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. Steven Stayner died in 1989. According to ABC News, Parnell stopped to make a call from a payphone shortly after Murphy and Steven Stayner got into his car. #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. Steven was kidnapped walking home from school in 1972 by Kenneth Purnell and told his parents no longer wanted him. However, he was not charged for sexual assault as the prosecutors believed they were 'protecting' Stayner from the social stigma of male sexual abuse. 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. He was convicted in 2004 for attempting to purchase a child for sex and died in prison. He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. 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. Steven in order to hopefully save other children from the same tragic fate. But what about the fellow kidnapping victim that the hero brother rescued? Former reporter Ted Rowlands said, "Stayner had a new father figure who by day, was his father, and by night, was his rapist.". The plaques inscription will serve as a wake-up call for all of us to be ever vigilant in protecting our young people from child abduction. As Steven reached puberty, Purnell preference for younger boys drove him to abduct 5-year-old Timothy. Parnell had lured the child through use of a deputy sheriff's badge he bought at an army-navy surplus store. He had been under hospice care for some time.[10]. 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. You know, hung out with him, played with him.. Instead, he tried to make the best of it. [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. "[2] He claimed to have been married three times, but only one record of his marriage is known. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. Naturally, the media began analyzing the connection between abducted child Steven Stayner and his serial killer brother, Cary Stayner. Jody later said of her husband, Steve hurt a lot. At the time, Steven was 20 years old, and Jody was 17. She previously attended a military university and served in the U.S. Air Force from 2007 to 2011. Unfortunately, Parnell eventually convinced another teenage boy, named Randall Sean Poorman, to help him kidnap 5-year-old Timothy White. Steven had disciplinary issues at school and racked up more than $1000 in traffic fines by the time he was 19 years old. Steven, wearing no helmet and riding with an invalid license, suffered severe head injuries. It was at this point that Stayner decided to escape with White and return the young child to his parents. 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 didnt complain. Distractify is a registered trademark. 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. September 17, 1989. However, as we all know, that turned when pedophile Kenneth Parnell abducted Steven in 1972, and the Stayners allegedly began to neglect their children. After Steven made the miraculous escape and returned home to his parents in Merced, California, he was the center of media attention. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. She produced a sensitive design sketch of Steven leading Timothy by the hand to safety. Both boys had been victims of kidnapping. [16][17] According to prison officials, Parnell died of natural causes. According to her Facebook page, Ashley currently lives in Atwater, Cali. Later that year he married again and had another daughter. 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. In Captive Audience, Ashley, who was a teen at the time, recalls following this news story very closely. On Dec. 4, 1972, the Stayner family's low profile permanently changed when 7-year-old Steven Stayner, the middle child, was abducted walking home from school. 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. Despite the severe trauma that he dealt with when he lived with his kidnapper, Steven made a life for himself, marrying and having children. 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. He had joined the Mormon Church. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Stayner was walking home from school December 4, 1972, when the men lured him into their vehicle, saying they had just talked to his parents and they no longer wanted him, ABC reported. Steven Stayner's grave./Steven Stayner. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. As Steven Stayner got older, Kenneth Parnell began planning to kidnap another, younger, boy. 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. However, she has preferred to stay away from public attention. Parnell died in 2008 while incarcerated. Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story,. Steven Stayners incredible story features in the captivating Hulu crime dramaCaptive Audience. However, Stayner skillfully sabotaged Kenneths plans. Parnell was arrested that day,[14] subsequently telling authorities "I wanted a family". 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. But things began to change when he met Jody Edmondson. 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. 7-year old Steven Stayner is kidnapped a few days before Christmas by Kenneth Parnell. 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? So, if youre curious about where she might be today, heres what we know. 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 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. 