Growing up, brothers Cary and Steven Stayner shared a home with their parents and three sisters in Merced, California a small farming town near Yosemite National Park according to the .css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;}SFGate. Hereturnedto school, where he was always an object of curiosity. The parents of five, who had kept all the presents their son never got to open after going missing a few weeks before Christmas in 1972, ultimatelygot their wish thanks to Steven's bravery. Despite his circumstances, he did well among his peers, and even became known as an all-around happy person. "It was outrageous. Hearing about Cary's traumatic past or childhood issues didn't sway the jury, who recommended the death penalty, and a judge agreed. He turned to alcohol to suppress his feelings, and eventually dropped out of school. After they stopped trying to teach me the fundamentals all over again, it got better. I know my first name is Steven, he said, ditching the name Parnell had given him. The nurse reported him to the local police and he was once again convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The Most Iconic Celebrity Best Friendships, The Most Iconic Old Hollywood Engagement Rings, The Top Dog Breeds the Year You Were Born, The Most Iconic Oscar Dresses of All Time, Christie Brinkley Honors 69th Birthday in New IG. Theres so much hate right now.. Dimmock credited Ashley"and her really trusting inthe weird process of going back over a story that ultimately has been told a lot of times, but digging some new things up and starting again," for helping the series come together with fresh insight from the family. Meanwhile, Steven was undergoing unthinkable sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of Parnell. [13], For a period of eighteen months, a woman named Barbara Mathias lived with Parnell and Stayner. [4], One of the few positive aspects of Stayner's life with Parnell was the dog he had received as a gift from him, a Manchester Terrier that he named Queenie. Cary was convicted with four counts of first-degree murder. Now I had to compete with a brother and three sisters., Steven had to learn the rules, he was used to coming and going as he pleased, drinking and smoking, and suddenly that wasnt allowed. Third of five children, he had an older brother and three sisters. All along, there was the assurance that his story would be made into a movie. Who are Steven Stayner sisters? While they never gave up hope, the ordeal took a toll on the whole family. Parnell, along with Murphy, took Steven to a cabin in Catheys Valley, where he was brainwashed to believe his parents no longer wanted him. [17][18], By daybreak on March 2, 1980, Parnell had been arrested on suspicion of abducting both boys. In an interview with Good Morning America in 1983, Steven recalled, The first year was kinda hectic. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}Jennifer Garner Debuts Daring New Look, 42 Sad Quotes to Power You Through Hard Days. He died four years later, on January 21, 2008. [37], In 2004, Parnell, then 72 years old, was convicted of trying the previous year to persuade his caretaker's sister to procure for him a young boy for five hundred dollars. Steven eventually married and had two children. Normally when I think about storylines in these categories, they tend to fall in binary categories, someone is either a hero or a villain. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. This case just breaks my heart And the whole story about his big brother, too. He was a good student, a good artist, and he was very lovingIf his dying would bring these people back, I'd say do it. Shortly before his death, Steven had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cary had been interviewedearly on in the investigationa massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand ruled out as a suspect. Stevens parents, Kay and Delbert, were on a camping trip when they learned of the passing. kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, who sexually abused him. This dog had been given to Parnell by his mother, who was not aware of Stayner's existence during the period when he was being held by Parnell. [39] 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. [33], The production, which received four Emmy Award nominations, including one for Nemec, was based on a manuscript by Mike Echols, who had researched the story and interviewed Stayner and Parnell, among others. His relationship with his father remained strained. It wasnt until 1980 that Kay and the family saw Steven again. [2] In 2002, Cary was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of four women. He was 79 years old. On Dec 4, 1972 at age 7, he was abducted in California by Kenneth Parnell. In the 20/20 special, Cary, the older of the two, is described as being a loving brother who enjoyed spending time with Steven. Cary would have trouble with the law well into his adult life. [16], As Stayner entered puberty, Parnell began to look for a younger child to kidnap. Steven later said in an interview, I returned almost a grown man, and yet my parents saw me at first as their seven-year-old. JP Miller, the co-screenwriter ofI Know My First Name Is Steven,a mini-series about Stayners abduction and escape, said Steven struck him as a man unafraid of death. He was not kept in captivity, and in the following years, was enrolled into a number of schools where Parnell identified himself as his father. Children. