She returned to him, and the two remarried. The chilling answer is yes, and like the fictional character, this real-life Lobster Boy was a cold-blooded killer. When his eldest daughter fell in love with a man Grady did not approve of, he killed her would-be groom with a shotgun the day before the wedding. 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. Grady's daughter, Donna, fell in love and wanted to marry a young man by the name of Jack Lane, but her father greatly opposed. If you were a member, you would see thousands of color images, detailed biographies and all sorts of fascinating information about each image. 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. "I killed before and got away with it, I can do it again," he would reportedly brag. So they let him off with 15 years probation and he returned home. He disapproved of this relationship. Together they had two children and, like his father before him, introduced the children with ectrodactyly to the family business. Grady Stiles' life was scarred by tragedy, abuse and led to brutal murders. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Because of this, Stiles performed under the stage name "Lobster Boy". This did not go down well with her daddy. 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. The Stiles aren't as unique as some freaks I've seen, but the public loves them." It was 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and he was taken to trial, where he openly admitted his guilt and was convicted of 3rd degree murder. Either Grady invited Layne to his home to talk things over, or Grady went to Layne. Your Anonymous Chat Buddy. But, old habits die hard. That became a problem once he started abusing alcohol andbegan to abuse his familyas well. She was later freed on bond while she appeals her case. For most of his life, he primarily used a wheelchair but also learned to use his upper body to pull himself across the floor with impressive strength. Grady went on to get married to Mary Theresa and have three children, two of whom were born with ectrodactyly - Cathy and Grady III. 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. For some unknown reason, Grady did not approve of his daughter Donna's fianc. His circus show was famous throughout the world. As Healthline reported, he even inspired the character Jimmy Darling in American Horror Story: Freak Show. Grady Stiles was born into a family of carnival performers in 1937. What happened that night is a matter of dispute. He was married twice to Maria Teresa Herzog and once to Barbara Browning and had four children, two of whom, a boy and a girl, also had lobster-hands. 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 . Mary wanted Wyant to kill her husband, and Wyantaccepted the job. Although she had since marriedHarry Glenn (known as "The World's Smallest Man"), this new version of Stiles again captivated her heart. According to The Human Marvels, he would taunt his family while abusing them, referencing his light punishment for murder two decades earlier. He and Jessa Olmstead had known each other for years, but the love affair has heated up in recent months, as they began working more closely together at one of America's premiere sideshows. Stiles had been married twice, having a daughter and son whom both have electrodactyly. Learn how your comment data is processed. He also allegedly used his strength to terrify and abuse his family. The murder of Grady Stiles was the first story recounted in this episode. Like Grady Stiles, Wyant went to court for the murder and was found guilty. Stiles seemeddoomed to a rough life from his birth in 1937. YouTubeGrady Stiles Jr., commonly known as Lobster Boy. Photo courtesy of the States Attorneys Office. His family decided to do something to make sure the abuse ended, once and for all. The Horrific Life and Murder Trial of the Infamous Lobster Boy. Updated 2/10/2020 His life was filled with tragedy, abuse and alcoholism, all the while featured in many carnivals, along with his family, which included his children two of whom inherited his physical affliction. He was shot in the back of the head as he sat in his underwear in his trailer. 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. His daughter Cathy calls him "Satan himself.". I believe that from the bottom of my heart. In his account of the sensational life and murder of Grady Stiles Jr., also known as the legendary carnival "freak" Lobster Boy, author Fred Rosen explains how Stiles's death was engineered by his wife, Mary Teresa, the carny known as the . six iconic Ringling Brothers freak show performers, Andre the Giant photos that you wont believe arent photoshopped. Cathy was born with the same deformity but Donna was not. Stiles had already proved that he had little patience for his daughters. 