Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Find a Grave He even went before the Ways and Means Committee of the State Assembly to push for a bill that could increase the penalty for kidnapping children. In 1981, he was convicted of kidnapping both boys and sentenced to seven years of state prison time. Steven Stayner's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) Apr 18, 1965 Death Date September 16, 1989 Age of Death 24 years Cause of Death Traffic Collision The Steven Stayner died at the age of 24. Stayner was buried at a family plot alongside his grandparents, at a funeral attended by 450 people. The harrowing true account of Steven Stayner, who was kidnapped by a perverted pseudo-priest and his lackey during the 1970s. Then, Del served in the US Army for four years until 1957 as a Staff Sergeant. Parnell began sexually abusing Stayner almost immediately. According to Rowlands, "He was wearing a hat because he was compulsively pulling his hair out. 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. Parnell died in 2008 whilst in prison, of natural causes. Steven Stayners fame was short-lived. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. They kicked him out of their house twice. But, at the age of 24, Steven Stayner, by then a husband and father of two, was killed in a motorcycle crash. He is now 59 and on death row in San Quentin State Prison, according to his prison records. "At some point, Parnell and Steven together realized that Steven was growing up and that he was no longer going to be controlled by Parnell," Lunney said. The two brothers of the Stayner family are both famous, both tied to the wonder of Yosemite National Park, and both knew unspeakable horror. Steven Stayner biography timelines. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The men kidnapped Stayner, and he endured sexual and physical abuse for the next seven years at the hands of Parnell. Have something to tell us about this article? However, his brother Cary also suffered throughout the entire ordeal. Fourteen when he was found. He was 76. Stayner was riding his motorcycle home from work the night before the Emmys when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver. He also felt more directly responsible. Stayner recently talked candidly with reporters of his life with Parnell, who alternately molested him and passed him off as his son. This includes a 9-year kidnapping and a serial killing pic.twitter.com/WgWQCdDk7h, may queen (@syanarchy) February 19, 2020. However, Timothy could not remember his address, so Stayner took him to a police station instead. A year later, he was sentenced to life, which was, at the time, the harshest sentence handed down under the the "three strikes" law. Tragically, the Stayner family would be in for another shock a decade later. Soon after, he confessed to murdering Carole Sund, Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso. Where is Cary Stayner now? Stevens father, Delbert Stayner, struggled in the aftermath of his sons vanishing like everyone else in the family. Parnell died in 2008 while incarcerated. 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. As he gets older, he realizes that he needs to try to make an escape and get back home. He retired in 1995 from working at a canning factory in Atwater, California. He also quarreled with his parents at home and drank consistently. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Unfortunately, less than a decade after his incredible escape, Steven Stayner died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24, leaving behind a wife and two children. 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. Unfortunately, Kenneth was paroled after five, less time than he had Steven in his "custody." On March 1, 1980, in Mendocino County, California, he and Timothy White, another of Parnell's victims, managed to flee. . For two weeks, Steven watched Timothy suffer the separation from his family. He was in the background always.". imported from Wikimedia project. Stayner died at the Merced Community Medical Center at just 24 years old, in what was sadly one of multiple tragedies for him and his family. The Truth About The Kidnapping Of Steven Stayner, California Department of Corrections/Wikipedia. Ive been watching the documentary on Hulu and first Steven is kidnapped and molested and by some miracle, returns to his family, only for some guy to do a hit and run on him? Date Of Death: September 16, 1989 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Steven Stayner was born on the 18th of April, 1965. 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.". Stayner, the subject of an NBC miniseries in May, lived as the son of his abductor, Kenneth Parnell, a convicted child molester. Steven's parents were devastated by their son's disappearance and the lack of witnesses or any evidence in the case. In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped by a pedophile named Kenneth Parnell in Merced, California and held captive for the next seven years. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He sexually abused Stayner repeatedly until Stayner fled in 1980 when he was 14. According to the Los Angeles Times, she said after his death, "But he's not hurting anymore. Parnell worked at a nearby lodge, and on Dec. 4, 1972, he convinced co-worker Ervin Murphy to accompany him into Merced, per ABC News. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, according to research conducted by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and ranked in the top nine leading causes of death for people between the ages of 10 and 64, as well as . The story of steven stayner and timothy white Birth and family Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. ", The Tragedy Of Steven Stayner's 1989 Death Explained. The two brothers are both famous and both knew unspeakable horror. He died behind bars in 2008 from natural causes. He loved his brother. However, the jury decided otherwise. Steven Stayners parents were left with many questions when their 7-year-old son vanished into thin air in 1972. Parnell remained incarcerated until his death in 2008 at the California Medical Facility, where he died of natural causes. This poor family! He was kidnapped. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Unfortunately, ABC News reports authorities were eventually forced to admit "there was just nothing there." When Stayner failed to return home from school, his parents contacted authorities immediately. But on Sept. 16, 1989, Stayner died in a motorcycle crash. According to SFGate, his friends and coworkers described him as being impulsive and prone to seemingly abrupt and violent fits of rage. "He was very proud of who he was," his wife, Jodi Stayner, said in 1999. The Stayners were in the news yet again after Cary, Stevens older brother, confessed to murdering four women, including two teenagers. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Parnell claimed to have married a third and final time in 1968,[8] but no records were ever found to substantiate this. He was 79 years old, and from what we can tell, the cause of death has not been made public. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. He was kidnapped when he was a child but was eventually able to escape after seven years. Stayner was taken to Catheys Valley. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. Stayner's brother, Cary, is in San. I always looked very closely in hopes of spotting Steven. On the show, Kay mentioned that Del would often drive around looking for freshly dug ground because he thought Steven was dead. Cos Ive not until about an hour ago and its definitely one for the books. Cary Stayner "was a very, very good cartoonist," and was voted "most creative" at school, according to Purdy. The Seattle Times reports missing-person fliers were actually sent to schools he attended but no one recognised Steven from the picture. 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? ", "Its difficult for me to picture what Cary has done and knowing Steve because their personalities are completely opposite," Duke, Stevens former girlfriend, said. Raised in the peaceful suburbs of Merced, California, the 7-year-old was shuffling home from . Police first arrested convicted pedophile, Kenneth E. Parnel immediately and went to work tracking down Ervin Murphy according to Lodi News-Sentinel, who had only been involved in the kidnapping before going his own way. Steven Gregory Stayner died in a motorcycle accident on September 16, 1989, in Merced, California, United States. He retired in 1995 from working at a canning factory in Atwater, California. READ MORE: Tales Of Demons And Gods Chapter 377: The Audience Awaited The New Chapter! View Entire Post Kenneth Parnell is most notoriously known for the kidnapping of, Parnell, a former motel clerk, had already been convicted for. To begin with the first one is on the cover of the book. Morgan Doughty Filed A Lawsuit Against The Murdaugh Family, Curtis Cousin Eddie Smith Claims Alex Murdaugh Made Him A Fall Guy, Buster Murdaugh Testified For The Defense At His Fathers Double Murder Trial, The Subject Of This Netflix True Crime Doc Is Now Guilty Of Murdering His Wife & Son, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. By the time Steven was 14, he had been abused and manipulated by Parnell for seven years. Parnell was tried for kidnapping Stayner and White, but not for sexual abuse. Is Mayra Rosales Still Alive? in 2004. In the years after Steven vanished, Del spent considerable time looking for anything that would lead him to his son. When Parnell kidnapped 5-year-old Timothy White that year, Stayner fled on foot along with the kindergartner and then hitchhiked to safety, a journey that thrust the two kidnapping survivors into the national spotlight. Mr. White was 5 years old when he was kidnapped in 1980 by Kenneth Parnell, a convicted child molester. Cary was 11. However, Crime Investigation reports Stayner sabotaged Parnell's efforts, as he did not want another boy to suffer through the abuse he had endured. Former reporter Ted Rowlands said, "Stayner had a new father figure who by day, was his father, and by night, was his rapist.". On December 4, 1972, Parnell abducted seven-year-old Merced resident Steven Stayner with the help of Edward Ervin Murphy, a co-worker at the Yosemite Lodge, where Parnell worked as a night auditor. In 1981, he was. Stayner once told press that he vigilantly watched his kids, and they werent even allowed out on the porch unless they were in sight of him or their mom. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". Over the next four years, he worked at Pizza Hut while lecturing about personal safety at schools. He had reportedly suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts but the cause of his death remains unclear. However, that happiness was short-lived because he had difficulty adjusting back to life with his family. Kenneth Parnell is most notoriously known for the kidnapping of Steven Stayner, but he was an active child sex predator long before that 1972 abduction. Cary Stayner will forever be known for marring Yosemite's reputation as a peaceful retreat with the brutal murders of four innocent women. One last Steven Stayner, one last Timmy White. Watch "20/20's" full story, "The Black Sheep," TONIGHT at 9 p.m. 5h ago. Steven Stayner's grave./Steven Stayner. Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. 