Closer Look At Hulu’s ‘Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story’

A true-crime docuseries titled Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story is slated to drop into Hulu’s streaming library soon. The docuseries will be three episodes long and all three episodes have a release date of April 21. People Magazine snagged an exclusive first look at the true-crime docuseries complete with a teaser trailer you can click here to watch.

Wondering what this true-crime docuseries is about? Keep reading for all the details.

First look at Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story

Steven Stayner was a name anyone who watched television back in the ’80s recognized. He was a child that at the age of 14 became a national hero. For those unfamiliar with his story, Steven was just seven years old when he was kidnapped in 1972. After being held for seven years, he managed to escape his abuser. What really captivated people about his story was the fact that he also freed Timmy White. Timmy was a five-year-old that was also being held captive by the same abuser.

His brave action landed both him and Timmy White in the spotlight. What happened to Steven and Timmy became the inspiration behind a movie released in 1989 called I Know My First Name Is Steven.

A hero with an evil brother?

While Steven Stayner continued to soak up the spotlight, his older brother Cary Stayner soured in the shadow of Steven’s fame. In the upcoming docuseries Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, one of his sisters admits everyone in the family got “a little jealous” of the attention surrounding Steven.

Sadly, Steven Stayner’s life and freedom was short-lived as he died in a motorcycle accident in September 16, 1989. Many agree it was just tragic for Steven to go through so much, get free, and then die in a traffic accident. There, however, are some people that believe Steven was understandably suicidal after everything that happened to him and drove into traffic on purpose while driving home from work.

Captive Audience: Steven’s brother snapped

Ten years after Steven passed away, something inside of his older brother Cary Stayner snapped.

In 1999 between the months of February and July, Cary Stayner brutally murdered four people including three tourists and a naturalist. His victims included Carole Sund, 42; Juli Sund, 15; Silvina Pelosso, 16; and Joie Ruth Armstrong, 26. Two of his female victims were discovered inside the trunk of their charred vehicle. Their bodies were completely burned. One of his victims had her throat slashed. And, he decapitated his final victim.

Cary Stayner was arrested during the same year he committed the crimes. He was later convicted of murdering all four women. He was sentenced to death. At the age of 60, Cary is still alive. He is on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

Captive Audience: What to expect?

The Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story docuseries will take a closer look at the opposing legacies of the hero (Steven) and the criminal (Cary). The docuseries will feature interviews with several family members and a few case experts. An interview will also be conducted with the actor who received an Emmy nomination after his portrayal of Steven on television.

All three episodes of Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story will be available for streaming via Hulu on April 21. Will you be checking out this docuseries? Let us know in the comments.