Cary Stayner

American Serial Killer (born 1961)

Cary Anthony Stayner, born on August 13, 1961, in Merced, California, is a name that sends chills down the spine of true crime enthusiasts. This notorious figure is not just infamous for his horrific crimes but is also the older brother of Steven Stayner, a kidnapping victim who captured national attention. Cary, a mechanic by trade, became known as the "Yosemite Park Killer" after he brutally murdered four women between February and July of 1999, disposing of their bodies in the picturesque yet haunting landscapes near Yosemite National Park. In 2002, he was found guilty and sentenced to death, and he currently resides on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

Quick Facts

• Born: August 13, 1961 (age 63)
• Other Names: The Yosemite Park Killer, The Yosemite Killer
• Criminal Status: Incarcerated
• Convictions:
  • Federal: First-degree murder, kidnapping resulting in death, attempted aggravated sexual abuse resulting in death
  • California: First-degree murder with special circumstances (3 counts), kidnapping
• Criminal Penalty:
  • Federal: Life imprisonment
  • California: Death
• Details:
  • Victims: 4+
  • Span of Crimes: February 15 – July 21, 1999 (confirmed)
  • Country: United States
  • State: California
  • Date Apprehended: July 24, 1999

Early Life

Cary Stayner was born into a turbulent family, the first of five children to Delbert Foy and Kay Stayner. He had three sisters and a younger brother, Steven Gregory Stayner. The family was irrevocably changed on December 4, 1972, when 7-year-old Steven was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, a known child molester. Steven was held captive for seven years, an ordeal that left deep scars on the entire family. When Steven finally escaped in 1980, he returned to a media frenzy and public adoration, which Cary later claimed left him feeling neglected and overshadowed.

Cary's early years were marked by emotional turmoil and mental health struggles. He was diagnosed with trichotillomania at age three and was put on medication, but the condition persisted, leading to severe bullying during his school years. Despite his struggles, Cary showcased his intelligence and creativity, earning accolades as "most creative" in his high school class.

As he entered adulthood, Cary's mental health deteriorated further. He worked as a window installer and developed dark fantasies about violence, including a chilling plan to murder his coworkers. In 1991, he attempted suicide, which led to a brief psychiatric hospitalization in 1995. Although he was arrested in 1997 for drug possession, those charges were eventually dropped.

Victims

Stayner's reign of terror truly began after he was hired as a handyman at the Cedar Lodge motel in El Portal, California, conveniently located near Yosemite National Park. Between February and July 1999, he murdered at least four individuals, including two women and two teenagers.

Confirmed Victims

• Carole Evon Sund (42) and Silvina Pelosso (16): On March 18, 1999, their charred bodies were discovered in the trunk of Sund's rental car. Both had been shot, but there was a stark difference in the nature of their assaults; while Sund had been strangled and shot, Pelosso had been raped before her murder.

• Juliana Sund (15): Shortly after the discovery of Carole and Silvina, police received an anonymous note with a hand-drawn map leading to Juliana's remains, which were found with evidence of sexual assault and a brutal throat cut. The note chillingly read, “We had fun with this one.”

• Joie Ruth Armstrong (26): On July 22, 1999, the decapitated body of this Yosemite Institute employee was found. Eyewitnesses had spotted a blue 1972 International Scout, traced back to Stayner, parked outside of her cabin the day before her murder.

During his arrest at the Laguna del Sol nudist resort, Stayner confessed to the murders of Armstrong, Pelosso, and the Sunds, shocking investigators with the details he provided.

Suspected Victims

After his arrest, investigators speculated that Stayner might have more victims, as his profile aligned with other unsolved cases:

• Patricia Marie Hicks Dahlstrom (28): Last seen in 1982 after leaving a cult, her remains were identified in 2021, with Stayner having connections to the cult's leader during that time.

• Jesse Jerrold Stayner (42): Cary's uncle was shot dead in 1990, a murder that remains unsolved. Cary suggested that his uncle had molested him, adding another layer of complexity to his background.

• Sharalyn Mavonne Murphy (24): A headless and handless torso found in 1994 was identified as Murphy’s, and investigators have looked into possible links to Stayner due to similarities with Armstrong’s case.

• Michael Larry Madden (20): Disappeared while camping in 1996, Madden's case was also examined for potential connections to Stayner.

Trial and Conviction

Stayner faced trial in federal court for the murder of Joie Armstrong, as her murder occurred on federal land. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges to avoid the death penalty. His courtroom breakdown during sentencing was haunting; he expressed regret and confusion over his actions, stating, "I wish I could take it back, but I can't."

In state court, however, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, with his defense drawing attention to a family history of mental illness and abuse. Despite this, a jury found him sane, convicting him of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping on August 27, 2002. He has been housed in the Adjustment Center on death row at San Quentin since then, awaiting a fate that has been indefinitely postponed due to legal challenges surrounding California's execution practices.

Media Portrayals

The chilling tale of Cary Stayner has captured the public's fascination, leading to numerous media portrayals:

• An episode of American Justice in 2002.
• A segment on FBI: Criminal Pursuit titled "Trail of Terror" in 2011.
• Coverage in the U.K. series Born to Kill? in 2013.
• A 2018 documentary titled Yosemite Park Killer.
• An ABC News 20/20 episode titled "Evil in Eden" aired on January 26, 2019.
• A two-part documentary series on HLN, and an Australian podcast, Casefile, also explored his case in depth.

Stayner's life and crimes present a haunting portrait of a man whose early experiences and mental health struggles spiraled into horrific violence, forever linking his name with tragedy.

Sources

• Cary Stayner - Wikipedia
• Various news articles and true crime publications listed in the original article’s references.