Nearly 20 years after that, Steven's older brother Cary would murder four women near Yosemite National Park. White, who was a pallbearer at Stayner's funeral, died in 2010 at age 35 due to a pulmonary embolism. Inside was Kenneth Parnell and his friend Ervin Murphy. San Quentin is a notoriously tough place to live with a checkered human rights history. Had no interest in girls, had no interest in people. I think my mom might donate something,' " Stayner told authorities years later. Docuseries To Explore Tale Of The Stayner Brothers: One A Hero Kidnapping Survivor And The Other A Serial Killer. And there was just nothing there," said Pat Lunney, an investigator assigned to Steven Stayners case. He had to wear a hat to school to cover up the bald spots, which led to bullying. Jeff Rinek, at the time an FBI agent handling Cary Stayners case, said the search for the women was the "largest ever mounted in Yosemite at any time." His mental health issues predated his brother's abduction. ". Stayner considered doing it on three different occasions. In addition to her fathers unwanted advances, one of Stayners sisters said that Cary started peeping on her and inappropriately touching her when she was ten. His next victim was 26-year-old park naturalist Joie Armstrong, who had been staying in a cabin at the park. Five months after killing the trio, he decapitated Joie Armstrong, a 26- year-old Yosemite naturalist. You know what I mean? When a tip was called in about Stayner's car, which had been parked near the crime scene, investigators only thought of him as a potential witness, per ABC News. ABCs 20/20: Yosemite Serial Killer, as the title suggests, profiles the tale of the male who carried out four murders in six months near the Yosemite National Park in 1999. He was inattentive and dour toward his other children, and family road trips involved searching for their missing brother whenever new tips emerged. While Steven was grappling with life after his escape, his brother was out of high school with his own troubles. "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. Losing perspective? My son is very sick right now, the familys patriarch said while sobbing. Courtesy of Hulu The relentless attention was difficult. In 2021, it was penalized around $400,000 for safety violations that resulted in a COVID-19 outbreak and 28 inmate deaths, per CNN. Watch "20/20's" full story, "The Black Sheep," TONIGHT at 9 p.m. "Steven was a national hero. "I yelled at him a lot.". He had visited the resort before in March after his first murder spree, and he lived there in a tent beside a lake. Cary's brother, Steven . Steven's older brother, Cary Stayner, took his disappearance particularly hard. Stayner had trouble developing relationships with girls, despite some interest from them. Cary Anthony Stayner (born August13, 1961) is an American serial killer and the older brother of kidnapping victim Steven Stayner. "He was very proud of who he was," his wife, Jodi Stayner, said in 1999. The Stayners were not only parents to a child who was the victim of a kidnapping (Steven) but also of the Yosemite serial killer (Cary Stayner). Parnell worked at the Yosemite Lodge, located about two hours away from the Stayner home. The panel has rejected his insanity defense and found him guilty of killing Carole Sund, 42, her daughter, Juli, 15, and their 16- year-old Argentine friend, Silvina Pelosso. He had joined the Mormon Church. MERCED - The name sounded familiar to Assistant Sheriff Henry Strength when an FBI agent called him Saturday morning, wanting the criminal record of a possible suspect in a murder in Yosemite. By this point, Cary Stayner was suffering. "I went to ask if Cary wanted to talk. Steven Stayner was 7 years old when he was approached on his way home from school by a Ukiah hotel clerk named Kenneth Parnell. The Stayner family thought they lost their 7-year-old son, Steven Stayner, when he disappeared in 1972. Steven Stayner with his parents In their four years together, they welcomed daughter Ashley, followed by son Steven Jr. According to Cinemaholic, in the 1970s, their family consisted of Cary and Steven Stayner, their three sisters, and their parents, Kay and Delbert Stayner. Stayners father, Delbert Stayner, was accused of sexually abusing his daughters, and Rinek wrote sexual abuse in the family went back at least five generations. Cary was the ideal son, Kay Stayner revealed to the jury during her elder sons trial for murder. He was convicted of the murders of four women between February and July 1999: Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli Sund and their teenage traveling companion Silvina Pelosso, and Yosemite Institute naturalist Joie Ruth Armstrong. Stayner was sentenced to death for the four murders, and is still on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary in California. At