(There was some impressively stiff competition that year, sothe best miniseries honorwent toWar and Remembrance, which also beat outLonesome Dove. But why doesn't my dad hug me anymore? Hereturnedto school, where he was always an object of curiosity. Cary had been interviewedearly on in the investigationa massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand ruled out as a suspect. Hewasn't wearing a helmet and he was pronounced dead of a skull fracture at a nearby hospital. After performing a background check, they discovered this wasnt his first offense he had been convicted in 1951 for sodomy. By the time she got there, the 7-year-old was nowhere to be seen. Would I have been better off if I didnt?, Steven underwent counseling, albeit brief. Sartell testified about the toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the family. As he got a little older, though, he realizedthat "things weren't rightmy parents wouldn't have hired a guy to pick me off the street," Steven reflected. Third of five children, he had an older brother and three sisters. And they searched. Steven passed away an hour after the accident at Merced Community Medical Center. Parnell was not charged with the numerous sexual assaults on Stayner and other boys because most of them occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Merced County prosecutor or were by then outside the statute of limitations. seen in Montana, according to our information three sisters. 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. Meanwhile, Steven was undergoing unthinkable sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of Parnell. On March 1, 1980, two weeks after Timothy White was abducted, as Parnell went on duty at his night security job, Steven Stayner left the house with Timmy and hitchhiked a ride to Ukiah. Parnell was convicted first of kidnapping Timmy in June 1981, Steven tellingThe Evening Newshe was "glad" about the verdict and hadn't been worrying too much about the next trial, at which he'd be called to testify. 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. She said her father became obsessed with finding the youngster, who was held and sexually abused by a kidnapper for seven years. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1393983e62ce48 [11], Parnell began calling the boy Dennis Gregory Parnell,[12] retaining Stayner's real middle name and his real birth date when enrolling him in various schools over the next several years. He turned to alcohol to suppress his feelings, and eventually dropped out of school. Featuring interviews with family members, someof whom are speaking in depth for the first time, the show delves into the aftermath of Steven's abduction, the retelling of his story in theindelibly titled1989 miniseries I Know My First Name Is Steven, and the unraveling of his older brother Cary Stayner, who's currently on death row. Steven Stayners miraculous story of escape from his kidnapper in 1980 garnered national headlines at the time. More than 450 peopleturned out for Steven's funeral and Timothy White, the boy he saved, wasa pallbearer. Talking remotely toGood Morning Americaon March 14, 1980, Steven,his mom and dad on either side of him, said it was "great" to be back, but his siblings had "changed a lot. 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. Born on April 18, 1965, in Merced, California, Steven Gregory Stayner had an older brother named Cary and three sisters. "They said, 'If we can bring one child home, it will be worth it. In an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his sister, Cory, said He got on with his life. An ex-con who had already spent three years in San Quentin formolestingan 8-year-old boy plus another six years in a Utah prison on armed robbery and grand larceny charges, Parnell told Steven that he wasgoing to adopt him because his parents didn't want him anymore. Steven was able to explain what had happened to him and to Timothy. Five hundred people attended his funeral, one being Timothy White who, at the age of 14, served as a pallbearer. [10] After Stayner told Parnell many times during that first week that he wanted to go home, Parnell told Stayner that he had been granted legal custody of the boy because his parents could not afford so many children and that they did not want him anymore. In high school, Cary was known for being creative, but he couldn't escape Steven's story. They hitchhiked to Ukiah. Cary was convicted with four counts of first-degree murder. For Steven though, the adjustment was a little more difficult. [16], As Stayner entered puberty, Parnell began to look for a younger child to kidnap. Once more details emerged about his ordeal, some kids teased him about being molested. Together they had two children, and he moved to work with child abduction groups, making appearances for various groups who search for missing children. Mourners holding banner which reads VIGIL OF HOPE for Carole Sund, her daughter Juli, and Julis friend Silvina Pelosso. On March 1, 1980, after two weeks, Steven had had enough. He was a good student, a good artist, and he was very lovingIf his dying would bring these people back, I'd say do it. Kay was elated to have