Case 154
Steven Stayner
*** Content Warning: child victim, child sexual assault ***
When seven-year-old Steven Stayner fails to return home from school on December 4 1972, life changes irrevocably for the Stayner family. As the years pass by with no sign of their beloved son and brother, they do their best to adjust to life without him.
Years later, another young boy named Timmy White goes missing under similar circumstances. Although there’s nothing to link the two disappearances, a connection soon emerges that no one could have seen coming.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research – Jessica Forsayeth
Writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
Although Casefile episodes are free for all listeners, those who want to support us financially can do so by becoming a member of Patreon, Apple Premium or Spotify Premium. Paid subscribers receive access to exclusive content including behind-the-scenes discussions with the Casefile team, interviews, early releases and ad-free episodes.
RESOURCES
BOOKS
I know my first name is Steven – by Echols, M. (1999), Pinnacle Press: Ohio
From victim to hero: The untold story of Steven Stayner – by Laughter, J. (2010), Buoy Up Press
COURT DOCUMENTS
Parnell v Superior Court (People) (1981)
[Civ. No. 50913. Court of Appeals of California, First Appellate District, Division Two. May 21, 1981.]
The People v Kenneth Parnell A106798
(Alameda County Super. Ct. No. C144699)
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Vast hunt on for missing Merced boy – (AP) for the Oakland Tribune, published 8 December 1972, retrieved 9 February 2020
Merced boy still missing – (AP Merced) for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, published 10 December 1972, retrieved 10 February 2020
Stevie’s Yule gifts still unopened – by Larry Carroll, for the Los Angeles Times, published 28 December 1972, retrieved 10 February 2020
Reward upped – (UPI) for The Napa Valley Register, published 15 May 1973, retrieved 10 February 2020
Boy’s family’s hopes stay alive for Stevie’s return home – by Larry Carroll, for the Fresno Bee, published 12 December 1973, retrieved 10 February 2020
Parents believe Stevie alive after two years – by William Schiffman, for The Indiana Gazette, published 5 December 1974, retrieved 10 February 2020
Friend calls hostage case figure ‘poor, sick, creature’ – by Anne Richards for The Bakersfield Californian, published 19 August 1977, retrieved 10 February 2020
An emotional homecoming in Merced – (UPI) for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 3 March 1980, retrieved 10 February 2020
Kidnap case has happy ending – by Steve Hart for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 3 March 1980, retrieved 10 February 2020
Kidnap suspect a personable guy – author unknown for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 3 March 1980, retrieved 10 February 2020
Neighbours suspected nothing – (AP) for The Berkeley Gazette, Berkeley, California, published 3 March 1980, retrieved 10 February 2020
Suspect is held in Ukiah – author unknown for The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 3 Match 1980, retrieved 11 February 2020
Strange tale of a drifter and his ‘son’ – by Lewis Leader and Peter H. King for The San Francisco Examiner, published 3 March 1980, retrieved 17 February 2020
After 7 years of agony, a family is whole again – by Grahame L. Jones for The Los Angeles Times, published 4 March 1980, retrieved 17 February 2020
Missing boy, life in the one-room cabin described as ‘boring’ – by Steven Capps for The Hanford Sentinel, California, published 4 March 1980, retrieved 17 February 2020
Kidnapper in notorious 1972 case faces new charges – by Kim Curtis (AP) for The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, California, published 5 January 2003, retrieved 17 February 2020
Parnell admits attempt to buy boy – (AP) for The Californian, Salinas, California, published 10 January 2003, retrieved 17 February 2020
Timmy White case, Kenneth Parnell arrest revives memories of 1980 abduction – by Glenda Anderson for The Ukiah Daily Journal, Ukiah, California, published 11 January 2003, retrieved 17 February 2020
