She would shout at him in the privacy of their own home, but then put on a front like he was the most important person in the world when they were in public. After three years of searching, the San Diego Sheriff's Department investigators concluded in April 2013 that the McStay family had gone to Mexico voluntarily. The bodies of Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife Summer, 43, along with their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found in a shallow grave in the desert north of Victorville in 2013. The McStays' skeletal remains were unearthed along with a three-pound rusted sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon a bra and a child's pants and diaper. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. A license plate search for the vehicle led to the discovery that the McStay's SUV had been towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, California, right near the U.S.-Mexico border, Gone: The family was considered missing, and detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for headin to Mexico, Can't tell: Deputies released a video of a group of people similar to the McStay family entering Mexico hand in hand through the pedestrian gate around 7 p.m. on February 8, 2010, Devastating: Joseph's parents headed to Mexico to hang flyers and search for them but never found anything. Businessman Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two young sons -- Gianni 4, Joseph Jr. 3 -- were last heard from Feb. 4. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. Investigators also have e-mails indicating the couple asked. They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. You cannot get back time. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. ', Merritt showed no emotion as she said she felt like she'd been hit by a boulder when she was told the bodies were found: 'It's just a nightmare.'. She said the two tangled over how to keep the business afloat. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. [2][7] The deaths were ruled a homicide and San Bernardino County authorities said they believed the family died of blunt force trauma inside their home, but declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning McStay was cutting him out of his business making and selling custom water fountains. Joseph McStay the father of the family of four found dead in the California desert after vanishing nearly four years ago had suspicions his wife was POISONING him in the days before their disappearance, according to an explosive new book. All of the motions were denied. ___ 12 a.m. Were just the clowns, - Britt Imes. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. The next week, deputies released a video of a group of people similar to the McStay family entering Mexico hand in hand through the pedestrian gate around 7 p.m. on February 8, 2010, the same day their vehicle was towed. He would often come up and visit me and we would go out for dinner with my wife at the time, but Summer never came. Jurors in San Bernardino. , updated Merritts defense team has claimed Kavanaugh is a likely suspect in the McStay family case, but was overlooked by investigators despite what they described as a deteriorating relationship with Joseph McStay in the months before the familys disappearance.
During the lull, NBC 7 spoke with prosecuting attorney Britt Imes about the continuing delays. Now Merritt who actually took a voluntary lie detector test at the time of their disappearance and was the last person to see Joseph alive has decided to write a tell all book, in an effort to clear up the mystery. Victorville, California CNN . Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. How could you beat two precious little babies? Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. Indiana Man Charged After Son In Diapers Points Gun At . How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! So unnatural," he said. "Ultimately, I hope to be a father and when I am, I will hold my children close," he continued. Chase you are a low life coward and a baby killer. [7] Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. Smith ordered Merritt transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. Patrick also searched for their son in Mexico and thought he had a lead when a family claimed to have seen the McStays at Walmart, but security footage confirmed it wasn't them. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. Our last name is mentioned. [19] Relatives of the McStays doubted that they would travel to Mexico, saying that Joseph and Summer avoided the country because of the safety threat posed by recent drug wars. The shocking claims will stun everyone who has followed the McStay family disappearance since they first went missing back on February 4, 2010. A license plate search for the vehicle led to the discovery that the McStay's SUV had been towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, California, right near the U.S.-Mexico border, on February 8, 2010, four days after they went missing. Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Who'll find love on our blind date? Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. "I did not do this thing. California has not executed anyone since 2006. Joseph McStay - the father of the family of four found dead in the California desert after vanishing nearly four years ago - had suspicions his wife was POISONING him in the days before their . It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play. A lot of his close friends did not trust her and thought she treated him very badly. I would never hurt him in any way. The McStays' disappearance from their serene San Diego-area community of Bonsall has since prompted an investigation by police who still have no idea what happened. The home had no signs of forced entry. "So unnatural. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. We were incredibly busy with the business, things were really flying, but he would often just have to work on his laptop from his bedroom. The newly unsealed documents indicate Joseph McStay lent Chase Merritt money to cover a gambling debt before McStay and his family disappeared in February 2010. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. The clip appeared to show a family of four crossing the border into Mexico -- a family that looked like they could have been the McStays. He maintains his innocence. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. My brother was I looked up to my brother. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while he's in office. Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. And while he does not believe Summer was directly involved, he will dedicate a significant amount of the book to her behavior and the couples relationship. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. Just a monster. [1] At 8:28 pm, a call was placed from Joseph's cell phone to his business associate, Charles "Chase" Merritt, which went to voicemail. And when we were out she would call him constantly. Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. The McStay family disappeared from their Fallbrook home in San Diego's North County in 2010. List of journal articles on the topic 'Kirkland House (Cambridge, Mass.)'. Two Shallow Graves takes a look at the murders of the McStay family: Joseph, Summer and their two young boys, followed by the shocking trial . Maline asked Blake about the point of that argument, again struggling against Rodriguezs objections: Chase is telling (Kavanaugh) that he is a liar, that he is getting the money and not giving it to him, he managed to outline to the witness. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. "Closer still because I know what it's like to lose people I love.". The bodies of two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico. Ill never get another conversation with him. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. Arent you tired? [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. [20] Although it is possible for a U.S. citizen to enter Mexico without a passport, one is required to reenter the United States. Doves were . When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. The McStays, their two boys Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished in 2010, leaving food on the table and a massive mystery. Merritt is fully aware that his book will ruffle feathers and anger certain people, but he believes his intimate knowledge of Josephs life means he may be able to shed some light on the mystery. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. She had asked to get the money back, she said, But I never saw any., Blake had told an investigator that Merritt told her he completed a job for a customer in Saudi Arabia and was paid $17,000. Charles "Chase" Merritt, who was convicted of murdering the McStay family of four of Fallbrook, speaks to the judge before his sentencing at San Bernardino Superior Court in San Bernardino on. . Gunfire at 7-Eleven stores killed a clerk in Brea and a 24-year-old man in Santa Ana and injured three others in La Habra and Riverside early Monday, July 11, authorities said. McStay says he's felt all along that multiple people were involved in the February 2010 disappearance of his son, Joseph; Joseph's wife, Summer; and their children; 3-year-old Joey and. when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert, New weekly farmers market opens in Cardiff, Dierks Bentleys Gravel & Gold tour coming to San, Vehicle pursuit prompts lane closures on SR-76, SD animal sanctuary rescues cougar orphanedin car, 2 critically injured in head-on collision, Teenage bicyclist hurt in hit-and-run crash, Experts explain concerns, benefits from CA storms, Best deals of Presidents Day weekend 2023, Forgot about Valentines Day? His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. Where were they? The mother of Joseph McStay provided emotional testimony on the second day of the McStay murder trial. Joseph McStay has operated Earth Inspired Products, a waterfall and garden accessories business in San Clemente, since 1996, according. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. He was in a really bad way. I know the thought of leaving her crossed his mind, probably quite a lot, but he would never actually go through with it., The comments below have not been moderated, 'Insane' man who lived with his dead mother and stepfather for three days after murdering them recaptured one day after escaping from mental institution, Alabama pastor suspected of stabbing wife to death in July arrested as he tried to board flight to Germany, 'Jail food is cold, the water's bad and my cell doesn't have a microwave': Drug lord suspect writes to complain about prison conditions as he awaits trial, 'Can you imagine telling your four kids he's gone, then he turns up alive? Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while hes in office. This included Susan Blake, Joseph McStay's mother. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. [17] Other critics of the theory noted that the McStays had more than $100,000 in bank accounts, with no withdrawal of funds in preparation for a trip, and their accounts were untouched after their disappearance. Working through prosecutor Rodriguezs objections, Maline asked Blake, Do remember if it bounced?. Related research topic ideas. By Jill Sederstrom The McStay Family Goes Missing Now Playing Preview The McStay Family Goes Missing 2:14 Preview McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border 2:24 Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. The attorney argued a motion to reduce Merritt's sentence in the killings of Summer McStay and the children to life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty previously recommended by the jury that convicted Merritt. This despicable, evil monster. How scared were they, Chase? He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. The family disappeared without a trace in February 2010. The details are shocking and nauseating to sit through.". He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Father of Joseph McStay, whose remains and wife's were found this week after 2010 disappearance, calls San Diego Sheriff's Dept. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. [13] Dean stated in her blog she had just finished producing a radio show for San Diego station KNSJ when she received the call, and that she asked whether she could tell her followers what he had told her. He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. I just spoke to the prosecuting attorney in the Merritt case. His most recent felony conviction, in 2001, was for the theft of $32,000 worth of welding and drilling equipment from San Gabriel Valley Ornamental Iron Works in Monrovia, California. Michael McStay said watching his parents bury his brother was the most "unnatural" thing he could've ever witnessed. "I loved Joseph. The hearing, which consumed more than 10 hours, concluded with several emotional statements from McStays mother, brother, in-laws and surviving son, as well as from Merritt himself, who continued to maintain his innocence, I loved Joseph, he said, his voice shaking a times. In July 2015, Merritt's defense attorney filed a request to have the case dismissed because of the wording used by the prosecution when the charges were filed. Joseph McStay, 43-year-old Summer McStay and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey, 3, vanished without a trace in February 2010 shortly after moving to Fallbrook from Orange County. The court took a brief break. Every time you hear a sound in prison or in a movie similar to the sounds you made that day when you murdered this family, I hope it rings loud in your ears. He said: Summer was a very self-centered, self-obsessed person with an awful temper. Summer and Joseph McStay as well as their sons Joseph Mateo and Gianni had vanished without leaving much behind in terms of clues or without really informing any of their kith and kin. Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. A judge denied a motion to reduce Charles Merritt's sentencing from the death penalty to life in prison wihtout parole in the killings of Summer McStay, Gianni McStay and Joseph McStay Jr. Michael McStay talks about how much he misses his brother Joseph McStay at Merritt's sentencing. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. Were they scared, Chase? Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., were a fun-loving, happy family who'd recently settled into a comfortable life in Fallbrook, California. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. I honestly believed my psychiatrist . He maintained his innocence, saying something has always been "amiss" in this case. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. [24] When asked if he thought Merritt was a suspect, Joseph's father Patrick said, "I have to have faith in Chase because I have to have faith in my son. "The extreme violence and savagery of the nature of the killings -- particularly of two small children -- far outweigh the totality of all of the mitigating evidence," the judge added. The book will be released later this year. But when Rodriguez questioned her Tuesday, Blake said, Thats what was said, but I dont know for sure.. "It didn't just mark me that day," Michael McStay said. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. Description. Just a monster.". [26], According to the arrest warrant affidavits filed in the case, autopsies concluded that all four victims had been beaten to death with a blunt object. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, wipes her eyes at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, November 15, 2013. Sentencing still has not happened. He had a son from a previous relationship, who he didnt get to see much of and he was terrified that would happen with his two boys if he left Summer. The bodies of the McStay family were found buried in the Mojave desert in 2013, three years after the family vanished from their home in San Diego County. Richard K. De Atley has been a journalist since 1975, for City News Service in Los Angeles, The Associated Press in Los Angeles and New York, and The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 vanished. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. He was the last known person to see Joseph alive, during an hour-and-a-half long meeting in Rancho Cucamonga, California just hours before the family vanished into thin air. Don't worry, your fate will be way less tragic than that of the family you murdered. Il ne rpond pas au . Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. As court resumed, the judge said Maline had made yet another motion: to disqualify this judge from ruling on the remaining motion to reduce Merritt's sentence. He conducted dozens of interviews on the case (traveling to Mexico, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic), followed leads, and reported sightings of the family. Who killed the McStay family? Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The fountain designer has always been seen as a key player in the mystery as he was one of Josephs closest friends and his most trusted business associate. "Our family has already received a life sentence. They said that he wrote checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph's business account in the days after the family was killed and then went on a gambling spree at nearby casinos, where he lost thousands of dollars. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. Do I think Chase is involved? Blake was followed in testimony by her son and Joseph McStays brother, Michael McStay who said Joseph gave him $2,000 to start his fire sprinkler system business. McStay family went missing nearly three years ago Surveillance video shows four people of similar size crossing into Mexico Relatives dispute author's claim that wife was involved in. According to prosecutors, greed was the motive for the killings and Merritt killed the McStays because he had been embezzling thousands of dollars from Joseph McStay's business. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, disappeared along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3, from their their serene San Diego-area community more than a month ago. She would fawn over him and call him, her Joseppi. I was not his best friend, but he was mine and I believe he opened up to me about things he would not tell anyone else. Merritt has pleaded not guilty to the murders of McStay; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. On Friday, he. Obviously that was a real problem for Joseph and he used to talk to me about it regularly. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". ", Chase Merritt watching and listening. Merritt said the people responsible for the slayings are still free. ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. He just gave me the quote of the day on the continuing delays. He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Crying for mommy and daddy?' Merritt who was once a person of interest in the familys 2010 disappearance claims some of Josephs friends started telling him to be careful around Summer, 43. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. Here are some last-minute, Best last-minute Valentines Day gifts for him, These are places to live on the West Coast, Scooter rider killed in crash near border identified, SD Co. Sheriff: 2022 inmate death now ruled a homicide, A new pirate-themed speakeasy has washed ashore in, This SD campground is among the best in America, CA extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. The comments below have not been moderated. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. ', Gruesome: The McStays' skeletal remains were unearthed along with a three-pound rusted sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon, Crime: Charles 'Chase' Merritt, who was a partner in Joseph's water-fountain business, was arrested for the murders in 2014 and found guilty in 2019 (pictured), Criminal: In January 2020, Merritt was sentenced to death for bludgeoning the couple and their children to death inside their home because he owed them $30,000. On Monday, more than four years since his arrest in connection with the slayings, the family's accused killer, Charles "Chase" Merritt, is scheduled to go on trial on murder charges in San. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. Patrick McStay, Joseph McStay's father told CBS 8 in San Diego that authorities informed him two of the bodies found in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert on Monday were that of his son and his son's wife, Summer. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. In 2010, Joseph McStay (age 40) and his wife Summer (age 43) lived in Fallbrook, California, with their sons Gianni (age 4) and Joseph Jr. (age 3). I just dont remember very much because I fell to the office floor. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and on the (February) 4, he was talking to my mother and he had to pull over when he was driving home because he felt vertigo type symptoms.'. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. DNA samples were collected from the McSays' family, friends, and associates, but investigators couldn't get a search warrant to access their financial records because there was no evidence of a crime at the time.