ABC News Elizabeth Smart Tells Court Kidnapper Tried to Snatch Her Cousin Too, Deseret News Elizabeth Smart Describes Rapes, Sex Abuse, Imprisonment, Threats, Biography Elizabeth Smart: A Complete Timeline of Her Kidnapping, Rescue and Aftermath, Crime Museum Ariel Castro Cleveland Kidnappings, CNN Timeline: Three Cleveland Girls Go Missing; No Word Of Them For 10 Years, History Collection Historic Kidnapping Cases that Inspire Nightmares. Smart suffered a harrowing nine-month ordeal after her kidnap on June 5, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was also told he had been adopted and that his name was now Dennis Parnell. He was convicted of both kidnappings and served five years of his seven-year prison sentence. On April 15, 1974, Hearst was captured on CCTV during an SLA bank robbery. Hearst was an obvious kidnap target since she came from a wealthy and nationally recognized family. My dad said he didnt need any.. According to The Famous People, Parnell also enrolled Stayner in school. As Steven Stayner was hailed as a national hero, his tormentor Kenneth Parnell was rightfully demonized throughout national media as the public cried out for his blood. In addition to assisting in the production of a miniseries based on his experience, Stayner became an advocate for preventing child abduction and helping victims of abuse. On the afternoon of December 4, 1972, 7-year old Stayner was approached by a man named Ervin Edward Murphy. Stevens was aware of Parnell's past and cooperated with police in setting up a sting operation that would lead to his arrest. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He was spunky. [8] Parnell denied in that same interview having been sexually abused himself, although Mike Echols' book I Know My First Name Is Steven states that he was indeed molested at the age of 13 by a boarder in a rooming house that his mother owned in Bakersfield. Of course, none of these boys were ever abandoned. It was the last time the women were seen alive. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In a 2000 interview about his 1951 crime, Parnell said he kidnapped and molested the boy because his wife was pregnant and that he "had to find another outlet. Steven publicly questioned if everyone would have been better off had he never come home, and allegedly at the behest of his father, declined to seek much counseling. While imprisoned for this charge, his second wife filed for divorce. 2. Pacific Theatre of World War II, Korean War. In 2004, Parnell received a 25-year sentence for trying to purchase a 4-year-old boy for $500. The young man then attempted suicide in 1991, and developed a drug habit. well, until the worst bout of luck ever, came upon the once joyfully reunited. Much is unknown about how Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby were treated during their abduction. Distractify is a registered trademark. In 2004, Parnell was sentenced to 25 years to life under California's three strikes law (one of the few times it was actually useful, and of course later died in 2008. I returned almost a grown man and yet my parents saw me at first as their 7-year-old, he said in the Newsweek story. It isnt inconceivable that Hearst had been brainwashed, yet with no evidence of mental illness, there was little chance of the heiress escaping jail time. At some point, Steven was a freshman in Mendocino High School where he dated Lori Duke. After Steven said his mother would be interested in donating, Murphy offered to take the boy home. Barbara Mathias was never charged. After the charred remains of the victims were found in Yosemite in 1997, police suspected Cary and he eventually came clean, but not before trying to negotiate with authorities to trade his confession for a jail supply ofchild pornography. On December 4, 1972, at the age of seven, Steven was approached after school by Edward Ervin Murphy, who claimed he was collecting money for the church. Cary tried to gain some sympathy from his brothers plight by suggesting he was neglected by his family as they focused on Stevens return. In 1972, he approached 7-year-old Steven Stayner in his hometown of Merced, Calif. and beckoned the young boy over. The Famous People reports Parnell then took the boy to a remote cabin near Catheys Valley, California. Edward Ervin Murphy passed away in St. Louis, Missouri. . Mr. Parnell sat expressionless as the decision, reached after two days of deliberation, was announced. New York Time Magazine 2 Convicted In 72 Kidnapping Of 7-Year-Old California Boy, Los Angeles Times Who Was Steven? Castros property was confiscated, and he was also fined $100,000. The kidnapping of Patty Hearst is one of the most famous in American history. . The prosecution successfully argued that sexual aids and pornography found in the apartment, along with Stevens' own testimony, were enough to prove that Parnell's intentions were criminal in nature. 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. He struggled with his family and was even ordered out of the house. One would expect Smarts life to be ruined by such a horrible experience (like Steven Stayner), but remarkably, she has managed to lead a fulfilling life to date. Ervin T Murphy, 55. On December 4, 1972, at the age of seven, Steven was approached after school by Edward Ervin Murphy, who claimed he was collecting money for church. 