Suvechha Sarkar
In November 1992, the quiet community of Gibsonton, Florida, known as a haven for sideshow performers, was shaken by a brutal crime. Grady Stiles Jr., popularly known as “The Lobster Boy,” was shot dead at his home. What unfolded in the aftermath was a trail of abuse, family strife, and ultimately, a murder-for-hire plot. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Killer Carnies: The Sideshow Murders’ explores the details surrounding the murder and the fates of those involved in orchestrating the crime. It also features interviews with his family members, officials, and archival footage that offer more insight into the case.
Grady Stiles Jr. Built a Carnival Legacy But Had a Violent Past
Grady Stiles Jr. was born on June 18, 1937, to Edna Maud and Grady Franklin Stiles Sr. in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was born with a condition named Ectrodactyly, which fused his fingers to look like lobster claws. He grew up alongside his siblings, Ruby Alice and Margaret K Stiles. During that time, his father was a part of a carnival sideshow and introduced Grady Jr. on the stage at just the age of 7. It earned him the title of “The Lobster Boy,” but the situation made him resentful. Grady Jr. continued working when he met Mary Teresa in the 1950s during his work. They soon tied the knot and welcomed their daughters Donna (didn’t have Ectrodactyly) and Cathy into the world. Grady Jr. and Teresa parted ways in 1973, and he got custody of his daughters since he was the breadwinner.
Shortly after, Grady Jr. met Barbara Lucille and married her. Eventually, their son, Grady Stiles III, was born in 1976 with Ectrodactyly like his father and his sister, Cathy. The Stiles family set out on the road to put on shows in several towns and cities, and was known as the “Lobster Family.” However, according to Grady III, his father used to drink alcohol to dull his pain and was abusive to him, his stepsiblings, and Barbara. When Donna was 15 years old in 1978, she met Jack Lane (or Layne), fell in love, and wanted to marry him. However, Grady Jr. disapproved of their relationship. Just a day before their wedding on September 27, 1978, he reportedly killed Jack by shooting him. In 1979, the case went on trial, where he claimed that he acted in self-defense. Ultimately, he was convicted of third-degree murder.
Grady Stiles Jr. Was Brutally Shot Dead in His Trailer in Florida
Despite the conviction, Grady Jr. was sentenced to 15 years of probation since the jury felt that prison was not ideal for him because of Ectrodactyly. When his abuse reportedly continued after his return, Barbara divorced him. In the late 1980s, Grady Jr. seemingly decided to stop drinking and reconnected with Mary Teresa, who had a son, Harry Glenn Newman Jr., from her second marriage by then. Mary and Grady Jr. married and moved to Gibsonton in Hillsborough County, Florida, with Grady III and Harry. Although the abuse had stopped for a while, it reportedly began once again, allegedly leaving Mary scared for her and her children’s safety.
Everything changed on November 29, 1992, when Harry found Grady Jr. shot in the living room. He promptly called 911 to inform them about the situation. When officials arrived at the scene, they found Grady Jr. deceased on the sofa of his living room with three gunshot wounds to his head. They discovered that two were fired from a distance, and the third was at a close range. Further inspection revealed that the three bullets were from an automatic pistol. They found no signs of forced entry, which negated the possibility of home invasion. Detectives reportedly deduced that it was an act of revenge. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be the fatal gunshot wounds to his head.
The Truth Behind Grady Stiles Jr.’s Death Emerged From His Family Circle
As detectives began their initial investigation, they started looking into individuals Grady Jr. might’ve argued with. They discovered the list was long since he had reportedly engaged in multiple fights with others. They first turned their attention to Harry, who had claimed he was at the back of the house with Mary, at his sister, Cathy’s, trailer. When they questioned Cathy, she informed them about a carnival worker with whom he had argued. However, another worker, Marco, who lived in the back of their residence, informed the officials that he had seen a “white male” who was young, 5’8″ in height, with “black-ish hair” fleeing from Grady Jr.’s trailer and going around the corner.
When investigators spoke with Grady Jr.’s family members, they discovered that Mary and his children were reportedly on the receiving end of his constant abuse. Mary also claimed that Grady Jr. once threatened her with a knife, saying he would hurt her and the children. That made law enforcement look into their family members since they believed a motive existed. According to Mary’s own account, she was at Cathy’s trailer with her grandchild. They learned that Grady III was sleeping in his room during that time. Although he had woken up to the sounds of gunshots, he presumed it to be sounds from the movie on the television. When Harry was brought to the station and asked to take a polygraph test, he failed it.
Furthermore, under the pressure, Harry admitted that although he didn’t kill his stepfather, he knew that his neighbor, Christopher Wyant, AKA Chris, had done it. According to reports, he confessed that he and Mary could not take Grady Jr.’s abuse any longer and had mentioned the same to Chris, who agreed to murder Grady Jr. for $1,500. He admitted that Chris had made way into his house and shot Grady Jr. After the confession, Harry and Mary were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in November 1992. Upon searching Chris’ house, police found the murder weapon. The bullets from the firearm turned out to be the exact match to the ones that were found at the crime scene. Chris was charged with the murder of Grady Jr., along with conspiracy to commit murder.
While Mary Teresa Stiles and Chris Wyant Are Leading a Quiet Life Today, Harry Newman Passed Away in Custody
None of Mary, Harry, or Chris had accepted a plea deal for lesser charges from the Prosecution. The jury trial of Mary began in 1994, and it was largely covered by the national media. During the trial, the Prosecution highlighted Harry’s confession about their elaborate murder-for-hire plot. On the other hand, the Defense claimed that she was afraid not only for her life but also for her family. After deliberation, Mary was convicted of a lesser offense of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. On August 29, 1994, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison for each charge to be served concurrently. On the other hand, Harry was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
On October 14, 1994, Harry was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years for the murder and 12 years in prison for conspiracy. Chris was convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison for each charge on February 22, 1994, which was to be served concurrently. Eventually, Mary was released on probation on December 4, 2000, after serving 6 years in prison. As of writing, she has maintained a low profile and has lived away from the limelight. Chris was released from custody on probation after serving 15 years on August 21, 2009. Since then, it appears that he has decided to lead a private life. However, Harry passed away while he was still in custody in March 2014.
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