What Happened To Steven Stayner? What Did Steven Stayner Die Of? How Did Steven Stayner Die? Was Steven Stayner Molested?
by Samina
Updated Feb 22, 2023
What Happened To Steven Stayner?
Steven Stayner was a child who was abducted in Merced, California, in 1972, at the age of seven. He was held captive by his abductor, Kenneth Parnell, for over seven years, during which time Parnell sexually abused him and forced him to live as his son.
In 1980, when Steven was 14 years old, Parnell abducted another young boy, Timmy White, and Steven decided to take action. He took Timmy and escaped from Parnell's clutches, and they hitchhiked to Ukiah, California, where they found a police officer and reported what had happened.
What Did Steven Stayner Die Of?
Steven's story gained national attention, and he was hailed as a hero for saving Timmy's life. However, Steven struggled with the trauma of his captivity and the guilt he felt for not being able to save his own brother, who was abducted with him but was later murdered by their abductor. Steven also had difficulty adjusting to life back with his family and society at large.
Tragically, Steven's life was cut short when he died in a motorcycle accident in 1989, at the age of 24. His legacy lives on through the Steven Stayner Courage Award, which is given annually to recognize individuals who have shown bravery in the face of adversity.
How Did Steven Stayner Die?
Steven Stayner died in a motorcycle accident on September 16, 1989, in Merced, California. He was riding his motorcycle on Highway 99 when he collided with a car and was thrown from his bike. Steven sustained fatal injuries in the accident and died at the scene.
Was Steven Stayner Molested?
Yes, Steven Stayner was sexually abused by his abductor, Kenneth Parnell, during the seven years he was held captive. Parnell had a history of pedophilia and he had specifically abducted Steven in order to sexually abuse him. Parnell subjected Steven to years of sexual abuse and also forced him to perform various household chores and tasks. Steven later disclosed the abuse he suffered to authorities after he escaped from Parnell's captivity in 1980. Steven's experience as a victim of sexual abuse and abduction was the subject of media attention and has raised awareness about the trauma and long-term effects that victims of such crimes can suffer.
What Happened To Steven Syayner’s Molesters?
Steven Stayner's abductor, Kenneth Parnell, was arrested and convicted for his crimes against Steven and another young boy he had abducted, Timmy White. Parnell was sentenced to seven years in prison for the abduction and sexual assault of Steven, and later received a life sentence for the abduction of Timmy White. Parnell died in 2008 while serving his life sentence in prison.
Another man, Ervin Murphy, who had helped Parnell abduct Steven and his brother, was also arrested and convicted for his role in the crime. Murphy was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and received an additional 20-year sentence for his role in the murder of another young boy, who was abducted and killed by Parnell prior to Steven's abduction. Murphy died in prison in 2010.
What Happened To Steven Stayner- FAQs
On September 16, 1989, the night before the Emmys, Steven was killed in a hit-and-run accident. He was 24 years old. Steven Stayner and his parents reunited after his abduction.
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.
Kenneth Parnell, 53 years old, had been sentenced to nearly nine years imprisonment but was automatically paroled after five years because of good behavior. He was arrested in March 1980 and charged with the December 1972 kidnapping of Steven Stayner, 7, in Merced.
It revisits the case of seven-year-old Steven Stayner, who in 1972 was abducted in Merced, California, by convicted sex offender Kenneth Eugene Parnell. Seven years later, after escaping with 5-year-old Timmy White, he returned to his family and was thrust into the media spotlight.
Parnell posed as Stayner's legal guardian and moved him around the state of California for the next eight years. He sexually abused Stayner repeatedly until Stayner fled in 1980 when he was 14.