But by the middle of March, their hopes faded. Knives were used in the slayings and the weapon suspected in Ms. Armstrong's death was recovered.". They lived in the farming town of Merced, California, the Gateway to Yosemite. "'Deep in my heart I know something my mind does not want to learn,' said Gina,13. I guess I was jealous. ", FBI sources claimed that he had already confessed his guilt during the Saturday evening interrogation. You know what I mean? "Its difficult for me to picture what Cary has done and knowing Steve because their personalities are completely opposite," Duke, Stevens former girlfriend, said. He was also angry about how his truck had been searched. Out of respect for his family and the victim's family, we don't want to say anymore." FBI agent Nick Rossi said on February 26, "At this point, we have not yet uncovered evidence to allow us to determine conclusively whether this was a tragic accident or a criminal act. Two weeks later, FBI agent James Maddock, now placed in charge of the investigation, told the press, "We feel almost certain that the women were victims of a violent crime.". To the dismay of the Stayner family, the case went cold. They were looking for the missing red 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix as well as the women. ", Steven Stayner and Cary Stayner in the baseball cap in the background. ", Stayner's apartment was searched later in the day and the authorities discovered evidence that linked him to Armstrong's murder. By the end of June, the FBI had reviewed the testimonies and the evidence linked to the suspects in custody. Stayner said he thought he had gotten away with the earlier crimes, but could not resist the urge to kill Armstrong after he struck up a chance conversation with her. After they stopped trying to teach me the fundamentals all over again, it got better. WebThe story of Steven and Cary Stayner will leave you in absolute disbelief. But, to no avail. In February 1980, Parnell decided to kidnap a new victim. Cary Stayner, now 57, was convicted of the murders of Armstrong, the Sunds and Pelosso, and sentenced to death for all except Armstrong's. He remains on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary. Because of the discovery of Sund's wallet in suburban Modesto, police, and FBI searched "the logical routes in and out of that spot, interviewing homeowners and business owners and others who may have seen them." Crazy Credits He was convicted of four brutal murders in 2002. Then he took action. In his interview, Stayner claimed that hair from his body was left on the bedspread in their motel room, but he returned later and changed the bed. "I'm confident we've done everything that could be reasonably done.". Quotes Timothy White, the kidnap victim, was only 35 when he died. The death-penalty trial of Cary Stayner was moved from Mariposa County to Santa Clara County, CA. I guess seven years changed him, too. His attempt was foiled when other people were at the house at the time he was planning to commit the crimes. He had given the FBI details "only the killer would know in such specificity that agents were able to recover evidence confirming his confession. The interview was conducted off camera and reported Monday on the late news. Ashley Stayner is a self-professed true crime fan. All of its been bad, Delbert Stayner said of his familys life. He also struggled in high school where he was bullied for the abuse he had endured. | Larwick, who grew up in Tuolumme County near where the bodies of Carole Sund and Silvina Pelosso were found, was jailed on March 16 after he allegedly shot a Modesto police office. So while Parnell was at work, Steven ran away with Timothy, and the two hitchhiked to a police station in Ukiah, California. Stayner said to investigators I want you to get a hold of some producers in Los Angeles. Stayner was already serving a life sentence for the murder of Joie Ruth Armstrong. During the session, an unexpected event occurred. Initially, the police didn't have any solid leads as to who killed them. What followed turned out to be one of the most shocking crimes in both National Park and American history, involving a man whose family had already been involved in a notorious crime, literally the two faces of evil. Jens had scheduled to meet them at the San Francisco airport that evening on his way to Arizona, to where the others were to accompany him. Special agent Maddock said, "During the last 24 hours, we have developed specific information linking Stayner (also) to the Sund-Pelosso murders.". 51K views 3 years ago 20/20 Extra: For the first time, 20 years after the Yosemite murders, Lenna speaks out exclusively on what she learned about Cary You have the other brother who's left at home. WebCary Stayner, the handyman at their hotel, confessed after being arrested for beheading another victim, female nature guide Joie Armstrong. During an off-camera jailhouse interview in Sacramento following his arrest, Cary admitted to Armstrong's murder as well as the murders of Carole Sund, 42, her He befriended a co-worker named Ervin Murphy to assist him in the abduction. ", The FBI was reluctant to finger Stayner because, they, and many others, did not believe that Stayner acted by himself, given the brazen killing of the three women in the Cedar Lodge Motel and the disposal of the bodies. Its manager had seen a story on television, recognized Stayner's photo as one of his guests, and notified the FBI. Curtis Cousin Eddie Smith Claims Alex Murdaugh Made Him A Fall Guy, Morgan Doughty Filed A Lawsuit Against The Murdaugh Family, Buster Murdaugh Testified For The Defense At His Fathers Double Murder Trial, Randy Roth From 'A Rose For Her Grave' Is Still In Prison, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Cary was 11 years old at the time, and deeply upset about his brother's disappearance. One of those arrested, and later released, was Cary Stayner, who worked at the Cedar Lodge as the handyman. The FBI pushed