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. This content is imported from youTube. He was mocked at school, which caused him to drop out, and after he began drinking more often, he was kicked out of his parental house. But the children in the family kept their feelings to themselves and didnt discuss their emotions. [13], For a period of eighteen months, a woman named Barbara Mathias lived with Parnell and Stayner. According to a TIMEmagazinereport from March 17, 1980, Steven hadn't yet fully divulged what really happened to him. [6], Acting on instructions from Parnell, Murphy passed out gospel tracts to boys walking home from school that day[6][7] and, after spotting Stayner, claimed to be a church representative seeking donations. His health struggles detailed, Martina McClures story: Her injury and recovery, How did Simon Dunn die? In early 1989, he helped in the production of a miniseries on his life, 'I Know My First Name is Steven', which was initially broadcast on NBC in May that year. During this time, Parnell kidnapped another child, Timothy White, while he was on his way home from school, according to The Modesto Bee. I dont believe that it was my brother who committed such things, Sartell said as the defense presented his three sisters in an effort to spare his life. Theres so much hate right now.. The next day, Steven was told that his parents had given him up, that they couldnt afford so many children (Steven was one of five children), and they didnt want him anymore. This is the hardest thing she has ever had to face, and she just cant talk to anybody. However, police officers spotted both of them, and that's when Steven's real identity was revealed. 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. But it wasn't until the age of 37 that he would become a murderer. "He assumed that identity because he [had to], you know, what would any of us do with that choice, and he was just a young kid. By Natalie Finn Apr 21, 2022 7:00 AM Tags. '", While promoting the movie, Steven said of his own kids,"They don't go out unless I go with them or there's someone outside watching. Once more details emerged about his ordeal, some kids teased him about being molested. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Meanwhile, Steven was undergoing unthinkable sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of Parnell. On February 14, 1980, in Ukiah, California, they were successful when Poorman found 5-year old Timothy White walking home from school. His accomplices, Ervin Murphy, and Ronald Sean Poorman were also convicted, though on lesser charges, claiming they knew nothing of the sexual assaults. [31] The two-part miniseries was first broadcast by NBC on May 2122, 1989. Miller toldPeople: He was kind of a reckless kid after he came back home he wrecked a couple of cars and I talked to him about being careful, because he could kill himself. It was then that Steven's nightmare began as Murphy brought him to Kenneth Parnell, a known pedophile. The abductor abused Steven and planned to use the boy to abduct more victims. When the boy replied that she would, Murphy then asked Stayner where he lived and if he would be willing to take Murphy to his home. Born on April 18, 1965, in Merced, California, Steven Gregory Stayner had an older brother named Cary and three sisters. True Crime Documentaries Worth Watching This Spring, Elizabeth Smart Marks Anniversary of Her "Biggest Miracle" 19 Years After Kidnapping Nightmare Ended, Sherri Papini Formally Pleads Guilty After Admitting Kidnapping Was a Hoax, Why the Unsolved Disappearance of the Beaumont Children Remains One of Australia's Most Haunting Crimes, TV's Most Killer True Crime Transformations, Man Sentenced to 190 Years in Prison for Murder of Jacqueline Avant, convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap, first linked him to Armstrong's July 21 murder. Those sorts of comparisons have been used a lot in these two brothers and I started to think, is it more complicated?". But for the Stayners, this seemingly closed hellish chapter of their lives turned out to beonly the first of the worst-nightmare scenarios that they faced. He took a job at a local Pizza Hut, and on Saturday, September 16, 1989 a heavy rain fell. Sandra Hawkins, a family friend, toldPeoplethat Kay stayed strong during the abduction but was totally crushed after learning of Stevens death. One December afternoon in 1972, 7-year-old Steven had been walking home in Merced, California, when he was coaxed into a stranger's car with the promise of a ride home. Proudly powered by WordPress "I don't think he should be executed because he's sick. 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. Realizing how the young boy would suffer at the hands of his captor, Stayner decided to return Timmy to his parents. Cary Stayner, Steven's older brother, was behind the Yosemite murders that rocked the small farming town of Merced, California in 1999. [25][28], On September 16, 1989, Stayner sustained fatal head injuries while on his way home from work when his motorcycle collided with a car[28][29] in a hit-and-run accident. He told Steven he was a minister, and asked if his mother would like to make a donation to the church. By the time Steven returned home, hed spent more than half his life in captivity. But he was pretty messed up and never got any counseling. Although he was sentenced to seven years, he only served five. In the world they try to build, Steven found happiness after his return at age 14 from seven years as the sex slave of a pedophile, and there is no connection between that made-for-TV drama and. