The Grant Media Craze

The Detroit News, the publication at the epicenter of the true crime case of the week, namely the murder of Tara Grant by her husband Stephen Grant of Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan, is wondering why the story received so much attention. A reporter inquired here at Clews. CrimeRant and others are weighing in.

Do you know what makes people so interested in spousal murders?

Speaking for myself, I am fascinated by these books. When I read of such a case, I want to know a few things: namely, why, why, why, why, and why.

Let's ask John Waters why these cases are so fascinating. He's hosting a new show to talk all about them. Fictionalized. Reduced to the most sensational elements. You can read the comic book version of the TV show here. From Playback Magazine: "The 13 x 30 true crime series Love You to Death, about spouses who have killed their loved ones, is scheduled to air in the spring on Global and Court TV, hosted by John Waters."

The Grant case certainly drew a lot of attention. Missing persons cases that look like probable spousal murders attract a lot of attention generally, especially when the victim is attractive, and from the outside, the marriage looks happy. Then it ends in an act of incredible rage and violence. What strikes me the most about these cases is the overkill that continues long after the wife is dead. Laci Peterson, Nicole Simpson, poor Mrs. Grant. Not found intact. What makes these cases fascinating? Maybe it's because the situation that apparently led to the murder can seem somewhat familiar to all of us.

Sexual impropriety, financial troubles, emails, flakiness, possible violence, possible warning signs. If we haven't lived it ourselves, perhaps we know others who have. I reminded him that it's a domestic violence case and it should be characterized as such.

Some coverage is good. Details are good. When we know the details we recognize these patterns... hopefully not in our own lives or the lives of our sisters, cousins, etc.

Of course, the victim must be beautiful to be on TV. That's the media's one strict criteria. That applies to fiction and non-fiction. So let's marvel at the heroines that John Waters will introduce us to.

Why are we fascinated by these cases?

Comments

[Steve Huff]

I have to say that after seeing the coverage that was already being afforded this new and more gruesome version of the Scott/Laci Peterson story, I decided to not write anything about it. And I'm glad, because as terrible as the story is -- and it's one of the worst of its kind -- there are other, similar, less cinematic crime stories happening every week that don't get that sort of coverage. I've fallen prey to the media frenzy thing before and may again, but not this time.

[Foose]

George Orwell wrote an essay on English domestic crime in which he identified the key ingredient of fascination in a really "good" murder -- a sensational crime whose grip on the public imagination lasts for months -- to be the murderer's perceived struggle between love (or money) and the desperate need to preserve his or her front of bourgeois respectability. Since the obsession with maintaining middle-class respectability has declined considerably since his time, perhaps a parallel essay could be written today that describes the key element of a truly "good" murder to be the beauty of one of the participants: victim, murderer or accomplice.

[Robert A. Waters]

Domestic murders are my least favorite. In fact, I rarely read true crime books about these kinds of murders unless there's some kind of alternative hook. I also think cops are quick to blame spouses because it's easier than tracking down a random killer. (I know the statistics say spouses are usually guilty, but sometimes there are convicted with little evidence.) The Tara Grant case really doesn't appeal to me on any level.

[Laura]

"Domestic" murders, interesting!
And who writes of these cases? Ann Rule, Diane Fanning. You guys make me wonder if they're a girl thing.

[Soobs]

A "girl thing?" Could be Laura. Could it be that women may identify with the victim of domestic violence easier than men? For as much as I know about myself, and how there are certain behaviors I would NEVER put up with, there but for the grace of God, kwim? When you see domestic violence that ends in murder like this case, Laci Peterson, Michelle Young (come on, you KNOW the husband is guilty as sin, from the outside, these could be your own marriage.

And thank you for reminding the reporter that this IS a domestic violence case. And it SHOULD be treated like any other felony murder.