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Unfortunately, less than a decade after his incredible escape, Steven Stayner died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24, leaving behind a wife and two children. He even went before the Ways and Means Committee of the State Assembly to push for a bill that could increase the penalty for kidnapping children. One relative described child sexual abuse as like a family sickness because it had been going on for so many generations. In January 2003, Parnell was arrested again after trying to coerce his caregiver's sister, Diane Stevens, into buying him a four-year-old boy for $500. Stayner was considered a hero for saving White from years of sexual and physical abuse. My dad said he didnt need any. The press also hounded him constantly, and during Parnells trial he was bullied at school over questions of his sexuality. He befriended a co-worker named Ervin Murphy to assist him in a vile act that would shake the family forever. "There was a movie made about Steven Stayner. He is now 59 and on death row in San Quentin State Prison, according to his prison records. According to The Famous People, Murphy offered to walk Stayner home, as he wanted to ask his mother for a donation. Delbert Stayner passed away in 2013. The Stayners suggested that one park could be called Stayner Park, in memory of Steven. "I think Cary after high school seemed a little lost, like he didnt know where he was going," Bungart said. When Stayner was 14, he ran away with another kidnapped boy, Timmy White, and went to the police, ABC News reported. Prior to publication, the manuscript served as the basis for the 1989 TV miniseries I Know My First Name Is Steven (also known as The Missing Years), with Arliss Howard as Parnell. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Watch: The Truth Behind Our Obsession With True Crime Stories. Following his brother's death, History reports Cary worked as a handyman at a lodge near Yosemite National Park. Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story,, a Hulu docuseries that streams today, shows, the two boys bravely testified against Parnell at his trial. Per the Spokesman-Review, Parnell told Stayner that his parents didn't want him anymore; he was beaten so viciously that he was afraid to run away. Parnell, a former motel clerk, had already been convicted for molesting an 8-year-old boy in Bakersfield, California in 1952 when he kidnapped Stayner, SF Gate reported in 2008. In 1997, Stayner got a job as a handyman at the Cedar Lodge, seven miles from the gate of the national park. Stayner became known as a hero and inspired a television miniseries, I Know My First Name is Steven.. He was convicted of both kidnappings and served five years of his seven-year prison sentence. Stayner once told press that he vigilantly watched his kids, and they werent even allowed out on the porch unless they were in sight of him or their mom. While Steven was grappling with life after his escape, his brother was out of high school with his own troubles. "Working at Cedar Lodge gave Cary access to his beloved Yosemite," Rowlands said. I guess seven years changed him, too. As reported by People, Stayner struck the driver's side of the car at a high rate of speed. Cookie Notice Flynn said his sexuality was "constantly under attack.". Cary Stayner was just 11 when his 7-year-old brother, Steven, was abducted by a pedophile. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. Marshal from the Fresno County Jail in Fresno, Calif., Aug. 6, 1999 on his way to an arraignment in federal court. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "It seemed as though he had a compulsion with trying to get close to women or be sexual with them," Rowlands said. Witnesses later recognized the alleged driver of the automobile. Her head, which had been removed, was found several feet away in the water. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. Steven returned to Merced to marry and start a family, becoming a champion for the cause of missing children until his untimely death at the age of 24 in 1989. Tragically, Stayner was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in September 1989 while returning from a Pizza Hut shift. When Steven didnt make it home from school, his parents sounded the alarm. Everything has changed. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. He sexually abused Stayner repeatedly until Stayner fled in 1980 when he was 14. Parnell was registered as a sex offender when he lured 7-year-old Stayners into his car as the boy walked home from his elementary school in Merced, California. While working at the Yosemite Lodge, Kenneth Parnell befriended his coworker Ervin Murphy. A plaque bearing the names of other missing children in Merced County will later be added.. "His idea of serenity was to maybe smoke a little pot and to sunbathe naked.". Parnell claimed to have married a third and final time in 1968,[8] but no records were ever found to substantiate this. For two weeks, Steven watched Timothy suffer the separation from his family. Steven Stayner was killed in a motorcycle accident when he was 24 years old FBI/Wikipedia On September 16, 1989, Steven Stayner was riding his motorcycle home from work when a car suddenly pulled out of a driveway onto the highway. Parnell posed as Stayner's legal guardian and moved him around the state of California for the next eight years. The man's name was Ervin Murphy. However, he always enrolled the boy in school and often allowed Stayner freedoms that a kidnapper would not traditionally grant a captor. As reported by The Famous People, the man, who was later identified as Ervin Edward Murphy, said he was a representative of a local church and was seeking donations for his parish. In 1972, at the age of 7, Stayner was kidnaped while walking home from school. At that point Stayner decided to save White from the abuse he had endured and the two escaped. Parnells father, Cecil Frederick, died July 31, 1972 in Denver.