Podcast Summary: The Hand in the Window – “Follow the Flies”

Podcast: The Hand in the Window (ABC News, 20/20 and ABC Audio)
Host: ABC News/John Quinones
Episode: ‘Follow the Flies’ (Episode 4)
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the aftermath of a daring 911 call by a kidnapped woman, leading to the arrest of Shawn Grate in rural Ohio. Detectives quickly realize that Grate may be linked to multiple missing women, and as the investigation unfolds, he confesses to several murders. The tense, methodical work of Ashland police, particularly Detectives Kim Major and Brian Evans, reconstructs the chilling scope of Grate’s crimes and brings closure to devastated families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Detectives’ Background and Immediate Response

• [00:44-02:31]
  • Detectives Brian Evans and Kim Major are long-time colleagues; both raised in Ashland, Ohio.
  • Evans, a narcotics specialist, is tasked with securing the crime scene at the yellow house on Covert Court after Jane Doe’s escape.
  • Tension is heightened by the recent disappearances of Stacy Stanley and Elizabeth Griffith, both unusual occurrences in Ashland.

The Interview with Shawn Grate

• [03:56-06:31]
  • Major’s Interview Tactics:
    Major approaches Grate with empathy but steers the conversation toward the missing women.
  • Grate’s Obfuscation:
    He initially avoids direct answers about Elizabeth Griffith but then becomes emotional and confesses to knowing her fate.
  • Introduction of a New Victim:
    Grate unexpectedly mentions another victim, Candace Cunningham, shifting the investigation to another county and a new possible case.
    • Quote [07:23]:
      • Grate: “I know I loved her.”

Step-by-Step Confessions

• [09:27-10:47]

  • Candace Cunningham’s Murder:
    Grate describes a violent argument leading to strangulation and directs police to her body in the woods, instructing to "follow the flies."
    • Quote [10:16]:
      • Grate: “I guess I'm ready to go ahead and get my lethal injection, but I'll tell you everything first.”

• [11:16-12:36]

  • Elizabeth Griffith’s Fate:
    Grate reveals Elizabeth's body is upstairs, hidden in a closet at the Covert Court house, strangled in a similar manner as Candace.

• [22:26-24:06]

  • Discovery of a Third Victim:
    Grate admits to killing Stacy Stanley, her body hidden under garbage bags in the basement. He chillingly describes the attack and rape.
    • Quote [24:21]:
      • Grate: “She wanted to play the innocent thing. So that's kind of just snapped on her.”

On-Scene Crime Discovery

• [17:04-19:51]
  • As Grate confesses, Detective Evans returns to the house to search for the bodies, finding Elizabeth Griffith’s remains hogtied and decomposed in the closet, and items belonging to Stacy in the basement.
    • Evans, upon discovery:
      • “You could see the fly activity. A lot of the flies were dead at that point, meaning that they've been there a while. Then you could start to get the odor of a decaying body.” [18:41]

Emotional Impact on Law Enforcement and Families

• [26:23-29:24]
  • The personal toll on detectives and families is evident as they grapple with the horror of the crimes and the process of victim identification.
    • Curtis Stanley, Stacy’s son, on identifying her body:
      • “Yeah, that's my mom's picture. And that's what they told us.” [29:19]
  • Detective Evans:
    • “I've been on other homicides and other tragic cases, but not to this magnitude. No.” [26:58]

Bringing Closure & Final Reflections

• [30:32-33:56]
  • Detective Major describes the process of locating Candace Cunningham’s body and the emotions that followed.
    • Major’s reflection:
      • “Like I wanted to go down to the ravine and rescue her, but she's gone.” [32:11]
    • Major on Grate:
      • “She was killed because he has a craving, that he has a hunger. And all it takes is you making a mistake and you're gone. You're gone.” [32:47]
  • The episode closes with the realization that Ashland is now linked to a serial killer, raising questions about how such evil emerges in small communities.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Unusual Nature of the Case:

  • Evans: “I'd say it's very unusual to have two adult females missing for the city of Ashland. I would say that that doesn't happen.” [01:45]

• Revelation about Multiple Victims:

  • Grate (suddenly): “I can take you to a place in Mansfield.” [05:21]

• Major on the Nature of Confession:

  • “It's like a sore that is festered inside that you have to rip a scab off to clean it. It's in there and it wants to come out. So I'll be the conduit.” [10:53]

• Crime Scene Experience:

  • Evans: “Once you got upstairs... you couldn’t see the closet door at all.” [18:11]
  • Evans (identifying fly activity): “You could see the fly activity. A lot of the flies were dead at that point, meaning that they've been there a while.” [18:41]

• Family Heartbreak:

  • Stanley's son: “Yeah, that was my mom.” [29:20]

• Major on Grate's Lack of Remorse:

  • “She wasn't killed because they were arguing and she wanted him to roll a cigarette. She was killed because he has a craving, that he has a hunger. And all it takes is you making a mistake and you're gone.” [32:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:44] - Introduction of Detectives Evans and Major
• [03:56] - Start of the first major interview with Grate
• [05:24] - Grate hints at another victim in Mansfield
• [09:27] - Grate confesses to Candace Cunningham’s murder
• [11:27] - Grate reveals Elizabeth Griffith is in the closet
• [18:41] - Evans and colleagues discover fly activity in the closet
• [22:38] - Grate confesses to Stacy Stanley’s murder in the basement
• [26:58] - Evans reflects on the unprecedented scale of the case
• [29:19] - Curtis Stanley identifies his mother’s body
• [30:32] - Major retraces the route to Candace’s body
• [32:47] - Major discusses Grate’s compulsion to kill

Episode Tone and Style

The episode is somber and methodical, reflecting the gravity of the murders and the painstaking investigation. The voices of Ashland’s detectives and families communicate shock, grief, and a determined professionalism. The narrative builds suspense as each of Grate’s chilling, matter-of-fact confessions leads investigators to yet another hidden body. Occasionally, raw emotion and horror break through as families are forced to identify lost loved ones and detectives confront the grim realities of their work.

Conclusion

“Follow the Flies” offers a wrenching, step-by-step look at how a single 911 call unraveled a series of disappearances and murders in a small Ohio town. It underscores the importance of tenacious investigation, the psychological toll on both law enforcement and victims’ families, and the chilling unpredictability of serial predators. Through candid interviews, painstaking crime scene details, and the exhausted voices of those seeking justice, the episode pieces together a harrowing story of loss, revelation, and resolve.