Steven was transported to Merced Community Medical Center, and at 5:35pm, was declared dead. Even though missing fliers circulatedall over the place, including some of the schools Steven attended, no one evercame forward to say they recognized him. 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. "I remember going out one night after Steve disappeared and wishing on a star that my brother would come back home," Cary reportedly told Mike Echols, author of the book I Know My First Name Is Steven. Parnell had also moved from one menial job to another, some of his work requiring travel and leaving Stayner unguarded, causing an adult Stayner to remark he could have easily used these absences as opportunities to flee, but was unaware how to summon help. For seven years I have been supposedly an only child. Also Known As: Steven Gregory Stayner Died At Age: 24 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Jody Edmondson (m. 1985-1989) father: Delbert Stayner mother: Kay Stayner siblings: Cary Stayner, Cory Stayner children: Ashley Stayner, Steven Stayner Jr. American Men Aries Men Died on: September 17, 1989 Cause of Death: Accident U.S. State: California According to a TIMEmagazinereport from March 17, 1980, Steven hadn't yet fully divulged what really happened to him. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Parnell bounced from one job to another, some requiring him to travel and leave Steven home alone. Jody said (perThe Spokesman-Review): Im very, very, very angry. While there's not much information about what Steven was like as a child, there is some insight to Cary's early life. This is the hardest thing she has ever had to face, and she just cant talk to anybody. [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. Parnell approached with the car, and they left. But this time hes the one who is staying strong for Kay., Delbert mourned the tragedy but expressed relief in the certainty of death. April 22, 2022 Steven Stayner's miraculous story of escape from his kidnapper in 1980 garnered national headlines at the time. His business savvy partner, Bonny Lee Bakleys death The accusations behind her unsolved murder, Who are Miles Pfeffers parents? In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. But the family has since dealt with several tragedies along the way, including Steven's death and his older brother's incarceration for murder. "We tried to keep quiet and not upset our parents.". He named the dog, a Manchester Terrier, Queenie. "A lot of attention went to Steven we all got a little jealous," says one of the Stayner sisters in Hulu's upcoming docuseries Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story. Investigator Pat Lunney said, Merced was the lead police department, and so they really mounted a large effort to search. In 1999, Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli, and Juli's friend Silvina Pelosso stayed at Cedar Lodge, where Cary worked as a handyman. But her strength is waning now. [13], For a period of eighteen months, a woman named Barbara Mathias lived with Parnell and Stayner. After they stopped trying to teach me the fundamentals all over again, it got better. The sexual abuse also went on at night, until, as Steven remembered, Parnell told him he was getting too old and came home with Timothy White, the child's blond hair already dyed a darker shade. Cary Stayner when he was just 8 months old, wearing a baby bonnet. "He had a great personality," said Lori Duke, Steven's high school girlfriend, to ABC News. Steven, hoping to spare another child his fate, had sabotaged so many kidnappings. The title of the film and book are taken from the first paragraph of Steven's written police statement, given during the early hours of March 2, 1980 in Ukiah. '", 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. Stevens parents, Kay and Delbert, were on a camping trip when they learned of the passing. He rode a motorcycle to work, but his manager suggested he take the franchises pickup truck home so he could stay dry. Sartell testified about the toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the family. 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. In 1989, he tragically died in a motorcycle accident. On February 14, 1980, Parnell and a teenage friend of Stayner's named Randall Sean Poorman kidnapped five-year-old Timmy White in Ukiah. Steven, his memory of his family fading under the strain of the trauma, took to calling Parnell "Dad" and went to class clean and neatly dressed, and otherwise showing no obvious outward traces of being held against his will. Theres so much hate right now.. Steven was beaten and allowed to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to. He died on April 1, 2010 from a pulmonary embolism. On March 1, 1980, after two weeks, Steven had had enough. He waited until Parnell went to work, then took Timothys hand and ran. 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. Despite his efforts, Parnell had another young boy. He gave lectures at local schools, and even testified before the Ways and Means Committee of the State Assembly on one bill that would increase penalties for kidnapping children, and another that would require parents to have their children fingerprinted. However, he was not charged for sexual assault as the prosecutors believed they were 'protecting' Stayner from the social stigma of male sexual abuse. 