped. Stiles had been married twice, having a daughter and son whom both have electrodactyly. His family decided to do something to make sure the abuse ended, once and for all. They paid him $1,500 to murder Grady. Become a member today to see the image (s) below in full resolution color. Whatever the reason, Stiles became an alcoholic, and a violent one at that. Who Did It? In 1992 Mary Teresa mentioned to Grady's son-in-law, a blockhead, that "something" needed to be done about Grady's abusive behavior, and he in turn hired a neighbor to kill Grady in the family's trailer in Gibsonton. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1937, Grady Stiles Jr., also known as Lobster Boy, led an interesting life and suffered a death that was just as intriguing. Shortly after this happened, as Stiles smoked a cigarette while watching television on the sofa, the neighbor entered his home with a semi-automatic pistol and shot him in the head twice, killing him. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. They charged his wife and her son Glenn with first-degree murder. Even though Mary had no physical impairments, she was a survivor of incest and was previously married to a carnival worker who had been abusive towards her. But his temper and abusive behavior remainedand his second wife soon divorced him as well. In November, 1992, Stiles was murdered in his home in Gibsonton, Florida, by Chris Wyant, a family friend with gang ties. He stopped drinkingand sought out his ex-wife, Mary. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Stiles died almost instantly. Wyant was sentenced to 27 years in prison after being convicted of 2nd degree murder. "Grady Stiles and his daughter ran a single-O with one carny where I had the side-show concession and they did better than I did with ten acts. Mary, Harry, and Wyant were not so lucky. Grady was born in Pittsburgh in 1937 and inherited his condition from his father, Grady Stiles, Sr. Grady could not walk and used a wheelchair in public, but could crawl around on his incredibly powerful arms and could perform nearly any task using his "claws". In addition, you'll gain access to detailed info on each performer and image in the collection. However, Grady escaped a prison sentence on the grounds that no prison was equipped to handle his disability. Finally, all three were arrested. Grady Stiles, Jr. came from a long line of people with ectrodactyly, or "lobster claw" syndrome. The victim was known to carnival audiences as Lobster Boy because of his pincerlike hands, a result of a rare genetic condition. On the night before the wedding, he took a shotgun and murdered him in cold blood. In 1937, a child was born with a rare deformity of Ectrodactyly which happened to be passed down to the male born genetically. I killed before and got away with it, I can do it again. was now his favorite taunt to his family. Known to sometimes skip a generation, Gradys father was also afflicted and performed in a traveling carnival as a sideshow attraction. When aired on Multiplication Rock, a . The Horrific Life and Murder Trial of the Infamous Lobster Boy. For some unknown reason, Grady did not approve of his daughter Donnas fianc. Although he was very strong, he exploited his handicap in order to gain sympathy. Grady Franklin Stiles Jr. shortened in Grady Stiles was born on June 26, 1937, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who was perfectly fitted in their family circus for the strange deformity and later worked as an American freak show performer. Manage Settings He married twice and had four children. Get Rid Of Double Chin Through These Simple Remedies! Grady was known for his bad temper and his drinking made it worse. Young, graceful womanist. He had a low IQand had become a part of the sideshow for his ability to drive nails into his nostrils. Read Also After Committing Allegedly 2,500 Murders, This Killer Still Roams Free. The verdict had a large impact on Gradys first wife Mary, who inexplicably remarried him in 1989. Grady Franklin Stiles Jr. was born on July 18, 1937, in Pittsburgh. Become a member today to see the image(s) below in full resolution color. He began to drink heavily again and he often boasted that he got away with murder. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Stiles had already proved that he had little patience for his daughters. Grady Stiles Jr., also known as "Lobster Boy," was shot to death by a hitman hired by his wife, Maria Teresa Stiles, and his stepson Glenn Newman, in 1992. He shows himself first and then charges extra to bring her out. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Read more about Lobster Boy and discover the little-known grisly details: Advertiser Disclosure: Backpackerverse.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. YouTubeGrady Stiles Jr., commonly known as Lobster Boy. The night before the wedding, Stiles picked up a shotgun and murdered his to-be-son-in-law. Her work has been featured on The Rumpus, The Independent, Cosmopolitan, Medium, Seventeen, Romper, Bustle, and Quartz. Backpackerverse.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For more than a century, a peculiar physical condition known as ectrodactyly has afflicted the Stiles family. Investigators determined his daughter Cathy was aco-conspiratorbut shewas not charged. His wife had finally reached her breaking point. For awhile they toured as the Lobster Family, but life turned ugly when Grady began drinking. It is just knowing when you find them," Grady Stiles III, 39, told The Huffington Post. His hands were split down the middle and fused to form two-digit "claws", his feet were small flipper-like appendages and his legs were shortened. Throughout his childhood, Stiles and his family toured with the carnival circuit, spending the offseason in Gibsonton, Florida as many carnies did. Use These Summer Fashion Tips To Be On Top Of Your Fashion Game! Reputed to be a mean drunk, Lobster Boy reportedly beat his wife and children for years until one night in 1973. The remaining Stileses still reside in Gibsonton, but are private people who are, understandably, not affiliated with the sideshow. Though he was found guilty in 1979, Gradys life of alcoholism and cigarette smoking had taken a toll. The Stiles aren't as unique as some freaks I've seen, but the public loves them." It's still unclear who was the mastermind in charge of the killing, but Mary in particular seemed surprised at the punishments handed out. -Joseph Hilton. He also, by this time, had acquired liver cirrhosis from drinking and had emphysema from years of cigarette smoking. Experts who were ready to testify that she was a battered spouse acting in self-defense were disallowed earlier in the day by Judge William Fuente, who ruled that Mrs. Stiles was not in imminent danger at the time of the slaying. His deformities left him unable to operate under normal prison conditions, and his constant alcohol abuse had given him cirrhosis. [9], "Grady Stiles Jr. The Murderous Lobster Man", "Son Of Lobster Boy Discusses Dad's Grisly Murder On 'Freakshow', "IDW Publishing | the home of 30 Days of Night, Star Trek, Terminator, Transformers, G.I. In addition, you'll gain access to detailed info on each performer and image in the collection. According to Grady's father, the Stiles family had a long history of ectrodactyly, dating back to 1840. Human Skeleton, Living Skeleton, Thin Man (34), Alligator Skin, Elephant Skin, Armadillo-Skin (14), Big Feet, Big Hands, Too Many Fingers (15), Frog Folk, Turtle Folk, Bear Folk, Serpent Folk, Penguin Folk (46), Half-Man Half-Woman, Half-And-Halfs, Hermaphrodites (87), Unusual Artists & Incredible Craftsmen (16), Confections, Snacks and Refreshments (10), Fortune Tellers, Psychics, Spirtualists (12). Very cruel, very cold-hearted, very sadistic, Cathy Berry testified at the trial of her mother, Mary Stiles. Gradys daughter, Cathy, who also has lobster claws, has played roles in the HBO series Carnivale and the Tim Burton film, Big Fish. Known as "Lobster Boy" because of a genetic deformity in his hands and feet, Grady Stiles Jr. was among the last of his kind deformed people who performed in traveling circuses and carnivals as "freakshow" attractions. Inherited Grays ectrodactyly little patience for his daughters turned ugly when Grady began drinking killer Still Roams.! 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