Small Town Murder | Episode: Comedy Of Horrors - Washington Township, Michigan

Hosts: James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman
Release Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this wild and deeply researched episode, James and Jimmie take listeners on a grim, yet darkly comedic tour through Washington Township, Michigan—a seemingly idyllic suburb with a gruesome crime lurking beneath its manicured surface. This week’s case: the murder and dismemberment of Tara Grant by her husband, Steven Grant, amid suburban drama, jealousy, an ill-fated au pair, and the worst getaway in true crime history. The hosts balance gallows humor with empathy, never mocking the victims but skewering the arrogance and bizarre behavior of the perpetrator.

Washington Township, Michigan: History, Flavor & Quirks

[06:03–13:46]

Quick Town Portrait

• Location: Southeast Michigan, 40 minutes outside Detroit (basically a suburb)
• Population: ~28,000, mostly white, high median income, strong family orientation
• Vibe: Suburban, leafy, safe, family-centric (43% Catholic, the "Baptists of the north")
• Notable Features:
  • Former orchard town, famous for peaches (Romeo Peach Festival, Blossom Time Festival)
  • Prized for mom-and-pop and chain store balance
  • Real estate: Trailers for $40k to mansion-style homes for $3 million
  • "Cold in winter, too much snow"—resident review
• "Not sure what future will bring." – Local reviewer (11:31)

Quotes

• James on local reviews:
  "The Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, it’s all within walking distance, right there." (08:46)

Quirks & Festivals

• Beauty pageants for all ages, especially young girls—a running roast theme for James and Jimmie
• Bands with cartoonish names: "Dirty Mic and the Boys"—Jimmie:
  "Did you see The Other Guys? There was a team of homeless people called Dirty Mike and the Boys..." (18:51)

Meet Tara Grant: Small-Town Overachiever

[20:31–47:37]

Childhood & Early Life

• Raised in the Michigan Upper Peninsula on a "hobby farm" with devoted but strict parents
• Classic overachiever: 4H champion, marksman, champion livestock raiser, first clarinet, pianist, athlete, varsity basketball player, cheerleader, hard worker
• Wanted "enough money to buy everything I want, live in a big house with a Jaguar parked in the garage." (39:53)
  • “She’s an achiever. That’s just all there is to it.” – James (32:24)
• Vowed never to let a man treat her as she saw her father treat her mother—“She would take no shit.”

College & Meeting Steven Grant

[41:54–51:56]

• Tara meets Steven Grant (notorious for his bug-eyed "crazy eyes," wild facial expressions, and womanizer reputation) at Michigan State
• They start as friends, later get together after Steven shows up—uninvited—at Tara's grandmother’s funeral:
  • “[Steven] was entirely too worldly... just too fast for her.” – Alicia (Tara's sister) (49:54)
• Steven fails at a career in politics, ends up in his dad’s machine shop, marries Tara in 1996

The Grants’ Marriage & Suburban Life

[53:08–59:48]

• Tara ascends corporate ranks (Washington Group International), eventually earning ~$170k+ as an executive, managing Puerto Rico operations
  • Steven makes $19k/year at a machine shop, acts as primary caregiver ("Mr. Mom")
  • “He prided himself on the Mr. Mom thing... that’s all he’s got, honestly.” – James (73:04)
• Marriage tension: absenteeism, career jealousy, Tara’s intense achiever-instinct transferred to parenting (over-driven with kids’ ballet, hockey, au pairs, etc.)
  • Ongoing marital strain, Steven's emasculation and suspicions

The Last Days & Tara’s Disappearance

[78:30–85:53]

• In February 2007, Tara, commuting weekly to Puerto Rico, returns home; major fight ensues over work/life and jealousy issues
• Steven’s story: Tara storms out, catches a car to the airport, vanishes. He waits five days before reporting her missing—highly suspicious to police.
  • “Did you just say five days to report his wife missing?” – Sgt. Kozlowski, police detective (83:57)

The Police Investigation & Steven’s Odd Behavior

[86:11–125:59]

Initial Police Interactions

• Steven gives melodramatic statements (“Maybe nerve gas! Maybe terrorists!”), secretly implicates himself with odd comments about affairs, the au pair, and willingness to take a polygraph (which he later avoids)
  • Quote:
    “My wife either has been exposed to nerve gas or has been kidnapped by terrorists…” – Steven, (90:23)
• Keeps a weirdly detailed notebook/log; arouses suspicion at every turn
• Media-hungry: Calls reporters for attention, cries on national TV repeatedly ("bipartisan crier")

