His face was stoic. In the family's home, investigators found bowls of uneaten popcorn, as if the family had just been there, and planned to return. 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. What about the little guys? Joseph and Summer McStay were found buried in shallow desert graves along with their two young sons nearly four years after they vanished from their suburban California home (San Bernardino. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. Le 9 fvrier 2010, il avait envoy un courrier lectronique au pre de Joseph McStay, alertant de la disparition de son associ : Je n'ai pas de nouvelles de Joe. How could you beat two precious little babies? He has pleaded not guilty to the charges that he killed McStay, 40, a former business associate; his wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, in their Fallbrook home on Feb. 4, 2010, then buried their bodies more than 100 miles away in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, north of Victorville and west of the 15 Freeway. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. Just a monster. That family that went missing? [2][11], During their investigation, the police learned that around 11:00 pm on February 8, the family's Trooper had been towed from a strip mall parking lot in San Ysidro, San Diego, near the Mexican border. The parents of a man who disappeared with his wife and two young children have detailed how they searched for the family for years before it was discovered that their son's business partner brutally murdered them with a sledgehammer. I did not do this thing.. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/Ojp02cg2cJ. ", Chase Merritt watching and listening. 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 . [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." Vanished: Mike also discovered Summer's prescription sunglasses on the kitchen counter, Looking back: Summer is pictured wearing her prescription sunglasses prior to the family's disappearance, Case to crack:There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord, First clue: Their neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family's Isuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! The trial in the downtown San Bernardino Justice Center is before Judge Michael A. Smith. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home inFallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. ': Anguish of $21m fraudster banker's wife after he's found running POT FARM a year after faking his suicide, 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!' Just a monster.". Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his former business associate, Joseph McStay, 40. Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. ___ 12 a.m. I just spoke to the prosecuting attorney in the Merritt case. Our last name is mentioned. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. The mother of Joseph McStay wept on the witness stand Tuesday as she recounted the moment in November 2013 when she learned the remains of her son, his wife, and their boys aged 3 and 4,. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. . And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. Were just the clowns, - Britt Imes. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. He maintains his innocence. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. How can you take that all in?, Susan Blake, right, mother of Joseph McStay, reaches over and holds the hand of her other son Michael McStay, left, at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters, Friday, November 15, 2013. 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 . She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. At that time, no one knew what happened to the family. On February 13, Joseph's brother Michael traveled to the McStay residence and climbed in and gained entry to the home upon finding an open window in the back. Soon, the family's car was found at a strip mall in south San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border. Were they scared, Chase? They told how the McStays Joseph, Summer and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 were bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer and buried in shallow graves in the high desert outside. I dont remember bouncing a check, she said. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. Three years later, their bodies were found in a remote desert location more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away in San Bernardino County. Who'll find love on our blind date? California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. Arent you tired? Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. She said the day detectives told her they had found her family's bodies, it felt as if she'd been hit by a boulder. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. 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. 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 was given the death penalty for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt is on San Quentin Death Row. 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. Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. Yes, sir, McStay replied. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. (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. Do I think Chase is involved? 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. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. The bodies of two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. 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. I would never raise my hand to a woman or a child.". #nbc7 https://t.co/muZXjqJBFT. He would spend days on end in bed. Why were they gone? "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. Investigators and the public also focused on Merritt, the last known person to have had contact with Joseph and the first to notice his disappearance. And when four skeletal remains were found in shallow graves in the remote Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, it put an end to any belief the McStays had started a new life in the sunshine. 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. 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. And if the truth be told, despite everything, he was still infatuated with Summer. 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. All rights reserved. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "It marked my kids.". Blake said, speaking to Merritt. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. Summers ex husband made good on a promise the two made years ago and just played a portion of Norman Greenbaums Spirit in the Sky. Joseph McStay owned a custom fountain business and worked with Merritt. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. But the details of this case go back decades and has many twists and turns. Inconclusive: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, Frustrating: The McStays friends and family insisted they would never go to Mexico with their children, but there was no other explanation, Heartbreaking: On November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across the family's human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. 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 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. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? Huh? Investigators believe that Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph, were bludgeoned to death in their home in the San Diego County community of Fallbrook on Feb. 4, 2010, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said Friday. 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? #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. [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. You just do what you can for your son, and your family, she said. At center is Erin McStay, Michaels wife. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. Scholarly publications with full text pdf download. The court took a brief break. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. List of journal articles on the topic 'Kirkland House (Cambridge, Mass.)'. 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). Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. #nbc7 #mcstay He told Merrit, I want to psychological mess you up. https://t.co/0xbSXeb9kX. 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. (Will Lester . Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. The 58-year-old Merritt is. Obviously there wasnt money coming in, cause I was paying for money going out., So to your knowledge, Maline said, there is no money coming in, or you didnt learn of any money coming in.. [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. The details are shocking and nauseating to sit through.". [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. How could you beat two precious little babies? As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. He will focus on a number of key incidents and characters and try to paint a picture of what really happened in the lead up to that fateful day. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. California man pleads not guilty to killing family of four Susan Blake (L), the mother of Joseph McStay, leaves the courtroom with her son Michael McStay after Charles "Chase" Merritt was. The break came, defense attorneys said, when Merritt and McStay separately worked on a custom-fountain side of the business that did not include Kavanaugh. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while he's in office. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things.
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