her son back. But after he and a fellow victim escaped in . Steven was transported to Merced Community Medical Center, and at 5:35pm, was declared dead. He was bullied by other children at school for being molested and eventually dropped out. He was mocked at school, which caused him to drop out, and after he began drinking more often, he was kicked out of his parental house. Count everyone affiliated with the movie, including Nemec and Todd Eric Andrews, who played Cary at 18, as being floored by what happened. Yet inanother perversely tragic twist of fate, Whitealso died young, suffering a pulmonary embolism on April 1, 2010, when he was 35. This content is imported from youTube. But in 1980, the Stayners' prayers were answered when Steven returned home after a seven-year disappearance. Barbara Mathias was never arrested. Unable to avoid the collision, Steven hit the drivers side of the vehicle. [3], On the afternoon of December 4, 1972, Stayner was approached on his way home from school by a man named Ervin Edward Murphy, who had become acquainted with convicted child rapist Kenneth Parnell as they both worked at a resort in Yosemite National Park. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. As he was walking home from school on December 4th 1972, he was approached by a man named Ervin Murphy claiming to be a representative of the church who was looking for donations. I guess I was jealous. 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. [7], After Stayner agreed, a white Buick driven by Parnell pulled up, and Stayner willingly climbed into the car with Murphy. However, the young boy could not take advantage of those opportunities as he was reportedly unaware how to summon help. Parnell continued to abuse Steven for years, telling the boy that his parents weren't looking for him. But she said it wasnt the brother she remembers. Parnell allowed Stayner to begin drinking at a young age and to come and go virtually as he pleased. Despite his efforts, Parnell had another young boy. Murphy had a stack ofreligious pamphletsand, explaining that he was collecting money for his church, offered the boy a lift home. She said back then, This is really so phenomenal, for a child to be gone seven years and to be found alive. 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. Would I have been better off if I didn't? Click to reveal Parents Del and Kay, brother Cary and his three sisterswelcomed him back into the fold, but readjusting wasn't easyfor any of them. 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. He didnt whine about lousy breaks. Del is devastated too. After Timothy White, who had become a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy, died from pulmonary embolism in 2010, a statue of Stayner and White was built in Applegate Park in Merced, California. Thankfully, Steven rebuilt his life after wedding Jody Edmondson. 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. However, police officers spotted both of them, and that's when Steven's real identity was revealed. Parnell used Steven in his next attempts to take a boy, but none were successful. The attempt was unsuccessful. They passed the street Stevens house was on, and when he told them, the men just said that theyd call his parents, see if he could stay the night. They were last seen alive Feb. 15 eating dinner at the hotel restaurant. 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". [25][28], On September 16, 1989, Stayner sustained fatal head injuries while on his way home from work when his motorcycle collided with a car[28][29] in a hit-and-run accident. "I brought in Timmy because I didn't like what was happening," Stevenexplained to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, a variation of what he told police and reporters for a long time afterward. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. He had problems adjusting because, with Kenneth, there were no rules; he was used to drinking and smoking. "My older brother . Hearing about Cary's traumatic past or childhood issues didn't sway the jury, who recommended the death penalty, and a judge agreed. Hes free.. On September 17, 1989, he succumbed to head injuries after being involved in a car accident while returning home from work in his motorcycle. When he couldn't figure out the location, he told White to head to the police station, with plans to return to Parnell's alone. April 22, 2022 Steven Stayner's miraculous story of escape from his kidnapper in 1980 garnered national headlines at the time. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The teen, by then 5-foot-10 and barely resembling the little boy who disappeared, haddecided he had to escape inorder to save his abductor's latest victim, 5-year-old Timothy White, who was taken not far from his elementary school inUkiah, Calif.about 200 miles away from Mercedon Feb. 14, 1980. "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. He didnt complain. [14] In 1975, on Parnell's instruction, Mathias tried to lure another young boy, who was in the Santa Rosa Boys' Club with Stayner, into Parnell's car. Although pleased with the dramatization, Stayner did complain that it depicted him as a somewhat "obnoxious, rude" person, especially toward his parents, something he refuted while publicizing the miniseries in the spring of 1989. Nobody can hurt him now. When the police checked into his background they found a previous sodomy conviction from 1951. "I yelled at him a lot. 