Features

SAN JOSE — Yosemite killer Cary Stayner has more than 20 signs of mental illness, ranging from sexual fantasies with kids to depression to chronic hair pulling, a psychiatrist testified Monday. 

Stayner also showed signs of a narcissistic and schizoid personality, was socially dysfunctional and abused marijuana, said Dr. Jose Arturo Silva. 

Silva was the first expert called by the defense to testify about Stayner’s mental condition, which is the basis for his insanity defense in the killings of three Yosemite National Park tourists. 

Silva said Stayner dreamed about watching neighborhood girls being raped. In some scenarios, he rescued the girls. In others, he joined the assailants. 

“Those are fantasies because he is enjoying himself,” Silva said. “These things have been going on since he was very young. They have been there ever since.” 

During the daylong testimony, Stayner appeared attentive at times, slumped in his chair at other moments and plugged his ears as the psychiatrist revealed painful secrets. 

Silva spent more than 21 hours interviewing Stayner, reviewed over 400 documents and reports about him and interviewed his parents. 

Stayner’s family has a long history with mental illness, including psychosis, depression and sexual perversion. 

“A rather impressive history of psychiatric illnesses that goes back two generations,” Silva said. “It’s impressive and sad to see that.”