It’s the kind of horror story that leaves even seasoned investigators shaken.
Valerian “Will” O’Steen, 28, known locally as the “Crawl Space Killer,” has officially been sentenced to death for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, 26-year-old Marissa Grimes — a young mom whose body he hid under his Fort Worth rental home for ten unthinkable days.
According to prosecutors, O’Steen savagely beat Grimes to death in February 2022, just weeks after being arrested in a domestic violence case that listed her as the victim. Despite a protective order, Grimes reportedly returned to O’Steen’s house to “say goodbye” before moving out for good. It was the last time anyone saw her alive.
Investigators later found her body wrapped in blankets and tarp in a crawl space beneath his home — directly below the spot where he slept and ate as if nothing had happened.
Court records paint a disturbing picture of escalating violence. Before the murder, O’Steen allegedly trapped Grimes inside his home for days, threatening to kill her if she left. After his arrest, he fumed over his ankle monitor and told friends he’d “make her pay.”
Neighbors told police they saw him threaten Grimes with a gun just before she vanished. Her rental truck — already packed for a new start — was discovered a mile away.
When police finally found Grimes, her body showed signs of torture. Prosecutors said she suffered deep lacerations, broken ribs, a fractured arm and nose, and patches of hair had been violently cut from her head.
After hours of chilling testimony, a Texas jury handed down the death sentence this week. O’Steen showed no emotion as the verdict was read.
The case has haunted Fort Worth residents for years — a grim reminder of how quickly domestic violence can turn deadly.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.