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Recalling Tara Grant's gruesome murder at the hands of her husband 10 years later

Stephen Grant serving long prison sentence for wife's strangling

Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of Tara Grant's murder at her Washington Township home. 

Grant, 34, returned to her Washington Township home on Feb. 9, 2007 from a business trip in Puerto Rico. She had been working long hours and was excited to come home to see her children and her husband. Little did Tara know her husband Stephen was already plotting her murder. He was hoping to take his wife out of the picture so he could begin a relationship with the couple's au pair, Veranna.

That night, after the children were tucked in bed and after the au pair went to sleep, there was an argument that escalated into a fight which ultimately ended with Tara's murder at the hands of Stephen.

She was strangled in her bedroom.

Stephen waited a few days before reporting his wife missing. However, Tara Grant's face was soon everywhere. People were desperately trying to locate the missing mother. Her husband seemed concerned at first but later seemed like he was hiding something. He became obsessed with the media coverage and the spotlight.

More: Tara Grant's family satisfied with Stephen's 50-80 year sentence

Stephen Grant's story started to fall apart and police suspected he was involved in his wife's death.

Armed with a search warrant, police investigators entered the Grant home and discovered Tara's torso hidden in a storage container in the garage. Moments before police had arrived at the home, Grant had called hank Winchester asking if he would interview him inside his garage. By the time Winchester and a Local 4 camera crew arrived at the home, Grant was in a police car. Police had taken over the house and then called Tara's sister Alicia Standerer to break the news.

Tara Grant's remains were found not only inside the home but scattered in nearby Stoney Creek Metro Park. A trial soon followed.

Read back: Stephen Grant loses final appeal

Here is the Local 4 Defenders piece from the 5th anniversary: 

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About the Authors
Hank Winchester headshot

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

Karen Drew headshot

Karen Drew is the anchor of Local 4 News First at 4, weekdays at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. She is also an award-winning investigative reporter.

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