Hulus Captive Audience sheds a light on the Stayner family and how the media can influence the publics perception of a case. But this time hes the one who is staying strong for Kay., Delbert mourned the tragedy but expressed relief in the certainty of death. Parnell was sentenced to 25 years to life under California's "three strikes" law. Parnell shifted from one place to another for work, often took Stayner with him, but later sometimes left him alone and unguarded. As long as I can see them and hear their voices, Im OK. But in September 1989, the family was dealt a terrible tragedy when Steven met with a road accident while on his way back home. Stayners parents withdrew emotionally after Steven went missing, Rinek wrote. Born on April 18, 1965, Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner. 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". which features a photo of him in a sheriffs uniform. Steven in order to hopefully save other children from the same tragic fate. 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. Both boys had been victims of kidnapping. Mike Echols, who wrote the manuscript for the series, later published a book with the same title in 1991. While imprisoned for this charge, his second wife filed for divorce. Stayners father, Delbert Stayner, was accused of sexually abusing his daughters, and Rinek wrote sexual abuse went back at least five generations in the family. In 1980, the same man kidnapped another child, 5 year old Timothy White. Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. Bill Balestra said of Stayner, who was . However, Timothy could not remember his address, so Stayner took him to a police station instead. In Captive Audience, Ashley, who was a teen at the time, recalls following this news story very closely. Steven Stayner's parents were left with many questions when their 7-year-old son vanished into thin air in 1972. Steven died nine years after he returned home. The devastation of losing their son twice within 10 years was excruciating for Steven Stayner's parents. Fortunately, the police spotted him as well and detained both of them, following which he revealed his identity and narrated his own story. As reported by People, Stayner struck the driver's side of the car at a high rate of speed. In March 1951, Parnell was arrested for raping a young boy and impersonating a police officer; he was sentenced to four years in prison. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. Its a story of a happy ending turned rathertwisted. In fact, he became the subject of the two-part television movie I Know My First Name Is Steven, which aired in 1989. in 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped while walking home from school. 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. Steven Stayner died when his children were very young. Although Parnell was a convicted child predator, Murphy was described as "simple-minded," and somewhat naive. Theres so much hate right now.. 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. Kenneth Parnell was ultimately convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to steal a child. Kenneth told Steven that his parents had given him away and that his new name was Dennis. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Born on April 18, 1965, in Merced, California, Steven Gregory Stayner had an older brother named Cary and three sisters. Steven and Cary Stayner: The tale of two brothers' horror and heroism He had three sisters and one older brother, Cary Stayner, who in 2002 was convicted of . He said, Whats dying? like so much had already happened to him, what was dying compared to that?. Jody later said of her husband, Steve hurt a lot. Cos Ive not until about an hour ago and its definitely one for the books. Assistant Sheriff Strength said Stayner was on the waiting list for a job as a county jail guard.. Captive Audience: What Happened to Steven Stayner? - POPSUGAR Ive never been this angry. During this time, he was working at Pizza Hut and later joined 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'. He fled on foot along with White, a journey that thrust the two kidnapping survivors into the national spotlight once they got to safety. 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. However, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. He was third of five children of his parents and had an elder brother Cary and three sisters. "He didn't complain. According to Crime Investigation, the boys hitchhiked more than 40 miles to reach Ukiah, California, where White was abducted from. The racers relationship with Sarah Lavin, Where is Katherine Russell today? Steven was quite protective of Ashley and Steven Jr, given what happened to him. 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. Kay and Delbert Stayner married in 1960 and had five children together. Steven Stayner's grave./Steven Stayner. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In 1989, Steven was killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a wife and two young children. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The Merced Police Department launched an extensive investigation and search effort. Thankfully, they were unable to follow through with the kidnapping attempt. In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to. Soon after, Parnell reached there, driving a white Buick, which Stayner got into willingly, along with Murphy, but instead of his home, he was taken to a cabin in nearby Catheys Valley. As Steven got older and entered puberty, Parnell's sexual interest in Stayner waned and Parnell sought a new boy to "build his family". 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Wellman said Parnell "was looking for one last hurrah. He was just a great kid with a good heart.. If its the last thing I do, Ill nail him if I possibly can. 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. 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. 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. Steven passed away an hour after the accident at Merced Community Medical Center. 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. On several occasions, Parnell encouraged Stayner to help him lure another boy into the home. 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. He fell in love. In 1972, a Young Boy Was Kidnapped and Abused for 7 Years Before Escaping Where Is His Torturer Now? According to Diane Stevens' testimony, Parnell requested that the child have a "clean" rectum, indicating sexual intentions. In addition to the molestation, Stayner later claimed that Parnell's attitude altered from severe beatings to sometimes "spoiling" him. 