In 1985, at the age of 20, Stayner married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson. The rest is spine-chilling history, made famous by exhaustive mediacoverage, books and a film in 1989, I know my name is Steven, based on the book of the samename. Parnell married 15-year old Patsy Jo Dorton in 1949,[7] had a daughter in 1951, and divorced in 1957. Here's what Ashley and Steven Jr. Stayner, who appear in 'Captive Audience,' are up to now. The Famous People reports Parnell then took the boy to a remote cabin near Catheys Valley, California. Steven Stayner led a short and tragic life. He later moved with his mother, his two half-sisters, and a half-brother to Bakersfield, California, where his mother operated a boarding lodge. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. As reported by People, Stayner struck the driver's side of the car at a high rate of speed. He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. September 17, 1989. He was convicted in 2004 for attempting to purchase a child for sex and died in prison. Parnell was arrested that day,[14] subsequently telling authorities "I wanted a family". Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story,. He said, They dont go out unless I go with them or theres someone outside watching. Unable to avoid the collision, Steven hit the drivers side of the vehicle. In addition to assisting in the production of a miniseries based on his experience, Stayner became an advocate for preventing child abduction and helping victims of abuse. But Kay knew that child molestation, something she went through, was out of the question. I dont think he should be executed because hes sick. But Cary still got the death penalty. Parnell died in 2008 while incarcerated. Steven, then nearly 15, bravely managed to escape with Timothy to a local police station, from which both boys were returned home. A decade after their father passed, four women were brutally murdered in nearby Yosemite. If its the last thing I do, Ill nail him.. However, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. He sure led a rough life, California Highway Patrol Sgt. In the 1970s, they constituted Cary and Steven, their three sisters, and their parents, Kay and Delbert Stayner. At the time, the 24-year-old was driving a motorcycle and collided with a car in the front. 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. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. Steven Stayners incredible story features in the captivating Hulu crime dramaCaptive Audience. Stayner and his wife were high school sweethearts, the article said. Years after Timmy White was rescued by fellow kidnapping survivor Steven Stayner, he became a sheriff's deputy. The racers relationship with Sarah Lavin, Where is Katherine Russell today? As reported by The Famous People, Parnell dated a woman named Barbara Mathias for a period of time. They dated for a year and got married in June 1985. That evening, Steven was supposed to have dinner with his wife at their favorite restaurant, but it never happened. He worked as a sheriffs deputy for five years until his life was cut tragically short in April of 2010 when White died of a pulmonary embolism at age 35, according to the New York Times. Cary Stayner was convicted in the 1999 murders of 42-year-old Carole Sund, her 15-year-old daughter Juli, their 16-year-old family friend Silvina Pelosso and Joie Armstrong, a 26-year-old Yosemite naturalist, according to History. He didnt complain. 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. He is married with children (see his son above), and he also appears to have previously served in the U.S. Army like his sister. For seven years he was held captive by a man who routinely abused him. MERCED, Calif. (AP) _ Steven Stayner, kidnapped at the age of 7 and forced to live as the sexually abused foster son of his abductor until he escaped seven years later, has been killed in a hit-and-run traffic accident. He loved his family, his career and boating, especially at Lake Pyramid, the obituary states. He had a pretty sad life.. According to ABC News, Parnell stopped to make a call from a payphone shortly after Murphy and Steven Stayner got into his car. Powered by, In the Name of the Children: An FBI Agents Relentless Pursuit of the Nations Worst Predators. Kenneth told Steven that his parents had given him away and that his new name was Dennis. She appears content to be beside her family and friends. Its final this time,he said. I feel bad for him,White said. Cary's defense team argued that he suffered from mental illness, in part from the trauma he suffered when Steven was kidnapped. 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. White, despite losing touch with Steven and remembering little about his brief abduction, was a pallbearer at Stayners funeral. Steven Stayner's parents were left with many questions when their 7-year-old son vanished into thin air in 1972. Despite the severe trauma that he dealt with when he lived with his kidnapper, Steven made a life for himself, marrying and having children. She named the sculptural design, Coming Home and it was unanimously approved by the committee. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. However, he was not charged for sexual assault as the prosecutors believed they were 'protecting' Stayner from the social stigma of male sexual abuse. However, as we all know, that turned when pedophile Kenneth Parnell abducted Steven in 1972, and the Stayners allegedly began to neglect their children. When he returned, he told the boy that he called his parents and they said they did not want him anymore. Following his rescue, White went on to bravely testify at his kidnappers trial when he was just 6 years old, the New York Times reported in 2010. Steven returned to Merced to marry and start a family, becoming a champion for the cause ofmissing children until his untimely death at the age of 24 in 1989. children: Ashley Stayner, Steven Stayner Jr. See the events in life of Steven Stayner in Chronological Order, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJq6NyCMd6c, http://swordandscale.com/steven-stayner-kidnapped-and-held-for-7-years/, https://alchetron.com/Steven-Stayner-818809-W. Steven Gregory Stayner was born on April 18, 1965 in Merced, California, to Delbert and Kay Stayner. Stayner had a pet dog named Queenie, with whom he formed a close bond, and was permitted to begin drinking and smoking at a young age. Steven in order to hopefully save other children from the same tragic fate. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. In addition to assisting in the production of a miniseries based on his experience, Stayner became an advocate for preventing child abduction and helping victims of abuse. Shortly before his death, Steven had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. Steven Stayner became a household name in 1980 when he returned home after being kidnapped about seven years earlier. However, the young boy could not take advantage of those opportunities as he was reportedly unaware how to summon help. 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. Today, Ashley is a mom to a young daughter. 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. He fell in love. Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. 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. As reported by ABC News, Kenneth Parnell treated Steven Stayner like a son. Parnell was sentenced to 25 years to life under California's "three strikes" law. It was a sad end to a tragic life,Allen Maxfield, CHP traffic safety officer, said. 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. According to Crime Investigation, the boys hitchhiked more than 40 miles to reach Ukiah, California, where White was abducted from. Stevens parents, Kay and Delbert, were on a camping trip when they learned of the passing. On July 24, 1999, Cary confessed to killing four women, who had all been guests at the lodge where he was employed. Steven refused to reveal the details of his sexual abuse and endured bullying in school for being molested. In the shadow of the Yosemite National Park in California, in the secluded farming town of Merced, the Stayner family resided in a lower-middle-class area classified as Betty Street. He told TheSan Jose Mercury Newsthat watching his children play was like having another childhood the childhood I didnt have., Steven was bravely going about reconstructing his life,JK Miller said. He said, Whats dying? like so much had already happened to him, what was dying compared to that?. An archive article published September 18, 1989, two days after Stayners death, in The Spokesman-Review, said a driver hit Stayner on a highway and left him on the ground with severe head injuries. In addition to the molestation, Stayner later claimed that Parnell's attitude altered from severe beatings to sometimes "spoiling" him. When he was 24, he died in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. For the families of missing children, a new statue unveiled in Merceds Applegate Park today,now stands as a beacon of hope, a reminder of survival and heroism in the face of a childs worstnightmare. Ashley Stayner Husband, Is She Married? However, little did she know that her uncle was the murderer. At his funeral on September 20, a 14-year-old Timmy White was one of the pallbearers. Unfortunately, Parnell eventually convinced another teenage boy, named Randall Sean Poorman, to help him kidnap 5-year-old Timothy White. 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". Sean Poorman, Stayner's schoolfriend who abetted Parnell in the White kidnapping, was sentenced to a term in a juvenile work camp. It would have been a lot different if this man who hit him had stayed. The kidnapping had a deep impact on Cary Stayner, his childhood friend, Mike Marchese told ABC News in a 1999 interview. Cary Stayner will forever be known for marring Yosemite's reputation as a peaceful retreat with the brutal murders of four innocent women. The couple became estranged albeit, they were actively trying to fix things. During this time, he was working at Pizza Hut and later joined 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. He loved his brother, his former calssmate, Jack Bungart, told the news outlet. Under the belief that Parnell has been given legal custody of him, and that his family has moved away, he stays with Parnell for seven years, enduring repetitive sexual abuse the entire time. But adding children to the equation seemed to only make their relationship worse. In March 1951, Parnell was arrested for raping a young boy and impersonating a police officer; he was sentenced to four years in prison. Stayners parents withdrew emotionally after Steven went missing, Rinek wrote. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/steven-stayner-34446.php. [1] He had three sisters and an older brother, Cary. As Parnell was working the night shift, Stayner fled the home with White in the middle of the night. But he always seemed to get through it no matter what. If its the last thing I do, Ill nail him if I possibly can. Their case inspired the much-watched 1989 TV movie I Know My First Name Is Steven. Stayner died in a motorcycle crash the same year the movie was released. In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to. He also conscripted Stayner into aiding him in kidnappings, but Stayner had always failed to grab the targeted child to the point Parnell stopped using Stayner as an accomplice, berating him for being an "incompetent". At the time, Stayner had been missing for more than seven years. Russells monitored life in New Jersey. According to The Famous People, Parnell also enrolled Stayner in school. After that time he was in and out of juvenile custody for car theft and arson.[4][5]. Kenneth Parnell was ultimately convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to steal a child. He also became a sheriff's deputy in Newhall in Los Angeles County in 2005, Mercury News reported in 2010. He was spunky. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [13] Parnell was, by this time, 71 years old and suffering from diabetes and emphysema, as well as other ailments brought on by an earlier stroke, requiring near 24-hour-a-day nursing care in his cluttered apartment in the 2600 block of Mathews Street in Berkeley. Slater was selected from many competing sculptors to sculpt the life size full-figure portraits of Steven Stayner and little Timothy White. In 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner went to school and never came home. Stayner looked forward to raising his children, Ashley and Steven Jr, with Jody. [3] Kidnapping [ edit] 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. Delbert served as a mechanic at a peach can factory at that point in time, whereas Kay was a wife and mother whom many characterized as cold and distant. He didn't whine about lousy breaks. It was at this point that Stayner decided to escape with White and return the young child to his parents. [8], More than a decade after the sodomy case, Parnell was convicted of armed robbery in Utah. 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. But adding children to the equation seemed to only make their relationship worse. According to a psychiatrist who would later evaluate Stayner for his defense team, the Stayner family tree was riven with mental illness and sexual abuse going back five generations. He was just very well-grounded, for a person that had gone through what he had gone through. In the years after Stevens death, it was mentioned on the show that Jody remarried. I heard stories about him going out and wishing on a star, that his brother would come home.. See what Ashley and Steven Jr. Stayner have to say about their father and uncle in Captive Audience, which is now streaming on Hulu. Find a Grave According to Diane Stevens' testimony, Parnell requested that the child have a "clean" rectum, indicating sexual intentions. The couple became estranged albeit, they were actively trying to fix things. But at the same time, they dealt with a lot of disagreements. But this time hes the one who is staying strong for Kay., Delbert mourned the tragedy but expressed relief in the certainty of death. Very seldom did he get into trouble. The sudden death of Steven meant Jody was widowed at 20 years old and had to take care of Ashley and Steven Jr. [2] In 2002, Cary was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of four women. The miniseries was released on May 23, 1989, only about four months before he died in a hit-and-run accident. Distractify is a registered trademark. In late 1989, Steven was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle home from his job as a pizza delivery man when a car pulled out of the driveway just ahead of him. On September 17, 1989, he succumbed to head injuries after being involved in a car accident while returning home from work in his motorcycle. He married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson in 1985 and together, they had two children, Ashley and Steven, Jr. He died in his home, according to his obituary which features a photo of him in a sheriffs uniform. Born on April 18, 1965, Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner. Losing perspective? Cary Stayner is not just a convicted killer and rapist, but hes also the older brother of kidnapping victim Steven Stayner. The officers soon realized that both of the boys had actually been kidnapped, and the one identifying himself as Dennis Parnell was actually Steven Stayner. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Northern California town on edge after second fatal stabbing in a week, Photos: Opening day of trout season in the Eastern Sierra, CEO of Cookies pot brand accused of kickbacks, strong-arm tactics. As he never had any rules, he rebelled when his parents forbade him from drinking alcohol and smoking. In 2014, she shared the tragic news that her partner had passed away. While investigators were checking into Parnell's past, the 1951 sodomy conviction came to light, although at the time Stayner insisted that Parnell had not sexually abused him.