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]. But as Kay also said that night, "We expected him to come back. "We were kind of on our own," she said. Both Del and Kay Stayner testified during the penalty phase of the trial that October that they neglected Cary to a degree when Steven went missing. For the abduction, he enlisted the help of nave and simple-minded Ervin Edward Murphy by pretending to be an aspiring minister who needed a young boy to "raise him in a religious-type deal". She said back then, This is really so phenomenal, for a child to be gone seven years and to be found alive. We had hope, faith, and kept busy. But Stevens life back in the safety of his home was difficult. 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 . Before leaving for the nudist colony . He remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison, though California hasn't executed a prisoner since 2006 and Gov. 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. "Police say that Stayner seemed fond of Parnell, who he said 'spoiled' himStayner was defensive about Parnell in his talks with police and reluctant at first to reveal his name. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The nurse reported him to the local police and he was once again convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. After they stopped trying to teach me the fundamentals all over again, it got better. For Steven though, the adjustment was a little more difficult. Unable to avoid the collision, Steven hit the drivers side of the vehicle. Steven Stayner's Kidnapping, Cary Stayner's Horrific Crimes and One Family's Unbelievable Story The new Hulu docuseries takes an intimate look at this tragic, terrifying and touching saga. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [7], After Stayner agreed, a white Buick driven by Parnell pulled up, and Stayner willingly climbed into the car with Murphy. She later insisted she hadno idea that"Dennis"wasn't Parnell's real son, that he even had a birth certificate for the boy. No longer able to deal with his peers, feeling academically stunted and more prone to drinking and goofing off, Steven dropped outof school and started doing odd jobs. He was just a great kid with a good heart.. Over the next several years, he was enrolled in various schools around California. 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. Thankfully, Steven rebuilt his life after wedding Jody Edmondson. [27] At the time of his death, Stayner was living in Merced and working at a pizza shop. Steven later admitted to sabotaging the efforts. Born In: Merced, California, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Jody Edmondson (m. 19851989). Ill cover Cary Stayner soon. Awesome, cant wait to read! Both claimed they knew nothing of the sexual assaults on Stayner. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Dena. All three episodes ofCaptive Audience: A Real American Horror Storyare streaming now on Hulu. They approached a police station shortly after midnight. After the premiere, Echols published his book, also titled I Know My First Name is Steven, in 1991. Although he never disclosed the details of his sexual abuse, kids at school were heartless. I know where Stevies at now., Read Next: Bonny Lee Bakleys death The accusations behind her unsolved murder, Is Bob Barker still alive? Cary at 6, watching television from the couch. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He didnt complain. Parnell, who was working as a night clerk at the Palace Hotel in Ukiah, was arrested within hours. Count everyone affiliated with the movie, including Nemec and Todd Eric Andrews, who played Cary at 18, as being floored by what happened. In 1981, Parnell was tried and convicted of kidnapping White and Stayner in two trials. [17] Both children were reunited with their families that day. Steven's death, along with the death of his uncle soon afterward, reportedly had a serious impact on Cary Stayner's mental health and well-being. On July 24, hours after beingcharged withthe murder ofJoie Ruth Armstrong, a 26-year-old nature guidewho was found decapitatedtwo days beforehand in a densely wooded area of Yosemite just a few hundred feet from her home, Cary confessed in an off-camera jailhouse interview with San Francisco's KBWB-TV to also killing Carole Sund, 42,her daughter JuliSund, 15, and the girl's friend Silvina Pelosso, 16,that past February. [31] The two-part miniseries was first broadcast by NBC on May 2122, 1989. As for Kenneth Parnell, five years in prison wasnt enough to reform him. Cary, his older brother, was one of three sisters he had. Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. 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. He was third of five children of his parents and had an elder brother Cary and three sisters. In high school, Cary was known for being creative, but he couldn't escape Steven's story. Timothy, back home with his family, adjusted well, and things returned to normal. While they never gave up hope, the ordeal took a toll on the whole family. Steven passed away an hour after the accident at Merced Community Medical Center. 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. (The other driver, Anthony Loera, actually left the scene but ultimatelyturned himself in. Jody was last seen in Montana, accordin 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. In the 20/20 special, Cary, the older of the two, is described as being a loving brother who enjoyed spending time with Steven. Click to reveal "[25], Stayner underwent brief counseling but never sought additional treatment. Luck was not on his side, however, and at 4:55pm, three miles away and driving under the speed limit, he rammed a car that had pulled into the street just ahead of him. Steven was able to explain what had happened to him and to Timothy. Altogether, Parnell was sentenced to seven years and was paroled after serving five. On December 4, 1972, seven-year-old Stayner was abducted in Merced, California, by child molester Kenneth Parnell. 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. 