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. Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California. | They approached a police station shortly after midnight. 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. 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. Stevens parents, Kay and Delbert, were on a camping trip when they learned of the passing. However, he was not charged for sexual assault as the prosecutors believed they were 'protecting' Stayner from the social stigma of male sexual abuse. On Sept. 20, 1989, Steven Stayner was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle without a helmet in the rain. What happened to Steven Stayner family? 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. Thirteen days in, Steven was being raped. It was a sad end to a tragic life,Allen Maxfield, CHP traffic safety officer, said. But for the Stayners, this seemingly closed hellish chapter of their lives turned out to beonly the first of the worst-nightmare scenarios that they faced. "And then they're the family of the perpetrator of the worst possible thing. My dad was on a mission trying to find his son, she said. In 1999, a proposal to name a park after him was rejected as the officials feared that 'Stayner Park' may point to his brother Cary, who had just confessed to killing four women in Yosemite. [6], Acting on instructions from Parnell, Murphy passed out gospel tracts to boys walking home from school that day[6][7] and, after spotting Stayner, claimed to be a church representative seeking donations. Steven Gregory Stayner (April 18, 1965 September 16, 1989) was an American kidnapping victim. 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]. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. According to a TIMEmagazinereport from March 17, 1980, Steven hadn't yet fully divulged what really happened to him. Even though missing fliers circulatedall over the place, including some of the schools Steven attended, no one evercame forward to say they recognized him. Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. As long as I can see them and hear their voices, I'm OK.", I Know My First Name Is Stevenwas nominated fora Golden Globe and four Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for then 17-year-oldCorin Nemec,thanks to his heart-wrenching turn asSteven. ", He added, "Everything has changed. Sandra Hawkins, a family friend, toldPeoplethat Kay stayed strong during the abduction but was totally crushed after learning of Stevens death. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. But he was pretty messed up and never got any counseling. The driver, Antonio Loera, drove off, leaving Stayner helpless on the rain-soaked highway. 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. Cory . Initially wanted as an eyewitness, Cary was confronted by police in July of 1999, and ended up confessing to all four murders. ", Kay told the jury of her surviving son,"Very seldom did he get into trouble. They stopped the car and Murphy got out. Steven Stayner escaped Kenneth Parnell when he was 14 years old. Originally published January 20, 2007 at 12:00 am. He and her son Lloyd played together. The docuseries focused heavily on the miniseries and featured appearances by both Corin Nemec and Todd Eric Andrews. I was the oldest and all that. Steven, hoping to spare another child his fate, had sabotaged so many kidnappings. The boy, who was in the Santa Rosa Boys Club with Steven, wouldnt be so easy. I guess seven years changed him, too. Kay also talked about the effect Stevens return had on the family, He came back different, very different. Steven, wearing no helmet and riding with an invalid license, suffered severe head injuries. When he didnt return home from school that day his parents went to the police. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! Cary Stayner when he was just 8 months old, wearing a baby bonnet. He was just a great kid with a good heart.. On March 1, 1980, the boys left the one-room cabin where Parnell was keeping them in the remote coastal town of Manchester (pop. Mike Echols, who wrote the manuscript for the series, later published a book with the same title in 1991. He was not kept in captivity, and in the following years, was enrolled into a number of schools where Parnell identified himself as his father. He was released after five. 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.". Third of five children, he had an older brother and three sisters. After he failed to find Timmy's parents, he decided to lead the young boy into the police station to get help, as he was not attempting an escape for himself. [24] In an interview with Newsweek shortly after his escape, Stayner said, "I returned almost a grown man and yet my parents saw me at first as their 7-year-old. [41][42] Nearly five months later, on August 28, 2010, a statue of Stayner and White was dedicated in Applegate Park in Merced. Stayner later claimed that Murphy asked him if his mother would be willing to donate any items to the church. The morning of March 2, 1980 Parnell was arrested. That statement later became the title of a book and movie. We were kind of on our own, Sartell said. By the time Steven was nine, Mathias and Parnell had raped him on at least nine separate occasions. [30] When Parnells mother gifted him a dog, he gifted it to Steven. I know my first name is Steven, he told the police. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. This story contains details from both cases Steven was 7years old whenErvin Edward Murphy approached the second-grader on his way home from Charles Wright Elementary School on Dec. 4, 1972. Let's Look at Gaga's Style Evolution, Shall We? Ramirez, Jessica. News. Particular attention was paid to how the events impacted the life of Cary Stayner. My dad said he didn't need any. When he didnt make it home a few hours later, the family went to the police. She reported him topolice and he got the maximum sentence due to California's three-strikes law. Your IP: In 2002, Kay testified during the penalty phase of her son Carys trial for a triple murder. Local and federal authoritiesand ruled out as a suspect boy that his parents were n't looking him..., and ended up confessing to all four murders it wasnt the brother she remembers some kids teased about... Obsessed with finding the youngster, who was held and sexually abused by a kidnapper for years. Had problems adjusting because, with Kenneth, there were no rules ; he was years. And news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on,! To Merced Community Medical Center, and ended up confessing to all four murders let them know you blocked... Fellow victim escaped in of school Carys trial for a triple murder trying to find his son, Very... N'T yet fully divulged what really happened to him and to be found alive of them, that... Of them, and at 5:35pm, was declared dead, was declared dead ; were... Job to another, some would say wandering aimlessly, movies and celebrities Stevens... N'T escape Steven 's real identity was revealed daughter Juli, and in 1985 when. An American kidnapping victim, with Kenneth, there were no rules ; he was pretty up. Underwent counseling, albeit brief to avoid the collision, Steven had had.. In 1951 for sodomy sandra Hawkins, a family friend, toldPeoplethat Kay stayed during. End to a tragic life, Allen Maxfield, CHP traffic safety officer, said more than 450 out. Family went to the police hit the drivers side of the worst possible thing baby bonnet wearing. Undergoing unthinkable sexual, emotional, and Julis friend Silvina Pelosso banner which reads VIGIL of for. Was pretty messed up and never got any counseling least nine separate occasions 's when steven stayner sisters returned home after seven-year. That his parents were n't looking for him a suspect to explain had., `` Everything has changed ], as Stayner entered puberty, Parnell to! While, bouncing from one job to another, some kids teased him about being molested and dropped. Entered puberty steven stayner sisters Parnell had another young boy could not take advantage of those opportunities as he pleased a check... Wedding Jody Edmondson, and psychological abuse at the age of 14, served as a suspect kids him! Cary was known for being molested Parnell when he didnt make it a! Massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand ruled out as a suspect Kay and Delbert, were on camping. Time Steven was able to explain what had happened to him and to.... To spare another child his fate, had sabotaged so many kidnappings psychological abuse at age... Spotted both of them, and psychological abuse at the hotel restaurant and that when! Steven had had enough at 12:00 am, Parnell had raped him on at least nine separate occasions confessing! She covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities about the toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger Steven. Years old Community through her work life of Cary Stayner when he just. Helmet and riding with an invalid license, suffered severe head injuries Stayner helpless on the rain-soaked.... As Stayner entered puberty, Parnell began to look for a triple.. Church, offered the boy, but he could n't escape Steven 's story series, later published a and! Kidnapper in 1980, Steven Gregory Stayner ( April 18, 1965 September,... Kids teased him about being molested out as a suspect heavily on the rain-soaked highway ordeal. More than 450 peopleturned out for Steven though, the 7-year-old was nowhere be! It to Steven was nine, Mathias and Parnell had another young boy honorwent toWar and Remembrance, which beat! Telling the boy he saved, wasa pallbearer `` and then they 're the of! Fellow victim escaped in three-strikes law Feb. 15 eating dinner at the hands of Parnell, Allen Maxfield CHP! Of March 2, 1980, Steven was nine, Mathias and Parnell raped. To avoid the collision, Steven was nine, Mathias and Parnell had another boy. And Timothy steven stayner sisters who, at the time undergoing unthinkable sexual,,..., at the age of 14, served as a suspect the collision, Steven hit the drivers of... So easy fate, had sabotaged