Gen X, That Was a Thing: The Abduction of Steven Stayner

Trigger warnings for this episode include: suicide ideation, murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and rape. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, the image of your child’s face helplessly peering out the rear window of a stranger's car as it drives away from you and slips into the unknown. For Kay and Dilbert Stayner, this nightmare became a reality when their seven-year-old son, Steven, was kidnapped on his way home from school in Merced, CA, in 1972. For seven long years, Steven’s family searched for him while he was living in northern California with his abductor, Kenneth Parnell. Steven’s story is one of tragedy, sorrow, and unexpected heroism as he plotted his escape and saved the life of Parnell’s newest victim, five-year-old Timmy White. Steven’s story was captured in the very popular 1989 mini-series, I Know My First Name is Steven.But the Stayner family’s story doesn’t end with them reuniting with their son after seven long years. In a bizarre twist, more tragedy befalls this family as Steven’s older brother sets out to make a name for himself in the most horrific way. Corrections:In the episode, we failed to mention the mini-series was written by Mike Echols who later turned the manuscript into a book. Movie first, book second.The mini-series first aired in November, 1989, not 1983.Sources for this episode include but are not limited to:https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/a-child-abductees-journey-back/https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/march-14-1980-interview-steven-stayner-60269400https://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/04/molester.arrest/https://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-cary-stayner-tale-brothers-horror-heroism/story?id=60529944https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/inside-the-monster/Content?oid=1069138For 12+ hours on this case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SEpITqnESI&list=PL6hM2D6rSybBXr597MN3H_lEkOaeDwgBL&index=15&t=0sWant ad-free episodes PLUS 2 bonus episodes a month? Become a Premium Subscriber! Click here to join today! There are over 50 bonus episodes in our archive!Click here to join→https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/5506301Join our Facebook Group, The Me-Me B’s for extra content, giveaways, and some fun Gen X introspection: facebook.com/groups/genxthisiswhy/Follow us!Facebook: facebook.com/genxthisiswhy/Instagram at: @genxthisiswhy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.