[11]. Over the years, Parnell had numerous jobs and he and Stayner moved often. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Adjusting to post-abduction life was no easy task for Steven. A Fictionalized Telling of 'The Staircase' Is Coming to HBO Max With More Than One Big Name Attached, The Sound of Pam Hupp Slurping a Soft Drink Is Actually in the Score of 'The Thing About Pam'. While he still blamed himself for his abduction, starting a family helped him cope with his past, and he began interacting with child abduction groups and provided advice to children on the topic. READ NEXT: Cary Stayner Today: Where Is He Now in 2021? As for where Delbert and Kay Stayner are now, the pair had made it evident that they wanted to lead quiet lives after the events of the early 2000s. Steven's brother, Cary Stayner, confessed to the brutal murders which ultimately brought the Stayner family back into the spotlight. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. As reported by The Famous People, both boys were reunited with their parents on May 2, 1980. The Merced Police Department launched an extensive investigation and search effort. On March 1, 1980, two weeks after Timothy White was abducted, as Parnell went on duty at his night security job, Steven Stayner left the house with Timmy and hitchhiked a ride to Ukiah. But the children in the family kept their feelings to themselves and didnt discuss their emotions. Naturally, the media began analyzing the connection between abducted child Steven Stayner and his serial killer brother, Cary Stayner. Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. Steven's parents were devastated by their son's disappearance and the lack of witnesses or any evidence in the case. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. However, as they were walking toward Stayner's home, they were approached by another man, who was driving a white Buick. 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. He is now 59 and on death row in San Quentin State Prison, according to his prison records. My son is very sick right now, the familys patriarch said while sobbing. Sartell testified about the toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the family. Thus, sadly, all we know is that Delbert passed away at 79-years-old in his house in Winton, California, on April 9, 2013. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, Opinion: California wants more psychiatric detentions. Steven, wearing no helmet and riding with an invalid license, suffered severe head injuries. While working at the Yosemite Lodge, Kenneth Parnell befriended his coworker Ervin Murphy. Steven Stayner died when his children were very young. ABC News reports it was a "sleety, wintery day," and Stayner willingly followed Murphy into Parnell's car, as he expected the man to take him home. They wanted to truthfully relate what had happened to Furthermore, according to Steven Jr.'s Facebook page, he currently resides in Merced, Cali. One of the most curious cases Steven Stayner was kidnapped and held captive for man years under child predator Kenneth Parnell; he would get away, get married and have children only to face another tragedy; his older brother Cary, would go onto a whole other path.an extremely violent one. Hulus Captive Audience sheds a light on the Stayner family and how the media can influence the publics perception of a case. Stayner was terribly concerned about White's welfare and immediately began planning to get the 5-year-old away from Parnell and return him home to his parents. However, he was convicted in Utah and was not known as a criminal in California. Jody expressed her frustration with the hit-and-run, saying, Im very, very, very angry. Kenneth Eugene Parnell was born in Amarillo, Texas[1][2] to Cecil Frederick and Mary Olive (ne Pollard) Parnell, during the region's dust bowl era during the Great Depression. He was just a great kid with a good heart.. She produced a sensitive design sketch of Steven leading Timothy by the hand to safety. 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 had been under hospice care for some time.[10]. Aged seven, Stayner, a California native, was abducted by child molester Kenneth Parnell. Barbara Mathias, Parnell's girlfriend who lived with him and Stayner for some time, was never charged with any violation and cooperated with authorities in Parnell's trials. It will also recognize other victims of stranger abductions, and will serve as a permanent reminder of our inherent duty to protect our children. [8] Parnell denied in that same interview having been sexually abused himself, although Mike Echols' book I Know My First Name Is Steven states that he was indeed molested at the age of 13 by a boarder in a rooming house that his mother owned in Bakersfield. Hulu's 'Captive Audience' delves into a [] He was given a new identity . I know where Stevies at now., Read Next: Bonny Lee Bakleys death The accusations behind her unsolved murder, Everything we know about Halseys parents, Bonny Lee Bakleys death The accusations behind her unsolved murder, Is Cissy Houston still alive? Of course Cynthia Sartell knew him; he was her older sibling. This is the hardest thing she has ever had to face, and she just cant talk to anybody. The Truth About The Kidnapping Of Steven Stayner, California Department of Corrections/Wikipedia. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. For eight years, he abused Stayer while posing as his legal guardian and moving around California with him. He died in his home, according to. 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. Getty Images While adjusting to his new life at home, and being bullied in school for the abuse he experienced, Steven also had to deal with. Over the next few years, he had some trouble adjustingto living with his family. At that point Stayner decided to save White from the abuse he had enduredand the two escaped. She added, He was very proud of who he was. But her strength is waning now. A few years later, Steven got married and had two childrenbut at 24, having already been robbed of his childhood, Steven was robbed of his life when a hit-and-run driver killed him while he was riding his motorcycle home. At the time, the concept of therapy was frowned upon, and his father insisted that he didnt need any counseling. Steven Stayner with his parents In their four years together, they welcomed daughter Ashley, followed by son Steven Jr. According to the psychiatrists report, Stayners father, Delbert Stayner, was ordered into therapy for molesting his own daughters. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. [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. Being a mother, we assume Kay continues to miss her sons, but likes to keep it private, as made clear on her Facebook account. [3] Parnell was raised mostly without his father, who abandoned the family when Parnell was six. Dwarfed by his tall andlanky frame, Timmy takes his hand to set out on the dark road from the remote home where thechildren were being held. As Steven Stayner got older, Kenneth Parnell began planning to kidnap another, younger, boy. Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. So, of course, we can not help but wonder more about their family, particularly their parents. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! "[14], Parnell remained incarcerated until his death, at age 76, on January 21, 2008[15] at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California. A new docuseries dives into the unbelievable tale of two brothers, one of whom was a child kidnapping victim-turned-national hero and the other who became a serial killer. After he failed to find Timmy's parents, he decided to lead the young boy into the police station to get help, as he was not attempting an escape for himself. Captive Audience delves into the circumstances surrounding Steven being taken and how he finally escaped, saving a 5-year-old in the process. Although an almost four-year age gap separated the two brothers, with Cary being the eldest of all five siblings, they seemed incredibly close. Steven Gregory Stayner was an American kidnapping victim whose incident occurred on December 4, 1972. He barely knew his parents, and his parents scarcely knew the teenager whod returned home. One last Steven Stayner, one last Timmy White. As per her testimony during Carys 2002 trial, she was raised to keep her emotions to herself by her father, who insisted that she would otherwise seem crazy like her mother. My dad was on a mission trying to find his son, she said. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell convinced Murphy that he was an "aspiring minister" who needed to find a young boy, who he planned to "raise in a religious-type deal.". Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Parnell had lured the child through use of a deputy sheriff's badge he bought at an army-navy surplus store. The family sent out fliers, Sartell said, and headed off on distant road trips to talk to people who might have any information about the missing child. 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. 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. ABCs 20/20: Yosemite Serial Killer, as the title suggests, profiles the tale of the male who carried out four murders in six months near the Yosemite National Park in 1999. The driver, Antonio Loera, drove off, leaving Stayner helpless on the rain-soaked highway. Both Kay and her husband confessed that they were not the best parents even when Steven returned feelings were still never discussed. When bronze statues were completed they were installed upon a 4 high polished concrete base at the entrance to beautiful Applegate Park in Merced, CA. Surrounded by endless complainers? Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? In 1989, Steven was killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a wife and two young children. "[2] He claimed to have been married three times, but only one record of his marriage is known. Stayner and Timmy hiked to a police station 40 miles away from Kenneths cabin. Seven-year-old, Steven Stayner lived with his parents, Kay and Delbert and his three sisters and an older brother in the small Californian city of Merced. 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.
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