Which is to say it is goofy: What a yarn! This one has everything: murder (or was it?), sex, money, Mormons, a dogged cop, victim's diaries ("Death Wish," October 9, and "Cracked Case," October 16, both by Paul Rubin).
And the most interesting thing about what was contained in the diaries is that poor Faylene Grant was convinced that she would die soon (revelation from God) and that she wanted her husband to marry his ex-lover (at least we think she was his ex at the time). When do you ever see that? A wife wanting Hubby to marry the woman he cheated on her with.
That would be never [before]!
Crazy Mormons, maybe. Or maybe just crazy. The woman was certifiable, and what I want to know is, why didn't somebody in her family (maybe even spouse Doug) realize that and do something about it?
Maybe because everybody was so caught up in this Celestial Kingdom idea she had. The LDS religion wouldn't let them tell her how messed up she was because everybody involved believes that you really do go to the C.K. and live with sister wives there. That's your reward for doing "good" on Earth.
Faylene was conservative; she should have included Doug's other lovers, because some in the religion believe that a man must have at least three wives to make it big in the C.K. That is, get to the highest realm.
Bottom line: For Faylene to believe that she would live with Doug and his lover, Hilary, in the afterlife as man and wives isn't at all goofy to Mormons, just to the rest of us.
J.C. Galloway, Phoenix
We're glad you stopped by: I just happened onto this story while I was looking for something else. I haven't read a story this interesting in a long, long time. I can't wait to see what happens [in Doug Grant's trial]. I don't know what to think, other than there's not a lot of evidence against this guy.
Art Garcia, Scottsdale
Something is terribly wrong: Well, if Doug Grant did it, he certainly covered his tracks. When a cop has to go the extremes that Detective Sy Ray did to put a notion into grand jurors' minds, then something is terribly wrong.
We still have burden of proof in this country. (Oh, wait a minute. Is Arizona part of this country or its own separate nation, where thugs can roll over innocent people?) And nobody proved that Doug Grant was guilty enough to be charged, much less be tried.
Bill Schmidt, Phoenix
The Arizona railroad: This saga just illustrates how easy it is to get railroaded in this state. Your stories say that a judge ordered the case back to another grand jury because of so many inconsistencies in Detective Sy Ray's testimony.
Why didn't the judge just throw the case out? Why would anyone let this detective, who was proved to be manipulating facts, spin his yarn again before a new grand jury. What a crock that Doug Grant must now go on trial based on this load of crap!
Rich Martin, Tucson
Another nonstop event from Rubin: Paul Rubin chooses some of the most interesting cases and makes reading about them a nonstop event from beginning to end. Always great work.
Steve Lopez, via the Internet
Faylene was mentally ill: Whether it's murder or not, clearly this poor woman had a severe mental problem that she cloaked in stringent religious adherence. The article calls Doug Grant a narcissist, but Faylene certainly displayed a narcissism that excluded her children from her heavenly plans.
Most Mormon women I know would die for their children. Her journals clearly portray a woman who was oblivious to everything except a delusional heavenly plan with her being the necessary center for it to all play out. It's really unfortunate that her mental illness was perceived as religiosity.
Name withheld
It was a cry for help: Boy, what a story! I just cannot figure out why friends or family did not have this woman committed to a hospital for evaluation. For so long, all she talked about or wrote about was "not being here for very long." Anyone smart enough would know that she has a mental problem and is crying out for help.
Name withheld
Doug fed Faylene's death obsession: While I wasn't there and will never know for sure, it seems fairly clear to me: Doug fed her death obsession for his own purposes. One particular passage in your article definitely stands out like a sore thumb in this regard — Doug telling Faylene about his visions that she would reach the Celestial Kingdom.
Yep, it just screams of manipulation. He likely did want the money, did not want to fork over money as a result of a divorce, and found the absolute best way to do it — feed her morbid obsessions. I wonder whether he encouraged her to think she would die soon? Sounds like a real possibility. I mean, really, increasing the life insurance by that much shortly before dying?
I guess she could've planned it all, and then again, I also think Doug could've strongly influenced her morbid visions: "Yes, dear, I think you just might die soon; God will love you for it!"
I sincerely doubt someone as modest as Faylene would think it great to commit suicide in the tub, naked. And for someone so devout to commit suicide?
Name withheld
Shouldn't even be a case: This is such a sad story. Everyone has a past, and everyone has problems. But just because some Gilbert cop has blown this suicide out of proportion and tried to turn it into something it's not, people are suffering who shouldn't have to suffer any more than they already have.
This shouldn't even be a case. This article really boosted my confidence in the Gilbert P.D. What a joke it is!
Name withheld
