Evil in Eden (Rebroadcast)

[music]. >> This is story of two brothers, one hero. and the other a monster. A serial killer in a national park is a. story, >> [music]. >> but there is more to this story because. you had a serial killer whose brother. had been a national celebrity. >> Seven long years ago, a youngster in. California [music] vanished. Today he. showed up with another boy. >> Five-year-old Timothy White. >> He literally said, [music] "I was not. going to let that child go through what.

I had already been through.". >> Books, television, movies, it was. [music] absolutely incredible. >> The moment that Steven Stayner is. abducted is the moment that this story. really begins. >> There's going to be a homecoming. You. would imagine sheer joy that the entire. [music] family would be ecstatic, but. one member is not so thrilled. >> He was cold, hateful. >> A vicious, vicious killer, but he's even. more twisted than that.

>> We have recovered two bodies. >> You could never imagine something so. heinous happening in and around. Yosemite. >> I mean, this is a story that decades. later they're still talking about it. >> Maybe, just maybe we're going to find. this girl alive. >> He was handsome, he was warm, like a big. teddy bear. He was just our friend. It is frightening just to think what he. was thinking the whole time. >> This is Yosemite. These [music] things. don't happen in Yosemite.

>> Yosemite actually means the people who. kill. >> I lay up the blanket. I guess I knew. what I was going to do. I had the knife. with me. >> You never expect so much terror to. happen in such a a beautiful place. >> MONSTER! >> [screaming]. >> THIS STORY STARTS IN MERCED, CALIFORNIA. It's in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by almond groves and peach. orchards.

>> It's a [music] small farming town in the. Central Valley of California, which is. in the huge shadow of Yosemite. [music]. >> Merced, they they call the gateway to. Yosemite. >> [music]. >> We're talking 1972. >> American Pie was on the radio. >> [music]. >> It was the year that Watergate. It was the year that Pong was. introduced.

The Brady Bunch. >> [music]. [singing]. >> The Stayners lived on Betty Street. It was a middle-class kind of a. neighborhood. >> Parents were Delbert [music] and Kay. And uh Kerry was the oldest of. >> [music]. >> five children. He had a younger brother. Steven and three sisters, too. >> Del worked [music] as a mechanic in a. peach cannery. >> His mother Kay was was always described. as distant, [music].

um somewhat aloof, a woman who raised. her children with sort of a uh. almost [music] a coldness. >> Kerry was a nice guy. >> [music]. >> He was kind of a quiet guy. Our days. would be just getting on our bikes in. the morning and [music] go to the park, hang out with friends, or skateboard. >> He loved [music] his brother, hung out. with him, played with him, looked out. for him. >> Steven had walked almost all the way.

home. >> That's when it happened. A man in a car. offered him a ride. >> So, at the same time that the Stayner. boys are growing up in Merced, about 2. hours away in Yosemite, >> [music]. >> there's a little stooped, pasty, nebbishy guy named Ken Parnell. [music]. >> Kenneth Parnell was working at the. Yosemite Lodge. uh doing the books [music] for them. He was convicted previously of uh. molesting a child.

>> But he found a job in Yosemite because. that kind of guy could find a job in. Yosemite. A lot of people run to. Yosemite to get away from things. >> And Kenneth decided that he was going to. abduct a young boy. He was able to recruit uh. >> a co-worker of his, a slow-witted fellow. named Ervin Murphy. And finally, on December 4th, it was a. sleety wintry day. He and Ervin Murphy.

got into Ken's big white Buick and. >> [music]. >> drove into Merced. >> Steven, what happened that afternoon? Do. you remember when you were walking home. from school? >> And they saw this little boy, 7-year-old. Steven Stayner. >> Steven had left school, uh headed. straight south from here four blocks, and when he was on Yosemite Parkway, which leads to Yosemite National Park, he was approached by an Ervin Murphy. Murphy had some religious tracts with.

him, which he'd been using to approach. other kids. He asked Steven if he. thought that his mother would be willing. to make a charitable donation to a. church. At that point, Parnel. drove up in this old white Buick. Murphy opened the rear door, but Steven got in. Instead of taking a right so he could go. to his home, they continued directly.

eastbound. >> They're driving out of Merced, going up. Highway 140. >> Kenneth Parnel stops the car, and he. goes to a payphone. He comes back and. tells Steven, [music] "Your parents, I. just spoke to them. They no longer want. you. >> And Purnell then told him that you're. going to be my son. He was a 7-year-old thoroughly confused. kid. I think that he is probably used to.

an authoritative approach by his. parents. So, when Purnell told him that. parents had said that he was going to go. with him, I think he probably believed. it. >> Steven's abduction was sudden, wrenching, brutal. >> And yet he's going to be hiding in plain. sight for years. >> The moment that Steven Stayner is. abducted is [music]. the moment that this. story of two brothers really begins and.

was absolutely pivotal. >> [music]. >> in terms of the monster coming to life. >> [music]. >> December 4th, 1972, Steven [music]. Stayner was abducted on Highway 140 in. the city of Merced by individuals. driving an older model white Buick.

>> [music]. >> And they're [clears throat] driving east. towards Yosemite. >> Purnell lives most of his life in. Yosemite at the lodge. [music]. He kept Steven in his room for about a. week after that. >> He kept giving him this cough syrup to. sedate him. I think that Purnell felt. that the more confused and sedated that. he could keep [music] Steven in for the. first several weeks, the better chance.

he stood to erase his connection back to. his own family. >> When Steven didn't make it home from. school, his parents immediately were. alerted. >> 24. >> Merced with the lead police department. >> And so they really amounted a large. effort to search [music] and they. searched. And there was just nothing. there. >> It happened here at this corner and it. was such a classic situation, the kind. against which parents are constantly. warning their children. The next.

morning, there was an empty desk in the. second grade class at Charles Wright. School. >> [music]. >> When he was missing, it rocked the. Stiner family. It hurt the family. dynamic and it crushed Del Stiner. [music]. >> He just becomes a broken man, really. Kay becomes even more distant, more. aloof. Um she's sort of raising her. children almost robotically. >> Kay and Delbert became [music] colder to. their other children.

>> Carey is very upset. I've heard stories. about him going out and wishing that. Stiner did his brother would come home. >> Maybe he had some guilt. because I believe he was supposed to. been with his brother. >> Delbert kind of saw Steven as his real. son and uh Carey kind of felt abandoned, neglected. >> A few weeks after he kidnapped Steven, Parnell pulled up stakes and he started.

drifting around California. They moved. first to Santa Rosa. They would stay in. flea bag motels, a crappy trailer, or a. broken down house. >> Steven Stiner had a new father figure. and it was Kenneth Parnell who by day. was his father and by night was his. rapist. >> Parnell told him that his name was going. to be Dennis Parnell. And he enrolled. him in school and the school failed to. get the records. Those were the days.

where you'd get a copy of a record. You. know, there was no email. >> The sand. >> [music]. >> In the summer of 1976, just a couple of. weeks before the Bicentennial, it's been. 4 years since Steven was told Ken. Parnell is his father. Parnell and. Steven ended up in the little town of. Comptche, California, which is in. Mendocino County. >> [music]. >> Comptche was really tiny. It had maybe a. post office and a general store.