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. In addition to participating in the abuse of Stayner, she attempted to help Parnell kidnap a boy who was a member of the Santa Rosa Boys' Club . All rights reserved. Parnell created a new identity for Stayner, giving him the new name, Dennis Gregory Parnell, but retained his original middle name and his original date of birth. However, Stayner skillfully sabotaged Kenneths plans. On the show, Kay stated that the couple always planned on having a family. [43] Residents of Ukiah, White's hometown, carved a statue showing a teenage Stayner with young White in hand while escaping their captivity. The Abduction Of Steven Stayner. Jurors in August found him guilty of the murders. Five hundred people attended his funeral, one being Timothy White who, at the age of 14, served as a pallbearer. Cary with his little brother, Steven . Parnell continued to abuse Steven for years, telling the boy that his parents weren't looking for him. Much of the testimony that the defense has tried to introduce, such as the molestation of one of Stayners sisters by their father, has been barred because of objections by the prosecution. She urged the jury not to sentence him to death, adding, If his dying [death] would bring these people back, Id say do it. "And I did that almost every clear night from then on until Steve finally came back home. [1] He had three sisters and an older brother, Cary. He took a job at a local Pizza Hut, and on Saturday, September 16, 1989 a heavy rain fell. However, the young boy could not take advantage of those opportunities as he was reportedly unaware how to summon help. But she said it wasnt the brother she remembers. | Parnell, a sex offender, molested him the very first night, and began raping him thirteen days later, on December 17, 1972. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Shockingly, Parnell allowed Steven to go to school. Steven Stayners kidnapping prompted California lawmakers to change the state laws, allowing consecutive prison terms in similar abduction cases., But the story doesnt end there. But her strength is waning now. They dated for a year and got married in June 1985. [31] The two-part miniseries was first broadcast by NBC on May 2122, 1989. Your IP: Steven Stayner testifies about his abduction in 1972 by Kenneth Parnell and his seven years in captivity in this 1981 photo. "We never really got along that well after he came back All of a sudden Steve was getting all these gifts, getting all this clothing, getting all this attention. But why doesnt my dad hug me anymore? He went on to add, Sometimes I blame myself. Parnell had been with a woman named Barbara Mathias for a period of one and half years, during which they reportedly forced Stayner into sexual activities at least nine times. . Cary saw the attention that his brother received after returning home and their relationship was never the same, according to TIME. They approached a police station shortly after midnight. Sadly, Stayners triumphant return didnt last long, as he died several years after the daring escape. Ive never been this angry. The title of the TV series and the book on Steven Stayner, 'I Know My First Name is Steven', was inspired by a line in his official police statement given after being rescued. Steven Stayner was a typical 7-year old boy. Juli's body was discoveredMarch 25 next to a reservoirabout 30 miles away from the car with help from an anonymous letter to the FBI that Cary said he sent himselfbut had someone else lick the stamp, so his DNA couldn't be traced. Jody emotionally described how she and Stayner planned to visit their favorite restaurant after he got home. Kay remembered how she never left the residence unattended for the next two-three years because she thought Steven would call. "Iwas really struck by the impact that Steven had in the years he was living as Dennis," series director Dimmock told E! Dena. They stopped the car and Murphy got out. Those sorts of comparisons have been used a lot in these two brothers and I started to think, is it more complicated?". This caused Parnell to believe Stayner lacked the means to be an accomplice. Kay and Delbert Stayner married in 1960 and had five children together. That year Parnell recently kidnapped another young boy to replace the aging Stayner, 5-year-old Timothy White. Barbara Mathias was never arrested. Steven told him she would probably want to, and the men offered him a ride home. I know my first name is Steven, I'm pretty sure my last is Stainer [sic], and if I have a middle name, I don't know it. 195 in 2010) in Mendocino County, Calif., and hitchhiked 40 miles to Ukiah. Carole and Silvina's charredremains were found March 19 in the trunk of their burned-out rental car, which was abandoned along a utility