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. A report from 2007 placed her in Montana, but beyond that, not much else is known about Jody. 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. But what about the fellow kidnapping victim that the hero brother rescued? Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. However, Crime Investigation reports Stayner sabotaged Parnell's efforts, as he did not want another boy to suffer through the abuse he had endured. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. READ NEXT: Cary Stayner Today: Where Is He Now in 2021? His wife, Jody Edmondson, lashed out at Antonio for leaving the scene. 'Captive Audience' Summary: Hulu Revisits the Stayner Family - People Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. [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. Then in 1980, as Stayner matured, Parnell kidnapped a younger boy, 5-year-old Timothy "Timmy" White, Following his rescue, White went on to bravely testify at his kidnappers trial when he was just 6 years old, the, White went on to have two children with his wife, Dena. While working at the Yosemite Lodge, Kenneth Parnell befriended his coworker Ervin Murphy. According to The Famous People, the couple eventually had two children, named Ashley and Steven, Jr. While they were lovingly raised among almond groves and peach orchards by Delbert and Kay Stayner, their lives in the farming town of Merced were unfortunately in dangerous proximity of a monster. At the time, the 24-year-old was driving a motorcycle and collided with a car in the front. However, as we all know, that turned when pedophile Kenneth Parnell abducted Steven in 1972, and the Stayners allegedly began to neglect their children. Aged seven, Stayner, a California native, was abducted by child molester Kenneth Parnell. Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story,. [10] Unfamiliar with the city, Stayner decided the best option was to seek out the local police, who originally considered him a delinquent, until an exhaustive search of missing child posters and a piecemeal interrogation confirmed he was a missing child as well. Cary Stayner will forever be known for marring Yosemite's reputation as a peaceful retreat with the brutal murders of four innocent women. He was held hostage by Kenneth Parnell 38 . However, he was not charged for sexual assault as the prosecutors believed they were 'protecting' Stayner from the social stigma of male sexual abuse. When Steven passed away, Ashley was 3 years old and Steven Jr. was 2 years old. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. #truecrime #PodernFamily #perspective #WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/IItIDruGTI, It Could Always Be Worse (@alwaysbeworse) March 21, 2018, Steven Stayner was only 7 years old when he was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell and Ervin Murphy, according to ABC News. Edward Murphy, Parnell's accomplice from the Stayner kidnapping, was sentenced to five years imprisonment and paroled after two years. He loved his family, his career and boating, especially at Lake Pyramid, the obituary states. Steven Stayner Children: Ashley Stayner, Steven Stayner Jr. April 25, 2022 by John Atsu. Stayner and Timmy hiked to a police station 40 miles away from Kenneths cabin. Cary Stayner Now - The Story Behind Cary and Steven Stayner 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. According to SFGate, his friends and coworkers described him as being impulsive and prone to seemingly abrupt and violent fits of rage. On September 17, 1989, he succumbed to head injuries after being involved in a car accident while returning home from work in his motorcycle. Although Stayner told the younger boy to go inside by himself and tell the officers he had been kidnapped, White refused to leave Stayner's side. Steven Stayner Missing Childrens Memorial, Saint George and the Dragon Bronze Statue (4ft high by 4ft wide), General Ulysses S. Grant Monument, for West Point, Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 Spacesuit Replicas (15 Life Size Statues). Losing perspective? As Steven reached puberty, Purnell preference for younger boys drove him to abduct 5-year-old Timothy. His family was happy to have him back, but things were different. On February 14, 1980, Parnell employed Randall Sean Poorman, a teenage friend of Stayner, to abduct a five-year-old Timothy "Timmy" White in Ukiah, California. We tried to keep quiet and not upset our parents.. He also joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Staynerwhose young brother Steven was abducted as a child and later received nationwide attention through the TV miniseries, "I Know My First Name is Steven"murdered two women and two teenage girls near Yosemite National Park in 1999: Joie Armstrong, Carole Sund, Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso. As he was not wearing a helmet, he suffered massive head trauma, which led to his death less than one hour after the accident occurred. Steven Stayner died in 1989. Steven Jr. was his son, and Ashley was his daughter. After all, the latter helped a 5-year-old child escape a pedophile as a teenager after enduring years of abuse. Jody emotionally described how she and Stayner planned to visit their favorite restaurant after he got home. 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. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell dated a woman named Barbara Mathias for a period of time. White also died an untimely death earlier this year at the age of 35. Although an almost four-year age gap separated the two brothers, with Cary being the eldest of all five siblings, they seemed incredibly close. According to the psychiatrists report, Stayners father, Delbert Stayner, was ordered into therapy for molesting his own daughters. 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. I feel bad for him,White said. He told The San Jose Mercury News that watching his children play was 'like having another childhood - the childhood I didn't have.' "Steven was bravely going about reconstructing his life," JK Miller said. 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. All we know, Was Craig Breen married? Years after Timmy White was rescued by fellow kidnapping survivor Steven Stayner, he became a sheriff's deputy. 