Twisted Roots: The Stayner Family

In this chilling episode of the Waywut Podcast, we investigate the twisted and tragic true story of the Stayner family — a household torn apart by kidnapping, trauma, and serial murder.We start with the 1972 abduction of 7-year-old Steven Stayner, who was held captive for seven years by child predator Kenneth Parnell. After a daring escape that saved another boy's life, Steven returned home — only to face bullying, neglect, and emotional trauma without proper support.But the story doesn’t end there.Years later, Steven’s older brother, Cary Stayner, would go on to commit a series of brutal murders near Yosemite National Park, earning the nickname The Yosemite Killer. What causes one brother to become a hero and another a killer?Join us as we dive into:The psychology of trauma and survivalHow childhood neglect and abuse shape adult behaviorThe blurred line between victim and perpetratorWhy the Stayner family's story is one of the most disturbing in true crime history👉 This is first of our “Twisted Roots” series on the dark family dynamics behind infamous crimes.