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Poorman, who had been a friend of the boyhethought was Parnell's son, Dennis,was convicted as a minorfor Timothy White's abduction and spent time in a juvenile facility. Great article, as always! I Know My First Name Is Stevenalludes to Cary, who was 18 when his brother reappeared, being jealous of all the attention Steven was getting, but there's no indication of him being seriously disturbed. Parents Del and Kay, brother Cary and his three sisterswelcomed him back into the fold, but readjusting wasn't easyfor any of them. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/steven-stayner-34446.php. Kay and Delbert Stayner married in 1960 and had five children together. Hereturnedto school, where he was always an object of curiosity. Cary with his little brother, Steven . Steven was persuaded to get intothe car, whereKenneth Parnellwas waiting. "And I did that almost every clear night from then on until Steve finally came back home. 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. And with the family's input,and based on source material fromMike Echolls' book of the same name, NBC's two-partI Know My First Name Is Stevenstill made quite the splashwhen it premiered on May 22, 1989. He had a pretty sad life.. I guess seven years changed him, too. Kay also talked about the effect Stevens return had on the family, He came back different, very different. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". (There was some impressively stiff competition that year, sothe best miniseries honorwent toWar and Remembrance, which also beat outLonesome Dove. [2] In 2002, Cary was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of four women. He worked with child abduction groups and talked about childrens safety. ", Kay said in an interview, per CNN, "He came back different, very different. I guess I was jealous. Both actors reflecton the stranger-than-fiction chain of events inCaptive Audience, as well asread Steven and Cary's own words from interview transcripts. At the age of seven, Steven Stayner was kidnapped on the afternoon of December 4, 1972 by Kenneth Parnell, who had previously been convicted for sodomizing a young boy and for armed robbery in Utah. So, on December 4, 1972, Kay was supposed to pick him up from school but had stopped to pick something up from Delbert. 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. "[25], Stayner underwent brief counseling but never sought additional treatment. As Steven Stayner got older, Kenneth Parnell began planning to kidnap another, younger, boy. By 1980, when Steven was fourteen, and now a high school student, Parnells need for another boy became more prevalent. Now I had to compete with a brother and three sisters. Around the time Steven disappeared, they lived in an area with lots of children. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell dated a woman named Barbara Mathias for a period of time. "[35], Steven's story was also included in the book Against Their Will by Nigel Cawthorne, a compilation of stories of kidnappings.[36]. April 20, 2022 Steven Stayner became a household name in 1980 when he returned home after being kidnapped about seven years earlier. Judge Thomas Hastings has said that the evidence is becoming repetitive, and he has ordered Stayners defense to tighten up testimony so the case can go to the jury early next week. I was the oldest and all that. Cary was 11 years old at time, and deeply upset about his brother's disappearance. "And then they're the family of the perpetrator of the worst possible thing. Since then, Kay has preferred to keep her life private and hasnt spoken out apart from the interview on Captive Audience. She lost Delbert in April 2013. [16], As Stayner entered puberty, Parnell began to look for a younger child to kidnap. "He was spunky. Both claimed they knew nothing of the sexual assaults on Stayner. Click to reveal He agreed to let them search his truck but balked when they wanted to look in his backpack, wondering if Armstrong's head was inside. seen in Montana, according to our information three sisters. "He had a great personality," said Lori Duke, Steven's high school girlfriend, to ABC News. Steven Stayners miraculous story of escape from his kidnapper in 1980 garnered national headlines at the time. Stayner considered doing it on three different occasions. He died in jail in 2008 at the age of 76. And they searched. He was allowed to come and go virtually as he pleased, he could have fled, gotten help, but he didnt know how. "I've never been this angry. But by then he was too afraid of being physically harmed by Parnell to run away. I know my first name is Steven, he told the police. "The Abductions That Changed America", Article by Tim Bragg (staff writer) printed in the, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, List of child abuse cases featuring long-term detention, "Crash ends life scarred by childhood abduction", "Kidnapper arrested, accused of trying to buy a child", "Kidnap victim reunites with 'mystery woman', "Alleged attempt to buy child leads to arrest