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March 7, 2007
The families who once came together for holidays sat on opposite sides of a courtroom Tuesday, represented by lawyers, the custody of Stephen and Tara Lynn Grant's two children at stake.

Two hours earlier, the families sat in another courtroom. Stephen Grant, clad in black-and-white Macomb County jail garb, was pushed out in a wheelchair for his first appearance before a judge on charges he killed and dismembered his wife and the mother of those kids.
"I'm not here to give him a big hug," said Stephen Grant's sister, Kelly Utykanski.

"I want him to get his punishment."
The strain, turmoil and grief surrounding the death of Tara Grant, 34 -- her apparent disappearance weeks ago, the discovery of her remains Friday and Saturday and the arrest of her husband on Sunday -- were on full display Tuesday as their two families began the long and surreal process of sorting out what happens from here.
After Stephen Grant's brief arraignment before District Judge Denis LeDuc played out Tuesday afternoon, a Macomb County juvenile court referee started to consider the difficult custody issues involving the Grants' children, a 4-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl.

They were taken from Utykanski's Sterling Heights home on Monday evening and placed with Tara Grant's sister, Alicia Standerfer, and her husband, Erik, with whom they will stay at least until another hearing within 30 days. Both families were seeking custody of the children, who have been told of their mother's death.
But it doesn't appear to be an acrimonious contest.

"We don't have any animosity toward each other," Utykanski said after her brother's arraignment. "We're not going to make this into a courtroom battle."
Utykanski, who cared for the children during the weekend with her husband, Chris, as her brother ran from the law, spoke lovingly of the Standerfers.

"When we saw them last night, we were hugging them," she said.
The court referee, John J. Kennedy, placed the children under the supervision of the state Department of Human Services, which turned them over to the Standerfers.

Until the next court date, the children cannot leave Michigan. The Standerfers' lawyer, Patrick Simasko, declined to reveal their current living arrangements. The Standerfers live in Chillicothe, Ohio, but Alicia grew up in Michigan.

The couple left the court through a side door without comment after the hearing.
"They're going back to be with the children and they would just ask all of the reporters to respect the children's privacy," Simasko said. "They're going to comply with all the rules and regulations.

"
Kennedy also ruled that Grant, 37, would be denied any visitation with the children in jail throughout the custody proceedings. The state already has petitioned to terminate Grant's parental rights.
Authorities say Grant killed his wife while the children were in the Grant home in Washington Township, probably sleeping.

Grant's court-appointed civil attorney, Stephen Donovan, said his client is considering whether to fight the move.
When informed Tuesday of the custody proceedings, Donovan said Grant "was almost tearful. It was difficult for him.

" But Donovan said Grant told him he has no problem with the current placement of the children.
"For the longer term, he is thinking about that and we'll talk about that later," Donovan said.
At his arraignment, Grant was polite as a judge read charges of first-degree murder and disinterment and mutilation of a corpse.

He had said his wife was missing since Feb. 9 -- the same night authorities say he strangled her and then dismembered her body in his family's machine shop, scattering the remains in a wooded area around Stony Creek Metropark.
Macomb County officials say her torso was found during a search of the Grants' home on Friday, when Grant fled.

He apparently brought the torso back to the home after learning officials would search the park.
Other remains were found in the woods Saturday. Grant was captured Sunday morning in Wilderness State Park -- four hours away, at the northwestern tip of the Lower Peninsula.

He suffered hypothermia and some frostbite, which is why he was wheeled to and from his arraignment.
Authorities say Grant has confessed to strangling his wife and dismembering her body.
On Tuesday, he nodded as LeDuc explained the charges and said, "Yes, Your Honor," before LeDuc entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Detective Sgt. Brian Kozlowski of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office cited a two-hour audiotaped confession to the slaying and cover-up.
"Given the extreme, extreme seriousness of the charges, the nature of the allegations here .

.. I'm going to order you without bond," LeDuc said.

Grant agreed to have a court-appointed criminal attorney -- it was not clear whether one had been named by Tuesday evening. Before he was wheeled out of court, Grant said, "Thank you, Your Honor."
Kelly Utykanski, his sister, said she wants to ensure his rights are not compromised and she'd like to speak with him about "housekeeping" issues, such as bills.

But she's stunned by the turn of events, calling him "the most docile person I saw my whole life."
When he fled to northern Michigan, she said, "he called me on the phone, saying he was suicidal." She immediately contacted police.

Grant isn't eligible to have visitors to the jail until Thursday, according to jail officials.
After the custody hearing, the Standerfers went with a police escort to the Grants' home.
They had to pick up clothes for the children.

Contact BEN SCHMITT at 313-223-4296 or . Staff writer Jim Schaefer contributed to this report.
moderator- I believe you should remove certain posts on here with racial inferances.

..I have seen you remove others with less, much less.

..

maxxsir- you need an education

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:34 pm
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:24 pm
From the answers we got last night from Queen 2 Penny Jenny it looks like Grant will be living better than all of us pretty soon.

On the other had she may just release Grant on early parole upon conviction. After all we must save money at the expence of safety and according to the liberal mentality everyone gets a second chance (to kill/butcher, rob and rape someone that is). Why not let all the knuckle draggers out and just be done with it Jenny?

Last night we were looking for answers. Queen Jenny said let them eat cake. What a slit.

..

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:21 pm
all-american girl meets all-american psychopath.

..

To those that wonder WTF - That matchup is the reason for the tremendous interest.

If this crime happens in Dee-troit, I believe it would get the same coverage - not to worry - Deetroiters...

I think many people are shocked that something so crazy and horrific can happen right in our backyard...

Story behind the story message to the ladies - Don't disrespect the domestic stylings of your Mr. Moms . They may have off the chart levels of low self-esteem.

..

You just have to leave them at the first hint things are getting ugly.

..

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:18 pm
How many more days of this story?

???

? Come on Freep, move on already.
Let me quickly summarize.

...

Wife missing. Husband upset. He go look for wife.

Wife found dead in little pieces. Husband run.
Husband caught.

Husband confess and go to jail.
Next tabloid story please!!

!!