Australian True Crime Podcast

Episode: "The Yosemite Serial Killer (With a Twist) – ATC International"

Host: Meshel Laurie (Bravecasting)
Release Date: December 10, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into the notorious Yosemite serial killings that shocked both the United States and the world in 1999. Host Meshel Laurie reconstructs the chilling crimes committed by Cary Stayner—connecting the brutality of his acts to the extraordinary and tragic history of his own family, whose story had already captivated the nation decades earlier. With a meticulous breakdown of the investigation, survivor impact, confessions, and the revelation of Stayner's twisted family legacy, the episode exposes how true evil can hide in plain sight and explores the ripple effects of trauma through generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Yosemite Murders – A Shocking Crime Spree

• Victims and Timeline

  • Joey Armstrong's Murder (July 1999):
    Armstrong, a 26-year-old naturalist, was reported missing, her decapitated body discovered near her cabin in Yosemite Park. Her death was especially shocking as she was the fourth woman murdered in the area within six months.
    "She was a naturalist, a beautiful young woman... everybody absolutely loved her. I had the highest, have the highest regard and respect for her." (Joey's parent, 03:20-03:53)

  • Sund-Pelosi Triple Homicide (February 1999):
    Carol Sund, her daughter Julie, and their exchange student Silvina Pelossi vanished from a local lodge. Their remains were only found after a burnt-out car and a chilling hand-drawn map were discovered.
    "We had fun with this one." (Note sent to FBI, 12:58)

• Investigation and False Leads

  • Early on, several men were detained, and Armstrong herself felt safe knowing suspects were in custody—before Stayner was even considered.
  • Discovery of a suspect vehicle by Armstrong’s co-worker led to identifying Cary Stayner, a handyman at Cedar Lodge.

2. The Arrest and Chilling Confession [15:40 – 22:17]

• Arrest Details & Near Miss

  • Stayner encountered police while naked at a riverside, was let go due to his family’s local reputation, and fled to a nudist colony before his arrest.
  • Stayner confessed readily to FBI agents, describing his methods with chilling detachment.
    • "He wants to control what we think of him... he's just this big emotionless monster, and Joey comes across as heroic because she was a fighter and he was a coward." (FBI agent reflection, 18:22)

• Details of the Crimes

  • Stayner described how Armstrong attempted escape, fought fiercely, and how he killed her after she resisted him.
    • "I didn't feel good about it... it's like I'm a split personality." (Stayner’s confession, 22:05)

• Revelation of Near Misses

  • A family friend ("Lena") shares harrowing memories of Stayner being like a father figure—only to learn years later that he had planned to murder her and her family.
    • "I later learned that he had a murder kit... it is frightening just to think that the things that were inside of it and what he was thinking the whole time." (Lena, 24:02)

3. The Connection to a National Tragedy – The Stayner Family [31:46 – 47:24]

• Cary Stayner’s Past and Motives

  • Stayner, once a well-liked local handyman, was brother to Stephen Stayner—the child abduction survivor whose ordeal inspired the Emmy-nominated miniseries "I Know My First Name Is Stephen."
  • The episode details how Stephen was kidnapped at age 7, held by predator Kenneth Parnell for seven years, and ultimately escaped with another abducted boy.

• Media Sensation and Family Impact

  • The extensive media coverage of Stephen's rescue and the subsequent trial did little to address the trauma he endured, nor the effect it had on the wider Stayner family.

    • "I know my first name is Stephen. I'm pretty sure my last name is Stayner and if I have a middle name, I don't know it." (Stephen’s police statement, 40:13)

  • Stephen’s tragic death at 24 and the unsolved murder of the uncle Jesse Stayner—who Cary later accused of abusing him—cast long shadows over the family.

4. Justice and Reflection

• Trial and Sentencing

  • Stayner confessed to Armstrong's murder but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the triple homicide. He was nonetheless convicted and sentenced to death.
    • "I wish I could take it back, but I can't... I wish there was a reason, but there isn't. It's senseless." (Stayner’s courtroom apology, 46:53)
  • He remains on death row at San Quentin.

• Survivor Impact and Lasting Trauma

  • Lena describes generational consequences, including ongoing struggles with trust and feelings of safety.
    • "We're survivors, but it took a really big part of our life away. It destroyed part of my childhood." (Lena, 25:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Empathetic Yet Chilling Reflection
  "He wants to control what we think of him... he's just this big emotionless monster, and Joey comes across as heroic because she was a fighter and he was a coward."
  — FBI agent, (18:22)

• Near Miss Perspective
  "I later learned that he had a murder kit... frightening just to think that the things that were inside of it... what he was thinking the whole time."
  — Lena, (24:02)

• Justice, Regret, and Senselessness
  "I wish I could take it back, but I can't... I wish there was a reason, but there isn't. It's senseless."
  — Cary Stayner, (46:53)

• Survivor's Lasting Pain
  "We're survivors, but it took a really big part of our life away. It destroyed part of my childhood."
  — Lena, (25:25)

• Stephen’s Statement
  "I am 14 years of age. I don't know my true birth date. I know my first name is Stephen. I'm pretty sure my last name is Stayner and if I have a middle name, I don't know it."
  — Stephen Stayner, (40:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:20: Introduction to Joey Armstrong and discovery of her murder
• 10:29–13:20: Discovery of previous victims, arrival of chilling map
• 15:40–17:36: Stayner identified as suspect and flees/gets arrested
• 17:56–22:05: Cary Stayner’s detailed confession to FBI
• 22:56–25:25: Survivor Lena recounts a near miss and family fallout
• 31:46–38:21: The Stayner family tragedy and Stephen’s abduction
• 43:30–45:51: Stephen's struggles after return, media blitz, and untimely death
• 46:10–47:24: Unsolved uncle murder; Stayner’s trials and sentencing

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a respectful but unflinching tone, blending empathetic interviews with chilling narration. The hosts and guests move seamlessly from the human cost of violence to the complex, often unspoken, ways trauma reverberates through families and entire communities.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a comprehensive, deeply human, and chilling look at one of California’s most infamous serial killings. It not only reconstructs Stayner’s horrifying crimes, but also reveals the 'twist'—his connection to one of the twentieth century’s most famous child abduction cases. Through primary accounts, police interviews, survivor stories, and archive news, it’s an episode that underscores the hidden darkness in even the most ordinary of places and the unpredictable legacy of trauma.