of kidnapper", "Stayner, serial killer Cary Stayner's brother, was abducted for 7 years - Crime Library on truTV.com", "17 Years Later, a Tv Miniseries Forces Steven Stayner to Relive the Horror of His Childhood", "Mormon News for WE 01Aug99: Stayner family's woeful history", "A Hit-and-Run Crash Ends the Life of Kidnap Victim Steven Stayner", "A Kidnapping Victim Rates The Film About His Ordeal", "OAKLAND / Child predator sentenced to 25 years to life / Steven Stayner's kidnapper tried to buy 4-year-old in Berkeley", "Sex offender Kenneth Parnell dies in Vacaville", "Ukiah Daily Journal: Timothy White, boy saved by Steven Stayner, dead at 35", "Timothy White, victim of 1980 kidnapping, dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steven_Stayner&oldid=1141810053, Articles with dead external links from February 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 22:53. Awesome, cant wait to read! He was bullied, teased, and his sexuality was always called into question. And we had a rough time getting used to having him home.. Sadness engulfed the community as people mourned a life blighted with tragedy. The next night, Parnell told Steven he had called his parents again, and just as the previous night, they said he could stay over. They passed the street Stevens house was on, and when he told them, the men just said that theyd call his parents, see if he could stay the night. At 14 years old, Steven was reunited with this parents, and became a national hero overnight. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. He named the dog, a Manchester Terrier, Queenie. 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. He skidded trying to avoid a car pulling out of a driveway and fatally struck his head.. He rode a motorcycle to work, but his manager suggested he take the franchises pickup truck home so he could stay dry. And we had a rough time getting used to having him home. ", Though the ready assumptionwas that Steven's sadly short lifehad been defined by his troubles, Jody said he'd been "a very happy man" of late, and they'd been living "a normal life with two beautiful kids.". After Steven said his mother would be interested in donating, Murphy offered to take the boy home. Del is devastated too. Cary saw the attention that his brother received after returning home and their relationship was never the same, according to TIME. When 800,000 children disappear every year worldwide 460,000 of these from the United States alone, you tend to keep your children close. Gavin Newsom imposed a moratoriumon carrying out the death penalty while he's in office. Your IP: During the years Steven was missing, Cary's life continued, but it was never the same. Cary pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for killing Armstrong. Parnell was subsequently found guilty of taking Steven as wellhe wasn't charged with child sex abuse or any other molestation-related counts in either caseand sentenced to seven years in prison. On February 14, 1980, Parnell and a teenage friend of Stayner's named Randall Sean Poorman kidnapped five-year-old Timmy White in Ukiah. This caused Parnell to believe Stayner lacked the means to be an accomplice. For Steven though, the adjustment was a little more difficult. Parnell had used Stayner to attempt to kidnap children on prior occasions, but all the kidnapping attempts were unsuccessful. 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. "The worst thing that could possibly happen, happens to them," Dimmock said. . [17] Both children were reunited with their families that day. In 2004, at the age of 72, he tried to bribe a nurse with $500 to get him a young boy. 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. | [7] Unbeknownst to Stayner, Parnell's cabin was located only several hundred feet from his maternal grandfather's residence. Although an almost four-year age gap separated the two brothers, with Cary being the eldest of all five siblings, they seemed incredibly close. [29][18], In early 1989, a television miniseries based on his experience, I Know My First Name Is Steven (also known as The Missing Years), was produced. So, today, at the age of 59, Cary Stayner is incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison. Despite his circumstances, he did well among his peers, and even became known as an all-around happy person. But executing him is not going to bring them back.". He died on April 1, 2010, at age 35 from pulmonary embolism. His relationship with his father remained strained. Parnell was not charged with the numerous sexual assaults on Stayner and other boys because most of them occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Merced County prosecutor or were by then outside the statute of limitations. ), "I'm very, very, very angry,"his wife Jody, then 21, told a reporter for Knight Ridder that night. Within a week, Steven was calling him dad. 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. He went back to sharing a room with his older brother Cary, and the two didnt get along. Dena. He was bullied by other children at school for being molested and eventually dropped out. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. [9] Parnell began raping Stayner thirteen days later, on December 17, 1972. 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. 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