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 survival
• How childhood neglect and abuse shape adult behavior
• The blurred line between victim and perpetrator
• Why 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.