 Stella Nickell was born Stella Maudine Stephenson in Colton , Oregon , to Alva Georgia " Jo " ( née Duncan ; later changed her name to Cora Lee ) and George Stephenson , and grew up poor . By age sixteen , she was pregnant with her daughter Cynthia . Nickell then moved to Southern California , married , and had another daughter . She began to have various legal troubles , including a conviction for fraud in 1968 , a charge the following year of beating Cynthia with a curtain rod , and a conviction for forgery in 1971 . She served six months in jail for the fraud charge , and was ordered into counseling after the abuse charge . 