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. Castros house was demolished on August 7, 2013. In speaking to ABC News, Lori said that Steven "had a great personality. Their other son becoming a serial killer. Castro subjected all three women to horrific treatment during their captivity. It was even revealed that he had been arrested years prior for abusing another young boy. What happened to Cary Stayner, and where is he now? A sad tale that just kept getting sadder. The boy attended school under the name Dennis Parnell. In 1972, he disturbingly managed to enlist his help in the abduction of a young boy. We adhere to all copyright laws and honour the wishes of the producers. In 1985, at the age of 20, Stayner married 17-year-old Jody Edmondson. When she failed, he forced Steven to attempt the kidnapping. It was a controversial decision, as psychologists found clear signs of trauma, with one doctor describing her as a low-IQ zombie. Both of them pulled up next to Steven and asked if he would donate to the church. Join Facebook to connect with Edward Ervin and others you may know. On December 4, 1972, in Merced, California, 7-year-old Steven Stayner was approached by a man who claimed to be collecting money for his church. He intentionally sabotaged the efforts. But it wasnt what has been tagged the Missouri Miracle. It was 1980. We update our site with news articles and full-length documentaries free of charge, with no registration needed. Edward Murphy, Parnell's accomplice from the Stayner kidnapping, was sentenced to five years imprisonment and paroled after two years. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal.". Though the parents admitted as much, the jury didnt buy it though, especially since he admitted to fantasizing about killing women since before his brothers kidnapping. However, as they were walking toward Stayner's home, they were approached by another man, who was driving a white Buick. He used to look through newspapers and TV reports to see if they were looking for him. We want to keep this fellow off the streets.'' Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. . Unfortunately, the driver was actually a middle-aged pedophile named Kenneth Parnell. It was in February 1980 that Mr. Parnell kidnapped a second youth, 5-year-old Timmy White, officials said. Steven had a difficult life after his escape and died at age 24 in a road accident. Next, Moro was placed in the trunk of the Renault, covered with a red sheet and shot by Moretti. It would be seven years before the boy would see his family again years in which he was told his parents no longer wanted him. Parnell, along with his friend Edward Ervin Murphy, brought Steven to a cabin in Catheys Valley. This series will also reveal shocking information about Steven's brother Cary, who would later follow not in his brother's footsteps, but something closer to Parnell. Due to questions about Mitchells mental state, the case against him and his wife dragged on for years. Murphy convinced the seven-year-old to get into Parnell's car, Parnell then took Steven to his cabin and repeatedly assaulted him for the next seven years. Ervin Edward Murphy, 38 years old, a Yosemite National Park janitor, was arrested last night and booked for investigation of assisting in kidnapping the boy, who told the police that a second man was involved with Kenneth E. Parnell in his abduction. Stayner eventually began drinking more heavily, dropped out of high school, and left his parents' home. 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. Speaking with Ted Rowlands of the San Francisco Chronicle, Stayner revealed that he had been harboring fantasies of killing women for about 30 years. The 5-year-old cried and begged to be taken home. Unfortunately, the entire incident was part of an elaborate plan to kidnap the boy. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. According to the prison's website, Cary is ineligible for parole because he is "serving a death sentence." All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 Distractify. On July 22, 1999, the beheaded body of Joie would be found by her cabin. Despite the manhunt, the police did not view Castro as a viable suspect. Steven Stayners life ended not long after it seemed it was finally coming together. The San Francisco Chronicle (now the SF Gate) reported that he was 76 years old and died of "natural causes." Steven knew what would happen to Timmy if he didnt act. A month after the bank robbery, they found an SLA safe house in Los Angeles, and in the ensuing shootout, six SLA members were killed, including their leader DeFreeze. To spend 7 years obsessing over their kidnapped son, only to watch his life fall apart after his return, and then for him to die once things were finally going well? ST. LOUIS No one knew what happened to the boy, no one saw a thing. Parnell died in 2008 while incarcerated. Also known as E Murphy, L Ervin. The final nail came in 1990 when Cary's uncle, Jesse Stayner, was shot to death in the home he shared with Cary. He also has been convicted and jailed for robbery, larceny and abducting and molesting an 8-year-old boy, which occurred just after the birth of his only daughter. Under that law, they could get terms of from 1 to 25 years for the kidnapping conviction alone. According to The Famous People, Murphy offered to walk Stayner home, as he wanted to ask his mother for a donation. It was the case of Steven Stayner, who escaped from his abductor after the man took another child. Parnell served five years of an eight-year sentence. Steven would later tell Lori that, "I was not going to let that child go through what I had already been through. His wife, Jody, said he was finally found peace when on September 16, 1989, he was killed when a car collided with the motorcycle. There were no cars or trucks to watch for, no sketches of possible kidnappers. On January 20, 2001, President Bill Clinton gave Hearst a full pardon, and by 2002, the FBI had arrested every member of the SLA. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. He got on with his life, his sister, Cory Stayner, of Merced, Calif., said in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Edward Ervin. Trigger Warning: The following gets really, really sad, and involves subjects dealing with sexual abuse, and a lot of other awful things. Parnell always kept himself out of the line of fire. Battles/wars. [3] Parnell was raised mostly without his father, who abandoned the family when Parnell was six. Eventually, the FBI caught Hearst in San Francisco on September 18, 1975, and she was arrested and charged with crimes including bank robbery. As Parnell was working the night shift, Stayner fled the home with White in the middle of the night. He also joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Steven Stayner spent seven years as the captive of a pedophile. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Of course, the families of both boys were overjoyed to be reunited with their sons and Steven Stayner was hailed as a hero. During this time Steven was being horribly abused and raped by Parnell, yet somehow still managed to do well in school when he was there. Eventually, the Red Brigades grew tired of waiting, and on May 9, 1978, they held a process of the people where Moro was clearly found guilty and executed by a man named Mario Moretti. A man approached him, told him he was collecting money for a church and asked if his mother might make a contribution. In 1972, he approached 7-year-old Steven Stayner in his hometown of Merced, Calif. and beckoned the young boy over. ''But I'm anxious about the sentence he'll get,'' she added. Statue of Limitations Invoked. He befriended a co-worker named Ervin Murphy to assist him in the abduction. They hitchiked back to Ukiah and headed straight for the police station. The SLA, led by Donald DeFreeze, hated the U.S. government and was determined to destroy the capitalist state. Thats because he was able to escape, with. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. 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. Following his brother's death, History reports Cary worked as a handyman at a lodge near Yosemite National Park. Add These Shows to the Top of Your Watch List, A Fictionalized Telling of 'The Staircase' Is Coming to HBO Max With More Than One Big Name Attached. Distractify is a registered trademark. And soon Steven had a new little brother in Parnells sick scheme, 7 year old Timothy White. Knight, Berry, and DeJesus were all kidnapped by Ariel Castro in Cleveland, Ohio from August 2002 to April 2004. It was my do-or-die chance and I also would be coming home for doing something positive.. He asked for donations for a church he served. Cary Stayner (top middle) and Steven Stayner (top right) with the rest of the Stayner family in the 1980s. Parnell served five years of an eight-year sentence. As Steven aged and began to question what hed been told about his parents, he would scan newspapers and television reports to see if they were looking for him, according to a 1984 article in Newsweek. In March of that year, Carole Sund, her daughter Julie, and Julie's friend Silvina Pelosso disappeared from the Cedar Lodge. He was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison. A jury in Alameda County Superior Court announced its. Not only because she was the daughter of media mogul, William Randolph Hearst, but also because of the events that followed her abduction. Of course, the year after Cary graduated is also the year his brother returned home after being kidnapped for seven years, so a lot of the family's focus was rightfully shifted to Steven. And then, stunningly, years later, he was back. I am a History Educator and a Lifelong Learner with a Masters in Global History. The nightmare in California began in December 1972, when Stayner, a freckle-faced second-grader, was walking home from school. Parnell then told Stayner that he was now his legal guardian so the boy must call him Dad. He even started calling the child Dennis Gregory Parnell and enrolled him in different schools in California. Kenneth Parnell is a predator, and his prey is young boys. Here's What to Know About the Convicted Killer (EXCLUSIVE CLIP), Addicted to 'The Dropout'? Though the psychology-battered Steven never tried to escape himself, the thought of another boy going through what he did was too much to handle. However, his sexual abuse of the boy never stopped. He was spunky. So, when a highly publicized kidnapping ends in a heartwarming homecoming, its a pretty big deal. Life in a hellish maximum security prison? View the profiles of professionals named "Edward Murphy" on LinkedIn. 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. And none ended more triumphantly than that of Steven Stayners. . That name may not be familiar to many, but those who lived in the 1980s know his story well enough. Cary's defense team argued that he suffered from mental illness, in part from the trauma he suffered when Steven was kidnapped. Eventually, Parnell decided that Stayner was getting too old and kidnapped another boy named Timothy White in February 1980. 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