I Know My First Name Is Steven by Mike Echols
I vaguely remember the story of Steven Stayner from my teenage years. And it was only recently with the recovery of Shawn Hornbeck that this story was given life again.
I Know My First Name Is Steven details the story of Steven Stayner’s abduction and seven years as captive to a pedophile (Kenneth Parnell), and a reuniting with his family in his early adoloscent years.
Aabsolutely heartwrenching! (And I’m a pretty jaded true crime’er)
If you’re looking for a some sort of “happy ending” (ie, the family prevails against odds, etc.), you won’t find it here. It seems that things can only get worse for the Stayner family.
This new updated version contains a short addition about Cary Stayner, older brother to Steven Stayner; who in 1999 was arrested as the Yosemite killer.
At this point that I found myself wondering how his younger brother’s disappearance and subsequent return could have affected him and possibly led to his short spree as a serial killer. (Not that it’s excusable, just a ponderance of mine)
I would especially recommend this book for true crime fans that have young children. Although it is somewhat hard to stomach as a parent, the book offers a great deal of insight into the mind of pedophiles; thus allowing greater thought into ways to protect our children from these atrocious “people.”
