Cary Anthony Stayner

Serial Killer

Cary Anthony Stayner: The Yosemite Killer

Background

Cary Anthony Stayner was an American serial killer responsible for murdering four females in and around Yosemite National Park in California during 1999. Known as the "Yosemite Killer" or the "Yosemite Park Killer," Stayner selected victims who were visiting or working near the park. He used his employment as a handyman at the Cedar Lodge motel in El Portal to observe travelers, move around the property without attracting attention and gain access to areas associated with the victims. Stayner was born on August 13, 1961, in Merced, California. He was the older brother of Steven Stayner, who became nationally known after being kidnapped at age seven and held captive for approximately seven years. Cary Stayner later claimed that he had experienced violent fantasies long before committing the Yosemite murders. By the late 1990s, he was living and working near Yosemite, placing him in close contact with tourists visiting the region.

The Disappearance of the Yosemite Sightseers

In February 1999, Carole Sund traveled to the Yosemite area with her 15-year-old daughter, Juliana "Juli" Sund, and 16-year-old Silvina Pelosso, an exchange student from Argentina who was staying with the Sund family. The three had attended a cheerleading event in Stockton before continuing to Yosemite for sightseeing. On February 15, 1999, they stayed at the Cedar Lodge in El Portal, near the western entrance to Yosemite National Park. Carole spoke with her husband that evening and discussed the group's plans. The three were expected to return home the following day, but they failed to arrive. When relatives could not contact them, their disappearance was reported, beginning an extensive search involving local authorities and the FBI. Investigators initially had few clear leads. Carole's wallet was found on a street in Modesto on February 19, far from the motel. The discovery appeared to suggest that whoever was responsible might have traveled west after the women disappeared. Search teams examined roads, waterways, wooded areas and properties throughout the region while the Sund family offered a substantial reward for information. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Carole Evon Sund Age: (42), Date of Death: February 15, 1999

Suspected Victims:

Patricia Marie Patty Hicks Dahlstrom Age: (28), Date of Death: September 1982

Jesse Jerrold Jerry Stayner Age: (42), Date of Death: December 26, 1990

Sharalyn Mavonne Murphy Age: (24)

Denise Smith Age: (34)

Michael Larry Mike Madden Age: (20), Date of Death: August 10, 1996

Cary Stayner - Wikipedia