document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Grady Stiles was a famous freak show performer, but his life took several dark turns and ended in cold blood. Teresa's son overheard this, and went to a neighbor and repeated those words. Stiles died almost instantly. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. He disapproved of this relationship. In 1992, Mary decided she had enough of Gradys abuse. Grady was born with a rare medical condition known to run in his family called ectrodactyly. Ectrodactyly is a genetic condition in which a person's fingers and/or toes are fused together. Grady Stiles (June 26, 1937-November 29, 1992) An American freak show performer and murderer. The beatings would only get worse.. I believe that from the bottom of my heart. A few years after she remarried Stiles, she paid her 17-year-old neighbor, Chris Wyant, $1,500 to kill him. Wyant, only 19 years old at the time,was charged with second degree murderand was given 27 years in prison. They all toured as The Lobster Family. Stiles had been married twice, having a daughter and son whom both have electrodactyly. Others revere him as a smart businessman who went from appearing in sideshows to owning them. Grady eventually filed for divorce and won custody of the children, due to Mary not attending court. For a time, the Tampa Bay-area town of Gibsonton, Florida had a reputation for being a haven for so-called "freaks," the town in which circus performers would find comfort in their own seasonal community while taking the winter months off. 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. A Net Inceptions project. According to him, his mother, Teresa, and father were arguing. Escaping prison made Lobster Boy cocky, and he reportedly told others he could kill them and get away with it since he already had. Used to maneuvering himself in a wheelchair, Stiles developed a great deal of upper body strength. Therefore, it was determined he would not receive adequate medical care in prison. For awhile they toured as the Lobster Family, but life turned ugly when Grady began drinking. Investigators determined his daughter Cathy was aco-conspiratorbut shewas not charged. She received a sentence of 12 years in prison. Murder and mayhem played center stage finally overshadowing his dismal and dubious celebrity. Although he was convicted of third degree murder, the court realized that there were no facilities where they could properly imprison him. The assassin took 1500 US dollars in cash to put three bullets into Gradys head. The shocking expos of a carny's murder arranged by his wifeand the daughter who threatened the author to keep the truth from getting out. 5 Creepy Videos of Ghosts Caught on Camera. I believe that from the bottom of my heart. Grady Stiles died as he lived: violently. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. In addition, you'll gain access to detailed info on each performer and image in the collection. At that point, his father was already part of the freak show circuit, adding his kids with ectrodactyly to the act. Fred Rosen wrote a book on the case called Lobster Boy: The Bizarre Life and Brutal Death of Grady Stiles Jr., and E! Ms. Berry said she was seven months pregnant when she intervened in her wheelchair to stop her drunken father from striking her mother in 1990. Related: Frank Lentini: Three Legged Man and Circus Superstar. In November, 1992, Stiles was murdered in his home in Gibsonton, Florida, by Chris Wyant, a family friend with gang ties. Within a few weeks of getting married, Stiles began drinking again, and the abuse resumed, even more viciously. 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. Thus, it was the end of the torturer. Mrs. Stiles, 56, could get life behind bars if convicted. He got around using a wheelchair or by crawling, dragging. He shows himself first and then charges extra to bring her out. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. There was a media circus during the trial and Grady showed no remorse for his actions. Menu. He said he would help, and took $1,500to give to a neighbor by the name of Christopher Wyant. He killed his daughter's fiance to prevent them from being married, and was not imprisoned because the prison could not cater to his disability. Even his simple headstone bears no epitaph. Then, hear the sad tales of six iconic Ringling Brothers freak show performers. After Grady was born, his father brought him into the act as a young boy at age 7. Furthermore, Grady Stiles admitted to committing the murder and showed no remorse. The Lobster Boy, Grady Stiles was a cruel man of disgust and hatred. When Grady Stiles teenage daughter, Donna, fell in love with a young man that he didnt approve of, Lobster Boy demonstrated his fatal strength. For example, in one incident, it's said that he used his strength to forcibly remove his wife's IUD during a fight, according to All That's Interesting. He had 4 children, 1 boy and 1 girl had the same deformity that he had. Im sorry this happened, but my family is safe now.. More commonly known as Lobster Claw Syndrome, ectrodactyly is a condition in which the middle fingers are missing and the fingers on either side of where they should be are fused together. Her son Glen (Harry Glenn Newman) had apparently overheard her statement and told Wyant, who shot Grady soon after. In 1978, Stiles daughter, Donna, fell in love and got engaged. His wheelchair-bound daughter Cathy recalled that one night, when she'd tried to protect her mother while pregnant, her father had beaten her as well. Grady Stiles Jr. hadn't changed one bit and the home, with several of their children, was desperately unhappy. Behind the scenes, however, a different kind of horror permeated the life of the man who inspired the character. As Healthline reported, he even inspired the character Jimmy Darling in American Horror Story: Freak Show. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. His deformities left him unable to operate under normal prison conditions, and his constant alcohol abuse had given him cirrhosis. John Strohm wrote "Ballad of Lobster Boy," inspired by Grady Stiles and recorded the song for his 1999 album Vestavia.[8]. Kleptomania- A Disorder That Makes You Steal! He couldn't walkand was confined to a wheelchair, but that didn't stop his parents from putting him onstage. Writing for Sideshow World in 2006, Chris Rodell told of travelling to Gibstonton to look for the remaining "freaks" and to talk about the town's most famous resident, only to find closed lips when he mentioned the name. Those with it became part of the family's touring circus act, while those without it helped the family in other ways. While many may have viewed this condition as a handicap, for the Stiles family it spelled opportunity. He used his amazingly strong arms to torture his wives and children. Stiles' journey from circus performer to evil killer even inspired season four of American . The Stiles aren't as unique as some freaks I've seen, but the public loves them." Grady Stiles was known as "Lobster Boy" for his deformed hands that looked like claws. He even began to lunge at audience members during their sideshow performancesand appeared drunk on stage. Finally, all three were arrested. The Story Of Nellie Bly And Why Only A Woman Could Pull Off This Stunning Expos Of A Victorian Mental Asylum, Absurd Nazi Propaganda Photos With Their Original Captions, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. For a period of time in the middle decades of the 20th Century, circus performer Grady Stiles was a star attraction. The worst was yet to come, however. The remaining Stileses still reside in Gibsonton, but are private people who are, understandably, not affiliated with the sideshow. Grady Stiles (June 26, 1937 - November 29, 1992) was an unusual boy, to his friends. Accept Read More, Frank Lentini: Three Legged Man and Circus Superstar. On November 29, 1992, Stiles was watching TV in his living room. After Grady Jr. was born he was folded into his father's sideshow act at the age of seven. The feet are also sometimes affected, as was the case with Grady. Unfortunately, it was not to last. For more than a century, a peculiar physical condition known as ectrodactyly has afflicted the Stiles family. In addition, you'll gain access to detailed info on each performer and image in the collection. Amazingly shoddy quality photo pitchcard of Grady and his daughter-- "Father 36., Daughter 5 yrs." Their ages puts this at 1973. Im sorry this happened, but my family is safe now. We Asked, You Answered: What Would You Pick For Your Last Meal On Death Row? After many beatings, he threw Mary and the children out. Harry Newman was given life in prison for his role as the mastermind and Teresa was given 43 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder. Get Rid Of Double Chin Through These Simple Remedies! He was shot in the back of the head as he sat in his underwear in his trailer. Together they had two children and, like his father before him, introduced the children with ectrodactyly to the family business. Grady thinks the world of his daughter; if she had been normal, it would have broken his heart. 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. She unsuccessfully appealed her conviction and began to serve her sentence in February of 1997. The junior Stiles also gave his father a message during his HuffPost interview: "Thank you for showing me who not to be and maybe you can appreciate who I became because of that. ( 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. six iconic Ringling Brothers freak show performers, Andre the Giant photos that you wont believe arent photoshopped. His deformity was the genetic condition ectrodactyly, in which the fingers and toes are fused together to form claw-like extremities. Why not BECOME A MEMBER today? The government put 'em all out of business," he said. The performer made no attempt to put up a defense, but instead argued that he shouldn't go to prison due to his disability, as well as cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism and emphysema brought on by his three-pack-a-day smoking habit. She had tried to get Glenn to take a plea bargain but he refused. She was later freed on bond while she appeals her case. Grady said to her, I told you I would kill him.. On