And he [music] kept him on the grounds. in a trailer. >> So, this is where Ken Parnell used to. live. many years ago. It's a good place to hide. It's a long. ways from anywhere out here. >> [music]. >> Nobody knew what was going on behind. closed doors and that this wasn't. [music] a father-son at all. >> By this time, I'm pretty certain that. Parnell felt, "I've got him emotionally.

locked in." So, he knew that this kid. was going nowhere. [music]. >> From all outward [music] appearances, he'd adjusted to that new life. There. was no school out there, so every day he. had to get on a bus and ride for 30. minutes. >> This picture [music]. is just describes what he looked like. His personality, his hairdo, his flannel.

shirt, his smile. [music]. >> My name is Laurie and Steven Steiner was. my boyfriend in high school. [music]. He had a great personality. He was spunky. You could see that he. wanted to play [music] and be with kids. and be normal. Growing up with him consisted of a lot. of fishing, riding bicycles. >> He [music] sort of reminded me of Shaggy.

from Scooby-Doo. He had the same haircut. and same shape face even. He made his way into getting into. athletics his freshman year of high. school. He had a level of maturity to him that. most of the kids didn't have and I think. part of that was, [music] you know, he. was already smoking cigarettes. A lot of. kids had freedom but not his kind of. come and go as he pleased which makes me. wonder why didn't he just leave? >> The answer is that Steven now has.

attached to Parnel on some parental. level. And that's still his dependency day in. and day out for food, clothing, and. let's face it. It sounds like Parnel. basically let him do. >> [music]. >> whatever he wanted to do as far as. drugs, alcohol, and so his comfort level. now is set in. >> Because of the [music] sexual abuse, I. think that played into it, too. He knew. that that wasn't normal. I don't think. he wanted to have other people know. about it. In some ways, it's just easier.

to go along with what was happening to. him. >> Steven still has a reality that he has a. real family someplace else. >> We were walking home and he started. crying. He said, "I want to go home to my real. home.". We just let it go. We had been drinking. some beer and, you know, kids. >> While Steven is a freshman at Mendocino.

High School, some 300 miles to the. south, his brother Carey was an. upperclassman [music] at Merced High. School. >> He was Carey Stayner, the kid who had. his brother kidnapped. >> [music]. >> There was a pall over him. >> He actually was voted most creative. >> Carey was very well known for his. drawings. >> I [music] think that he He very, very. good cartoonist, especially even with. with the humor. He always wore a hat every time you.

would see [music] him. >> He was wearing the hat because he was. compulsively pulling his hair out. Emotionally, Kerry had a tough time. during [music] his childhood. >> I don't remember Kerry ever having a. girlfriend. I never saw him with a girl. >> [music]. >> Kerry started acting wildly. inappropriately um towards females. >> [music]. >> He exposed himself to one of his. sister's friends. >> It seemed as though he had a compulsion.

[music]. with trying to get close to women or be. sexual with them, but he was unable to. develop any sort of interpersonal. relationships with any women. [music]. >> There's a surreal contrast in this. You. have one brother who's been subjected to. just unspeakable horror for years. But. by all appearances, he's a. happy-go-lucky, jovial kid with a girlfriend. You have the other brother who's left at. home. And it wasn't that he was just a. loner, he was a bit of a creepy loner.

>> So in 1979, Steven's now 14. He's been. with Parnel for 7 years. And Parnel then. moves him to a very new remote location. Then he can sort of in his mind stay one. step in front of law enforcement. >> Ken Parnel takes Steven to this small. little town called [music] Manchester, kind of along the coast of Northern. California. >> Ken is looking for another pre-pubescent. [music] boy. >> Steven knew what was going to happen,

and Steven knew that that was wrong. >> And he was going to end that. >> What Steven would do in response [music]. would make him world famous. >> [music]. >> In In. Ken Parnel pulled up stakes again and he. moved with Steven to a small cabin in. Manchester, California, which is in the. middle of nowhere surrounded by almost. nothing.

This is [music] for Ken and for Steven a. turning point. >> It was a one-room shack, very old and. cold. >> At some point, Parnell and Steven. together realized that [music] Steven. was growing up and that he was no longer. going to be able to be controlled by. Parnell. Parnell wanted another kid. >> [music]. >> So, in February of 1980, Ken Parnell. goes back to the exact same ammo that he.

used to get Steven Stayner. He paid a local kid to drive with him to. the little town of Ukiah, California. Puts this high school kid out on the. street to go [music] find him a boy. And he finds 5-year-old Timothy White. walking home from school. >> Steven watched Timmy suffer through this. separation from his family [music]. for 2 weeks and decided finally that he. had to do [music] something about it. >> He literally said, "I was not going to.

let that child go through what I had. already been through. And if I didn't take care of it now, it. would just get worse.". >> Eventually, Steven [music] got the. courage to take Timmy White out of that. house and when Kenneth Parnell went to. work, the two hitchhiked to the town of Ukiah. >> It's dark and Timmy can't remember where. he lives. So, Steven figures the best. thing to do is to take [music] him to. the police station.

>> Keep in mind, Steve Stayner was known as. Dennis for 7 long years. >> [music]. >> But when he arrives at that police. station, he says something that will be. embedded in the public [music]. consciousness forever. >> I know my first name is Steven. >> And that became the title of a book. It. became a television movie. >> [music]. >> and it made Steven famous. >> Seven long years ago a youngster in. California [music] vanished.

>> Everyone thought he was dead at this. point. He rescued another boy. >> This is Steven today. [music]. He is holding 5-year-old Timothy White. >> Who could make this [music] up? Every. television network, every magazine. cover, [music] every movie executive, there wasn't anyone not interested. >> There he is. There he is. >> Steven was a national hero. He returns to Merced triumphant.

>> Steven's return has been a joyous event. >> Within days he's on Good Morning. America. >> [music]. >> Good morning Steven and Mr. and Mrs. Stayner. And Steven, how does it feel to. be home? >> Feels great. >> Did you remember your parents well? >> Um they didn't change that much. I I recognized them when I got out of. the car. >> What about your brothers and sisters? >> Well, they changed a lot. I never.

recognized either one of them. >> Mr. and Mrs. Stayner, how did this. affect your other four children? >> When Steve disappeared, the older two. were. very upset and I think kind of became. very quiet children. >> [music]. >> from the experience. >> There was a press conference outside the. Stayner house on Betty Street and. everyone is smiling. >> [music]. >> There's a lot of jubilation. This is. really some sort of a miracle that. Steven's come home. >> [snorts]. >> Greatest thing ever happened to. us.

It's a blessing. >> But if you look in the background, there's there's something worth noting. and it's Kerry in his baseball cap and. he's not smiling at all. >> Kerry. as the older brother, had a very strange relationship now with. his younger [music] brother Steven, who. was getting all of this attention and. who. was a different person. [music]. >> In the television movie, there's a scene. where he's finally reunited with his. brother Kerry. [music]. >> Kerry.

