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I started out this day by showing up at my doctor’s office before 8 AM to have an ingrown toenail removed. Thankfully, my toe is still numb, but the getting numb part was horrible! As I sat down to attend to some business at my computer, I turned on the television. I ended up watching an A&E program about Cary Staynor, the Yosemite killer. (No shopping channel or cooking program for me!)
Cary Staynor was the older brother of Stephen Staynor, the boy who was abducted by a pedophile and was missing for 7 years. As a child, Cary received several mental health diagnoses, including high-functioning autism, OCD, and trichotillomania (hair pulling). He had violent fantasies that apparently started even before his brother was abducted. And then he spent his childhood going on “vacations” to look for his missing sibling.
I remember being at the national CASA conference and seeing a tribute to Carole Sund, one of Saynor’s victims. She was a CASA worker herself… Cary Saynor killed four women, and the killings were brutal and premeditated.
When he went to trial, it only took the jury about 7 hours to find him guilty. But then the million dollar question was, does his mental illness exempt him from the death penalty? It didn’t, for he did get the death penalty.
I have had variations of this conversation with many folks over the years. Should a sociopath be “held accountable” for being a sociopath? I think those of us who live with kids who make life-altering decisions every day have a pretty accurate view of biology vs. environment vs. free will.
Cary Staynor’s mental health issues began before his brother was abducted, and by all accounts those issues were not addressed properly when he was a child. However, he clearly made decisions that were premeditated in the killing of these women… He could have sought mental health care as an adult. He was well into his 30’s when he killed these women. Of course he was responsible!
Sorry for the doom and gloom post today, but this TV program just fell into my lap this morning!
Photo Credit, Yosemite National Park
I’m not so sure on this one… I think people are so much more aware than even twenty years ago. My sister suffers from severe mental problems. I remember vividly an encounter I had with my then two year old sister (I was six years old) and I walked away thinking in my head, “There’s something wrong with her.” I was very close to her in my 20s and really pretty knowledgeable about available mental health services and STILL I never talked to her about help. Education, education, education…. I think if Cary Staynor was provided an intensive education regarding his problems even now as he serves time in prison, he may finally be helped
“I think if Cary Staynor was provided an intensive education regarding his problems even now as he serves time in prison, he may finally be helped”
I don’t disagree, but there is one big caveat… he has to WANT help. I don’t know if he does or doesn’t… but you can’t “fix” someone who won’t acknowledge that he is “broken.”
I agree 100%.