[3]. Parnell was convicted on February 9, 2004, on the charges of attempting to purchase a child and attempted child molestation, even though no child had been targeted. Starcasm Staff July 2, 2021 20/20, True Crime. In February 1980, Parnell decided to capture a new, younger boy. Thankfully, they were unable to follow through with the kidnapping attempt. The men kidnapped Stayner, and he endured sexual and physical abuse for the next seven years at the hands of Parnell. Steven Stayner testifies about his abduction in 1972 by Kenneth Parnell and his seven years in captivity in this 1981 photo. He was abducted as a child and later died young. Steven Gregory Stayner was a well-known kidnapping victim from the United States. Unfortunately, Kenneth was paroled after five, less time than he had Steven in his "custody." He was kidnapped. But he was pretty messed up and he never got any counseling. After convincing the boy his parents did not want him anymore, he changed his name to Dennis Parnell. There was out and out fury over the sentence," Flynn said. Convicted sex offender Kenneth Parnell, known for the 1972 kidnapping and seven-year-long confinement of Steven Stayner, died Monday in the state prison hospital at Vacaville . Cary was 11. While they never gave up hope, the ordeal took a toll on the whole family. However, he only served five years of his sentence. His high school girlfriend said he later told her what happened. "Parnell wanted another kid that he could sexually assault.". Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Stayner told another psychiatrist, Park Dietz, who was hired by the prosecution to evaluate whether he was sane at the time he committed the Yosemite murders, that as a child he worried that the obsessive thoughts he had about holding the neighbor girl against her will somehow caused Steven to be kidnapped. They no longer want you.. As reported by ABC News, Kenneth Parnell treated Steven Stayner like a son. The contrast between the two brothers is "surreal," Flynn said. 3. On September 16, 1989, Stayner was riding his motorcycle on his way home from his job, when he collided with a driver coming out of a nearby migrant labor camp. Stayner was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the article said. On April 18th, 1965, he was welcomed into the world by his parents, Delbert Stayner and Kay Stayner, in Merced, California, in the United States of America. Fourteen when he was found. Stayner left a substantial amount of evidence in and around Armstrongs cottage, but police initially started searching for him because his vehicle had been seen near her place and they thought he would be a "natural witness to interview," Rinek said. He sustained fatal head injuries after his motorcycle struck a car that suddenly pulled out in front of him as he drove home from his. According to The Famous People, the couple eventually had two children, named Ashley and Steven, Jr. Kenneth Eugene Parnell (September 26, 1931 January 21, 2008) was an American convicted sex offender, child rapist, and kidnapper infamously known for perpetrating the abductions of 7-year-old Steven Stayner and 5-year-old Timothy White in Merced, California. 2. Both men were convicted. Parnell worked at the Yosemite Lodge, located about two hours away from the Stayner home. As Steven got older and entered puberty, Parnell's sexual interest in Stayner waned and Parnell sought a new boy to "build his family". Stayner's account of his time with Parnell formed the basis of a 1991 book by Mike Echols. Ashley Stayner is a self-professed true crime fan. Steven Stayner was born on April 18, 1965 and died on September 16, 1989. Surrounded by endless complainers? Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. Tragically, Steven Stayner was killed in a 1989 motorcycle accident at age 24. Parnell was convicted of two counts of kidnaping and sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison in February, 1982, after an 18-day trial in Hayward. But they. Its a story of a happy ending turned rathertwisted. 5h ago. Authorities had already interviewed him once before about the other three murders, but at the time he hadnt raised any red flags. "I went to ask if Cary wanted to talk. However, the jury decided otherwise. Stayner was riding his motorcycle home from work the night before the Emmys when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. Stayner died in 1989 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.