Stayner kidnapper back in court on boy buying charge – by Michelle Locke (AP) for The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, published 3 February 2004, retrieved 17 February 2020
Molester gets life term for attempt to buy a boy – (AP) for The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, published 16 April 2004, retrieved 18 February 2020
Kidnap accomplice released – by Bob Klose for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 2 June 1983, retrieved 19 February 2020
Suspect enters not guilty plea in Stayner’s hit and run death – by Ken Chavez for The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 21 September 1989, retrieved 20 February 2020
Man sentenced to 3 months jail in Stayner hit-run case – author unknown for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 5 January 1990, retrieved 20 February 2020
Parnell case molestation filed again – (Merced UPI) for the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 30 April 1980, retrieved 9 March 2020
Parnell hearing testimony unveiled – (Merced UPI) for the Hanford Sentinel, Hanford, California, published 3 May 1980, retrieved 9 March 2020
A second look/kidnapping nightmare seems like a dream now – by Carol Pogash and Mike Lassiter for The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, California, published 26 May 1980, retrieved 9 March 2020
Parnell doubts his chance for a fair trial – by Brian Clark for The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 7 August 1980, retrieved 9 March 2020
Timmy White: ‘no scars’ – by Susan Schwartz for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, published 8 February 1981, retrieved 10 March 2020
DA raps Parnell ‘smoke screen’ – by Jim Wood for The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, published 29 June 1981, retrieved 10 March 2020
Kidnap victim’s brainwashing stressed – (Hayward AP) for The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 18 December 1981, retrieved 10 March 2020
Parnell’s friend admits he has ‘no excuse’ – by Jim Wood for The San Francisco Examiner, published 23 December 1981, retrieved 10 March 2020
Stayners say Steven recovering from ordeal – by Catherine Wilson (Merced AP) for The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, printed 2 March 1985, retrieved 10 March 2020
Merced DA suggests second Parnell trial – by Peter Page for Ukiah Daily Journal, Ukiah, California, published 9 April 1985, retrieved 11 March 2020
Kidnapping fades in Stayner’s mind – by Travis Brown for The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, published 22 April 1986, retrieved 11 March 2020
ONLINE ARTICLES
Timothy White, victim of a notorious 1980 kidnapping, dies at 35 – (AP) for The New York Times, published 10 April 2010, retrieved 17 February 2020
Timmy White, 1980 Ukiah kidnap victim, dead at 35 – by Glenda Anderson for The Press Democrat, published 8 April 2010, retrieved 17 February 2020
Statue honors Steven Stayner’s legacy – by Victor Patton for The Merced Sun Star, published 30 August 2010, retrieved 17 February 2020
24 years after Ukiah abduction, White again faces Parnell – by Glenn Chapman for the Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, published 5 February 2004, retrieved 11 March 2020
VIDEOS
20/20 Evil in Eden, Pt 1 – Two brothers tied to Yosemite, one a hero, the other a monster – by ABC News 20/20. Uploaded 26 January 2019, retrieved 9 February 2020
California 101: Mendocino County road trip – by Visit California. Uploaded 9 January 2020, retrieved 9 February 2020
20/20 Evil in Eden, Pt 2 – Steven Stayner’s abduction changes family’s life forever – by ABC News 20/20. Uploaded 26 January 2019, retrieved 11 February 2020
Steven Stayner Interview – March 14, 1980 – by ABC News. Uploaded 31 January 2019, retrieved 13 February 2020
E.T. report on ‘I know my name first name is Steven’ – by Entertainment Tonight. Uploaded 17 January 2018, retrieved 13 February 2020
20/20 Evil in Eden, Pt 3 – Steven Stayner escaped captor, returns home after seven years – by ABC News 20/20. Uploaded 26 January 2019, retrieved 17 February 2020
20/20 Evil in Eden, Pt 4 – Cary Stayner takes refuge in Yosemite – by ABC News 20/20. Uploaded 26 January 2019, retrieved 17 February 2020
KMST News Nightwatch – 4/9/85 – pt 1 of 3, by 80sCommercialVault. Uploaded 14 July 2009, retrieved 17 February 2020