Grady Stiles Jr Was Born With Claw Hands - And He Eventually Used Them To Kill

The story of Grady Stiles Jr., known across America as the “Lobster Boy,” is one of the most shocking and tragic sagas to ever emerge from the world of circus sideshows. Born with a rare congenital condition known as ectrodactyly, which caused his hands to form in the shape of claws, Stiles became both a spectacle and a star in the traveling carnival circuit. But behind the fame and fascination was a man whose life would spiral into a dark tale of violence, murder, and revenge.

Grady Stiles Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, into a long line of circus performers who shared the same genetic condition. The “Lobster Family” act had been part of carnival lore for generations, and Grady was destined to continue the legacy. Despite his deformity, he lived a physically demanding life—moving around with incredible upper-body strength, performing in shows, and commanding attention everywhere he went.

During his years in the circus, Stiles met Maria Teresa, a young performer who would become his wife. Together they had two children and, for a time, lived the classic carnie dream. But behind the bright lights and applause, their family life was filled with fear. Grady’s personality grew darker over the years as alcoholism, rage, and physical abuse took over his household. His wife and children often bore the brunt of his temper—one that seemed impossible to escape given his intimidating physical power and reputation.

Everything came to a head when Stiles’ daughter fell in love with a young man whom he disapproved of. On the night before her wedding, Grady made an unthinkable decision: he shot and killed her fiancé in cold blood. The crime shocked both the carnival community and the public, but Stiles’ trial took an even stranger turn. Because of his severe physical limitations, the court determined that he could not safely serve time in prison. Instead, he received 15 years of probation, effectively escaping incarceration for murder.

After his release, Stiles remarried Maria Teresa, but their reconciliation only reignited the nightmare. His violence worsened, and his family began to live in constant terror. Eventually, Maria Teresa became convinced that Grady would kill her or one of their children. In desperation, she turned to a neighbor for help—offering him money to murder Grady Stiles Jr.

In 1992, the plan was carried out. Stiles was shot and killed in his Florida home, bringing an end to one of the most bizarre and infamous stories in true crime history.

The tale of Grady Stiles Jr.—the “Lobster Boy”—remains a haunting reminder of how fame, deformity, and violence can intertwine into tragedy. What began as a story of resilience and circus success ended in betrayal, fear, and bloodshed—a chilling chapter in America’s carnival past that still fascinates and horrifies to this day.