You Know How Some Movies Just Stick With You?

I saw a movie in 1989 that has haunted me for years. It was called “I Know My First Name is Steven.” Many of you might remember it. The movie was based on the real life kidnapping and abuse of seven year old Steven Staynor.
Staynor was abducted by Kenneth Parnell in 1972 and held for a little over seven years by this man. Parnell told the young Steven that he had adopted him because his parents couldn’t afford him any more. Parnell was lavished with expensive gift enticing him to stay and not run away. Steven was given the new name “Dennis Parnell.”

He was abused sexually many times over the seven year period. As he finally hit puberty Parnell began looking for a younger kid to replace Steven. He brought home a 5 year old named Timmy. Steven, not wanting to see Timmy endure all of the pain inflicted on him, grabbed the young boy and escaped. They hitchhiked 40 miles to the closest police station.
On the official police report that day he wrote:
"My name is Steven Stainer. I am fourteen years of age. I don't know my true birthdate,but I use April 18, 1965. I know my first name is Steven, I'm pretty sure my last is Stainer,and if I have a middle name, I don't know it."

Notice how he even misspelled his family name.

Well Steven got married in 1985 and had two children. In 1985 he was killed in a motorcycle accident.

His kidnapper was sentenced to less than 5 years in jail and was released in 1985. He was arrested again in 2004 for trying to buy a young boy for 500 dollars. Kenneth Pernell died in prison this week.

To add an addition twist to this story, Steven’s older brother Cary is convicted as a serial killer. He killed several hikers and campers in Yosemite National Park. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 2001. He is awaiting an appeal hearing.