TV series
When Steven Stayner returned home, the real story began.
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. For years, his family searches for him, only to find they’ve been looking for the wrong boy. 50 years on, Steven’s children unearth clues to their father’s mysterious past.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. For years, his family searches for him, only to find they’ve been looking for the wrong boy. 50 years on, Steven’s children unearth clues to their father’s mysterious past.
Cast, crew and production details
Corin NemecSelf
Todd Eric AndrewsSelf
HuluUnited States
High Five ContentUnited States
AGBOUnited StatesWatch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Episode 1
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. His family struggles to keep his case in the public eye - until his heroic return seven years later sparks a media sensation.
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Episode 2
A heroic escape. A televised family reunion. But the Stayner ordeal is far from over as painful secrets surface. When a hit TV movie rewrites the Stayner story, reality gets stranger than fiction.
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Episode 3
Two decades after Steven went missing near Yosemite, three tourists vanish from the same area. When the FBI finds the killer, the Stayner family is linked to the new, horrifying crimes and the family is thrust back into the headlines.
Where to watch Captive Audience: A Real American Horror StoryEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
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