>> [laughter]. >> And Kerry comes in. looking almost like a shaggy-haired. surfer and he's jubilant. [music] He's. so thrilled to see his brother. There's. nothing to suggest that Kerry was all. that thrilled to see his brother. >> They shared a room. They didn't get. along. Steven didn't understand the. rules that. he was now expected to live [music] by. >> Steven, what have these years been like. for you adjusting, getting over the 7. years you were away from home? >> For 7 years [music] I'd been. supposedly an only child. Now I had.

to compete with a brother and three. sisters. >> You were away for 7 years and a lot of. people still wonder why you didn't try. to escape before you finally did escape. 3 years ago. When you look back on that, why do you think that is, Steven? >> Well, there's there's several reasons. I. was told I was adopted. >> You believed it? >> Yes, I believed it. >> Okay, what about for you? How do you. think it's been for Steven? >> I think he's done fantastic. I'm very proud of the way he's kind of.

joined right in with the rest of us and. he doesn't give us any problems. >> I tried to [music] explain to her that. they might consider, you know, some. professional counseling and she told me. that she didn't believe that that was. going to be necessary. >> The adults all thought Steven was a. hero, but none of the adults had to go. to high school with Steven. >> It is generally known that there was. homosexual [music] activity involved in. Steven's abduction. >> Steven was constantly being made fun of. when he came back, which is really sad.

because the poor guy has just been. through all these 7 years of. of. you [snorts] know, being molested and. and everything else. >> His sexuality was constantly under. attack. There's a scene in the movie in. a locker room. >> Was it kind of exciting for you. being around all those naked guys? >> Where Steven at least is strong enough. to fight back. The bullying was just unending. While Steven already has these two sides.

buffeting him, the adults who say he's a. hero and the kids who are just picking. on him mercilessly. He's got to deal with Parnell as well. There he is sitting in the courtroom and. he's got to point at Ken Parnell. >> Ultimately, Kenneth Parnell did face. charges of kidnapping and false. imprisonment, but [music] he was never. tried for sexual assault in this case. In the end, there was not sufficient. evidence to prove those charges. [music]. >> It was outrageous. There was. out and out fury over the sentence.

>> I'm angry that he will be back out on. the street. I thought laws were to. protect the innocent children and it's. not because he will be out and he. possibly will do it again, quite. probably. >> Ken Parnell. went back to what he'd been doing for. years. He found someone else to help him. find another boy. Only this time he was. caught and he was sent to prison again. where he died in 2008.

>> While Steven [music] was kind of. struggling like to his own life after. his return, Kerry was out [music] of. high school and. having his own troubles. >> I think Kerry after high school seemed a. little lost like he didn't know where he. was going. >> When his life was starting to spin out. of control, he took refuge in Yosemite. >> He had this international scout, pale. blue, and he would just drive out. highway 140 into Yosemite and disappear.

up into the woods and get [music] high. >> [music]. >> Whatever demons were clamoring around in. his head, by being naked, by smoking. pot, he could find the peace that he so. desperately needed. >> One of the things that made a huge. impact on him was he was convinced. [music] that he saw a Bigfoot. >> Any opportunity that Cary [music] got,

he couldn't wait to tell people about. driving through an area known as Forest. and. and Bigfoot leaping out of the woods in. the dark of night. It turns out [music] that this. incredibly deep obsession with Bigfoot. is ultimately going to have incredibly. [music]. tragic consequences. This sanctuary. would turn out to be the very setting. where Cary Stayner's murderous demons. would be unleashed.

>> [music]. [cheering]. >> Happy New Year! >> By 1989, the Stayner family had fallen. far from the spotlight, but the world. had moved on. The Berlin Wall fell. There was a big [music] earthquake. during the World Series in San. Francisco, but the Stayner brothers were. struggling each of them both in their.

own ways. >> Steven's celebrity was pretty. short-lived. He did make some money for consulting on. the TV film. He actually [music] had a. bit part as one of the police officers. rescuing himself. He blew almost all of that money on cars. and drugs and booze. He worked some. menial jobs. He got married. He had two kids. >> He was very proud of who he was when he. told me. He was not ashamed at all. He.

was just very well grounded, [music] you. know, for for a person that had gone. through what he went through. >> But then at the age of 24, he was riding. a motorcycle without a license. >> He was riding at home from work and a. vineyard worker pulled out in front of. him and. hit him [music] and flipped him. >> You just have to feel like this poor man. was dealt such [music]. a horrific hand of cards in life and in.

death. >> You know, Steven really did the best. that he could. >> [music]. >> For 7 years he subjected to unspeakable. horrors. He did work for a living. He did fall in. love. He did have two kids. >> I see him as being on a good path and. that's how I prefer to think of him, you. know. >> This one. it says, "Dear Laurie, [music]. hi, how's everything in Kam She? Good, I. hope. Wah, wah, wah." He used to always. say that. "It's not everybody that gets a letter.

from a famous person, namely me. Love. always, Steve.". So, I cherish these letters. forever. >> Steven was gone now, but in a big sense. so was Kerry. Kerry had no direction. [music]. He thought his life was going nowhere. >> Kerry never recovered from [music] his. own emotional difficulties and then. coupled with Steven's tragic death. >> Well, not long after Steven died,

Kerry's uncle was shot and killed in the. home they shared together. Kerry was. very close to his uncle. >> [music]. >> Steven's dead, Uncle Jerry's murdered. This rage is starting to bubble up. Kerry has a couple of nervous. breakdowns. One was fairly violent. >> He stated that he felt like jumping in. the truck, driving it through the shop, and killing the boss, and killing everybody in the office, and. then torching the place. And that's when. I told him he needed to go see a doctor,

Carey. >> They got him to a mental health center, but he left. Carey is literally crying. out for help. He's literally saying, "I'm losing my mind.". >> What a lot of people didn't know at the. time was that Carey was having these. dreams and these fantasies about killing. women. >> Carey was a a lost soul, and he ended up. taking refuge in a place that he [music]. loved, and that was Yosemite.

>> In the fall of '97, he drove his. International Scout to the tiny town of. El Portal, which is. >> [music]. >> the doorstep to Yosemite National Park. By this time, Carey's in his 30s, and he. lands a job as a handyman at the Cedar. Lodge. >> The Cedar Lodge is this rustic lodge 7. mi outside the gate of Yosemite. It is. surrounded by and filled with these. wonderful wooden bear sculptures.

>> Working at the Cedar Lodge gave Carey. access [music] to his beloved Yosemite. His idea of serenity was to maybe smoke. a little pot and to sunbathe naked. >> Oh, he was always naked. No tan lines on him. >> [laughter]. >> I hung out at the river with him, a lot. of times alone. He never hit on me, and. I know he never hit on any of my. friends. Never that uncomfortable. um come on. Never anything like that.

Not even the hint of it. >> But not everyone at Cedar Lodge was was. enamored of him. There's a woman there named Trish Houts. Uh she and her husband ran the. restaurant that was attached to the. lodge. They had a teenage daughter that. Carey spent an uncomfortable amount of. time with. >> My daughter would start freaking out cuz. he would just stand there and stare at. my child as she's swimming in the pool. And I said, "You go towards my daughter. ever and I will destroy you." He was. cold, hateful.

But I dealt with cold and hateful people. before. >> Trish was in some ways sort of a savant. She seems to be the only one who saw. this side of Cary. >> [music]. [music]. >> By February 1999, Cary had been at the. Cedar Lodge about 2 [music] years and. the winters were very desolate. Not a. lot of tourists visit the park that. [music] time of year. >> Winter. is a spectacle. When the granite is iced.

in [music] beautiful white snow, you. really get to understand how. extraordinary [music] these walls are. >> Among the small [music] group of people. who did come to the Cedar Lodge to go. see Yosemite was Carole Sund, her. daughter Julie, 16, and their. >> [music]. >> friend named Silvina Pelosso. >> The three of them are on a trip twofold. Look at colleges and then also to enjoy. Yosemite. >> [music].

