Disturbing accusations of abuse emerged during Thursday’s “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” episode, as two missing Oregon teens joined in to tell their side of the story.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Penny Lyles, 15, and Jonathan Stockle, 18, vanished from Astoria on November 14, following an argument with Penny’s father, Ryan Lyles.
Following their disappearance, the Nevada Highway Police found the pair in Tonopah, Nevada, days later. While waiting to be transported back by Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services, Penny escaped. During a bathroom break, she fled to Jonathan’s car, fearing that she would be returned home.
Penny told Grace Thursday that she feared Lyles’ abuse and that Jonathan could end up behind bars for protecting her.
Although the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office has not substantiated the abuse allegations, Penny said that her childhood has been filled with abuse to the point that she will “never go back home” and has plans to “never speak with” her parents once she turns 18.
Penny alleged that her father had slapped her, hit her with objects, shot at her with a BB gun, dragged her through the gravel by her hair, and hit her in the face, legs, back, and arms. Lyles also allegedly body and weight-shamed her, even telling her boyfriend she didn’t “have a good body.”
“He doesn’t do too much to anymore but he made me do weird things like sit on his lap [and tells me] how much virgins are worth and that he could sell me for a lot of money,” Penny said, adding that her mother stood nearby while the incident happened.
“They have lied their whole lives about everything,” Penny said of her parents. “He is going to do horrible things to me and I am going to live this miserable life.”
Penny added that she once tried to get help through social services, but nothing ever came of it, despite her telling the school counselor about the abuse.
Ryan Lyles, who also joined Grace on Thursday’s episode, tells a different story.
Lyles said the pair ran away after he found mentions of drug use in a cell phone, as well as sneaking out and references to sex. Then, according to Lyles, Penny’s older sister told Penny that their father found the cell phone, leading to the pair fleeing in fear of the consequences.
Jonathan lived with Penny in the Lyles household, but the rules, Lyles said, included no drugs and no sex. Lyles said not only had they broken rules, but their grades were slipping and they stopped going to functions with him.
“I treat them like princesses and princesses. My family means everything to me,” Lyles explained. “I’m a softie for them. I protect them..they’ve had horses, you know, everything that they could imagine.”
Lyles added that regardless of rumors and what’s been said, no video exists that shows him abusing any of his children.
“Put it on national news for everyone to see. It doesn’t exist. I don’t abuse my children.”
Meanwhile, Lyles believes that the teens are with Jonathan’s family, despite Jonathan’s father, Wayne Stockle, refuting Lyle’s accusation and pushing for the teens to return home.
Penny and Jonathan’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
