Unsolved Mysteries Rewind 87: Who Killed Gary Grant Jr.

Join Amy and Mark as they break down this chilling case: Was payback the motive for the murder of a detective’s 7-year-old son? On January 12, 1984, young Gary Grant Jr. enjoyed a rare midweek holiday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He lived with his mother, May, after his parents’ separation. That morning, Gary mentioned having a secret appointment later in the day, but when he failed to return home by 4:00 PM, his mother grew worried. Despite his father’s frantic search, Gary’s body was discovered two days later in a vacant lot, just two blocks from home. He had been beaten to death with a heavy pipe, likely the murder weapon, found nearby. The initial investigation focused on Carl Mason, nicknamed “Boo,” a 12-year-old with a low IQ who was close friends with Gary. After hours of questioning, Boo signed a confession, though he continued to insist on his innocence. Despite his confession being ruled inadmissible and Boo being cleared of charges, no other suspect was ever identified.

Two years later, the case took a sinister turn when a cryptic message appeared on the side of an Atlantic City patrol car: “Gary Grant’s dead. I am living. Another will die on January 12th if all goes right.” This message, found just days before the second anniversary of Gary’s murder, suggested a connection to the crime. Weeks later, another chilling message was scratched into a sidewalk: “Gary Grant Jr. lives. I still killed him. Son of a pig officer. Payback is a M.F.” These messages led to speculation that Gary’s murder was an act of retribution for an arrest made by his father, but the case remains unsolved. Gary’s family continues to hope for justice, longing for the day when the person responsible will be brought to account. Join Amy and Mark as they delve deeper into this haunting case, exploring the theories and uncovering the details that still leave so many questions unanswered.

 

Thank you to Mat Graham from Artificial Fear for allowing us to use his amazing cover of the Unsolved Mysteries Theme Song! Check out his YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoQNyGGSIl_ZbEDq-teZDWQ

And thank you to Ryan Hughes from Planet H for lending us his spot-on “Stack Voice” and working with us to have such a cool intro and outro! Check out his YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYrlNAFRMlWQN1rhWboZh2g