road off the California 108 highway at the edge of the Sierra Foothills. ", WhenGMAcaught up with him in 1983, Stevendescribed his first year back as"kinda hectic. [8], Parnell molested Stayner the first night at the cabin. He was described as a quiet kid, he enjoyed hanging out with his friends, going to the park, riding his skateboard, or even his bike. But in 1985, when he was 20, he married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson, and they had two children,Ashleyand Steven Jr. Fatherhood seemed to rejuvenate him, and Steven started speaking out as a survivor, working with organizations that searched for missing children and visiting schools to talk to kids about safety. On February 14, 1980, in Ukiah, California, they were successful when Poorman found 5-year old Timothy White walking home from school. Hes free.. The driver, Antonio Loera, drove off, leaving Stayner helpless on the rain-soaked highway. All three episodes ofCaptive Audience: A Real American Horror Storyare streaming now on Hulu. The attempt was unsuccessful. He was about 14 years old and had been kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, who sexually abused him. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Although pleased with the dramatization, Stayner did complain that it depicted him as a somewhat "obnoxious, rude" person, especially toward his parents, something he refuted while publicizing the miniseries in the spring of 1989. Throughout the first week, Stayner repeatedly told Parnell that he wanted to go home, to which, Parnell told him that he had been granted legal custody of him by his parents. However, police officers spotted both of them, and that's when Steven's real identity was revealed. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. That statement later became the title of a book and movie. He literally said, I was not going to let that child go through what I had already been through. But why doesnt my dad hug me anymore? He and her son Lloyd played together. For seven years I have been supposedly an only child. He also had a small, speechless role in the TV series as one of two policemen who escort his 14-year-old self to his onscreen parents. Stayner had a relaxed upbringing as his captor not only allowed him to roam freely wherever he wished to go, but also allowed him to start drinking at a very early age. Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. Five months later, he killed Joie Armstrong, a Yosemite Institute employee. But to see that all of these people continued to think about him and remember him, and feel so much guilt for not knowingalthough I don't know how any of them could have knownI think that was really impactful to see.". Captive Audiencealsodelves into thecreative license taken during the making of the miniseries and the way in which the version of events that unfolded for an average of 35.8 million viewers over the course of two nights becamethestorythat everyone knew. Steven Stayner escaped Kenneth Parnell when he was 14 years old. According to our findings, little is known about Cory; nevertheless, Cary Stayner, popularly known as The Yosemite Killer, was condemned over 20 years ago for the 1999 killings of four people while serving as a motel handyman in California. By the time Steven was nine, Mathias and Parnell had raped him on at least nine separate occasions. "[23], After returning to his family, Stayner had trouble adjusting to a more structured household as he had been allowed to smoke, drink and do as he pleased when he lived with Parnell. We were kind of on our own, Sartell said. [4] Murphy, described by those who knew him as a trusting, nave, and simple-minded man,[4] had been enlisted by Parnell (who had passed himself off to Murphy as an aspiring minister)[5][6] into helping him abduct a young boy so that Parnell could "raise him in a religious-type deal," as Murphy later stated. Stayner was the third of five children born in Merced, California to Delbert and Kay Stayner. The retired TV host rarely leaves his home due to illness, Everything We Know About Vanessa Hudgens Parents, Who is Charlie Kirks wife? "He was spunky. Ervin Murphy, who aided in Steven'sabduction but, according to Echolls' book,insisted that he really thought Parnell was a minister and never thought he'd hurt a little boy, was also convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap, and served two years of a five-year sentence. I am fourteen years of age. In 1999, against the wishes of the Stayner family, Echols wrote an additional chapter about Steven's older brother Cary at the request of his publisher, which then re-published the book.[34]. At the time, the concept of therapy was frowned upon, and his father insisted that he didnt need any counseling. On December 4, 1972, at the age of seven, Steven was approached after school by Edward Ervin Murphy, who claimed he was collecting money for church. May 2122, 1989 made into a movie Kay Stayner in Merced, to! I have been supposedly an only child all-around happy person an all-around happy person restaurant after he got home at. 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