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. After he was brought in for questioning, he confessed to murdering Joie Armstrong, describing the brutal killing "as if he was reading a soup label," said John Boles, another FBI agent on the case. "Whatever demons were clamoring around in his head, by being naked, by smoking pot, he could find the peace that he so desperately needed," LaLama said. The second man, who was later identified as Kenneth Parnell, offered to give Murphy and Stayner a ride. After White had been with Stayner and his captors for 16 days, Stayner realized he needed to save White from the same abuse he had endured (via the Los Angeles Times). Tragically, Steven Stayner was killed in a 1989 motorcycle accident at age 24. "[2] He claimed to have been married three times, but only one record of his marriage is known. Stayner told another psychiatrist, Park Dietz, who was hired by the prosecution to evaluate whether he was sane at the time he committed the Yosemite murders, that as a child he worried that the obsessive thoughts he had about holding the neighbor girl against her will somehow caused Steven to be kidnapped. convicted of kidnapping both boys and sentenced to seven years of state prison time. Sitelinks. My dad said he didnt need any. The press also hounded him constantly, and during Parnells trial he was bullied at school over questions of his sexuality. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Am I wrong? He was convicted of kidnapping 7-year-old Steven Stayner as the boy walked . He grew up, got married and had two kids. He was held by his abductor 38 miles away in Mariposa County, California, and later in Mendocino County, California, until he was aged 14, when he managed to escape with another of Parnell's victims, Timothy White. Carole Sund, her daughter Juli Sund and friend Silvina Pelosso were missing for a month before their bodies were found. In 1972, at the age of 7, Stayner was kidnaped while walking home from school. Steven Stayner, Who Escaped 7-Year Captivity, Dead In Crash September 17, 1989 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 literally said, 'I was not going to let that child go through what I had already been through. He had attempted another kidnapping with his mistress Barbara Mathias, but that failed to go to plan. ? In 1989, he tragically died in a motorcycle accident. "His idea of serenity was to maybe smoke a little pot and to sunbathe naked.". Steven Stayner was killed in a motorcycle accident when he was 24 years old FBI/Wikipedia 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. Stayner was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the article said. He was spunky. Later that year he married again and had another daughter. He reunited with his family and later attended college. Release Date! He had previously been held hostage by his kidnapper in Mendocino County, California, and Mariposa County, California, both 38 miles (61 kilometers) away. Stayner suffered years of abuse and claims that his parents didnt want him anymore, per the Seattle Times. Stayner went to the police station and told them what happened to him, which included the line that later became the title of his movie: I know my first name is Steven. (Parnell was later convicted of kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but only served five years. The Big Conn | Official Trailer | Apple TV+, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M88ZzxKyrTg/hqdefault.jpg. Cary Stayner, shown in this March 2, 1980 photo, is hugged by his mother Kay Stayner outside the Stayner home in Merced County, Calif., on the day Stayner's brother Steven was reunited with his family after being kidnapped for 7 years. Parnell was sentenced to 20 months in prison for Steven's. Tragically, Stayner was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in September 1989 while returning from a Pizza Hut shift. Sure, Ive seen the excuse about alleged car troubles but it sure didnt stop the guy from fleeing the scene. ET on ABC, Cary looked out for Steven, according to Cary Stayner's former classmate Jack Bungart. Cary's defense team argued that he suffered from mental illness, in part from the trauma he suffered when Steven was kidnapped. Hours after Steven Stayner reported Parnell's crimes, . In fact, the wrong men were custody. 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. Parnell posed as Stayner's legal guardian and moved him around the state of California for the next eight years. Although he was. Cary Stayner is shown in a 1979 Merced High School yearbook photo. Leave a Comment / Death-Obituary / By Elon. Steven Stayner cause of death Teddy April 25, 2022 1 min read Steven Gregory Stayner was born in April 18, 1965 - September 16, 1989 he was a kidnapped victim from the United States. Cookie Notice "Still trying to get a real investigation for the death of my son Aaron Carter," she wrote. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The cause was a pulmonary embolism, said his stepfather, Roger Gitlin. Stayners captor, Kenneth Parnell, convinced co-worker Ervin Murphy to lure seven-year-old Steven into their van on 4 December 1972, telling the boy: Your parents, I just spoke to them. In addition to believing his parents no longer wanted him, The Famous People reports Stayner was simply unsure how to get out of the situation he was in. And so Steven made it home, Timmy was returned to his parents, and two families could breathe again. His life with Parnell lacked discipline he'd even been allowed to drink and smoke. Timmy White, 5, sits on the lap of Steven Stayner, 14, during a news conference Photo credit: Getty Images - Getty Stayner died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24. On December 4, 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner was walking home from school in Merced, California when he was abducted by two men who worked at . However, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. ***WARNING: Captive Audience spoilers ahead***. Stayner grew up in Merced, California, near Yosemite National Park. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but only served five -- less time than he held Steven captive. Parnell was registered as a sex offender when he lured 7-year-old Stayners into his car as the boy walked home from his elementary school in Merced, California. Per the Spokesman-Review, Parnell told Stayner that his parents didn't want him anymore; he was beaten so viciously that he was afraid to run away. A family was torn apart. 