1. Steven Gregory Stayner was an American kidnapping victim and the younger brother of serial killer Cary Stayner.
23 Facts About Steven Stayner
1. 2.
On December 4,1972, seven-year-old Stayner was abducted in Merced, California, by child molester Kenneth Parnell.
3.
Steven Stayner was held by his abductor 38 miles away in Mariposa County, and later in Mendocino County, until he was aged 14, when he managed to escape with another of Parnell's victims, five-year-old Timothy White.
4.
Steven Stayner was the third of five children born to Delbert and Kay Stayner in Merced, California.
5.
Steven Stayner had three sisters and an older brother, Cary.
6.
Steven Stayner later claimed that Murphy asked him if his mother would be willing to donate any items to the church.
7.
Parnell allowed Steven Stayner to begin drinking at a young age and to come and go virtually as he pleased.
8.
An adult Steven Stayner later remarked that he could have easily used these absences as opportunities to flee, but was unaware how to summon help.
9.
Steven Stayner revealed later that he had intentionally sabotaged these failed kidnappings.
10.
On February 14,1980, Parnell and a teenage friend of Steven Stayner's named Randall Sean Poorman kidnapped five-year-old Timothy White in Ukiah.
11.
On March 1,1980, while Parnell was away at his night security job, Steven Stayner left the house with White and hitchhiked into Ukiah, California.
12.
Steven Stayner was sentenced to seven years, but was paroled after serving five.
13.
Steven Stayner remembered the kindness "Uncle" Murphy had shown him in his first week of captivity while they were both under the influence of Parnell's manipulation, and he believed that Murphy was as much Parnell's victim as he and White were.
14.
Steven Stayner began to drink frequently and was eventually kicked out of the family home; his relationship with his father would remain strained.
15.
Steven Stayner worked with child abduction groups, spoke to children about personal safety and gave interviews about his kidnapping.
16.
Steven Stayner joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly before his death.
17.
At the time of his death, Steven Stayner was living in Merced and working at a pizza shop.
18.
On September 16,1989, Steven Stayner sustained fatal head injuries on his way home from work when a car turned in front of his motorcycle in a hit and run accident.
19.
Five hundred people attended Steven Stayner's funeral, at which 14-year-old Timothy White was a pallbearer.
20.
The title of the film and book are taken from the first paragraph of Steven Stayner's written police statement, given during the early hours of March 2,1980, in Ukiah.
21.
Steven Stayner's story was included in the book Against Their Will by Nigel Cawthorne, a compilation of stories of kidnappings.
22.
Steven Stayner died on April 1,2010, at age 35 from pulmonary embolism.
23.
Fundraisers for the statue have stated that it is meant to honor Steven Stayner and give families of missing and kidnapped children hope that they are still alive.