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? The couple became estranged albeit, they were actively trying to fix things. Steven was kidnapped walking home from school in 1972 by Kenneth Purnell and told hisparents no longer wanted him. On the other hand, Kay still lives in California, rarely speaks out about either of her sons publicly, and prefers to go by her day-to-day life away from the limelight. Today, Ashley is a mom to a young daughter. Steven Stayner was kidnapped when Cary Stayner was 11, Rinek wrote. 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. Steven Stayner Death: How Cary's Stayner's Brother Died He was convicted of both kidnappings and served five years of his seven-year prison sentence. [16][17] According to prison officials, Parnell died of natural causes. Parnell married 15-year old Patsy Jo Dorton in 1949,[7] had a daughter in 1951, and divorced in 1957. Being a mother, we assume Kay continues to miss her sons, but likes to keep it private, as made clear on her Facebook account. Del is devastated too. 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. As Steven Stayner got older, Kenneth Parnell began planning to kidnap another, younger, boy. 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. Over the next few years, the couple had Ashley and Steven Jr, born a year apart. "I Know My Name is Steven." The Heartbreaking Story of Steven Stayner One last Steven Stayner, one last Timmy White. He loved his brother, his former calssmate, Jack Bungart, told the news outlet. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! My dad was on a mission trying to find his son, she said. However, his brother Cary also suffered throughout the entire ordeal. Surrounded by endless complainers? [2] In 2002, Cary was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of four women. 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? Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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. Sartell testified about the toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the family. Stayner went on to marry his wife, Jodi Stayner, and have two children. A new documentary revisits the stories of Steven Stayner, who escaped from a seven-year captivity aged 14, and of his brother Cary Stayner, who was convicted of four murders years later.. [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. 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. A decade after their father passed, four women were brutally murdered in nearby Yosemite. Five year old Timothy Lee White gets a piggy back ride from 14 year-old Steven Stayner into a press conference March 2, 1980, in Ukiah, Calif. Steven Stayner captured the heart of a nation when he helped another child escape from a pedophile, after enduring years of abuse and not wanting to see the child experience the same fate. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". Steven Stayner Children: Ashley Stayner, Steven Stayner Jr. - Vim Buzz 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. 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. Adjusting to post-abduction life was no easy task for Steven. 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. When he was 24, he died in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. Regardless, he went on to start a family, and while he probably wanted nothing more than to live a quiet life with his kids outside the spotlight, the Stayner family story was far from over. Steven Stayner Biography - Facts, Childhood, Life - The Famous People When 14-year-old Steven Stayner turned up at a police station, . 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. Her battle with dementia explained, How did Dr. Charles Stanley die? Steven, then nearly 15, bravely managed to escape with Timothy to a local police station, from which both boys were returned home. At the time, Stayner had been missing for more than seven years. Star Original Captive Audience - A Real American Horror Story aired on Hulu with all 3 episodes available immediately on the release date of April 21, 2022. It was a sad end to a tragic life,Allen Maxfield, CHP traffic safety officer, said. But before we get into that, lets get to know Stevens two kids: Ashley and Steven Stayner Jr., who are both featured in the documentary. Sadness engulfed the community as people mourned a life blighted with tragedy. Parnells father, Cecil Frederick, died July 31, 1972 in Denver.[3]. He later moved with his mother, his two half-sisters, and a half-brother to Bakersfield, California, where his mother operated a boarding lodge. He also began manipulating the boy into believing his parents did not want him anymore, as they could not afford to financially support him. 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. The Famous People reports Stayner had a difficult time adjusting to returning to his parents' home. The Right Shoe: Steven and Cary Stayner on Apple Podcasts He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. He was spunky. Despite the extreme trauma he experienced while living with his captor, and Steven went on to marry and have children. Sandra Hawkins, a family friend, toldPeoplethat Kay stayed strong during the abduction but was totally crushed after learning of Stevens death. It was also difficult for his parents to adjust to having a teenager after remembering their son as a 7-year-old boy. If theyre just out on the porch, the door is always open. For eight years, he abused Stayer while posing as his legal guardian and moving around California with him. He sure led a rough life, California Highway Patrol Sgt. All Rights Reserved. Shortly before his death, Steven had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [1] He had three sisters and an older brother, Cary. [8], More than a decade after the sodomy case, Parnell was convicted of armed robbery in Utah. They wanted to truthfully relate what had happened to Steven Stayner became a household name in 1980 when he returned home after being kidnapped about seven years earlier. Steven Stayner's Kids: Where Are Ashley and Steven Jr. Now? - Distractify How Steven Stayner Escaped His Abductor Kenneth Parnell For seven years he was held captive by a man who routinely abused him. He married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson in 1985 and together, they had two children, Ashley and Steven, Jr. Stayner, 41, faces the death penalty for the killings of Carole Sund, 42, her daughter, Juli, 15, and their Argentine friend Silvina Pelosso, 16, while they were staying at the motel where he worked as a handyman outside Yosemite National Park in February 1999.