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. Im sorry this happened, but my family is safe now. Stiles remarried his first wife, Mary, and also quit drinking. Even his simple headstone bears no epitaph. Gradys daughter, Cathy, who also has lobster claws, has played roles in the HBO series Carnivale and the Tim Burton film, Big Fish. In the process he developed impressive upper body strength. The family did well: they made anywhere between $50,000 to $80,000 per season, and unlike a lot of freak show acts, didnt have to subject themselves to anything more than curious stares. It wasn't his claws that made Grady a monster. Stiles was an alcoholic and was abusive to his family. He soon went to trial, having admitted to his actions with no remorse whatsoever, but pointed out that he couldnt possibly be imprisoned: no jail could handle his disability and to confine him to prison would be cruel and unusual punishment. Ectrodactyly is a genetic condition in which a person's fingers and/or toes are fused together. I killed before and got away with it, I can do it again. was now his favorite taunt to his family. My husband was going to kill my family, she told the court, I believe that from the bottom of my heart.. Just as a significant portion of his living family was being tried for his murder, Grady Stiless body was put to rest. The victim was known to carnival audiences as Lobster Boy because of his pincerlike hands, a result of a rare genetic condition. 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. Fans ofAmerican Horror Story: Freakshoware familiar with "Lobster Boy." "Little Grady" has a normal daughter, Sara. When not traveling with the carnival, the Stiles family lived in Gibsonton, Florida, where many other carnival performers lived during the winter season. She wasnt part of an act, just a staff member, but she fell in love with Stiles and the two married. Therefore, it was determined he would not receive adequate medical care in prison. American Horror Story: Freak Show has a Lobster Boy character. Donna never spoke to her father again, but soon after the trial, Grady remarried Mary, who left her husband. Stiles's life, and death, are the stuff nightmares are made of. There was no doubt about Gradys guilt as he freely confessed to the crime, but he never served time for the crime. He also, by this time, had acquired liver cirrhosis from drinking and had emphysema from years of cigarette smoking. He used his condition to his advantage. You were a drunken bastard but you were my dad," he said. After all that, due being so loathed in the community, no one offered to serve as pallbearer for Grady at his funeral. Gradys character witnesses included his friends from the circus, including the Bearded Lady, a carnival dwarf and the Fat Man. My father was on top of her, choking her, he said. So, the circus welcomed them with open arms. He came from a line of circus "freaks" born withectrodactyly his fingers and toes were fused into claw-like appendages, hence his nickname. It was later revealed that Donna wanted to get married as she had fallen pregnant, which turned out to be a lie. Grady Stiles had evaded prison and gained a sense of being above the law, and thus the beatings became more severe. The family has come a long way. Stiles joined the family sideshow act at a young age, and his life was probably quite difficult, especially since his condition made him unable to walk. The pair had planned to be married the next day. In 1992, Mary decided she had enough of Gradys abuse. Thus, it was the end of the torturer. Deadpool was hired to assassinate him, but fails when he figures out he is possessed by Xaphan, a fallen angel, and starts possessing the souls. Backpackerverse.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Late Thursday, Mrs. Stiles took the stand for the second time in the two- week trial, acknowledging that her husband did not abuse her the night of the slaying but saying previous threats against her made it a case of kill or be killed. Harry, who claimed he was only trying to protect his mother, was charged with first degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. He wasted no time introducing Grady to show life, billing him as the Lobster Boy and starting him in the freak show business at the tender age of 7. Amazingly shoddy quality photo pitchcard of Grady and his daughter-- "Father 36., Daughter 5 yrs." Their ages puts this at 1973. The result is that the hands look like lobster claws. Grady Franklin Stiles Jr. was born on July 18, 1937, in Pittsburgh. It was all so terrible," townsperson Judy Rock told him. Seeing as there were no State institutions equipped to deal with his physical impairment which was exacerbated by emphysema and cirrhosis of the liver he was given 15 years probation. Unlike Grady Stiles, Wyant was sentenced to 27 yeas in prison for the murder. FREAKS BEASTS Like a lot of circus folks, the family would retire to Gibsonton, Florida during the slow winter season. Donna recalls that he fell into her arms, where he died within moments. Perhaps the final verdict lies with his children. He was sentenced to 15 years probation, partly because he had liver cirrhosis from heavy drinking and emphysema from smoking three packs a day. 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. The company has obtained a license from the Curaao Every student's aim is to pass their exams with the highest marks possible. Even though he was . 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. Reputed to be a mean drunk, Lobster Boy reportedly beat his wife and children for years until one night in 1973. Lists about the strange, fascinating, and horrifying history of circuses and carnivals in America and around the world. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The only marking is an engraving of clasped hands along with his name. Mary, Harry, and Wyant were not so lucky. Who was GradyStiles, really? You're missing all sorts of good stuff. 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