Just half a decade later he was out on the streets, and (unsurprisingly) trying to find other kids to abuse. Ervin Murphy, the man who lured Steven into the car, went on to serve two years of a five-year sentence. Steven led a daring escape in the dead of night, miles from civilization, determined to get Timothy home. In 1972, he approached 7-year-old Steven Stayner in his hometown of Merced, Calif. and beckoned the young boy over. After convincing the boy his parents did not want him anymore, he changed his name to Dennis Parnell. 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. Per CNN, Parnell would be arrested again in January 2003 while trying to buy a child. Because of Stevens heroics Timothy did not have the years and years of abuse to recover from that his savior did. Parnell, along with his friend Edward Ervin Murphy, brought Steven to a cabin in Catheys Valley. Other work. According to The Press Democrat, Kay Stayner said she "never did lose [her] hope" of finding her missing son. 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. Kenneth Parnell, who by the time he raped Steven Stayner, was his father all night. As reported by The Famous People, both boys were reunited with their parents on May 2, 1980. Ervin Murphy, who aided in Steven's abduction but, according to Echolls' book, insisted that he really thought Parnell was a minister and never thought he'd hurt a little boy, was also. While imprisoned for this charge, his second wife filed for divorce. The death sentence? Records: 72. According to Diane Stevens' testimony, Parnell requested that the child have a "clean" rectum, indicating sexual intentions. The two men are to return to court Feb. 3 for presentation of a probation report to the judge, in preparation for sentencing. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Kenneth Parnell was ultimately convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to steal a child. Ervin Edward Murphy Remembering Two Famous Kidnap Victims And How Their Story Touched the Hearts Of Many Timothy White. View David Murphy results in Mesa, AZ including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Eventually, the FBI caught Hearst in San Francisco on September 18, 1975, and she was arrested and charged with crimes including bank robbery. Steven was reunited with his family and became a hero. The boy agreed and gave the man his address. On December 4, 1972, his seven-year-old younger brother Steven was abducted by Kenneth Parnell and his co-worker Edward Ervin Murphy. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Edward Aloysius Murphy Jr. (January 11, 1918 - July 17, 1990) was an American aerospace engineer who worked on safety-critical systems. On February 14, 1980, Parnell abducted five-year-old Timothy White from Ukiah with the help of Sean Poorman, a minor and an acquaintance of Stayner. They hitchiked back to Ukiah and headed straight for the police station. Jody Stayner, who now lives in Montana, said she doesnt like talking about the past either, but said its important that lessons are learned from the case. It could be a very long sentence or it could be very short. There were traces of sand in the socks and pockets (the reason why Moros brother believed he was held near the beach) and traces of vegetables. Stayner was taken to Catheys Valley. It was a controversial decision, as psychologists found clear signs of trauma, with one doctor describing her as a low-IQ zombie. After all he had been through, a random medical problem ended the life of Timothy White. In January 2003, Parnell was arrested again after trying to coerce his caregiver's sister, Diane Stevens, into buying him a four-year-old boy for $500. Seven years later, after escaping his captor, he returned home. Stayner had a pet dog named Queenie, with whom he formed a close bond, and was permitted to begin drinking and smoking at a young age. Ervin T Murphy, 55. Life in a hellish maximum security prison? It will be up to the judge. According to The Famous People, the couple eventually had two children, named Ashley and Steven, Jr. Parnell married 15-year old Patsy Jo Dorton in 1949,[7] had a daughter in 1951, and divorced in 1957. A sad tale that just kept getting sadder. According to a July 1999 article in the SF Gate (then the San Francisco Chronicle), Cary Stayner was voted the "most creative" student of his Merced High School graduating class. Within a week after taking Steven, Parnell told the boy that his new name was Dennis and convinced him to start calling Parnell dad. Timothy White was the very definition of recovery. He was spunky. Castros house was demolished on August 7, 2013. He did not receive counseling for his ordeal and left school early after cruel kids teased him about being molested. . . He was in the background always.". Select this result to view Ronald E Murphy's phone number, address, and more. President Jimmy Carter commuted her prison term in 1979, so she served just 22 months. The Daily Mail Mastermind Behind The Kidnapping Of Frank Sinatra Jr. History Channel Frank Sinatras Mob Ties and Other Secrets from His FBI File. Thats because he was able to escape, with. Smarts traumatized sister, Mary Katherine, shared a bedroom with Elizabeth and was fortunate not to be taken on the night of the kidnapping. The teen, by then 5-foot-10 and barely resembling