Digital Forensics & Emails

• Police find glaring cell phone discrepancies (no call to the car service), frequent calls between Steven and 19-year-old German au pair Verena Dirkes
• Emails reveal Steven’s affair attempts (with both au pair and old girlfriend), suspicions, and amateur sleuthing on Tara’s emails:
  • “Naked girls are always good to see, especially if you haven’t seen them in a while.” (Steven, 120:05)
  • "What a dweeb." – Det. Kozlowski assesses Steven’s seduction technique (121:08)

The Discovery: Dismemberment & Unraveling

[138:51–147:43]

• Tara’s remains found in multiple locations (park and family garage) after weeks of poor concealment by Steven (notably, her torso in a bin labeled “boys clothes” in their garage)
  • “Dog food, that’s right... that's all it is.” (145:11)
• Police search reveal dismemberment tools, blood evidence, metal shavings (from Steven’s machine shop)
• The get-away: Steven flees in a “bright yellow Dodge Dakota Sport”—possibly the most conspicuous getaway vehicle ever
  • “He’s driving a fucking Transformer.” – James (149:17)
• Au pair Verena confesses to having a brief romantic/sexual encounter with Steven, but claims no further involvement

Steven’s Confession & The Gruesome Details

[151:41–179:41]

• On the run and suffering from hypothermia, Steven is arrested in northern Michigan
• Detailed confession: admits to strangling Tara during an argument, dragging her body to the garage, dismembering her at the machine shop (in 14 pieces), scattering and hiding remains ineptly, and constructing an elaborate false narrative
• Chilling quote:
  "As soon as I started going, it was like Keystone Cops—the sled took off and now I’m chasing after this sled that has my wife’s cut up body parts on it down a hill.” – Steven Grant, on body disposal (178:43)
• Motive: jealousy, emasculation, and a desire to avoid the consequences of Tara leaving him

The Trial & Aftermath

[182:37–186:13]

• Steven convicted of second-degree murder after jury cannot agree on premeditation
• Sentenced to 50–80 years (first parole at 87), plus six years for mutilation of a corpse; described by the judge as “demonic, manipulative, barbaric, and dishonest”
• The Grants’ children raised by Tara’s sister; both now active advocates against domestic violence
• Story chronicled in several true crime books ("Slaying in the Suburbs," "Limb From Limb")

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Small-Town Reviews

• “Not sure what future will bring.” (11:31)
  James, laughing: “I dare you. Challenge that person!”

On the Murder Investigation

• “If you think I did something to my wife, do you?” – Steven
  “If we thought you were involved, we’d take you to jail right now.” – Sgt. Kozlowski (99:27)

On Steven's Escape Vehicle

• “Maybe the most conspicuous getaway vehicle in the history of murder—a searing yellow Dodge Dakota Sport… He’s driving a fucking Transformer.” – James (149:11/149:17)

On Steven’s High School Seduction Style

• “Naked girls are always good to see.” – Steven, to old girlfriend (120:05)
• “What a dweeb.” – Det. Kozlowski (121:08)

On the Dismemberment

• “So I started in on her legs… the hands, the feet, Tara’s head, everything.” – Steven’s confession (179:41)

Timeline of Key Segments

• Town Introduction/Stats/History: [06:03–14:33]
• Tara’s Childhood/Family: [20:31–38:16]
• College, Meeting Steven: [41:54–51:56]
• Marriage & Work-Life Issues: [53:08–61:33]
• Fight and Disappearance: [78:30–85:53]
• Investigation & Police Suspicions: [86:11–125:59]
• Cellphone/Email Evidence: [108:07–124:56]
• Discovery of Remains: [138:51–147:43]
• Steven’s Confession: [151:41–181:03]
• Trial & Sentencing: [182:37–186:13]

Final Thoughts

The hosts turn the spotlight on both the tragedy and absurdity of the case, expertly walking the line between respectful and riotously irreverent. Through forensic storytelling, spot-on comedic jabs, and a pitch-perfect dissection of small-town quirks, James and Jimmie reveal both the horror of the crime and the surreal banality of suburban life gone wrong.

“It’s one of the craziest we’ve ever told.” – James (186:19)

For true crime with a comedic edge—brutal, thorough, and somehow hilarious—Small Town Murder continues to set the bar.