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. Cary Stayner is led into a van by a U.S. At the time, Parnell was convicted for kidnapping and false imprisonment. Steven disappeared while returning from school, Cary, Stevens older brother, confessed to murdering four women. sibling. There, they pretended to be ministers and lured the 7-year-old Stayner into the van by telling him, Your parents no longer want you.. Timothy White died of a pulmonary embolism in 2010 at the age of 35. "Ken Parnell went back to what he had been doing for years. Stayner was seven years old at the time. Parnell married 15-year old Patsy Jo Dorton in 1949,[7] had a daughter in 1951, and divorced in 1957. I told you this was a depressing one guys, hope I didn't ruin your day. 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. He had been under hospice care for some time.[10]. He returns to Merced triumphant. Steven Gregory Stayner was born on April 18, 1965 in Merced, California, to Delbert and Kay Stayner. One relative described child sexual abuse as like a family sickness because it had been going on for so many generations. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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". Steven's death, along. I yelled at him a lot. According to another report, Del was ordered to undergo therapy because he molested his daughters. Steven Stayner testifies about his abduction in 1972 by Kenneth Parnell and his seven years in captivity in this 1981 photo. "Hes ready to kill again. You have the other brother who's left at home. Steven and Timmy. But he was pretty messed up and he never got any counseling. His parents had different expectations. Stayner lived as Parnell's "son" for seven years, during which he was repeatedly sexually abused. The docuseries kicks off with Stevens 1972 kidnapping, and follows his abuse at the hands of Yosemite Lodge worker Kenneth Parnell. Then-7-year-old Steven Stayner was walking home from school on Highway 140 when Parnell and Murphy were driving towards town. When Stayner was 14, Parnell kidnaped another boy, 5-year-old Timmy White. The boys alerted the police and were finally united with their families. Stayner and his wife were high school sweethearts, the article said. Parnell forced Stayner to take on the name Dennis Parnell, and shuttled him from remote towns to isolated cabins all around Northern California, according to the Los Angeles Times. MERCED . And they searched. By this point, Cary Stayner was suffering. "Working at Cedar Lodge gave Cary access to his beloved Yosemite," Rowlands said. In addition to his fraught life at home and at school, Steven, still just a teenager by this point, also had to face Parnell in court. Purdy said Cary Stayner always wore a hat. He was convicted in 2004 for attempting to purchase a child for sex and died in prison. English Wikipedia. Parnells father, Cecil Frederick, died July 31, 1972 in Denver.[3]. He was not wearing a helmet because someone had stolen it from him two months prior (via the Los Angeles Times ). Now I had to compete with a brother and three sisters. Steven Stayner Death: How Carys Stayners Brother Died, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. dewiki Steven Stayner; "He was kind of a quiet guy. However, he always enrolled the boy in school and often allowed Stayner freedoms that a kidnapper would not traditionally grant a captor. 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. Parnell was arrested that day,[14] subsequently telling authorities "I wanted a family". One last Steven Stayner, one last Timmy White." [14] Death [ edit] Parnell remained incarcerated until his death, at age 76, on January 21, 2008 [15] at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California. Its a good substitute.. I never recognized either one of them.". If Steven was my family I would not be satisfied with that joke of a sentence. He was seven when he was abducted. Emotionally, Cary Stayner had a tough time during his childhood.". Stayner's account of his time with Parnell formed the basis of a 1991 book by Mike Echols. Surrounded by endless complainers? On several occasions, Parnell encouraged Stayner to help him lure another boy into the home. Cary Stayner Today: Where Is He Now in 2021. As the older brother, Stayner felt a natural if undeserved sense of responsibility for not protecting Steven from harm. "Steven Stayner had a new father figure, and it was Kenneth Parnell -- who by day, was his father, and by night, was his rapist," Rowlands said. Hulus latest documentary, Captive Audience, revisits the tragic story of Steven Stayner in 1972 what happened to the young boy and where is the perpetrator now? Parnell, 76, died at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Monday night, corrections officials said Tuesday. As Parnell was working the night shift, Stayner fled the home with White in the middle of the night. When 14-year-old Steven Stayner turned up at a police station, more than seven years after he was kidnapped while walking home from . The two hitchhiked to Ukiah, California. Stayner eventually began drinking more heavily, dropped out of high school, and left his parents' home. Overnight, Steven Stayner became a national hero, especially as Kenneth Parnell was arrested the very next day March 2, 1980. At one point, Steven mentioned in an interview, Ive been talking to reporters for nine years. When Stayner was 14, he ran away with another kidnapped boy, Timmy White, and went to the police, ABC News reported. SPONSORED LINKS Reviews TV Preview Lists Movie Explainers TV Explainers Anime Steven Stayner was born on April 18, 1965 and died on September 16, 1989. The Famous People reports Stayner had a difficult time adjusting to returning to his parents' home. Cary was convicted in 1999 of the murders of four women and sentenced to death in 2002. A third brother, Cary Stayner, is seen in a ball cap in the background between his brothers Steven and Delbert.