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. Now I had to compete with a brother and three sisters. .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. According to reports, Cary Stayner and Cory Stayner are Steven Stayner's two siblings. He then violently murdered all three, according to History.com. "I didn't socialize with him," Del said. 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. "My older brother . [] Everything has changed. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell dated a woman named Barbara Mathias for a period of time. 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. But the family has since dealt with several tragedies along the way, including Stevens death and his older brothers incarceration for murder. Things were pretty rough for a while, bouncing from one job to another, some would say wandering aimlessly. Then he met Jody Edmondson, and in 1985, when he was 20 and she 17, they married. "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. During this time, he was working at Pizza Hut and later joined 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'. She reported him topolice and he got the maximum sentence due to California's three-strikes law. "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. 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. I think my last name isStayner.". All about his family, Was Dave Hollis Sick? TheOakland Tribune reported that the two men,who hadn't seen each other since Parnell's 1981 trial, hugged and Poorman whispered an apology, to which White replied, "It's OKI've got a good wife.". In an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his sister, Cory, said He got on with his life. 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. Parents today are very protective of their children, and for good reason. He had askedhis home health care worker if she could help him procure a 4-year-old boy, offering to pay $500 to have him delivered to his house in Berkeley. I never recognized either one of them.". He could be disarmingly paternal, but also beat and sexually abused the child. Timmy White and Steven Stayner during a press conference. By the time Steven returned home, hed spent more than half his life in captivity. The Abduction Of Steven Stayner. Article continues below advertisement 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. [25], In 1985, Stayner married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson,[2] with whom he had two children: a daughter Ashley and a son Steven Jr.[26] He also worked with child abduction groups, spoke to children about personal safety, and gave interviews about his kidnapping. The morning of March 2, 1980 Parnell was arrested. 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. What Did 'AGT: All Stars' Winner Aidan Bryant Get? 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. He had sustained a fracture at the back of his skull. I never recognized either one of them. Barbara Mathias was never arrested. In an interview with Good Morning America in 1983, Steven recalled, The first year was kinda hectic. When Steven Stayner hitchhiked his way to freedom in 1980, reporters . Yet inanother perversely tragic twist of fate, Whitealso died young, suffering a pulmonary embolism on April 1, 2010, when he was 35. But the children in the family kept their feelings to themselves and didnt discuss their emotions. [9] Parnell began raping Stayner thirteen days later, on December 17, 1972. [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. And if I didnt take care of it now, it would just get worse, said Lori Duke, Stevens girlfriend, who only knew him as Dennis. "I think it's so courageous for the family not only to let the story be toldit's very delicate and tragicbut also because they're using their real names," Cindy Pickett, who played Kay Stayner, told the Washington Postat the time. More than 450 peopleturned out for Steven's funeral and Timothy White, the boy he saved, wasa pallbearer. Kay Stayner never gave up hope that her son would return home safely, and she was glad to see it become a reality. Who are Steven Stayner sisters? This case just breaks my heart And the whole story about his big brother, too. Those sorts of comparisons have been used a lot in these two brothers and I started to think, is it more complicated?". In 2002, he was sentenced to death and is currently on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary in California. "I wish I could have controlled myself and not done what I did. 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. He was bullied by other children at school for being molested and eventually dropped out. So, today, at the age of 59, Cary Stayner is incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison. [24] In a 2007 interview, Stayner's sister said that her brother did not seek counseling because their father said Stayner "didn't need any". Murphy, who was instructed to distribute gospel tracts to school boys, approached Steven Stayner, claiming to be a church representative and asked him if his mother would be willing to donate anything to the church. ", "My son is very sick right now," he added. Reminiscent of what happened when kidnapping survivorElizabeth Smartwas spotted in town nine months after she was taken in 2002, seeminglyfree to run but actually terrified of what her abductor might do to her,many would question why Steven didn'ttell someone or otherwise try to escape. Be disarmingly paternal, but also beat and sexually abused the child normal! To spare another child his fate, had sabotaged so many kidnappings stay.. What had happened to him and to Timothy Steven home alone had another young.... 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