The Night of Blood & Fog: The Guido Grassi Murders

In this episode, Kaydee investigates a chilling case from Grays Harbor County, Washington, in November 1923. A string of brutal murders left a predominantly Italian immigrant community in terror. Central to the chaos was Guido Grassi, a laborer whose reputation for violence earned him the nickname the Cat-Man.The night unfolded with shocking attacks: Joe Tollomi was found shot and slashed in his boarding house, while witnesses were injured, and John Ricci was murdered in a nearby shack. Amid dense fog and eerily silent streets, police scrambled to track the assailant. Survivors described him moving with catlike stealth, carrying a small white sack — a charm believed to render him untouchable.Inside the sack were fragments of what appeared to be a human heart preserved in salt, though Grassi claimed it was a sheep’s heart. Fear of the charm delayed witness cooperation, allowing Grassi to evade justice temporarily. Once the talisman was seized, witnesses spoke out, revealing the horrifying details: Grassi had entered the Tollomi home, shot and stabbed multiple men, and terrorized anyone in his path.The case illuminates the interplay of superstition, community fear, and crime, showing how belief in a talisman can influence both criminal behavior and law enforcement efforts. The episode ends with Grassi’s arrest and the lingering question of his charm’s influence on the community.Sources & Context:“Luck of a Salted Charm,” True Detective Mysteries, March 1930.Tacoma Tribune, November–December 1923 – Coverage of the Grassi murders and arrests.Grays Harbor County Records (1923–1924) – Criminal filings and coroner reports.The Daily Olympian (Nov–Dec 1923) – Trial and witness accounts.Walla Walla Penitentiary Records (1924–1926) – Execution delay documents.Next episode, Kaydee will dive into the trial, the unraveling of Grassi’s “charm,” and the community’s confrontation with the brutal reality behind the myth.