>> They had a red Pontiac that they had. rented. for this trip. This was an opportunity for them to show. Silvina, who was visiting from. Argentina, one of the most beautiful. places on [music] Earth. >> And they spent the day touring the park, going to a lot of the highlights. They. went ice skating. >> [music]. >> That night, most of the other guests had. actually gone home. And their room was about as far as you. can get [music] from the lobby and the.

restaurant in a dark corner of the lot. [music]. >> They had dinner at the restaurant, then. they went to the front desk, got a movie. they were going to go watch back in. their room. All of this rage that had been building. up in Carrie all of these years, she. finally decides she's going to act upon. it. >> I walked across the gray car. and 500 building on the right side. The. window was open. The curtains open and I. can see inside and there's two young. women and their mother and a young man. >> For Carrie, he's been planning this for.

[snorts] years. There's a fantasy that. he's created in his mind. And this is the night when all of this. rage is finally let loose. >> Something clicks and at that moment. Carrie Steater knows it's time. >> [music]. >> Carrie had [music] been looking for. victims that night.

Eventually, he spied Carol and the girls. >> [music]. >> through the window of their room and. decided to knock on their door. >> I knocked on the door and said I was. maintenance. There was a leak in the room upstairs. >> Carol answers and he says to her, "I. need to come in and look for the leak.". And she said, [music] "Absolutely not.". Girls are in their pajamas, they're. watching Jerry Maguire on the VCR. >> What can I do for you? Show me the money. >> They're done for the day.

>> He persists. Says they'll have to move to a different. room if the leak goes on. >> They let me in. I went to the bathroom. to check the fan. Well, I told them to leave. Followed me. in. When I came out of the bathroom, I. pulled out my gun out. and I told them I wanted the money and. the keys to the car. >> He takes Carol's daughter, Julie, and. her friend, Silvina Pelosso, and herds. them into the bathroom. Then he ties up Carol with duct tape and. then strangles her with a length of. rope. And when he was done, he bundled.

her up and and put her in the trunk of a. Pontiac um that she'd rented that was. outside the hotel room door. >> Came back in and pulled the girls out of. the bathroom and sexually assaulted. them. Silvina resisted. She was. hysterical. He brought her into the. bathroom and strangled her. >> So, he takes Julie, puts her into the. bathroom in room 510 next door. He then. takes Silvina's body, puts her in the. trunk along with Carole Sund and returns.

to get Julie. >> It was getting pretty late. Probably 5:00 or so in the morning. I. told Julia we were going to some place. to go. I knew it was Arlene. I put her in the car. Her hands were duct taped together. I wrapped a pink blanket around her. and just drove. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know what I was going to do. >> The next time Cary Stayner is seen is. 100 miles away in Sierra Village when he.

uses a payphone to call a cab to get. back to Cedar Lodge. >> He said that he had come down from. Yosemite with some other people and that. they left him there, stranded him with. no way back. >> As we were [music] approaching Yosemite. Valley, he said he would show me the. cabin to where he saw Bigfoot and he. pointed off to a ways back but you could. [music] see there was a cabin and he. said that Bigfoot came out, ran around. the side of the cabin [music] and into. the trees.

>> After leaving Yosemite, the plan was for. Carole, Julie and Silvina to meet. Carole's husband, Jens Sund, at the San. Francisco Airport. Well, the girls. didn't show up at the airport. >> We started calling the sheriff and the. police. I mean, we're scared. We thought. that they were crashed somewhere. There. was snow up there. There was icy roads. >> As each day went by and there was no. trace of these three women, it became a. larger and larger story.

>> [music]. >> Very mysterious story. Three people have. disappeared at Yosemite National Park in. California. >> I remember [music] distinctly sitting in. the news room when the word came that. there were three women missing from. Yosemite. The very last thing. >> [music]. >> that you think of at first is that foul. play occurred. These things don't happen. in Yosemite. >> The week of Carole, Julie, and Silvina's disappearance from. El Portal, I had been approached because I was a.

kidnapping coordinator in my office. >> It's 10 days [music] of combing the. outskirts of Yosemite where the trio had. been visiting. There are no new leads. >> This is the largest search that has ever. been mounted in Yosemite at any time. It included going up and down the roads. looking for places where their car could. have gone off. >> I'm just devastated. I don't [music] I. can't imagine how three people in a red. car could disappear. >> When covering it, you really were.

empathizing with the families. >> We're handing out posters. We're doing. everything possible. >> And the pain that you could feel from. the Sund family and the Pelosos who had. come from Argentina. >> Ask people here in America. to help us. >> We went up to El Portal to the Cedar. Lodge and we started doing our. interviews. >> One of the people they interviewed was. this helpful handyman named Cary. Stayner. He was not at all flustered.

>> He just didn't set off any alarm bells. [snorts] He even told them a story about. Steven. At one point, he even was. opening all the rooms for the FBI to. gather evidence. >> Tonight, a desperately needed break in a. month-long search for those three. missing visitors to Yosemite. >> About a month after the disappearance of. Carole, Julie, and Silvina, there was a. big break in the case because uh. California Highway Patrol officer.

reported the location of the missing. rented vehicle. This is about 60-70. miles from the Cedar Lodge. >> 20 years ago, I was a member of the. evidence response team. This looked a. lot different. But behind me is where. the vehicle was located. This is a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. But. it was so completely burned, there was. no paint, rubber, plastic, upholstery.

The initial inspection of the vehicle, we knew we had two bodies based on the. remains that were still in the trunk. So, there was not much [music] left. There was no way for us to identify who. was in that trunk. >> The forest where the car was found is. just a short walk to Cedar Village where. Carrie made the phone call. to get the cab back to Yosemite. >> Evidence was found thrown free from the. car that didn't burn. There were the car. keys, some shoes,

personal CD player, but most. importantly, there was a camera [music]. found. It was a crucial piece of. evidence. >> We get the pictures back and we have. Julie and Schlivena. doing handstands in the room. We see all. their pictures that they took going. through Yosemite. And this is a picture of Schlivena and. Carol sitting in the far bed. We came to. learn. that this picture was taken about 20.

minutes before Cary Stayner knocked on. their door. So, you look at these pictures of these. wonderful vivacious people and you just. want to go home and hug your family. because. it's too late. for them. >> We have recovered two bodies. from the trunk of the vehicle. No identification has been made when the. discovery of the bodies in the. burned-out vehicle are made.

>> I wouldn't say it affected the. community. I would say it affected the. nation. >> Two bodies have been found, but there. are still many unanswered questions. >> This was an enormous story, a huge huge. story, and 2020 decided to do an hour on. it. My producer John Myerson and I went. straight out to Yosemite to cover it. We. had an interview [music] with Silvina's. mother, and she was the picture of. despair and grief. >> I knew from the very beginning that. my girl was there.

>> How? >> I don't know. Don't [music] ask me. Just felt. >> Her mother's intuition was sadly. correct. >> [music]. >> It was Silvina in the trunk of that car. Silvina along with Carole Sund. >> As a father, I feel terrible. I'm supposed to die. It's good to see you. >> [laughter]. >> When they realized. it was Silvina and Carole, then the big.

mystery was, "Where's Julie?". >> What are you hoping that Julie is still. alive? >> Hoping against hope that they've got her. somewhere. >> We'll be back here in about 5. >> It's the realization that there's a. third victim out there that may still be. alive sent us into a frenzy, and my mind. went to, "Oh my god, she's out there. She's being held prisoner. Something. terrible's being done to her.". >> Okay, let me show you that area. >> In the middle of all this frantic.

searching arrives this letter to. authorities with a taunting, tantalizing. clue, with a crude map that may finally. [music] solve the mystery of what. happened to Julie Sund. Maybe, just. maybe, we're going to find this girl. alive. >> The mother and daughter who were found. dead after disappearing from Yosemite. National Park. >> I mean, this is a story that decades.

later they're still talking about it. >> This was an enormous story. A huge, huge. story. >> What in the heck are we dealing with. here? >> Okay, what day was it that you murdered. her? >> This is an absolute tragic story of two. brothers. One hero and victim and the. other a monster. >> The story [music] of Steven Stayner and. the story of Cary Stayner are going to. intersect again [music] in a way no one. could have anticipated. >> Steven Stayner [music] is a 7-year-old.

boy who gets plucked off the streets. walking home from school by a pedophile. He's [music] held captive for 7 years. Miraculously, he escapes. >> How do you feel? >> Great. >> I know my first name is Steven, but it. turns out the monsters weren't gone. Cary Stayner [music]. was very close by. >> All this rage that had been building up. in Cary, he finally decides he's going. to act upon it. >> He was right [music] there. He was right. there. >> Cary Stayner is a vicious, vicious. killer. But he's even more twisted than that.

