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A parent’s greatest nightmare and then blessing: Steven Stayner was abducted at age 7 and miraculously returned home 7 years later!  The complete account of Steven’s story can be read in “From Victim for Hero; the untold story of Steven Stayner” by Jim Laughter. From Victim to Hero tells Steven’s story from his point of view and from that of the people most closely connected to him. It also contains an appendix of child safety information provided by leading child safety advocates to help you protect your most valuable possessions – your children. Book Cover Comments 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 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 rescuing Timmy White was the right thing to do. Diane L Brown, Founder/Director
Safety Kids, Inc. 
| Author Jim Laughter, originally from Kellyville, Oklahoma, is a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served duty in Texas, the Philippines, Japan, Louisiana, and England. He is co-creator of Galactic Axia, a fictional commonwealth of planets. He co-authors the Galactic Axia young adult fiction series of books, available in bookstores nationwide and from www.galacticaxia.com or jimlaughter.com. | | | |
Synopsis On the afternoon of December 4, 1972, six-year-old Steven Stayner was approached by Kenneth Parnell while walking home from school and was offered a ride home. Although Steven had been told not to speak to strangers, he thought the man was nice, and believing Parnell to be the pastor of a church, he thought it was safe. Parnell took Steven to his cabin and told him that his parents could not afford to take care of him and granted custody to Parnell. Parnell molested Steve that first night. Parnell began calling the boy Dennis Greg Parnell, telling people that he was his son. Steven and Parnell moved frequently around California, with Parnell enrolling him into a series of schools. As Steve entered puberty. Parnell began to look for a younger child to kidnap. On February 14, 1980, Parnell and one of Steven's high school buddies named Randy, kidnapped five-year-old Timmy White in Ukiah, California. Motivated in part by the young boy's distress, Steven decided to escape with him, intending to return the boy to his parents and then escape himself. On March 1, 1980, while Parnell was away at his night security job, Steven left with Timmy and hitchhiked into Ukiah to the police department. Steven immediately identified Timmy White and then revealed his own true identity and story. By daybreak on March 2, 1980, Parnell had been arrested on suspicion of abducting both boys. Steven’s courageous and heroic actions enabled both of them to be reunited with their families that day. In 1981, Parnell was tried and convicted of kidnapping Timmy and Steven in two separate trials. He was sentenced to seven years but was paroled after serving five years. Parnell's prison sentence for the abduction of Steven and Timmy was considerably less than the seven years he had kept Steven prisoner. Steven married Jody Edmondson in 1985 and they went on to have two children. On September 16, 1989, Steven's motorcycle collided with a car that pulled into traffic from a side road. Steven received head injuries that proved fatal. Over 500 people attended his funeral, including then-14-year-old Timmy White, who helped carry Steven's coffin into the church. Timmy White later became a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy. He died on April 1, 2010 at the age of 35 from a pulmonary embolism and is survived by his wife and two young children. Memorial  Steven's hometown of Merced, California has erected a memorial to honor Steven for his courage in rescuing Timothy. This memorial will stand as a beacon of hope to families and friends of other missing children that their loved one may someday return. It will also recognize other victims of stranger abductions, and will serve as a permanent reminder of our inherent duty to protect our children.
The date for dedicating the memorial is August 28, 2010, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in Merced, California. ************************************************************************************* 
****************************** S.T.A.R. Project kicks-off----1st in the Nation! On Friday, November 20th, the Penn Hills School District, Penn Hills Township, and the Penn Hills Police Department, (a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA), along with the assistance of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr., took its place as the first in the nation to implement the total S.T.A.R. Project! The purpose of the Safety Kids’ S.T.A.R. Project (Stand Together! Act Responsibly!) is to promote Responsible Reporting, hopefully decreasing violence and other incidents that are unsafe, illegal, or wrong. The project teaches students to “break the code of silence,” change the mindset of “snitching,” teach the difference between tattling and Responsible Reporting, and hold others accountable for their actions. “The goal is to make society, beginning with the school and home, a place where a child feels and is safe and secure,” according to Diane Brown, founder and director of Safety Kids. Although numerous locations across the country are piloting the lessons, only Penn Hills is taking it community-wide with the full five-prong approach (Students, School, Family, Law Enforcement, and Community).  Penn Hills Police Officer Dennis Lynch is teaching the lessons for children in K-5, to be followed with reinforcement from the classroom teachers and administration; students in middle school will be added on next year. Parenting seminars will be held throughout the community as the project moves forward. In addition, there will be contests, promotions, prizes, and a rewards banquet as a culminating event. Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA is conducting an evidence-based study of the project. The project in Penn Hills will serve as a blueprint for other communities to follow. Please contact the Safety Kids office if you are interested in implementing this free program in your community. Also involved in the project are: Penn Hills Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary, and the Penn Hills Council. Thanks go to everyone involved for helping kick-off this project that will benefit the entire community. For media coverage, please see: http://www.phsd.k12.pa.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=241&Itemid=223 http://kdka.com/school/STAR.program.Penn.2.1324631.html http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09329/1016026-56.stm http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_654909.html ************************************************************************************************************************************** Officer Mike Crawshaw End of Watch: December 6, 2009 Killed in the Line of Duty http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/parolee-charged-in-killing-229659.html http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_656699.html
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