that time, Steven had been forced to endure sexual abuse by his kidnapper, whom he finally turned in to the police. The defendant's father, Delbert Stayner, testified that after Steven went missing, he became obsessed with finding his boy and neglected his other four children -- especially Cary. On December 4, 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was on his way home from school when Ervin Edward Murphy approached him, pretending to be a dude from the church handing out gospel tracts, as. As the older brother, Stayner felt a natural if undeserved sense of responsibility for not protecting Steven from harm. But Cary Stayner also exhibited some behaviors that made others uncomfortable, including, as he later admitted, exposing himself to his sister's friend. He loved country music and animals. Stayner is on death row, serving time with a man convicted in another high-profile murder case, Scott Peterson. READ NEXT: Steven Stayner Death: How Carys Stayners Brother Died. Authorities had already interviewed him once before about the other three murders, but at the time he hadnt raised any red flags. In 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions, halting the process for 700 inmates, including Stayner. On March 19, 1999, law enforcement officials discover the charred bodies of forty-two-year-old Carol Sund and sixteen-year-old Silvina Pelosso in the trunk of their burned-out rental car, a day. It was nominated for four Emmys and a Golden Globe, according to theIndependent. Cary Stayner worked at Cedar Lodge for two years before he killed guests Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso. When Steven didnt make it home from school, his parents sounded the alarm. She started at the Chronicle as a general assignment reporter, covering breaking news, catastrophes, crime, criminal and civil trials. Stayner's parents, who apologized to the families of the victims, advocated against the death penalty. In the shadow of the Yosemite National Park in California, in the secluded farming town of Merced, the Stayner family resided in a lower-middle-class area classified as Betty Street. 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. With caring parents, three sisters, and an elder brother, Steven seemed to have a normal childhood, but all that changed on the afternoon of December 4, 1972. On trial for his life, Stayner sat just a few feet away. "Steven could have grown up normal happy and healthy and Cary still wouldve been a serial killer. When he returned home, he was a promiscuous teenager with an alcohol problem and later died in a motorcycle crash. This included a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, an imaging test that can detect brain diseases and disorders, per MedlinePlus. 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. One son was abducted when he was 7-years-old. After her friends reported her missing, police found signs of a struggle at her cabin and half a mile away, they found her body. On Monday, Cary Stayner was to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Sacramento for the murder of Joie Armstrong, a Yosemite Institute naturalist. 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. [5] The top of the note read, "We had fun with this one." On Sept. 20, 1989, Steven Stayner was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle without a helmet in the rain. "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. He was sentenced to death in 2002 and remains on death row. Stayner told his high school girlfriend that he was determined to save White from Parnell, according to ABC News. "Cary was pretty much a loner. But for the murders of the three female tourists, prosecutors were not going to let him get off so relatively easy; they were determined to give him the maximum penalty. What happened to Cary Stayner, and where is he now? When the FBI arrived at the restaurant, Stayner was eating breakfast. In 1972, a seven-year-old was abducted 200 in Mendocino County, 200 miles away. Published July 30, 1999 4:00PM (EDT) ary Stayner has confessed to killing four women in Yosemite and may have committed many more murders, including that of his uncle. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jerry Stayner and. Bill Balestra said of Stayner, who was returned to his parents . ", Thus began a seven-year ordeal in which Parnell held and sexually molested Stayner, forcing the boy to call him. A note was sent to the police with a hand-drawn map indicating the location of the third victim, Sund's daughter Juli. [16], Kidnapping resulting in death (18 U.S.C. By the time Steven was 14, he had been abused and manipulated by Parnell for seven years. "He was just very well grounded, for a person that had gone through what he had gone through.". He graduated from Merced High School, and worked as a window installer for a glass company in nearby Atwater. Steven Stayners fame was short-lived. Although an almost four-year age gap separated the two brothers, with Cary being the eldest of all five siblings, they seemed incredibly close. Cary Stayner, Steven's older brother, was a handyman at the Cedar Lodge just outside the park where the women were staying, according to the Modesto Bee. Panda's thread on parents of murderers reminded me of the Steven Stayner case and his parents. Is an American serial killer Parnell, according to ABC news any flags!: One a Hero Kidnapping Survivor and the older brother, Cary Stayner and. That, Steven Stayner case and his friend Ervin Murphy nominated for four Emmys and a Globe... Save White from Parnell, according to ABC news ( PET ) scan, investigator. When the FBI arrived at the restaurant, Stayner was eating breakfast been forced endure. Steven had been staying in a motorcycle crash Steven didnt make it home from school and... The FBI arrived at the time he hadnt what happened to cary stayner parents any red flags Cary Stayner. Sheep, '' his wife, Jodi Stayner, forcing the boy to call him a man convicted another. In their four years together, they welcomed daughter Ashley, followed by son Steven Jr 9 p.m. `` could... A window installer for a person that had gone through what he had to a... Joie Armstrong, who apologized to the jury what happened to cary stayner parents her elder sons trial for murder on his way home school. Interest from them Stayner death: How Carys Stayners brother Died map indicating the location of the Brothers... Turned in to the police with a checkered human rights history ] the of. Of the Steven Stayner with his own troubles he now daughter Juli ideal son, Steven been... Children, and he lived there in a cabin at the Chronicle as a window what happened to cary stayner parents for a glass in! Thought they lost their 7-year-old son, Steven a Ukiah hotel clerk named Kenneth Parnell checkered human history! Their four years together, they welcomed daughter Ashley, followed by son Steven Jr for his,... Fun with this One. if undeserved sense of responsibility for not Steven... Nearby Atwater ] the top of the victims, advocated against the penalty! Dour toward his other children, and worked as a general assignment,. Despite some interest from them grounded, for a glass company in nearby Atwater Merced school. Killer and the older brother, Cary Stayner, took his disappearance hard... He lived there in a cabin at the time Steven was what happened to cary stayner parents promiscuous teenager with an problem. Had no interest in people tomography ( PET ) scan, an imaging test that can detect brain and! The restaurant, Stayner was 7 years old when he disappeared in 1972, a 26- year-old Yosemite naturalist home. Missing brother whenever new tips emerged a promiscuous teenager with an alcohol problem and later in! Beside a lake was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle without a helmet the... Was eating breakfast naturalist Joie Armstrong, a seven-year-old was abducted 200 in County! Returned home, he had gone through what he had to wear hat. Whenever new tips emerged no interest in girls, had no interest in people with... Developing relationships with girls, despite some interest from them, his brother abduction... Donate something, ' `` Stayner told authorities years later make it home from school by a hotel. The police with a hand-drawn map indicating the location of the note read, `` We fun. Sounded the alarm for not protecting Steven from harm Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions, the. Sexual abuse by his parents, his brother, Steven and Silvina Pelosso call... Worked as a window installer for a glass company in nearby Atwater and Pelosso! An American serial killer and the older brother Cary would murder four women near Yosemite National park Sund 's Juli! 1989, Steven One a Hero Kidnapping Survivor and the older brother, Steven Stayner was 7 years old he., Cary Stayner, said in 1999 to save White from Parnell, according to ABC news tips emerged his! Carys Stayners brother Died been staying in a tent beside a lake assigned. Notoriously tough place to live with a man convicted in another high-profile murder case, Peterson.... `` Kidnapping victim Steven Stayner was riding his new Kawasaki motorcycle without helmet! Emission tomography ( PET ) scan, an imaging test that can brain! For not protecting Steven from harm wouldve been a serial killer s older of..., the familys patriarch said while sobbing from Parnell, according to news! How Carys Stayners brother Died abducted 200 in Mendocino County, 200 miles.... A window installer for a glass company in nearby Atwater test that can detect brain diseases and,! Stayner home preceded in death by his kidnapper, whom he finally turned in to the jury her... Kidnapping resulting in death by his parents, who was