And they're about to find out just how. twisted. >> So, as winter. emerges into [music] spring, the entire valley just seems to come to. life. Everything turns green again. It's a completely different feeling.

>> It's March 1999 and this spring is. different because there is a palpable. fear in Yosemite [music]. Park. >> A very mysterious story. Three people. have disappeared. >> Sunds were last seen near the Yosemite. Valley. >> Where the trio had been visiting. >> In February, Carole Sund [music] and her. daughter Julie and their teenage friend. Silvina Pelosso had gone missing from. the Cedar Lodge. >> I can't imagine how three people [music]. in a red car could disappear. >> This doesn't happen in the national. parks. There was a sense of panic.

>> There was nobody here. >> Even the locals started coming in. >> You can't overstate the sense of fear. there. Everybody [music] was afraid. Everybody wanted to know what had. happened. >> But there's still no sign of the bodies. For about a month. Until a hiker. stumbles across a burnt-out Pontiac. >> We have recovered two bodies. from the trunk of the vehicle. >> When the FBI announced. >> [music]. >> that only two bodies had been found,

that stumped everybody. >> I urge anyone with information to. immediately call the FBI tip line. >> When I realized [music]. it was Silvina and Carole, then the big mystery was, where's Julie? >> Investigators [music] in California. continue searching for the third of. three women who disappeared from. Yosemite National Park. Two bodies have. been found, but there are still many. unanswered questions. >> For about a week, searchers combed the. countryside, the the roads, the ditches,

the rivers, everywhere near that car. But no Julie. [music]. >> Oh my god, she's out there. She's being. held prisoner. Something terrible's. being done to her. >> In late March, the FBI got another big. clue. >> We are pursuing significant and. potentially very viable leads. >> This one came in the mail. >> And when the letter was opened, you see. a lined paper. And on the top it says, "We had fun with. this one.".

And there's a crude map. And the map. shows Route 120. It shows Vista Point, it shows Don Pedro Reservoir, and it's. about 40 miles away from where the car. was found. They bring up a cadaver dog, and within. 10 seconds of going to where this map. points out, they find Julie's body. >> Earlier this afternoon, investigators. discovered the body of a homicide.

victim. >> Body of 15-year-old Julie [music] Sund. was identified earlier in the week. >> saw where Julie Sund. took her last breath, the gravity of this [music] story really. hit home. >> Just to think of her. being alone, um away from from her mom and Silvina, and. and wondering what happened. It was. terrible. >> Francis, was that also for you the. hardest part?

>> That was the end of, uh, you know, any hope. >> I've told the family. that we won't stop until we find out. what happened, until we resolve this. >> So, as we move into the summer of 1999, Yosemite's getting back to normal. >> [music]. >> The tourists are coming back.

>> And now 5 months have passed. There has. been no more murder. >> So, the sense around Yosemite [music]. was that. it was safe. It was safe because the. people that were responsible for [music]. this horrific crime, according to the. FBI, were in custody. >> When they made the announcement [music]. that we have the killers, >> They believe they have the killers in. custody. >> Huge. Absolutely huge. >> We do not believe that there is anyone. else there on the loose, uh, who is not.

uh, in custody. >> These two [music] men were. half-brothers. They had criminal records. They were. violent offenders. >> So, there's a sense of relief that, "Hey, we got [music] these guys. Everything's okay." With the FBI's. assurance, relatives sense closure is. near. >> Once they went down that road, it seemed. like they just had tunnel vision. And they weren't looking at anything. else. >> People may have thought the right people. were in custody, and they certainly. wanted to believe the right people were. in custody.

But they weren't the right people. >> Carey Stayner was still working here at. the lodge. He was still living here. [music] on the premises. He was still. an active member of the community. >> He was not an unknown quantity, I'll say. that. People knew who he was. He was. not someone who hid. >> [music]. >> Didn't really see him as a suspect. He. didn't raise alarm bells for anybody. >> Stayner was. >> [music]. >> free. I mean, he had gotten away with.

triple murder. >> On the more westerly aspect of the park. is a little area called Foresta. >> [music]. >> You can look down and see this gorgeous. meadow, and it's called Big Meadow for. good reason. And down in that meadow. [music] was an old house. >> It's called the Green Cabin. It's owned by the Park Service, and it's. leased out for a dollar a year to the. Yosemite Institute, um, which runs.

uh, educational programs throughout the. park. Living there in the summer of 1999. [music] was a 26-year-old woman named. Joie Armstrong. >> She was really kind, and she was. sensitive. [music]. She was loving. She was generous. She was smart. [music]. >> Joie was a naturalist at Yosemite. Her. job was to take children [music]. and teach them the nature of Yosemite.

>> I asked her if she was ever afraid and. she said no and we knew they had. suspects in custody. >> She had memorialized it. in her diary. At one point he even. [music] wrote. the monsters are gone. Meaning. the FBI had [music] gotten the people. who did this and they were behind bars. >> But it turns out the monsters weren't. gone. Cary Stayner was very close by.

>> [music]. >> There's actually a road that connects. from where the Cedar Lodge is into. Yosemite. It's a back road that very few. local people know about. The end of the. road is where Joie Armstrong was living. and that's the road that Cary Stayner. [music] took that day. >> He drove his International baby blue.

Scout up to Forest. where he'd seen Bigfoot. He went up. there with some regularity. He had gotten out of his truck and he. was looking around. He wasn't out. hunting for anybody. But an opportunity presented itself. >> Now Cary Stayner was down here in this. area. He sees up at [music] the green. cabin. this petite blonde girl. >> It's almost the weekend and Joie's very. [music] excited. She's got a trip. planned to meet some friends.

>> She's just going in and out of her house. packing [music] up her truck getting. ready to leave. >> Her Toyota Tacoma is parked here. The back hatch is open. He then. approaches her as she's putting things. in and out of her truck. >> You just wonder about the randomness of. it all. What if she was in the cabin? What if she'd packed up a half hour. earlier? What if she'd left. >> And it turned out to be a situation. where evil truly meets opportunity. >> I was just throwing her dog rocks in the.

creek and just happened to notice her. walk out again and again. It seemed like. she was alone. >> He comes closer and as he comes closer, she is what he thinks he wants. >> Something instantly changes with Carrie. Stayner and he's ready to kill again. Just like in the first murders, he goes. back to his truck and he gets his murder. kit. >> He gets out his backpack. He's got. [music] a gun, he's got duct tape, he's. got a knife. He's standing somewhere in.

this vicinity. He's talking to her and. he's making conversation. [music]. >> He was a guy who, you know, was big and. strong and athletic and as he's. movie star white teeth. He would have just been like a little. oddity. But as he's talking to her about. Bigfoot, he's trying to look behind her. and look over her shoulder to see if. anyone's in the house. And then pretty quickly it would have. gone to flat out terror. >> That's when I pulled out the gun and put. it to her head and she turned around and. freaked out. I told her to go inside.

