For more than a century, a strange physical condition known as ectrodactyly has cursed the Stiles family. This rare congenital deformity, also known as split hand/foot malformation, involves the deficiency or absence of one or more central digits of the hand or foot resulting in lobster claws.

While many may have viewed this condition as a handicap, for the Stiles family it spelled opportunity. As far back as the 1800s, as the family grew and produced more children with unusual hands and feet, they developed a circus: The Lobster Family, which became a carnival staple throughout the early 20th century.

Grady Stiles Jr. was the fourth child of Grady F. Stiles and had an extreme case of ectrodactyly; it impacted his legs as well. He got around using a wheelchair or by crawling, dragging himself with formidable upper body strength.

He was added to the circus by his father at the age of 7 in the hope of carrying the family business. But destiny had a totally different story planned for him. Grady Stiles Jr. would give the Stiles’ family a different, morbid reputation when he became a serial abuser and murderer.