‘Captive Audience’ Subverts True Crime Expectations by Putting Stayner Family First

Steven Stayner is a name familiar to those in the true crime community, but with Captive Audience, the family behind the name will get to talk about the legacy of that name.

At the age of seven, Steven was kidnapped by child molester Kenneth Parnell and was trapped with him for seven years, until he escaped with another of Parnell’s victims, Timothy White. Tragically, at the age of twenty-seven, he died in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind two children.

To add more to the tragedy of the Stayner family, Steven’s older brother, Cary Stayner, would end up becoming a serial killer, killing four in what is called “the Yosemite murders.” Ashley Stayner is the daughter of Steven and niece of Cary, and spoke to The Guardian about her love of true crime, despite the way it compounded her own family’s trauma.

“I grew up learning everything about my dad and his whole story through the media,” Ashley Stayner said. “It’s just interesting to know how the human mind works and how environment can turn somebody into what they are. I think true crime shows that different side of what people can be.”

Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, directed by Jessica Dimmock and executive-produced by the Russo Brothers, will not only tackle the two Stayner brothers, but also play with the way in which the media would compare the two brothers and their conflicting experiences. It will also feature interviews with family members, including Steven and Carey’s mother Kay Stayner.

In terms of working with Kay Stayner, Dimmock was careful to honor the woman’s boundaries. “I didn’t feel this was an opportunity to relitigate anything,” Dimmock said. “I had the opportunity to sit down with the Stayners and hear their perspective. There’s a moment when I asked Kay Stayner if she wants to talk about Carey, and she says no. I didn’t have to include that. I wanted the audience to be aware of a boundary. Kay says no, and we don’t go there.”

With all the true crime stories out now, it is important to remember that we are talking about real people, who have experienced a deep trauma. Not all victims are dead, and when approaching true crime, we should always make sure to honor victims and survivors.

(image: Hulu)