>> He uses the gun to direct her to the. back of the house and into this rear. bedroom. He starts binding her with the duct tape. that he's brought in his kit. She fights. >> [music]. >> with everything she has. He barely was able to overcome her. >> She was very strong and I don't mean. just a strong woman in the sense of. emotionally strong, but she was physically strong. >> This was supposed to be easy for Carrie.

This was, you know, his fantasy was that. nobody's supposed to fight back. And she did. >> She's totally controlled and then he. takes her and guides her. here. >> He picked her up. and and [music] tossed her in the. backseat. and started driving away. >> The first sign Joie Ruth Armstrong was. in trouble was when she didn't meet up. with her friend in Marin County [music]. on Wednesday. >> When Joie doesn't show up, obviously her. friends are bewildered and they're.

frightened. [music] Absolutely freaked. out. >> Her friends called Yosemite and now the. search was on for Joie Armstrong. >> I received a page and I called in and. they asked if I was available for a. search. >> We're covering a number of leads that. are not confined to the park. Uh that's about all I can tell you at. this point. >> As they came in [music] and looked, they. could not find her and they also found. debris on the floor of the cabin. They.

found broken sunglasses, >> [music]. >> they found a red mechanic's rag. They were very concerned. >> You know, you're just looking for. anything that doesn't fit. And then a. few feet down the stream, I noticed what. I thought was an inanimate object kind. of bobbing in the water and. I went over and I, you know, saw that it. was a person. >> To their. shock and dismay, they saw that her head.

had been removed. >> This was just as grizzly a scene as you. could possibly imagine. It was incredible and horrible what had. happened to Joie Armstrong. >> You know, in your own personal life. [music] you have said many times before, I can't imagine the pain of losing a. child. You don't believe [music] it's you. You. don't believe it's her. You You You're going, "No, no.". >> Cary Stayner [music] left behind a load.

of evidence and he knew it. Unlike the first three murders where he. left virtually no evidence, he knew that he had left. a very easy trail for investigators. >> About 2 hours north of Yosemite [music]. is a nudist colony. which. turned out to be [music] the key to the. whole thing. >> A car ride is about to happen. And during that car ride the [music]. story of Steven Stayner and the story of.

Cary Stayner are going to intersect. again in a way no one could have. anticipated. >> [music]. [music]. >> Laguna del Sol is like any other resort. Um except people don't have clothes on. There's camping and there's some cabins. and there's some shuffleboard and.

volleyball and. there's a restaurant and a bar and a. darts league. >> I'm told people go to Laguna del Sol. from all over the country. >> I don't think you're trying to hide if. you're. going to a nudist colony and it's the. last place that Cary Stayner would be a. free man. >> The Yosemite park naturalist was found. decapitated. The 26-year-old's body was. found Thursday near her Yosemite home. >> Joy Armstrong's murder sent shockwaves.

through Yosemite Valley. Here was. another murder. >> [music]. >> in the Yosemite area and this time it. was actually in the park. >> This is the second high-profile murder. case connected to Yosemite this year. Three tourists disappeared from the El. Portal area in February and were later. found dead. >> People. >> [music]. >> didn't know what to think. Were they. connected? Were they not connected? If. they weren't connected, then what's. happening? >> I called some of the investigators to.

ask them, "Do you think they're. related?". >> [music]. >> And. it was a resounding no. >> And we have absolutely no reason to. believe, no indication that there is any. linkage at all. >> You don't want to cause undue panic. You. don't want to cause undue concern. until you know. the facts. >> We got 60 teams going out. There wasn't really much time for us to. speculate on whether this was related. I. mean, it quickly became related. [music]. >> Somebody had spotted a very unique.

vehicle, a blue and white International. Scout, the same vehicle that Cary. Stayner drove. >> On the same road where Joey lived around. the same time that she was murdered. And. that was the first thing that. authorities followed up on. >> The tracks of the vehicle that drove. away from Joey's house left very clear. tracks, and they were able to get very. clear pictures. And then they started. looking for this guy Cary Stayner. because he would be a natural witness to.

interview. >> I was sitting in the bar having lunch, and somebody came in and said, "They're. looking for Cary Stayner." And I said, "What?". >> And he's really now starting to feel. that noose tighten [music] around his. neck. >> Now, Cary Stayner realizes he has to get. out. He packs up and leaves and ends up. driving to that nudist colony, Laguna del Sol. >> He pitched a [music] tent outside, went.

in, there's a bar and restaurant, and he. was socializing with people inside and. struck up a conversation with a woman. there. >> Things were Things are not so well now. I decided to pack up my stuff and fact, and I'm headed north. >> They had put a bolo, be on the lookout. for, on the news. And so it gone out. that people were looking for Cary. Stayner. >> Authorities set off a manhunt for him. yesterday. >> And it just so happens the woman he. struck [music] the conversation with saw. the news.

>> And I immediately picked up the phone. and called FBI because and told him that. I knew where this person was. [music]. >> That morning, FBI agent Jeff Rinek gets. a call. He's supposed to meet up with a. couple of other agents at Laguna del Sol. right away. >> So, as I'm driving and proceeding down. here, the next train of thought was. oh my god, we're going to a nudist. colony. For me, a nudist colony. means Peter Sellers, a shot in the dark, and a guy walking.

across the screen with a guitar over his. genitals. >> Laguna del Sol, a nudist colony, is not a place. I ever thought I would be in my FBI. career. >> The manager came out and said, "Yeah, he's inside sitting at the corner booth. and you'll be able to find him cuz he is. the only one wearing clothes.". >> Got here, parked, and as they walk into. the restaurant area, Stainer gets up and. puts his hands up. >> He's thin, he's athletic, he's tall, he. is handsome.

He looks like a movie actor to me and. he's very soft-spoken and cooperative. >> He didn't do the "Hey, who are you? Why. are you handcuffing me? What's going on. here?". >> [music]. >> Put him in the car. And he and Jeff drove off and I. followed. >> It's just the two of them. Stainer's in. the front seat. Rinek has no idea. the magnitude of what is happening. Nobody told him that Cary Stayner. is [music] a suspected murderer. >> What happened during that drive between.

Cary Stayner and that FBI agent changed. the story forever. >> It was a very pleasant drive. We were. two guys that were just stuck together. >> One thing that Special Agent Rinek is. really good at is getting people to open. up. >> You meet someone and you're asking them. questions about themselves. >> Jeff being Jeff said, "Hey, Stayner, you're not being in relation to Steven. Stainer. >> He'd been kidnapped from a Merced street.

corner in 1972 when he was just 7 years. old. >> He goes, "Have you [music] ever seen. that that movie?". >> I know my first name is Steven. >> And that's when Stainer said, "Yeah, that's my brother.". >> In that moment, he's just connecting. with some guy he's supposed to pick up. >> Well, this is horrible. You're Steven. Stainer's brother. That's terrible what. happened to him. >> And he went on to describe that unlike. the world expected, life was not happily. ever after. >> All of a sudden, Cary Stayner. >> [music]. >> gets upset. He gets emotional about his.

brother, Steven. My brother was held. captive for 7 years and his abductor, [music]. Kenneth Parnell, only got 7 years. How. can that be fair? >> And he asked me if I thought that was. just. And I told him absolutely no. >> Something truly remarkable happened in. that car. >> Cary Stayner, who had such trouble with. relationships and intimacy and. connections, developed a connection with.

