Stayner Agrees to Life Sentence and Silence

Motel handyman Cary Stayner was convicted Wednesday of murdering a Yosemite naturalist in a deal that spares his life but guarantees he will never be free and never be able to tell his story.

In a plea agreement made public earlier this week, Stayner pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to killing Joie Armstrong on July 21 of last year. He admitted he kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered Armstrong.

In exchange, he will be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of facing a death sentence.

The agreement that Stayner, his lawyer and prosecutors signed Sept. 6 also requires that he take his story to his grave.

“After the entry of judgment in this case until his death he will not speak to anyone, write to anyone, or communicate to anyone about the death of Joie Ruth Armstrong,” the agreement states. The only exception is any testimony or communication with his lawyer regarding his state or federal murder cases.

Standing before the judge in a courtroom packed with reporters, investigators who worked on the case and Armstrong’s mother, Stayner displayed little emotion during a subdued hearing that lasted 30 minutes.

While answering questions from Judge Anthony W. Ishii, Stayner cast his eyes downward, rarely responding with more than a yes or no. He occasionally paused long enough to create an uncomfortable silence, prompting the judge to repeat himself.

Stayner, 39, initially pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, attempted sexual assault and murder in the case, which was being prosecuted in federal court because Armstrong was killed in a national park.

While Stayner has dodged execution in Armstrong’s murder, he still could face the death penalty if convicted in state court of the slayings of three Yosemite tourists.