Cracks in Captured Husband's 'Mr. Mom' Facade
March 5, 2007 — -- Early Sunday morning, Stephen Grant was found hiding under a fallen tree in a state park -- shoeless, frostbitten and shivering more than 200 miles from his Michigan home.
Grant surrendered to police and was arrested for the murder of his wife, Tara Lynn. The torso of Tara Lynn's dismembered body was found in the couple's garage, and other body parts were found in a state park.
Tara's sister Alicia Standerfer said today on "Good Morning America" that the family had no indication the couple was having serious problems.
"It's beyond anything I could have possibly imagined," Standerfer said. "We had no idea he would be capable of something like this."
The 34-year-old mother of two was last seen Feb. 9, and Grant reported her missing five days later.
Police said the couple had argued that day over her business travels abroad, but Grant, 37, steadfastly maintained his innocence.
Grant, once known to his neighbors as "Mr.Mom," publicly pleaded for his wife's return, and said he had to be strong for his kids.
"If I show a crack the kids see it… 'Daddy, why are you crying?'" he said.
The couple's two children are now staying with Grant's sister and her husband, according to Standerfer.
But some evidence suggests there were cracks in Grant's "Mr. Mom" facade.
He reportedly sent an e-mail to an ex-girlfriend that said, "I don't care about being married, I never have… It is that no conscience thing I think!"
Standerfer said that e-mail was "very unsettling for us to read."
"It established Steve's character in my mind," Standerfer said. "He was basically admitting to everyone that read those … e-mails that he himself doesn't have a conscience. We've known Steve for over 12 years. To think he's deceived all of us is very unsettling."
Police said Grant seemed frightened when the search intensified.
"It scares me because the reason they're looking for her in the park is because they're afraid something horrible has happened, and I don't want to think that," Grant said.
He insisted he was cooperating with police.
"The sheriff's office is asking for things and we are telling them that all they have to do is ask. Put it in writing and ask," he said.
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