The Yosemite Killer — Cary Stayner

A victim’s brother becomes a monster

In 1972, Kenneth Parnell kidnapped 7-year-old Steven Stayner. Steven was held captive and molested by Parnell for seven years before escaping and being reunited with his family. The experience of watching his parents grieve the loss of Steven during the years he was missing deeply affected his older brother, Cary Stayner.

When Steven was returned to his family in 1980, he was not only doted on by his family, but also the media. Nine years later, in 1989, he died in a motorcycle accident. The year after that, an uncle with whom his older brother Cary was staying was murdered. Cary would later claim that his uncle had molested him during the years while Steven was gone.

In 1991, Stayner attempted suicide. In 1997, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and methamphetamines. The charges were later dropped and he seemed to be getting himself sorted out, beginning a new job as a handyman at the Cedar Lodge Motel in El Portal, California. The motel sat about seven miles outside one of the entrances to Yosemite National Park.

Two years later, Stayner would murder four females:

42-year-old Carole Sund

15-year-old Juli Sund, Carole’s daughter

16-year-old Silvina Pelosso, an Argentine exchange student and friend of Carole’s

26-year-old Joie Ruth Armstrong, a Yosemite Institute employee