for Strange's arrest, but he denied any part in the triple murders. Real Crime 1.23M subscribers Join Subscribe 6.7K 562K views 1 year ago Also known as the Yosemite Park Killer, Cary Stayner murdered four women in 1999 Cary didnt emerge as a suspect during the initial investigation, and the FBI actually believed they had the people responsible for the killings in custody. While he attended his meeting, the women were to tour the Grand Canyon. He also exhibited some behaviors that made others uncomfortable, including, as he later admitted, exposing himself to his sister's friend. The revelation came in a six The prosecution team was headed by George Williamson and the defense team was headed by Marcia Morrissey. I want a movie-of-the-week made about my story,'" There was a movie made about his brother, Steven Stayner, and he wanted the same and for the world to take notice. Although the Merced police department launched a full-fledged investigation at the time of Stevens disappearance, they werent able to find any significant leads. However, given Californias statewide moratorium on capital punishment, it doesnt appear that hell be executed anytime soon the states last execution was held in 2006. Steven was told his new name was Dennis Parnell and was enrolled in school. After Steven said his mother would be interested in donating, Murphy offered to take the boy home. Parnell worked at the Yosemite Lodge, located about two hours away from the Stayner home. In a jailhouse interview with a television reporter, he said he did not rape any of the women. A woman named Lenna learned in 1999 that her mother, her sister and her had nearly been murdered by Cary Stayner. You could see that he wanted to play and be with kids and be normal. At the time of the murders, Cary was working as a mechanic at the Cedar Lodge, which is where he met his first three victims Carole Sund, her daughter Juli Sund, and her friend Silvina Pelosso. I did murder Carole Sund, Juli Sund, Silvina Pelosso and Joie Armstrong None of the women were sexually abused in any way.". Agents descended on the colony and returned him to El Portal on Saturday where he was put through a more lengthy interrogation. Tragically, Steven Stayner was killed in a 1989 motorcycle accident at the age of 24. "Her mother, sisters, and a family friend had been missing for a month by the time Gina Sund read her poem in front of a thousand or so people who gathered in Modesto," writes Time. Cary, as the older brother, had a very strange relationship now with his younger brother, Steven, who was getting all of this attention and who was a different person, former KNTV reporter Ted Rowlands told ABC News. Those sources say it is difficult for some investigators to believe Stayner could have gotten the jump on all three women without any help, let alone dispose of their bodies.". On February 15, the ladies hiked into Yosemite National Park on one of the many trails. He received the death penalty for killing four women, three of whom had been staying at the Cedar Lodge, where Stayner was employed as a handyman. Previously, the defense had maintained that the FBI had coerced the confession. Stayner said he thought he had gotten away with the earlier crimes, but could not resist the urge to kill Armstrong after he struck up a chance conversation with her. Acting on a tip from a caller who was worried about the whereabouts of his friend, Joie Ruth Armstrong, 26, park rangers found her decapitated body on the morning of July 22, 1999. WebCary Stayner was convicted of the 1999 Cedar Lodge Killings near Yosemite National Park. But instead of seeking mental health treatment, he moved to Yosemite. The judge said there was overwhelming evidence against Stayner and that the devastating emotional toll justified execution. Cary Stayner was sentenced Thursday to die for committing three murders near Yosemite National Park in 1999. The two hitchhiked to Ukiah, California. For FBI agent Jeff Rinek, it was the climax of a The FBI Laboratory has also found possible bodily fluid stains on a bed sheet taken from her residence. He wanted the world to take note.. This time, agents detained him and forced him to answer more questions. Angelia Dale, who testified before the federal grand jury. He paid a local kid to ride with him to the town of Ukiah, California and he told to go and find him a boy. Upon examination by the FBI Laboratory, some items have yielded trace evidence. He died in jail in 2008 at the age of 76. But he was surprised that did not find his wife at the airport and assumed she had flown ahead, The next day, he tried to contact them again and failed and he called the police. Or certainly, nothing noticed by his colleagues at the motel. "I remember going out one night after Steve disappeared and wishing on a star that my brother would come back home," Cary reportedly told Mike Echols, author of the book I Know My First Name Is Steven. After first flying to San Francisco, where Carole rented a red 1999 Pontiac Gran Prix, they stopped in Stockton, where Juli took part in a cheerleading contest at the University of the Pacific. Specifically, the media scrutiny seemed to affect his older brother Cary, who clashed with his brother after his return. But, as the Hulu doc frames it, the media attention that Steven got after escaping his abductor and also saving Timothy White had a dark side both for Steven and for the rest of his family. The California Highway Patrol verified the car's license plate as the Sunds rented vehicle and immediately notified the FBI. Robyn Lively is a step sister of Blake Lively. On Monday, July 22, the court heard Stayners taped confession, which he had given to FBI agents. Darrell Gray Stephens, 55, Strange's roommate. It then came out that Steven had been kidnapped by Parnell, who had been sexually abusing Steven while also posing as his father and forcing him to go by the name Dennis Parnell. A relatively quiet, but friendly, a motel handyman called Cary Stayners only passions seemed to be nude sunbathing and hiking. Parnell and Murphy were driving towards town when Stephen was lured into their vehicle and abducted. Unofficially, Jens Sund offered a $250,000 reward for information that would lead to the return of the missing women. Michael "Mick" Larwick, 42, of Modesto, part of a vagabond group of methamphetamine drug users and friends centered in the Modesto area. By the time Steven was 14, he had been abused and manipulated by Parnell for seven years and Parnell and Steven together realized that Steven was growing up and that he was no longer going to be controlled by Parnell and they would need to find someone else that they could sexually abuse. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, "(A witness claimed that) Stayner was angry about authorities seizing his backpack after he was questioned earlier that day. William Mapother is a cousin of, The unsub bears some similarities with Cary Stayner, older brother of infamous kidnapping victim Steven Stayner (. By Friday, July 23rd, Stayner, in the meantime, had disappeared from the area, by the time agents came to arrest him. In the end, Stayner confessed without the promise of child pornography or reward money for his parents. Cary, the motel handyman and champion underachiever who was arrested at a nudist colony, said in a jailhouse interview that voices told him to kill Carole and Juli Billy Joe Strange, 39, an El Portal parolee who worked at the Cedar Lodge lounge and restaurant, where the murdered women were last seen. Ive never seen anything thats so close to black and white and evil and good as Stayner and our children, said Francis Carrington, the father of Carole Sund and grandfather of Juli. But seven years later in February 1980, Steven miraculously reappeared. Eugene "Rufus" Dykes, 32, also of Modesto and Larwick's half-brother was arrested in March. He was charged with attempting to purchase a child and attempted child molestation in 2004, that he was sentenced to 25 years to life. "He was spunky. He was arrested on March 5 when he allegedly reported to his parole officer with liquor on his breath. The issue of whether his confession was coerced seemed to be resolved when on July 24, the court heard the recorded demands that Stayner made to the FBI agents that he wanted to be satisfied before he would give them his confession. Steven was a national hero. The Cedar Lodge hired him as a handyman in 1997 and gave him the use of a small apartment on the top floor. Silvina Pelossos mother, Raquel, said, I just cannot understand how so many peopledidn't realize that maybe (Stayner) was the man since I heard that he was interviewed some time ago. | Larry Duane Utley, 41 an associate of Dykes and Larwick, first picked up during a March parole sweep. For years, Parnell traveled around California with Steven. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. On Good Morning America in March 1980, Steven shared with host David Hartman that it felt "great" to be home. He was arrested in May on an unrelated crime charge but was soon released. He denied any role in the Yosemite slayings. Goofs Woman recalls moment family learned they were target of 1999 Campbell, when first arrested on mail fraud charges, had in her possession Carole Sund's checking account and automated teller machine numbers. He had no criminal record and his only encounter with the law was for marijuana use in 1997. Cary was off anybody and everybody who met him will tell However, when they found Cary at a nudist colony nearby and brought him in for questioning, he quickly confessed to Armstrongs murder, and soon after admitted he was also responsible for the first three killings. Four men were considered the main murder suspects in the initial inquiries. The other Sund children believed their mother and sister Juli would be returned. She had probably been murdered on the evening of Wednesday, July 21. In the Bureau's mind, this time it had the right man. Stayner's father, Delbert, admitted that he thinks son Cary may have suffered a trauma at age 11, when younger brother Steven, then seven, was abducted in 1972, disappearing for eight years. The police reckoned that the killer of the three women was someone familiar with the county given the location of the Pontiac. In 2002, Cary Stayner was convicted of first-degree murder on four counts and sentenced to death. Maria Ledbetter, 24, of Modesto, an admitted methamphetamine addict and former girlfriend of Dykes, about whom she was questioned extensively. The American Court TV (now TruTV) television series Mugshots released an episode on the Stayner case titled "Cary Stayner The Cedar Lodge Killings". [29] In 2018, the Reelz channel aired an hour-long documentary about the murders titled Yosemite Park Killer. She was seen that day at the Institute offices and was planning to visit a friend in Sausalito, California, that day but never made it. In his capacity, Stayner performed technical and housekeeping duties, everything from fixing electrical and mechanical breakdowns to delivering extra towels and bedding to guests. Although most of the stains were likely to include Armstrong's blood, Stayner was observed to have a laceration on his hand during his interrogation, and therefore may have been cut and bled during the attack. "The only time Steve would kill anything like a fish is because we were gonna eat it. In December 1972, a 7-year-old Steven was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, a man who worked at the Yosemite Lodge at the national park near Stevens hometown of Merced, California. The FBI task force investigating Yosemite issued a federal warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear in Stanislaus County drug court in June. They no longer want you.. On the way to his police interview he confessed to a detective in the car to murdering Joie Armstrong, describing the brutal killing "as if he was reading a soup label," said John Boles, another FBI agent on the case.