Investigators made a break in the investigation when a neighbors security camera caught the McStays car leaving their home on the evening of February 4. WebInvestigators found four people who resembled the McStays walking across the border at approximately 7:00 p.m. on February 8, less than two hours after parking the car in the Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [32] On June 24, the jury recommended that Merritt be sentenced to death. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. My fear is that Im looking for two adult shallow graves and my two nephews crosses, Josephs kid brother, Michael, told the Orange County Register a few weeks after the Feb. 4, 2010, disappearance. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. I loved Joseph, he said. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? The sizes of the people appear to match the McStay family. Oscar Cainer tells all. After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend. 'Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies' : Where Is Casey Anthony Now? The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. DNA matching Merritt, who owed Joseph McStay more than $42,000, was found on the steering wheel and gear shift of the McStay vehicle abandoned near the Mexico border. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend,once telling CNNs Randi Kay that although they began as work acquaintances, they quickly grew to be friends, playing paintball together andsharingdinnera few nights a week. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. WebJoseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home in Fallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010. They were actually written several days after the family disappeared and backdated to make it appear as though theyd been issued before the family vanished. On February 13, when the family hadnt been heard from in nine days, Josephs brother went to the house. Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. He has covered San Bernardino County since 2009. [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. WebInvestigators said they traced Merritt's cellphone to the area where the bodies were buried in the days after the family disappeared and to a call seeking to close McStay's online Of course all the standard technical analysis tools, indicators and charting functions are included in our FREE charting package, but we've gone Beyond Charts for those searching for more. A three-pound sledgehammer is also found at the site. Sheriffs investigators believe Merritt, a business associate of Joseph McStay who built custom decorative water fountains for McStays online business, killed the McStays for financial gain. He was sentenced to death 5 months later and was put to death on January 21, 2020. Your email address will not be published. Merritts trial has been delayed multiple times due to Merritt attempting to represent himself and repeatedly firing his attorneys, he has gone through five between November 2013 to February 2016. The pair had met through Josephs successful decorative waterfall business, Earth Inspired Products. A 3-pound Stanley-brand sledgehammer, the suspected murder weapon, was found in one of the graves, and the skeletal remains indicated the McStay family had suffered multiple bone fractures to the head, extremities and torso, likely from repeated blows to the bodies with the sledgehammer. At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. [16], After their disappearance, it was speculated that the McStays left voluntarily since investigators found searches on the family's computers for "What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?" January 25, 2018. mcstay family autopsy photosdave coulier son. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Charles Chase Merritt, 62, was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, 40, McStays wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. However, Michael was sure it wasnt his relatives, adding, Summer would never take the boys to Mexico. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. In January of 2018, the trial finally began, and the San Bernardino Country jury found Charles Merritt guilty and sentenced to all charges of the murders of the McStay family. ', A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. Theyre not there, but their dogs are in the backyard and theres food rotting in the kitchen. Hannah Betts' Better not younger: Secret to longer, thicker locks? Mom Claimed Daughter, 5, Vanished Overnight. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. He started as a crime reporter and went on to cover a variety of beats including courts and the cities of Colton, Highland and Grand Terrace. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of "American Greed" at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The deaths have been ruled a homicide. And they should be. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. He stands charged with first-degree murder in connection with the February 2010 bludgeoning deaths of Summer McStay, 43, her husband Joseph McStay,40, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. A sledgehammer was also found buried at the site. ', Getting worried:Susan had her son Mike stop by the family's San Diego County home on February 13, 2010, nine days after her son was last heard from, Confusing: Upon Mike's arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard, Abandoned: When Mike crawled through a window of the San Diego County home, he discovered food rotting in the kitchen, Mike crawled through a window and discovered food rotting in the kitchen, and Summer's prescription sunglasses were also left on the table., 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled., There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord., The family's computer had recent internet searches for: 'What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?' In addition, security cameras for the parking lot from which the car was towed confirmed that the car had not arrived there until the afternoon of February 8, so there was four days of which the family was unaccounted for. January 7, 2019Merritts trial begins. Tragically, that's exactly what happened whenJoseph and Summer McStay and their two young sons vanished from their home in northern San Diego in early 2010. [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. On February 19, California police notified Interpol to be on the lookout for the family. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The tragic case will be featured in the Season 2 premiere of Killer Motive, hosted by Troy Roberts and airing Saturday at 6/5c on Oxygen. Its been a tough road.. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. [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. With no leads, the case went cold until nearly four years later, when the familys remains were found 100 miles away in the Mojave Desert after an off-road motorcyclist discovered human bones. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance., 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., 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, They got their first clue when they learned a neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family'sIsuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing., 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., As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play., On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico., 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., Huh? It did appear, however, as though the family left the home quickly. [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. Even more troubling, a QuickBooks customer service representative told investigators he remembered an unsettling call from a man claiming to be Joseph McStay who wanted to completely delete his account and all information on the account, but Hanke said the phone used to call the customer service line had belonged to Merritt, not Joseph. Their disappearance was extensively reported on national news stations across the country. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay.. McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border. An Susan explained that her son and daughter-in-law would often go on 'little mini-trips' with their kids in California, so they weren't alarmed at first., 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." A California businessman has been sentenced to death for brutally murdering a family of four and then dumping their bodies in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert. A hearing on McGees motion is scheduled Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court. Around the same date, fliers were distributed to aid in the search. This information was alarming enough for Josephs brother to call the police and report the family missing, as it was uncharacteristic of them to leave the dogs without food. Their disappearance was extensively reported on national news stations across the country. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. Investigators rush to the scene and locatetwo graves containing multiple human remains in each. In this Nov. 7, 2014, photo, Michael McStay is consoled by San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon as he reacts before talking to the media about his late brother's family at a news conference. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. Forensic have discovered that Charles Merritt had his DNA recovered from the McStays car. Investigators believed the murder weapon was a 3-pound sledgehammer, which was found in the grave containing the remains of Summer and her son. 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. For years the familys mysterious disappearance would continue to baffle investigators until a motorcyclistriding the trails in the Mojave Desert on Nov. 13, 2013 made a gruesome discovery. [2], On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph McStay's business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders. February 8, 2010 The familys white 1996 Isuzu Trooper was found near San Ysidro, adjacent to the Mexico border. Investigators found one of the birth certificates left behind in the home. The show features new suspects, witnesses, evidence, and theories regarding the case, as well as the trial from both the defendant's and prosecutor's points of view.[35]. she said. amily members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. How do you do that?. Webmcstay family autopsy photoscavalier king charles breeders near paris. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Harry and Meghan praise 'inspirational' US lawyer after their Archewell Foundation gave her an award for Why Diana loved doing the dishes! Charles Meritt did the welding, creating some of the metal work, the fountains, and Joseph was the businessman behind it all, and from all accounts, he was flourishing, Shin tells American Greed.. McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border, The house was as if somebody just beamed them up to the Starship Enterprise, reporter Tony Shin, who covered the case for KNSD-TV, recalls in the latestepisode of, For years the familys mysterious disappearance would continue to baffle investigators until a motorcyclistriding the trails in the Mojave Desert on Nov. 13, 2013 made a, Investigators from the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department soon. Stars Christopher Crutchfield Walker (voice) Joseph McStay (archive footage) Summer McStay (archive footage) See production, box office & company info Watch on Merritt told investigators that on Feb. 4, 2010, the day the family disappeared, Merritt and McStay met for lunch at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga for a business meeting. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Many conspiracies believed that they wanted to disappear, and that they have crossed the Mexican border, the familys SUV having been found stranded near the border. The McStay family is seen in this undated family photo provided to KGTV. 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. February 19, 2010 Detectives search the McStay family home. Summers skull was fractured and one of their sons heads was bludgeoned seven times, according to court testimony. Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? The sledge hammer is the likely murder weapon. The driver for all Investors is the continuous search for investment opportunities. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. California currently has a moratorium on executions. How could you beat two precious little babies? The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. CNN. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. November 11, 2013 A motorcyclist finds human remains in the desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles north of the McStay home. Patrick had the chance to directly address Merritt in court, calling him a 'ruthless mass murderer' and telling him, 'I hope you burn in hell. However, there was raw food left out, which seemed to indicate the family left in a hurry or had the intention to come back soon after. Nearly four years after a California family vanished, their remains were found buried in the desert. Cell phone records indicate that he drove home after the meeting, and he continued to make calls into the evening. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard., Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. There was a huge sigh of relief. How a Serial Killer Was Caught While 'Literally Trying to Clean His Van of Evidence', Phoenix Mother Wanted to End Marriage Before Husband Killed Her and Their 3 Children, Friends Say, a white extension cord wrapped around his neck. Perhaps this wasnt the case because three days before the disappearance, Joseph McStay was planning on firing Merritt and sent him an email asking him for the $42,000 he owed him after mismanaging his job. There was no evidence of forced entry or a struggle. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. It was unclear. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. There were also incisions in her bra that lead investigators to believe it was cut off, the motion states. WebThe McStay family murders occurred on or near February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States; their bodies were Merritt is on trial for the murder of the McStay family from Fallbrook back in 2010. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them. When the partner arrived at the home, he found both dogs outside, with food in their bowls, which led them to believe that the family had gone out of town and had somebody caring for the dogs. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There was finally some closure for the family, Imes says. The entire case left investigators and loved ones completely puzzled. Autor de la entrada: Publicacin de la entrada: junio 16, 2022 Categora de la entrada: rivian executive vice president Comentarios de la entrada: After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. A motion filed in San Bernardino Superior Court on Nov. 20 on behalf of McStay family murder suspect Charles Chase Merritt by his attorney, James McGee, argued against the use of family photos and/or videos of the McStay family at trial, stating it could engender sympathy from the jury for the victims and prejudice the jury against Merritt. Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. Inside, he found a relatively normal scene. WebBack in February of 2010 the McStay family disappeared, in Fallbrook California. Investigators also say they found emails indicating the family had been interested in obtaining passports to travel to Mexico, according to the outlet. There was a couple bowls of I believe popcorn that it looked like the boys were eating, possibly watching TV. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. Get up to speed on the investigation with the timeline below. At one point, investigators wondered if the family had decided to start a new life in Mexico. The FBI will lend their resources in Mexico, where San Diego Sheriff's investigators are focusing their search, reports CBS Newsat the time. The familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border. Though it is possible that Summer was using a different name, there are no records of passports under any of her other names. backstroke short film ending explained, No longer accepting comments on this article drove home after the family had been interested in obtaining passports to into! 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