[12]. Stayner was lured into the vehicle and abducted. Stayner's wife, Jodi, who The Spokesman-Review reported married Steven when she was 16, said he was her first love and the couple met in high school. However, Timothy could not remember his address, so Stayner took him to a police station instead. Stevens high-school girlfriend, who knew him as Dennis, told ABC News he told her he wasnt going to let that child go through what I had already been through, adding if he didnt take care of it now, it will just get worse. Murphy had befriended serial paedophile Kenneth Parnell, and the two were in cahoots. By this point, Cary Stayner was suffering. Stayner went to the police station and told them what happened to him, which included the line that later became the title of his movie: I know my first name is Steven. (Parnell was later convicted of kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but only served five years. He was held by his abductor until he was 14, when he escaped with another of Parnell's victims, Timothy White. He returns to Merced triumphant. MERCED . He was third of five children of his parents and had an elder brother Cary and three sisters. Cary is 60 and remains in prison. The Big Conn | Official Trailer | Apple TV+, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M88ZzxKyrTg/hqdefault.jpg. But, at the age of 24, Steven Stayner, by then a husband and father of two, was killed in a motorcycle crash. On Sept. 16, 1989, Steven, then 24, was killed in a motorcycle accident while on his way home from work. Birthday: April 18, 1965. Leave a Comment / Death-Obituary / By Elon. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. He was convicted of kidnapping 7-year-old Steven Stayner as the boy walked . "He was spunky. As Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, a Hulu docuseries that streams today, shows, the two boys bravely testified against Parnell at his trial. On September 16, 1989, Steven Stayner was driving home from work on a California highway after work one rainy evening and got into a deadly collision with a car that turned in front of him. Steven Gregory Stayner died in a motorcycle accident on September 16, 1989, in Merced, California, United States. He should have at least gotten involuntary manslaughter. They had a daughter, Ashley, who was 3 at the time of her fathers death, and a son, Steven Jr., who was 2. have yall heard of Steven and Cary Stayner? If youre wondering what happened to him since then, heres what we know. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. Steven Stayners fame was short-lived. Jeff Rinek, at the time an FBI agent handling Cary Stayners case, said the search for the women was the "largest ever mounted in Yosemite at any time." Stayner was buried at a family plot alongside his grandparents, at a funeral attended by 450 people. After her friends reported her missing, police found signs of a struggle at her cabin and half a mile away, they found her body. This is the story of a seven-year-old boy named Steven Stayner. Steven went on to marry Jody Edmondson in 1985 aged 20 and they welcomed two children, Ashley and Steven Jr, who Stayner was naturally very protective over. "[14], Parnell remained incarcerated until his death, at age 76, on January 21, 2008[15] at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". Parnell was sentenced to 25 years to life under California's "three strikes" law. But instead of seeking mental health treatment, Stayner "ended up taking refuge" in Yosemite, Rowlands said. A year later, he was sentenced to life, which was, at the time, the harshest sentence handed down under the the "three strikes" law. In 1981, he was. Over the years, Parnell had numerous jobs and he and Stayner moved often. He died at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville in 2008 at the age of 76. English Wikipedia. "When Steven came home, Cary was kind of put on the back shelf. Stayner championed the cause of missing children until his untimely death at the age of 24 in 1989. He said, 'I want you to get a hold of some producers in Los Angeles. He sustained fatal head injuries after his motorcycle struck a car that suddenly pulled out in front of him as he drove home from his Pizza Hut shift, according to People. Where is Cary Stayner now? A cousin said that Stayner spied on her and his sisters and a neighbor girl, hiding under their beds and secretly videotaping them in the bathroom and bedroom. Steven Stayner (Steven Gregory Stayner) was born on 18 April, 1965 in Merced, CA, is an American child kidnapping victim. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! This includes a 9-year kidnapping and a serial killing pic.twitter.com/WgWQCdDk7h, may queen (@syanarchy) February 19, 2020. I told you this was a depressing one guys, hope I didn't ruin your day. SPONSORED LINKS Reviews TV Preview Lists Movie Explainers TV Explainers Anime Like Steven, Timothy also died very young. However, he only served five years of his sentence. Parnell regularly raped him, and by sixth grade, Stayner was used to being beaten, smoking substances, and getting drunk. Carole Sund, her daughter Juli Sund and friend Silvina Pelosso were missing for a month before their bodies were found. But for the Stayners, this seemingly closed hellish chapter of their lives turned out to be . Watch "20/20's" full story, "The Black Sheep," TONIGHT at 9 p.m. [6] He escaped from a state institution in Norwalk, but was recaptured. Within days, he's on 'Good Morning America,'" Flynn said. I wouldnt think that he would think of himself as one, but he is a hero.". Steven Gregory Stayner was an American kidnapping victim. At the time of Stayner's kidnapping, Parnell was employed at the Yosemite Lodge, which according to ABC News, was approximately two hours away from Merced. Parnell, 76, died at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Monday, corrections officials said Tuesday. Stayner and Parnell moved often, finally settling nearUkiah, California, where Steven Stayner became Dennis Parnell, according to The New York Times. convicted of kidnapping both boys and sentenced to seven years of state prison time. They had two kids, Ashley and Steven Jr., who both appear in Captive Audience. Now I had to compete with a brother and three sisters. and our Although Parnell was a convicted child predator, Murphy was described as "simple-minded," and somewhat naive. Overnight, Steven Stayner became a national hero, especially as Kenneth Parnell was arrested the very next day March 2, 1980. "As far as I know, hes never talked to anyone about the effect Steven might have had on his crimes. Parnell posed as Stayner's legal guardian and moved him around the state of California for the next eight years. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Parnell was arrested that day,[14] subsequently telling authorities "I wanted a family". He was a child who was being abused. He found someone else to help him find another boy, only this time he was caught and he was sent to prison again -- where he died in 2008.". He was 35. Steven Stayner (April 18, 1965 - Sept 16, 1989) was a kidnapping victim. Parnell was sentenced to 20 months in prison for Steven's. He was seven when he was abducted. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". . Raised in the peaceful suburbs of Merced, California, the 7-year-old was shuffling home from . Then-7-year-old Steven Stayner was walking home from school on Highway 140 when Parnell and Murphy were driving towards town. Steven eventually married and had two children. Parnell went on to tell Stayner that his parents couldn't afford to keep him any more, that a judge had given Parnell legal custody of him, and that his new name was "Dennis". The prosecution successfully argued that sexual aids and pornography found in the apartment, along with Stevens' own testimony, were enough to prove that Parnell's intentions were criminal in nature. Parnell died in 2008 at the age of 76 of natural causes in the state prison hospital at Vacaville, SF Gate reported. The Seattle Times reports missing-person fliers were actually sent to schools he attended but no one recognised Steven from the picture. Steven died in 1989, aged 24. When Stayner was 14, Parnell kidnaped another boy, 5-year-old Timmy White. Delbert Stayner Cause Of Death Delbert Stayner died on 9 April 2013. Parnell died of natural causes on January 21, 2008, at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California, while serving a sentence of 25 years to life. Am I wrong? The kidnapping had a deep impact on Cary Stayner, his childhood friend, Mike Marchese told ABC News in a 1999 interview. Cary Stayner is now 57 years old. "Whatever demons were clamoring around in his head, by being naked, by smoking pot, he could find the peace that he so desperately needed," LaLama said. [9] Weeks afterward, Stayner escaped Parnell's house with White; he later said he did not want the boy to suffer the abuse that he had endured. Steven Stayner Death Obituary: On April 23rd, 2022 Todeath.net received news about the passing of Steven Stayner through a Social Media post. "Kenneth Parnell stops the car and goes to a payphone, he comes back and tells Steven, 'Your parents, I just spoke to them. Five months passed without another killing, and the community surrounding Yosemite was lulled into a sense of calm especially when the FBI announced that those they believed responsible for the murders were in custody. When 14-year-old Steven Stayner turned up at a police station, more than seven years after he was kidnapped while walking home from . Timmy White, 5, sits on the lap of Steven Stayner, 14, during a news conference Photo credit: Getty Images - Getty But tragedy would strike Stayner one last time. He retired in 1995 from working at a canning factory in Atwater, California. It was Dec. 4, 1972. Sitelinks. Steven Gregory Stayner (April 18, 1965 - September 16, 1989) was an American kidnapping victim. Stayner had a traumatic childhood involving sexual abuse, the kidnap of his younger brother by a pedophile, and feelings of blame that he could not protect his brother, FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Rinek wrote in his book, In the Name of the Children: An FBI Agents Relentless Pursuit of the Nations Worst Predators. Rinek wrote that even though the abuse likely poured fuel on a fire for Stayner to eventually commit murder, it was one that had already begun to smolder before he was sexually abused and before his brother was kidnapped. American crime victim who was kidnapped at age seven and held captive by sex offender Kenneth Parnell for seven years. Losing perspective? The devastation of losing their son twice within 10 years was excruciating for Steven Stayner's parents. When Stayner failed to return home from school, his parents contacted authorities immediately. According to the Los Angeles Times, she said after his death, "But he's not hurting anymore. The now 14-year-old Steven decided to escape with White on 2 March 1980 after witnessing the childs suffering. [10] He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. Steven Stayner biography timelines. In addition to his fraught life at home and at school, Steven, still just a teenager by this point, also had to face Parnell in court. A new Hulu miniseries thoughtfully explores a family's surreal life in the true crime spotlight. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. When he returned, he told the boy that he called his parents and they said they did not want him anymore. Parnell, who was in hospice care, died of natural causes at 9:10 p.m. Monday, according to the department of corrections. Fortunately, Stevens miraculous return in 1980 led to a happy reunion. The Truth About The Kidnapping Of Steven Stayner, California Department of Corrections/Wikipedia. Prosecutor Tim Wellman had largely argued his case before the jury by showing a slideshow of Stayner marked "1", then of White marked "2", and a blank screen marked "3" to show the nonexistent child that would have been abducted had police not been notified. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, according to research conducted by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and ranked in the top nine leading causes of death for people between the ages of 10 and 64, as well as . Stayner and White were not Parnell's only victims. Del died at his home in Winton, California, on April 9, 2013. Flynn said Satyner had "a couple of nervous breakdowns," one of which was "fairly violent." I always looked very closely in hopes of spotting Steven. On the show, Kay mentioned that Del would often drive around looking for freshly dug ground because he thought Steven was dead. As Steven Stayner got older, Kenneth Parnell began planning to kidnap another, younger, boy. On December 4, 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner was walking home from school in Merced, California when he was abducted by two men who worked at . He married Kay about three years later, and the couple went on to have three daughters and two sons. Accident or not, someone lost their life. And if I didnt take care of it now, it would just get worse, Lori Duke, Stayners high school girlfriend, told ABC News. While Steven was a freshman at Mendocino High School, some 300 miles to the south, his older brother Cary was an upperclassman at Merced High School. Stayner later escaped, taking Timmy with him. (Stayners helmet had been stolen two months prior, and he hadnt replaced it.) I Know My First Name Is Steven: With Cindy Pickett, John Ashton, Corin Nemec, Luke Edwards. From 2010 to 2014, the number of accident-related . After he was brought in for questioning, he confessed to murdering Joie Armstrong, describing the brutal killing "as if he was reading a soup label," said John Boles, another FBI agent on the case. Stayner died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24. Steven Stayner led a short and tragic life. He was remembered at a service at his church, the Merced Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where his pastor and family members gathered to pay their respects. Like Kay, he urged the jury at Carys trial not to sentence him to death. . He had been under hospice care for some time.[10]. Sure, Ive seen the excuse about alleged car troubles but it sure didnt stop the guy from fleeing the scene. As reported by ABC News, Lori Duke, who went to school with Stayner, but knew him as Dennis Parnell, said, "He had a great personality. However, as they were walking toward Stayner's home, they were approached by another man, who was driving a white Buick. One last Steven Stayner, one last Timmy White. Biography - A Short Wiki In 1981, he was convicted of kidnapping both boys and sentenced to seven years of state prison time. He loved his brother, his former calssmate, Jack Bungart, told the news outlet. Why doesnt my dad hug me anymore? Parnell began sexually abusing Stayner almost immediately. Unfortunately, ABC News reports authorities were eventually forced to admit "there was just nothing there." He was known to take refuge in nearby Yosemite, where hed drive up and get lost in nature. Stayner and Parnell pretended to be a son and father (via the Lodi News-Sentinel). However, he only served three years in prison for that offense. "He literally said, 'I was not going to let that child go through what I had already been through. In a motorcycle accident that occurred on September 16, 1989, in Merced, California, the United States of America, Steven Gregory Stayner was killed. By Mike Moran of the Confessional Podcast : Stayner was seven years old at the time. Stayner would not reemerge until 1980, when he fled from Parnell to save another kidnapped boy, Timothy White. "I wa. Still, Stayner wanted to help his parents and asked that a $250,000 reward for information go to his family, Rinek wrote. Cary Stayner Today: Where Is He Now in 2021. On March 1, 1980, Stayner waited until Parnell was at work and fled with White 40 miles back to Ukiah. The incident was declared a hit-and-run after the car sped away, leaving Stayner on the highway with severe injuries (via The Spokesman-Review). Three weeks before Christmas 1972, the course of Steven Stayner's life would change forever. imported from Wikimedia project. I suspect this death is what caused Cary to snap, too, so theres more lives ruined because of the hit and run driver. ", Steven also struggled in high school where he was bullied for the tragic abuse he had endured. The miniseries was released on May 23, 1989, only about four months before he died in a hit-and-run accident. Age at Death: 24. Steven Stayner Death: How Carys Stayners Brother Died, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Cary was very upset, he said. ABC 20/20 is digging into the case on a new episode, which airs at 9 p.m. Eastern time Friday, July 2, 2021. Wellman said Parnell "was looking for one last hurrah. Would I have been better off if I didnt?. According to ABC News, Parnell stopped to make a call from a payphone shortly after Murphy and Steven Stayner got into his car. But Steven's return was only the start of the family heartache. At the time, Stayner had been missing for more than seven years. Former reporter Ted Rowlands said, "Stayner had a new father figure who by day, was his father, and by night, was his rapist.". Stayner had been at Cedar Lodge for two years when Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli Sund and her friend Silvina Pelosso came to stay one night in February 1999.