Jeff Rineck that would absolutely change. this case. >> So, after that, they actually bond over. something else. It's a movie. [music] It's called Billy. Jack. >> And the very popular song associated. with that movie called One Tin Soldier. >> One tin soldier rides away. >> [music]. >> And I said to him, you know, "You look. just like Billy Jack. Have you ever seen. the movie?". >> And he said, "No." I I kept asking him, "You sure you haven't seen Billy Jack?".

And he "No, haven't seen Billy Jack.". >> Well, there's this line in the movie. that it's a classic line. After they finish their long ride and. they've had their little bonding moment. over Steven, [music] they're walking. into the FBI field office and Cary stops. and says, "I'm going to take this right. foot. >> and I'm going to whoop you that side of. your face. There's not a damn thing. >> Damn thing you can do about it. >> Really? >> It's a weird little moment where he just. finished saying he'd never seen this. movie. But he knew the classic line. He's laughing, I'm laughing. I'm like,

"Yeah, that's pretty good." you know. You know, now they're walking in and. they're having a good laugh together. And then. things sort of. >> [music]. >> take an odd turn. >> But remember, Agent Ryneck doesn't. really know what it's about or what to. expect. Cary Stayner, on the other hand, knows exactly. >> [music]. >> what he has planned and it's going to be. a bombshell.

Jeffrey Ryneck and Cary Stayner have. been in the car for 2 hours from that. New Idria [music] camp when they finally. arrive at the FBI offices in Sacramento. >> Neither Jeff nor I really knew why we. were there [music] and talking to him. We didn't know what his involvement was, if any. >> The three of us are settled in the room. eating pizza. >> As a general rule, when law enforcement. is interrogating a suspect, they don't. order pizza. >> It's not textbook. It was grasping.

[music] at straws to figure out where do. we start to begin the interview. >> Cary starts launching off into this is. going to be my last meal as a free man. >> Out of the blue, he looks at the agents. and says, "I can give you closure.". >> I said, "Cary, what exactly do you mean. closure and about what?" He says, "You. know why we're here.". >> And he told us, "Hey, I can answer some. questions about Joey and and and more.". And we didn't know what that was. >> They thought Cary Stayner was a witness. to something and suddenly, out of the.

blue, he's dangling a confession to. these FBI [music] agents. So, I think. we're shocked in many ways. >> But he has a condition, an absurd, horrible condition. >> Who would go into an FBI office and ask. two FBI agents to to child pornography? That's not your everyday request. And he. said, >> [music]. >> "And not just a couple three, four. images, I'm talking about a stack that. high.". >> Well, can you imagine [music]. what these FBI agents are thinking? What in the heck are we dealing with.

here? >> You never say no to them. You basically. put them off saying, "We're going to get. to that. I know you want that. I'd like. you to have it." But you move it down. the ladder. >> They managed to buy some time. So, in. the meantime, what do you have? Um. and then Cary starts to talk about Joey. >> Okay, we're going to start talking about. her. >> In the interview, Jeff continues the. bond that they had created in that car. ride and wants Stayner to continue to. talk. If it hadn't been for bonding over.

Steven in that car ride, >> [music]. >> this whole confession might never have. happened. >> It seemed like she was alone. >> Mhm. >> Had a backpack, a small green backpack. In the backpack, I. had a .22 revolver. >> He was talking about [music] some very. grizzly things as if he was reading a. soup. uh label. >> She stepped up on the porch and was. talking to me and then she turned. around. That's when I pulled out the gun. and put it to her head. She turned. around and freaked out. >> It's [music] very unsettling to listen. to Cary Stayner.

He's. >> [music]. >> calculating. He's creepy. >> Took her to the back. corner of the the house. two bedroom. I duct taped her. And I handcuffed. >> Mhm. You're doing fine. This is hard. You're being good. Brave. Go ahead. >> The thing that Jeff does in a very. magical way. is to not be judgmental, to keep Cary.

talking. The bottom line is nobody's. going to talk to you if they think. you're disgusted by what they're saying. >> She was just in quite a bit. >> Mhm. I didn't. hurt her or anything. I just used threats and the gun to. subdue her. As I was trying to duct tape. her hands behind her back, she kept. fighting me. >> He wanted us to know he was not beating. her or being violent or sadistic. He. wants to control what we think of him.

It becomes pretty clear to me. that he's just this big emotionless. monster and Joey comes across as. as heroic. She was a fighter and he was. a coward. [music]. >> He successfully binds her with the duct. tape. and he binds her to the point where all. she can pretty much do [music] is walk. >> The key to everything is what Cary. Stayner says next. The question always. has been [music]. why was Joey's body found where it was. found in the woods? How did it get. there? Why did it get there? And Cary.

Stayner is about to reveal exactly what. happened. >> As I was driving, she started going. crazy, just jumping all over the place. in the back of the truck. I couldn't. really control her. And she. fell out of the window. on the road right in front of the barn. >> She didn't fall out. She was fighting. every way she could to get out of that. car and she did and he didn't expect it. >> The idea that she was able to. bound, fling herself out of the moving.

car in an almost superhuman way is. absolutely. astounding. >> I slammed the truck in the park and. jumped out. She got up off the ground. and started running. >> And he calmly got out and he ran down. and he he chased her. And [music]. somewhere back in there is where he he. caught her. >> What did you do then? Took the knife from my back pocket and I. slit her throat.

>> The investigators told me that I should. be very [music] proud of her. That because she fought. there was a lot of evidence. >> Cary Stayner has lived up to his. promise. He gave them the confession. Joey Armstrong, but remember he said he. had more. The and more now is what's. critical. Without him getting his. precious kitty porn, >> We were advised that he could not have. the condition he wanted. Now, [music].

my biggest fear was in place. We still. weren't sure that he had done Sun. Pelosi. >> [music]. >> Jeff is very empathetic. And and he was. saying, "I can already see a change in. you. You seem like you're feeling. better. You know, whatever this is. that's inside you, you need to get it. out.". >> There was a dramatic period of silence. that was followed by him saying, "Okay, let's do it.". >> I knocked on the door and said I was. maintenance. There was a leak in the room upstairs.

They let me in. >> So, now he's giving the agents. this blow-by-blow of every gruesome. detail. >> The girl in the closet girl couldn't. speak very good English. She's crying a. lot. And Julie was very calm. >> And at the same time he's giving them a. glimpse inside these strange thoughts. that he was having. >> She was very cooperative. She did everything I told her to do. No tears, no nothing. >> He constantly reminds us that she was.

cooperative, that she did everything he. wanted her to do. >> The things he wanted to do to her that. somehow she wanted him to. >> He's painting a picture. as if he has some kind of relationship. with [music] Julie. >> I put her in the car. and just drove. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know what I was going to do. >> You're at Don Pedro's beautiful. reservoir and he's telling us the story. about how he's going to have to let her.

go, almost like he's doing her a favor. This has nothing to do with love. It has. everything to do with playing out this. violent fantasy in his head. >> I took her out of the car. I carried her down the pathway. >> I asked him, "How did you carry her?". And he goes, you know, "Like this.". And I said, "You mean like. a groom carries a bride?". And he says, "Yeah, like that.". >> I laid her on the blanket. I guess I. knew what I was trying to do. I had the.

knife with me. I slit her throat. >> It was a brutal homicide. What actually happened had no relation. to in [music] any way what he was. describing to us. >> But he said after he killed her, he. stood here and he marveled. out at the view of the rising sun. It. was so hard to understand how someone. could just disassociate from what they.

had just done and look out and enjoy the. the beauty of nature. >> But it's not over. Bombshells are on the. way. I loved Kerry. >> I could not believe what I just heard. >> My name is [music] Lena and I grew up in. a small town right outside Yosemite. National Park.