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. Jody emotionally described how she and Stayner planned to visit their favorite restaurant after he got home. The brother of convicted murderer Cary Stayner was kidnapped as a young child and was missing for seven years. In 1972, 7 year old Steven Stayner was kidnapped on his way home from school. 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. Steven's brother, Cary Stayner, confessed to the brutal murders which ultimately brought the Stayner family back into the spotlight. On the afternoon of December 4, 1972, 7-year-old Steven Stayner was walking home from school in Merced, California, when he was approached by a man passing out religious pamphlets. Del is devastated too. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/steven-stayner-34446.php. 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. Parnell was convicted on February 9, 2004, on the charges of attempting to purchase a child and attempted child molestation, even though no child had been targeted. Stayner was taken to Catheys Valley. The statue tells the story of Steven Stayner, a Merced youth who was abducted in 1972 and Timothy White, the 5-year-old boy he rescued from suffering the same fate. Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. In 1972, a Young Boy Was Kidnapped and Abused for 7 Years Before Escaping Where Is His Torturer Now? Shortly before his death, Steven had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Years later in interviews, Stayner admitted to intentionally sabotaging the kidnappings. Steven Stayner became a household name in 1980 when he returned home after being kidnapped about seven years earlier. Still, Stayner wanted to help his parents and asked that a $250,000 reward for information go to his family, Rinek wrote. Russells monitored life in New Jersey. The next day, on March 2nd, both the boys were reunited with their respective families and Parnell was arrested. When Stayner was 14, he ran away with another kidnapped boy, Timmy White, and went to the police, ABC News reported. "He didn't complain. As the older brother, Stayner felt a natural if undeserved sense of responsibility for not protecting Steven from harm. 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 married 15-year old Patsy Jo Dorton in 1949,[7] had a daughter in 1951, and divorced in 1957. He was in the background always.". But the children in the family kept their feelings to themselves and didnt discuss their emotions. Moreover, according to his testimony in 2002, when Steven went missing, he became fixated with finding him and neglected his four other children in the process, particularly Cary. He loved his family, his career and boating, especially at Lake Pyramid, the obituary states. White, despite losing touch with Steven and remembering little about his brief abduction, was a pallbearer at Stayners funeral. 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. Kay and Delbert had already lost Steven to a motorcycle accident in 1989, so they dreaded losing their other son. This memorial reminds families and friends of other missing children that their loved one may someday return. Sadly, even though she kept her father away from her daughters while he stayed with them, they were still unsafe as Delbert reportedly carried on the cycle of parental molestation. 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. As he never had any rules, he rebelled when his parents forbade him from drinking alcohol and smoking. Steven Stayner's parents were left with many questions when their 7-year-old son vanished into thin air in 1972. Stayner had a relaxed upbringing as his captor not only allowed him to roam freely wherever he wished to go, but also allowed him to start drinking at a very early age. Sandra Hawkins, a family friend, toldPeoplethat Kay stayed strong during the abduction but was totally crushed after learning of Stevens death. children: Ashley Stayner, Steven Stayner Jr. American Men Aries Men Died on: September 17, 1989 Cause of Death: Accident U.S. State: California Childhood & Early Life Steven Gregory Stayner was born on April 18, 1965 in Merced, California, to Delbert and Kay Stayner. 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). At the time, the 24-year-old was driving a motorcycle and collided with a car in the front. He barely knew his parents, and his parents scarcely knew the teenager whod returned home. Sadness engulfed the community as people mourned a life blighted with tragedy. Steven refused to reveal the details of his sexual abuse and endured bullying in school for being molested. 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. Steven Stayner with his parents In their four years together, they welcomed daughter Ashley, followed by son Steven Jr. According to The Famous People, Parnell also enrolled Stayner in school. 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. His older brother Cary was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1999 murders of four women in 2002. Despite the extreme trauma he experienced while living with his captor, and Steven went on to marry and have children. 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. Although an almost four-year age gap separated the two brothers, with Cary being the eldest of all five siblings, they seemed incredibly close. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. On February 14, 1980, Parnell abducted five-year-old Timothy White from Ukiah with the help of Sean Poorman, a minor and an acquaintance of Stayner. Copyright 2023 Distractify. His wife, Jody Edmondson, lashed out at Antonio for leaving the scene. Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. He grew up alongside his siblings named; Cynthia Sartell, Cory Stayner, and Cary Stayner. Stayner was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the article said. For eight years, he abused Stayer while posing as his legal guardian and moving around California with him. 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. In a 2000 interview about his 1951 crime, Parnell said he kidnapped and molested the boy because his wife Patsy Dorton (died 2018) was pregnant and that he "had to find another outlet. Steven Stayner died when his children were very young. Ashley Stayner Husband, Is She Married? He died in his home, according to his obituary which features a photo of him in a sheriffs uniform. Jody said (perThe Spokesman-Review): Im very, very, very angry. The Merced Police Department launched an extensive investigation and search effort. She appears content to be beside her family and friends. Jurors in August found him guilty of the murders. 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. He was convicted of both kidnappings and served five years of his seven-year prison sentence. Stayner had been driving his new Kawaksaki motorcycle when the driver pulled out in front of him on a rain-soaked highway. They wanted to truthfully relate what had happened to 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". White went on to have two children with his wife, Dena. He was raising hell at school and causing trouble with the law but things started to change when he met Jody Edmondson. Unfortunately, the entire incident was part of an elaborate plan to kidnap the boy. He was held hostage by Kenneth Parnell 38 . Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He worked with child abduction groups and talked about childrens safety. Being a mother, we assume Kay continues to miss her sons, but likes to keep it private, as made clear on her Facebook account. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". I feel divinely guided when Im inspired by a project and I really felt a presence on this onesaid Hidden Valley Lake sculptor Paula Slater of the statue she was commissioned to create forthe Steven Stayner and Missing Childrens Memorial in Merced. All Rights Reserved. So, on December 4, 1972, Kay was supposed to pick him up from school but had stopped to pick something up from Delbert. Prior to his kidnapping of Stayner, The Famous People reports Parnell had at least two criminal convictions, including armed robbery and the sexual abuse of a young boy. 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. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell eventually convinced Stayner that his parents relinquished their rights and that he was granted full legal custody. 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. 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. But Kay knew that child molestation, something she went through, was out of the question. [8], More than a decade after the sodomy case, Parnell was convicted of armed robbery in Utah. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. It also features his wife, Jody, who talks about her life with him. This includes a 9-year kidnapping and a serial killing pic.twitter.com/WgWQCdDk7h, may queen (@syanarchy) February 19, 2020. Cary's defense team argued that he suffered from mental illness, in part from the trauma he suffered when Steven was kidnapped. Stayner looked forward to raising his children, Ashley and Steven Jr, with Jody. But she said it wasnt the brother she remembers. Stayner and Timmy hiked to a police station 40 miles away from Kenneths cabin. Parnell, a sex offender, molested him the very first night, and began raping him thirteen days later, on December 17, 1972. She named the sculptural design, Coming Home and it was unanimously approved by the committee. 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.". In 1980, the same man kidnapped another child, 5 year old Timothy White. White also died an untimely death earlier this year at the age of 35. He also felt more directly responsible. Fortunately, the police spotted him as well and detained both of them, following which he revealed his identity and narrated his own story. See what Ashley and Steven Jr. Stayner have to say about their father and uncle in Captive Audience, which is now streaming on Hulu. Returning home, Steven Stayner felt that his parents were still treating him as their seven-year-old child, and had trouble adjusting as he no more had the freedom to smoke, drink, or do whatever he wanted. Today, Ashley is a mom to a young daughter. While both of them are fairly well-known, its for entirely different reasons. Jody expressed her frustration with the hit-and-run, saying, Im very, very, very angry. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. 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. That statue was revealed inApplegate Park Saturday morning for a crowd of hundreds that included friends and family ofSteven Stayner and Timothy White. As reported by ABC News, Kenneth Parnell treated Steven Stayner like a son. Steven passed away an hour after the accident at Merced Community Medical Center. "When Steven came home, Cary was kind of put on the back shelf. 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 eventually escaped after Kenneth abducted another boy named Timmy White. If its the last thing I do, Ill nail him if I possibly can.
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