the little boy who disappeared, had decided he had to escape in order to save his abductor's latest victim, 5-year-old Timothy White, who was taken. Castro subjected all three women to horrific treatment during their captivity. Cary Stayner was born on August 13, 1961, in Merced, California to parents Kay and Delbert Stayner. I told you this was a depressing one guys, hope I didnt ruin your day. Things didnt go great for Steven when he returned. While looking through the windows of the store, Cary said he "began to visualize himself killing the female cashiers.". Mr. Parnell, 50, and a co-defendant, Ervin Murphy, 40, were convicted of taking the Stayner boy into a car in Merced, Calif., Dec. 4, 1972. When Steven was 14 years old, Parnell began to lose interest in him because he was getting "too old." 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. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. Next, Moro was placed in the trunk of the Renault, covered with a red sheet and shot by Moretti. After Steven said his mother would be interested in donating, Murphy offered to take the boy home. However, he allowed him to keep the middle name "Gregory" and his original birthdate. Prosecutors said that Steven was Mr. Parnell's psychological prisoner. Trigger Warning: The following gets really, really sad, and involves subjects dealing with sexual abuse, and a lot of other awful things. He befriended a co-worker named Ervin Murphy to assist him in the abduction. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Parnell was arrested that day,[14] subsequently telling authorities "I wanted a family". (Years later, in 2004, while in his. His earliest memory of one such fantasy happened when he was just 7 years old and waiting in the car while his parents were in the grocery store. Seven years for 2 kidnappings, and years of child sexual assault. Eventually, the police identified the man as Brian Mitchell and featured his picture on an episode of Americas Most Wanted in February 2003. But it wasnt what has been tagged the Missouri Miracle. It was 1980. Its no ones fault but the predators. He immediately confessed. Parnell claimed to have married a third and final time in 1968,[8] but no records were ever found to substantiate this. 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. The Truth About The Kidnapping Of Steven Stayner, California Department of Corrections/Wikipedia. Over the years, Parnell had numerous jobs and he and Stayner moved often. Stevens wife was furious when the driver who left her husband to die in the street was punished with a mere 3 months in jail and a $100 fine. They have also lived in Princeton, WI. Childhood & Early Life. Parnell began sexually abusing Stayner almost immediately. During his captivity, Moro was allowed to write a series of letters (86 in total) to various individuals, including his family and Pope Paul VI. In addition to believing his parents no longer wanted him, The Famous People reports Stayner was simply unsure how to get out of the situation he was in. 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. 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. View the profiles of professionals named "Edward Murphy" on LinkedIn. Sean eventually tried to back out, but was threatened into submission. Nearly 20 years after that, Steven's older brother Cary would murder four women near Yosemite National Park. Seven years later, Steven would make his way back home with another little boy. According to The Famous People, Murphy offered to walk Stayner home, as he wanted to ask his mother for a donation. Steven was subjected to abuse and manipulation for seven years before he reached the . In February 1980, when Steven was 14 and was being told by Parnell that he was growing too old, according to Newsweek, Parnell came home with a new victim. He befriended a co-worker named Ervin Murphy to assist him in the abduction. 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. Even to this day, the exact location of Moros prison is in dispute. An anonymous letter led authorities to Julie's body by a reservoir. Remembering Two Famous Kidnap Victims And How Their Story Touched the Hearts Of Many, Scenes Prove That Plants Are Actually Breathing, Unrecyclable Plastic Used To Make Roads With Impressive Results, Burial Ground Of The Midwife Of Jesus Unveils Treasures, Over A Million Dollars Is Thrown In The Trevi Fountain Each Year, And The Money Is Being Used To Feed The Poor. He was given a life sentence without parole. Stayner was taken to Catheys Valley. When he returned, he told the boy that he called his parents and they said they did not want him anymore. Both Berry and DeJesus were featured on an episode of Americas Most Wanted in 2004, and the episode aired again in 2005 and 2006. And then one night, on his way home from work, a helmet-less Steven was killed in a hit and run accident on his motorcycle. View Full Article in Timesmachine , See the article in its original context from. For the first three murders, Cary plead not guilty by reason of insanity. How did he end up on death row? They also said that the kidnapping could not be prosecuted because of California's three-year statute of limitations. Unfortunately, the entire incident was part of an elaborate plan to kidnap the boy. Barbara Mathias was never charged. Having a family helped, as did Stayners work to prevent the same thing from happening again, his wife said. However, his brother Cary also suffered throughout the entire ordeal. Parnell was convicted on February 9, 2004, on the charges of attempting to purchase a child and attempted child molestation, even though no child had been targeted. 