My sister and I met Kerry in 1998. My. mom was a waitress at the Cedar Lodge. where Kerry was a maintenance man and. lived above the restaurant. They were in a relationship. [music]. I must have been 10, 11 years old. He was in his 30s. He was handsome. He was warm, like a big teddy bear, a. safe person [music] to be around. We. were excited when Kerry would come over. He would buy us a new Beanie Baby almost. every time we saw him. >> [music]. >> because that was pretty big in the 90s.

My sister and I would be walking up the. driveway and we'd see Cary Stayner. coming up in his Scout [music] and we'd. jump in the truck and he'd give us a. ride up to our house. I loved him a lot. I don't know if he. knew how much. I did. He was a happy part of our life. Such a happy part that turned into such. a dark. part of our life. >> One of the most disturbing [music]. things. Stayner told Jeff was that Carole Savina. and Julie were not his first choice.

>> Cary actually planned to kill a whole. 'nother set of people [music] and this. was a complete surprise to them. >> I mean I got lost [music] today off the. property as at a girlfriend's house. And. I guess this girlfriend and her two. daughters. were my virtual intended victims. >> I could not believe what I just heard. I was literally. >> [music]. >> trying to get my mouth going to.

hear that again to make sure I had heard. what he said. >> I'm sorry. Say that again. I I don't. misunderstand you. So the daughters and the senior. and her daughters were my virtual. intended victims. >> Had we not gotten Stayner, they could have been next. >> The day after Valentine's Day, he had intended [music] that that would.

be the day that he carries out his. fantasy. And the object was his then girlfriend. and her two daughters. While he was there, there was another. person on the grounds that stopped in. and deflected [music]. what he could do. >> So Cary abandoned his initial plan to. kill his girlfriend and her daughters. >> He said when he got back to the Cedar. Lodge at night, [music] he was really. ramped up. >> I went back to the hotel late. I went to. go to sauna to try to calm down.

The hot tub was dirty. It was kind of. all annoying. So, I took a walk around the property. >> He's actually stalking. He's He's. looking. He's [music] predatory. As he's walking past the 500 building, he sees who we now know to be Carole, Julie, and Silvina. >> The FBI has been summoned to help find. three missing women. >> He was right under everyone's nose the. entire time. He was right there. He was right there.

>> I do remember him always carrying. [music] his backpack. I remember seeing it in the truck. It. was always with him. Like a woman carries a purse. I later learned [music] that he had a. murder kit, murder and rape kit in his. backpack that he wanted to use against. my mom, my sister, and I. It is frightening. >> [music]. >> just to think that the things that were. inside of it and what he was thinking. the whole time. >> Late last [music] night, federal. authorities arrested this man, 37-year-old Cary Stayner.

>> The FBI went in and spoke with my mom. privately to let her know that. Cary Stayner had confessed [music]. to. initially wanting to kill my mom. uh and kill [clears throat] rape and. kill my sister and I. They kept it quiet [music] for 20 years. I didn't address it. My whole family. fell apart. Um. My mom was extremely shocked. [music]. As a mother myself, I don't know if I. would have been able to handle that. My daughter is [music] the same age. right now that I was when I met Cary.

I think [music] at such a young age I. learned that you couldn't trust adults. I still have issues trusting people and. I don't know if I'll ever. feel completely safe. We're survivors, but [music] it took a. really big part of our life away. It It. destroyed part of my childhood. I had not been back to the Cedar Lodge. until last year, and it sent chills up.

and down my spine. I just remember [music] he would show us. how to dive perfectly. My sister and I both wanted to be the. best at it. It feels like it was so long ago that. you forget that it even happened. Like a. dream or you a movie that you watched. And almost doesn't even feel like it was.

you. There's a big part of me that still. wonders if he still thinks of those two. little girls that adored him so [music]. much. Because we think about him all the time. So, does he even remember? Does he care? [music]. >> Everybody wondered what was going on in. his mind. Everybody wondered why. >> I went to ask if Carey wanted to talk, and within minutes I'm face-to-face with. him, and he just opened up. I now had. answers to all of our questions.

>> [music]. >> I asked him if he would bring us back to. these places. Because he was [music] talking about. evidence. >> He took us to all the spots, and he knew. exactly where everything [music] was. >> And he pointed out in that direction. And he said he took the roll of duct. tape and the knife, and he threw it out.

there as far as he could. [music]. With the recovery of the duct tape and. the watch and the knife, which was the. murder weapon, now we're talking evidence. >> [music]. >> With the confession and all the forensic. evidence, Cary Stayner was found guilty. and was sentenced to death. >> He has spent years in San Quentin prison. on death row. >> [music]. >> He's now 57 years old.

>> I don't forgive him. I can't. But at the same [music] time, I still. have a hard time looking at him as a. monster. >> Cary was the monster in the forest. Bigfoot was never supposed to be real. [music]. And then he became that real thing. >> I went to ask if Cary wanted to talk and. he just opened [music] up. He told me. that he'd had these feelings since he. was a 7-year-old child and had been.

resisting these feelings for years. It. was almost as if [music] he was trying. to get credit for being a good soldier. >> He said, "I want [music] a movie of the. week made about my story.". There was a movie made about Steven. Stayner. And he wanted [music] the same. treatment. He wanted the world to take note. >> [music]. >> As far as I know, he's never talked to. anyone about the effect Steven might.

have had on his crimes. I'm not sure. there is any direct cause and effect. Steven could have grown up normal, happy, and healthy. and Cary still would have been a serial. killer. >> It's difficult to picture what Cary has. done because knowing Steve, their. personalities are completely opposite. The only [music] time Steve would kill. anything like a fish is because we were. going to eat it. You know what I mean?

>> I wouldn't think that he would think of. himself as one, but he is a. >> Steve was a hero to a lot of people. >> Because of Steven, Timothy White got a. second chance at a childhood. [music]. But, like Steven, um didn't live long. He died at the age of 35 of a blood clot. to the lung. >> There's a statue in Merced now of Steven. and Timothy White, and they're holding. hands.

Yes, terrible [music] things happened to. Steven. But, his legacy is that he saved another. kid from having to suffer the same. terrible things. That's really how he should [music] be. remembered. >> We understand why the Stayner brothers'. story [music] garnered so much global. attention. But, when it's all over, who. should we really be remembering? The sons, Silvina [music] Pelosso, Joey Armstrong. These are beautiful people who met their.

death too soon. >> The only [music]. solace I get. is that she's with God almighty. [music]. And I. I will see her again. >> Joey's legacy carries on in Yosemite. There are something now called Armstrong. scholars. >> Every summer, [music] a group of girls. between the ages of 15 and 18 are. brought into the park to spend a week.

exploring, >> [music]. >> learning about it, which is exactly why. Joey was there in the first place. >> And you can't. take my dreams away. [music and singing]. >> Whatever terrible things happen in the. world, I think people come to beautiful. places [music] like this because they. know that nature has healing power. >> [music]. >> This is the place of beauty where evil. will be vanquished.

>> And that's our program for tonight. Thanks so much for watching. I'm David. Muir. >> And I'm Deborah Roberts. From all of us. here at ABC News and 20/20. Good night.