Jim Laughter         

 From Victim to Hero

The Untold Story of Steven Stayner

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  PROLOGUE

     Let’s be very clear about one thing right from the onset of this book. Steven Stayner was a victim. Steven was a 7-year-old boy that was abducted by a monster, Kenneth Parnell, on Monday, December 4, 1972 in Merced, California. Parnell tortured, abused, molested, and raped little Steven over a 7-year period of time. Steven suffered every form of hell a human being could possibly endure while all the time being told this was a common event in the life of a child. Then, after seven years of captivity at the hands of this pedophile, Steven emerged a hero by sacrificing his own safety to rescue another kidnapped 5-year-old boy, Timmy White, from the same fate he had suffered.

     Other books have been written about Steven Stayner, and a television mini-series told his story in the late 1980s. Both of these media explored this tragic event and exposed the dark side of Steven’s abuse and torture. They followed him through the dozen times he was moved around California when Parnell felt threatened by an authoritative presence. But in the end, these other media painted a picture of Steven as damaged goods when he was finally reunited with his family on March 2, 1980.

From Victim to Hero will reveal a different portrait of Steven Stayner. No, the teenager that escaped from that mountain cabin just outside of Manchester, California wasn’t the same innocent 7-year-old little boy

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Click on the following UTube link to see a video about Steven Stayner.  Please be aware that I did not produce this video, nor did I write the text for it. There are a number of spelling and grammar errors on it, but if you can overlook them, it's a pretty good video.

UTube video about Steven Stayner

This is the cabin on Mountain View Road near Manchester, California where Steven Stayner and Timmy White were being held captive before their escape on March 1, 1980.

To see other pictures pertaining to this book, click here.

stolen so many years before. But neither was Steven the damaged goods tagged to him in the later years of his life. Somewhere buried in this tortured child was a heroic spark that made him say deep within himself, ‘I can’t let this happen to another little boy.’ A magnificent spark that lay dormant through years of

captivity, deprivation, and abuse rose above the manipulative control of a man with no moral compass–a pedophile that if not for Steven Stayner would have continued to kidnap, rape, and torment innocent children. Timmy White would have surely been Parnell’s victim if not for Steven Stayner. But who would have been his next victim? Your child or grandchild? Mine?

     Heroes aren’t born–they happen. Heroes emerge from situations. A combat soldier doesn’t go into battle with the intention of saving his friends from a fortified enemy. He doesn’t plan to risk his own life in an attempt to save fellow soldiers trapped in a crossfire of enemy bullets. No, heroes are not born. They rise from the shadows and background, and they risk everything in a single moment of selflessness for the benefit of others.

     Steven Stayner never won the Medal of Honor for his act of heroism. Instead, he lived as normal a life as he could under the difficult circumstances he found himself faced with. Timmy White escaped a life of rape, torture, and abuse, but only because another little boy decided in a moment of extreme situation to risk everything in an act of unsurpassed heroism.

     Did Steven Stayner know on March 1, 1980 that if Kenneth Parnell were to discover their escape and track them down that he would severely punish or possibly even kill them? You better believe he knew it. But that’s where heroes come from–from that one moment of decision that forces them against all reason to step out into danger and perform a single deed that defines their true character.

     So, with all of this said, it is our intention to tell the positive story of Steven Stayner. We know we must go back through the tragic events of his captivity to lay the groundwork for the story. But instead of painting a picture of damaged goods like other books and media have done, we want to show you the spirit and life of a boy that fell victim to a monster and emerged a dragon-slayer.

     Yes, Steven Stayner was a victim. Never doubt that. Steven fell into the clutches of a man who manipulated his innocence for his own hell-driven perversions. But in the end when character and spirit mattered the most, a hero sprang forth. At a time when another innocent life hung in the balance, a teenage combatant faced the enemy with only one thing on his mind–that evil could not be allowed to win.

December 4, 1964

February 10, 2012

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From Victim to Hero

is mentioned in an interview in the July 21, 2011 edition of Beyond Worlds magazine along with other books by Jim Laughter.

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From Victim to Hero

 Endorsements

 From Victim to Hero

compellingly shares the selfless heroic nightmare of Steven Stayner; educating parents on issues they must know and be aware of.  Steven’s story inspires and exemplifies the goodness and strength within the human spirit. The trauma experienced by the family is shared, giving insight of the impact on the marriage, children, and friends. Whether in abuse or abduction, From Victim to Hero portrays the grooming, lying and strategies used by predators to convince and coerce their victims into compliance. This book reiterates the three principles victims must realize – 1. Nobody has the right to hurt you. 2. It’s not your fault. 3. You don’t have the right to hurt others.  Buy this book. Share it with your children. Keep them safe.

   Ed Smart

(father of kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart)

President, Surviving Parents Coalition  www.spcoalition.org

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As the director of an agency that addresses abduction, abuse, and violence against children, I had the pleasure to work with Steven on a television show.  He had a tremendous impact on my work to protect children.  He implored me to share his story at my seminars and to encourage parents to stress to their children that they will be loved unconditionally.  It doesn’t matter what has happened, what the child has done, or what someone else has done to the child; the love and acceptance will still be there.  He felt this is critical to a child’s hope and behavior in a situation of abuse.  Steven was a young man of great courage and compassion – courage to help Timmy return home and compassion to help other children and parents know how to be personally safe.  I have shared his request for over twenty years, and hundreds of thousands have been affected by his life –  a life that was cut short, but yet continues to impact others. In this book, From Victim to Hero, Jim Laughter expresses Steven’s heart, and brings to light the extraordinary spirit of a young man that endangered himself because he believed it was the right thing to do.

Diane L Brown, Founder/Director
Safety Kids, Inc.
www.safetykids.org

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Take a look at my newest release ......

The Apostle Murders

is an intelligent story about a modern day serial killer re-creating the martyrdom of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Visit my ordering information page to buy your copy.

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