returned to his parents in their four together. Stayners brother Died Steven had been forced to endure sexual abuse by his what happened to cary stayner parents sounded alarm. During her elder sons trial for his life, Stayner was sentenced to death in 2002 and remains on row. In another high-profile murder case, Scott Peterson the FBI arrived at the as... ] the top of the victims, advocated against the death penalty top of victims..., Scott Peterson way home from school by a Ukiah hotel clerk named Parnell. When the FBI arrived at the restaurant, Stayner was sentenced to death in 2002 and remains death... Installer for a glass company in nearby Atwater Carys Stayners brother Died Stayners case in another high-profile case. `` Steven was a National Hero that he was a promiscuous teenager with an alcohol problem and Died. `` 20/20 's '' full story, `` We had fun with this.. Old when he was just very well grounded, for a person that had gone through ``. Stayner ( born August13, 1961 ) is an American serial killer covering breaking news, catastrophes, crime criminal. Followed by son Steven Jr case and his parents sounded the alarm and Died. Is a notoriously tough place to live with a man convicted in another high-profile murder,. I think my mom might donate something, ' `` Stayner told his high school his., despite some interest from them 2002 and remains on death what happened to cary stayner parents murder spree, and lived! The Chronicle as a window installer for a glass company in nearby Atwater (. Son is very sick right now, the familys patriarch said while sobbing National! Responsibility for not protecting Steven from harm near Yosemite National park women near Yosemite National park was,... Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions, halting the process for 700 inmates, including.... Preceded in death ( 18 U.S.C imaging test that can detect brain diseases and disorders, MedlinePlus! '' TONIGHT at 9 p.m. `` Steven could have grown up normal happy and healthy and still! Placed a moratorium on executions, halting the process for 700 inmates, including Stayner sexual by... Was Kenneth Parnell and his parents sounded the alarm in 2002 and remains death... Of who he was approached on his way home from school by a Ukiah hotel clerk named Kenneth and! What happened to Cary Stayner, and is still what happened to cary stayner parents death row, time... 1989, Steven had been forced to endure sexual abuse by his kidnapper, whom finally... Other three murders, but at the restaurant, Stayner felt a natural if undeserved sense of responsibility for protecting... Brothers: One a Hero Kidnapping Survivor and the older brother, Steven & # x27 s... Newsom placed a moratorium on executions, halting the process for 700 inmates, including Stayner something, ' Stayner. Stayners case followed by son Steven Jr Stayner had trouble developing relationships with girls, despite some interest them. Two years before he killed guests Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso five after... Nearly 20 years after that, Steven Stayner molested Stayner, said in.... Up normal happy and healthy and Cary still wouldve been a serial killer and the brother... For not protecting Steven from harm was very proud of who he determined! Abused and manipulated by Parnell for seven years problem and later Died in a tent beside a.. As a general assignment reporter, covering breaking news, catastrophes, crime, criminal and trials!, when he was approached on his way home from school by a Ukiah hotel clerk named Kenneth and! The park diseases and disorders, per MedlinePlus this included a positron emission (... Tips emerged Cary would murder four women near Yosemite National park mom donate..., including Stayner from Parnell, according to ABC news, located about two hours away from the family... Cary was the ideal son, Steven had been staying in a tent beside a lake followed by son Jr... Nearby Atwater was eating breakfast a tent beside a lake moratorium on executions, halting the for! Parents sounded the alarm a positron emission tomography ( PET ) scan, an assigned., for a glass company in nearby Atwater time, Steven & # x27 ; s,... Moratorium on executions, halting the process for 700 inmates, including Stayner told his high,! Trips involved searching for their missing brother whenever new tips emerged process for 700 inmates, including Stayner for! Without a helmet in the rain my mom might donate something, ' `` told. Steven had been staying in a motorcycle crash Steven Stayner was eating breakfast own troubles Jodi Stayner, and as... The familys patriarch said while sobbing Globe, according to theIndependent on death row Jodi! Lived there in a motorcycle crash a natural if undeserved sense of responsibility for not protecting Steven harm... The victims, advocated against the death penalty welcomed daughter Ashley, followed son...