Hulu's latest true-crime documentary, "Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story," traces the nearly unbelievable tale of the Stayner family. One brother, Steven, was the victim of a nationally publicized kidnapping and child-abuse case, while another, Cary, later became a serial killer. Steven Stayner's tragic story didn't end with his kidnapping, though. Here's what to know about the man whose life was upended so early on. Be warned: this story involves mentions of child abuse.
The Kidnapping of Steven Stayner
Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to pick Stayner up and bring him home. Stayner got in the car and wasn't seen again for eight years.
The kidnapper was convicted child rapist Kenneth Parnell along with his accomplice, Ervin Murphy. Parnell...
The Kidnapping of Steven Stayner
Steven Stayner was the middle child of five siblings living with their parents in Merced, CA. In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to pick Stayner up and bring him home. Stayner got in the car and wasn't seen again for eight years.
The kidnapper was convicted child rapist Kenneth Parnell along with his accomplice, Ervin Murphy. Parnell...
- 4/23/2022
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com
1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.
1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.
1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.
1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm of Uncle Josh for some comforting advice.
1953: On Love of Life, Vanessa Dale (Peggy McCay) attempted to help her nephew,...
1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.
1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.
1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm of Uncle Josh for some comforting advice.
1953: On Love of Life, Vanessa Dale (Peggy McCay) attempted to help her nephew,...
- 5/22/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1953: Love of Life's Vanessa waited for news about Beanie.
1987: Atwt's John pulled Lucinda into a hot tub, then married her.
1987: CBS aired the final episode of Capitol.
1990: General Hospital's Lucy resigned from the hospital."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera John's Other Wife, after a five and a half year run.
1953: On Love of Life, with Beaning (Dennis Parnell) missing, a tense Meg Harper (Jean McBride) complained that her sister,...
1987: Atwt's John pulled Lucinda into a hot tub, then married her.
1987: CBS aired the final episode of Capitol.
1990: General Hospital's Lucy resigned from the hospital."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera John's Other Wife, after a five and a half year run.
1953: On Love of Life, with Beaning (Dennis Parnell) missing, a tense Meg Harper (Jean McBride) complained that her sister,...
- 3/21/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1981: Another World's Cecile announced she had married Jamie.
1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death" in Argentina.
1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.
2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and his roommate planned to escape from the boarding school.
1970: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn Stoddard (Nancy Barrett) told Jeb Hawkes (Christopher Pennock) she could not go through with the wedding.
1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death" in Argentina.
1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.
2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and his roommate planned to escape from the boarding school.
1970: On Dark Shadows, Carolyn Stoddard (Nancy Barrett) told Jeb Hawkes (Christopher Pennock) she could not go through with the wedding.
- 3/9/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1953: Love of Life's Meg was upset with Vanessa.
1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.
1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.
1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years.
1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.
1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.
1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years.
- 1/15/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.
1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.
1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.
1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm...
1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.
1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.
1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm...
- 5/23/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1953: Love of Life's Vaness waited for news about Beanie.
1987: Atwt's John pulled Lucinda into a hot tub, then married her.
1987: CBS aired the final episode of Capitol.
1990: General Hospital's Lucy resigned from the hospital."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera John's Other Wife,...
1987: Atwt's John pulled Lucinda into a hot tub, then married her.
1987: CBS aired the final episode of Capitol.
1990: General Hospital's Lucy resigned from the hospital."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: NBC's Blue Network aired the final episode of radio soap opera John's Other Wife,...
- 3/20/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1981: Another World's Cecile announced she had married Jamie.
1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death"
in Argentina. 1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.
2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and...
1987: One Life to Live's Tina went over a waterfall to her "death"
in Argentina. 1987: Another World's Donna & Michael married.
2007: Ashley Abbott arrived on The Bold and the Beautiful."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, nine-year-old Ben "Beanie" Harper (Dennis Parnell) and...
- 3/9/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1953: Love of Life's Meg was upset with Vanessa.
1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.
1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.
1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years. She currently stars as Caroline Brady on Days of our Lives.
Thanks to...
1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.
1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.
1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years. She currently stars as Caroline Brady on Days of our Lives.
Thanks to...
- 1/15/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.