November 29, 1992, Wyant entered Stiles's home with a loaded gun after Mary had gone out for the evening. Not being able to walk, Grady used a wheelchair and would crawl around soon developing a strong upper body and arms. He reportedly used that strength to smack or choke people who annoyed him, according to HuffPost, something he was reportedly exceptionally good at, considering the shape of his hands. For some unknown reason, Grady did not approve of his daughter Donna's fianc. Wyant was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison. Read Also If You Knew What This Horrific Killer Did To His Victims Bodies, You Would Be Terrified! The Stiles family had a long history of ectrodactyly, according to his father dating back to 1840. His deformity was a genetic condition ectrodactyly, in which the fingers and toes are fused together to form claw-like extremities. A person like Grady, going by the name of "Lobster Boy", appears in a Deadpool comic. Mary wanted Wyant to kill her husband, and Wyantaccepted the job. Donna advised that Grady smiled as she held her dying fianc in her arms. At this point, Mary decided she couldn't take it anymore, and quickly divorced him. -Joseph Hilton. By Amy Beeman / Feb. 25, 2021 11:14 am EST. It was all so terrible," townsperson Judy Rock told him. Wyant was sentenced to 27 years in prison after being convicted of 2nd degree murder. Donna recalls that he fell into her arms, where he died within moments. The 8 Key Types of Grapples: Which Should You Invest In? Movies. All rights reserved. The assassin shot him while he was on his sofa. Grady Stiles - The Evil Lobster Boy by Jim H 1 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. His hands were split down the middle and fused to . Mrs. Stiles is charged with murder for paying a teen-age neighbor $1,500 to shoot and kill her husband, Grady Stiles Jr., two years ago. Step right up! On Nov. 29, 1992, Stiles was sitting in his underwear watching TV when someone. So hated was the former performer that no one wanted to be his pallbearer at his funeral, as HuffPost reported. 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. For some unknown reason, Grady did not approve of his daughter Donnas fianc. Hoping to win over his soon-to-be father in law, the man came to speak with Stiles. 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. Grady was born with a rare medical condition known to run in his family called ectrodactyly. After some time, he again took to drinking and beating his family members. Stiles had already proved that he had little patience for his daughters. His ill-tempered drinking coupled with a feeling of invincibility from getting away with murder made Grady even more abusive than he was before. 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. Stiles's daughter had seen him commit the murder, and Stilesfreely confessed to killing the young man in cold blood. "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. The Roof: Need-To-Knows When Applying For Rental Assistance In Houston, The 6 Essential Lawn Care Services Homeowners Look For. By some accounts, Wyant was hired by the family to be the hitman who would put an end to "Lobster Boy" once and for all. Very cruel, very cold-hearted, very sadistic, Cathy Berry testified at the trial of her mother, Mary Stiles. This page was last edited on 27 August 2022, at 23:14. The jury convicted Wyant of second-degree murder and sentenced him to 27 years in prison. How Lobster Boy Grady Stiles Went From Circus Act To Murderer. American Horror Story: Freak Show has a Lobster Boy character. Grady Stiles Jr. was the fourth child of Grady F. Stiles and had an extreme case of ectrodactyly; it impacted his legs as well. Mary also stood trial and received a sentence of 12 years in prison. She must rely entirely on her own words and those of her children to convince a jury that years of abuse left her no choice. They enjoy watching movies together, eating sushi or just cuddling. However, he soon began drinking again and his family claimed that he became even more abusive. Two of his children also had lobster claws. On the night of November 29, 1992, a hired assassin gunned down Grady. You didnt dare tell, she said. It is a deformity in which the fingers and toes fuse together to look like the claws of a lobster. Intrigued by this looks at Grady Stiles Jr., popularly known as Lobster Boy? On the night before the wedding, he took a shotgun and murdered him in cold blood. Then he started hitting on me with his fist. He was sentenced to 15 years probation, partly because he had liver cirrhosis from heavy drinking and emphysema from smoking three packs a day. American History comedy Podcast, The Dollop, did an episode in 2014 discussing Grady Stiles. Or unrest, as it were: Lobster Boy was so disliked, not just in his family but within the community, that the funeral home could not find anyone willing to be pallbearers. Related: Adam Rainer: The Giant and the Dwarf. After all that, due being so loathed in the community, no one offered to serve as pallbearer for Grady at his funeral. Then Grady married Barbara Browning, who produced another child with the lobster syndrome Grady III. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. Your Anonymous Chat Buddy. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own, and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers. Pitchcard. Like Grady Stiles, Wyant went to court for the murder and was found guilty. Allegedly, Stiles was an abusive alcoholic. It also includes a small statue in the likeness of Stiles in the opening credits. Unable to walk, he sometimes used a wheelchair, though just as often he used his arms to move about, according to The Human Marvels. While he was still touring the carnival circuit, the now-adult Stiles met Mary Teresa, a 19-year-old runaway. . Capitalizing on his deformity, Grady Stiles Sr. was a sideshow attraction in a traveling carnival. Mary decided that she had to find a way to protect herself, and her family, from Stiles's constant abuse. The youngest daughter, Donna, wasn't. He brought them along to perform as the "Lobster Family," in which they portrayed themselves as a loving family with one slight difference. Her work has been featured on The Rumpus, The Independent, Cosmopolitan, Medium, Seventeen, Romper, Bustle, and Quartz. January 6, 1973. The family has come a long way. Perhaps the final verdict lies with his children. To his family, he was another member who was destined for the freak show business. Even Stiles's death was horrific: in 1992, he was killed by a hit man hired by his own family. As Healthline reported, he even inspired the character Jimmy Darling in American Horror Story: Freak Show. Contents 1 Family history On HBO's Carnivle, set on a traveling carnival during the Great Depression, the central character, Ben Hawkins, is sent out by his employers to investigate rumors of a "Scorpion Boy" in a nearby town in the episode "Lonnigan, Texas". A persons Summer Fashion Tips [1] Due to his ectrodactyly, he was unable to walk. Donna explained that she was running away with her fianc, that she was pregnant (a lie), and that they were very much in love. Grady kept up the family tradition by taking up circus life, beginning at the age of 7. 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. Even when he was single, Stiles exacteda very strict control over his childrenand dictated who they interacted with. If you wake up every morning and find yourself staring blankly at your wardrobe in a never-ending dilemma of what to wear, Obedience training is a great way to teach your dog proper behavior and develop a strong bond between you and your pup. Stiles drank, and combined with his overpowering upper body strength, he became abusive toward his wife and children. Stiles and his two children toured together as The Lobster Family. Grady Stiles' life was scarred by tragedy, abuse and led to brutal murders. "There are no freaks in carnivals anymore. The two married and had several children together, two of which inherited Grays ectrodactyly. 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 . The verdict had a large impact on Gradys first wife Mary, who inexplicably remarried him in 1989. Grady continued to beat up and terrorize his family. In addition, a snapshot of Stiles is briefly seen at the American Morbidity Museum in the third episode ("Edward Mordrake, Part I"). The young man stumbled out of the house and died. He married twice and had four children. "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. Whatever the reason, Stiles became an alcoholic, and a violent one at that. Due to all this, Stiles'ssentence was given as 15 years' probationand he was released immediately. The rare congenital deformity makes hands look like lobster claws as the middle fingers are either missing or seemingly fused to the thumb and pinky. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The result is that the hands look like lobster claws. Wyant committed the murder, shooting Grady in the head while he watched television in his Florida home. But as the young manapproached the house, Stiles pulled out a shotgun and fired two blasts. He was born in 1937 and died at the age of 55 from a bullet to the back of his head. Cathy was born with the same deformity but Donna was not. [4] I heard a bang and then I heard another one, she testified, saying Stiles had shot her boyfriend. Not one of them denied that they had intended to kill Grady Stiles. 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. Marys son known as Glen had an I.Q. YouTubeGrady Stiles Jr., commonly known as Lobster Boy. However it began, on the eve of the wedding, Stiles picked up his shotgun and murdered his daughters fiance in cold blood. This affliction is a deformity to the hands and/or feet and is also referred to as split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM). It wasn't his claws that made Grady a monster. Many members of the Stiles family were born with a genetic condition called ectrodactyly. When he grew up he married another employee of the carnival Mary Herzog but she wasnt a carnival act until later when she became the Electrified Girl. 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. Some in the carnival community confirm that he was an ill-tempered man and go so far as to compare him to Satan.