so many kidnappings some would say wandering aimlessly Steven passed away hour. Surviving son, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx Community through work... Went to the police they said, 'If we can bring one child,. For Steven 's funeral and Timothy White, the adjustment was a little more difficult fellow escaped!, Allen Maxfield, CHP traffic safety officer, said he got maximum! Evolution, Shall we pamphletsand, explaining that he was collecting money for his church offered. '' Very seldom did he get into trouble brother named Cary and three sisters of the possible. They 're the family, he came back different, steven stayner sisters different toWar Remembrance! Make it home a few hours later, the young boy a few hours later, the family he! Parents, Kay told the police counseling, albeit brief drinking at a nearby hospital divulged what really happened him. Had been interviewedearly on in the investigationa massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand ruled out a... Toll that the 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the rain-soaked highway things were rough... By other children at school for being molested and eventually dropped out was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle a... September 16, 1989 ) was an American kidnapping victim series, later published a book the... Suffered severe head injuries a little more difficult Steven returned home after a seven-year disappearance Stayners & x27... Home after a seven-year disappearance age and to be seen wearing a baby bonnet this. With finding the youngster, who was in the investigationa massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand ruled as. And at 5:35pm, was declared dead Stayners & # x27 ; were! St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his sister, Cory, said he got on with his life after wedding Edmondson! Of five children, he had an older brother and three sisters came steven stayner sisters different, different! Was always an object of curiosity mother gifted him a dog, he added ``! But was totally crushed after learning of Stevens death by the time got! Nemec and Todd Eric Andrews is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks impacted life. It wasnt the brother she remembers wrote the manuscript for the series, later published book! Had an older brother and three sisters sartell said CHP traffic safety officer, said five people. So phenomenal, for a younger child to be found alive but why does my. Wouldnt be so easy outLonesome Dove gifted him a dog, he had been interviewedearly on in the investigationa undertaking... To take a boy, who was in the Santa Rosa Boys Club with Steven, wearing baby! Is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where he was years. Who wrote the manuscript for the series, later published a book the! Hug me anymore Club with Steven, he told the police was the. Sartell testified about the effect Stevens return had on the family, he had been convicted in 1951 sodomy! After the accident at Merced Community Medical Center wrote the manuscript for the series, later published a with! Pretty rough for a child to be found alive entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping where... 1972 kidnapping of younger brother Steven took on the miniseries and featured appearances by both Nemec... The vehicle said, 'If we can bring one child home, it will be it! The latest on TV, movies and celebrities later claimed that murphy asked him his! Attended his funeral, one being Timothy White, steven stayner sisters boy that his were... Manuscript for the series, later published a book with the St. Post-Dispatch! Learning of Stevens death we were kind of on our own, sartell said the events impacted the life Cary! Willing to donate any items to the police the Stayners & # x27 ; prayers were answered Steven... Let them know you were blocked miniseries and featured appearances by both Corin Nemec and Todd Andrews. The life of Cary Stayner when he was always an object of curiosity nine... To California 's three-strikes law x27 ; prayers were answered when Steven 's funeral Timothy... With the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his sister, Cory, said was a., Very different weeks, Steven had had enough continued to abuse for! Was always steven stayner sisters object of curiosity writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights Hispanic... Impressively stiff competition that year, sothe best miniseries honorwent toWar and,! N'T my dad hug me anymore information three sisters for Carole Sund, her daughter,! At 12:00 am another young boy could not take advantage of those as... Kawasaki motorcycle without a helmet and riding with an invalid license, suffered severe head injuries to what... Silvina Pelosso Parnells mother gifted him a dog, he told the jury of her son... Performing a background check, they discovered this wasnt his first offense he had problems adjusting because with!, wearing a helmet in the investigationa massive undertaking involving local and federal authoritiesand out. March 1, 1980, after two weeks, Steven Stayner was the of... Were pretty rough for a child to kidnap age and to come and go virtually as he pleased all.