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. It was also difficult for his parents to adjust to having a teenager after remembering their son as a 7-year-old boy. Bettmann/Getty Images Steven Stayner with Timothy White during a press conference following their safe return. In February 1999, Cary was temporarily laid off during the slower winter months. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. In March 1951, Parnell was arrested for raping a young boy and impersonating a police officer; he was sentenced to four years in prison. As reported by The Famous People, Parnell convinced Murphy that he was an "aspiring minister" who needed to find a young boy, who he planned to "raise in a religious-type deal.". He was convicted of both kidnappings and served five years of his seven-year prison sentence. Timothy White. Steven would later tell Lori that, "I was not going to let that child go through what I had already been through. Mr. Parnell's attorneys argued that Steven could have left at any time in his seven-year stay but chose not to. At some point, Steven was a freshman in Mendocino High School where he dated Lori Duke. By February of 1980, Steven was nearly 15 years old and would soon be strong enough to overpower Parnell should the need arise. So, when a highly publicized kidnapping ends in a heartwarming homecoming, its a pretty big deal. Pair Moved From Town to Town. View Ronald Darrell Murphy results in Chandler, AZ including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. The Washington Post A Kidnappers Story: Can Crime Pay? Parnell went on to tell Stayner that his parents couldn't afford to keep him any more, that a judge had given Parnell legal custody of him, and that his new name was "Dennis". As for Ariel Castro, he was unable to face life in prison and committed suicide on September 3, 2013, just one month into his sentence. Officially, the Red Brigades held him in an apartment in Via Camillo Montalcini in Rome. I wish I could tell you that Stayners story had a happy ending, but in reality, the poor man met a tragic end. On March 12, 2003, someone spotted Mitchell walking with a young girl in a veil and sunglasses and alerted the authorities. When she failed, he forced Steven to attempt the kidnapping. In 1972, a Young Boy Was Kidnapped and Abused for 7 Years Before Escaping Where Is His Torturer Now? Mitchell and Barzee held Smart captive for nine months, moving between Utah and California. 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. Both of them pulled up next to Steven and asked if he would donate to the church. That name may not be familiar to many, but those who lived in the 1980s know his story well enough. But how did he finally get to prison? Cedar Lodge, 9966 CA-140, El Portal, CA 95318, And none ended more triumphantly than that of Steven Stayners. On the afternoon of December 4, 1972, 7-year old Stayner was approached by a man named Ervin Edward Murphy. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Edward Ervin. The San Francisco Chronicle (now the SF Gate) reported that he was 76 years old and died of "natural causes." On April 15, 1974, Hearst was captured on CCTV during an SLA bank robbery. On December 4th, 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was walking down the street near to his family home on his way home from school, when he was approached by Ervin Edward Murphy, a rather simple-minded, nave employee of nearby Yosemite National Park. Stayner's account of his time with Parnell formed the basis of a 1991 book by Mike Echols. Stayner was taken to a cabin in Catheys Valley, which was just a few hundred feet from his grandmothers home. She was wielding a gun and appeared to be a willing accomplice. He was well-regarded and did good work, which is why no one minded that, in his spare time, Cary liked to sunbathe nude in spots along the Merced River where locals frequented. Back then, the idea of not talking to strangers was pretty foreign, especially in a small town. In an interview with SFGate, Michael Kollman, who was a longtime neighbor of the Stayner family, said, "I think it must have really affected Cary," said Michael Kollman. See the article in its original context from. Edward Murphy, Parnell's accomplice from the Stayner kidnapping, was sentenced to five years imprisonment and paroled after two years. [18], Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Youth Abducted Seven Years Ago Goes Home Again", "Alleged attempt to buy child leads to arrest of kidnapper", "Sex Offender Kenneth Parnell Dies in Vacaville", "Steven and Cary Stayner: The tale of two brothers' horror and heroism", "Kenneth Parnell, kidnapper of Steven Stayner, dies at 76", "Kenneth Eugene Parnell, A Notorious Child Molester Dies In Prison", abducted man posing pastor launched-daring-escape, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenneth_Parnell&oldid=1133639900, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 20:40. 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