EP191: Lobster Boy

During the early 20th century in the United States, there were traveling carnivals that included sideshows that showcased people with genetic abnormalities. One family who traveled with the carnival, and did quite well financially, was the Stiles family. Their claim to fame was that many members of the family had the genetic condition called ectrodactyly–commonly known as Lobster Claw Syndrome. Grady Stiles, Jr. was one of the members of the family who was part of the carnival, and during his life, he married and had children. He also was a raging and violent alcoholic. You know this doesn’t end well, right?