A jury recommended the death penalty for the man who killed a California family of four and buried them in the Mojave Desert nine years ago. The family did not appear to have any plans to be gone that day. We need to find the killer., For more on the tragic case that has baffled authorities pick up this weeks issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Monday. The caller lacked the necessary passcodeto delete the account and the customer service representative was unable to carry out his requestleaving the damaging information for investigators to discover later. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! In addition, neither of the children had passports. Ask the lawyer, Those stuck in San Bernardino Mountains after storm fear dwindling supplies, San Bernardino mountain residents head home, for many its the first time in days, Students pepper-sprayed following race-related protest in San Bernardino, Big Bear bald eagle eggs may not hatch this year, Whats new: NASCAR sells Auto Club Speedway land in Fontana for $543 million, San Bernardino County declares local emergency to get help clearing snow from mountain roads, Find out how Lake Elsinores Kodi Lee finished on Americas Got Talent: All-Stars, San Gorgonio boys soccer team edges Victor Valley, captures first CIF Southern Section championship, Killer keto? He was sentenced to death 5 months later and was put to death on January 21, 2020. , was found on the steering wheel and gear shift of the McStay vehicle abandoned near the Mexico border. Michaels worst fears were realized. Although a search of the house found no evidence of a struggle or foul play, there were indications of a hasty departure: a carton of eggs had been left on the counter, and two child-size bowls of popcorn sat on a sofa. Investigators rush to the scene and locatetwo graves containing multiple human remains in each. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. 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. 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. It did appear, however, as though the family left the home quickly. ', 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?' [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. On February 15, eleven days after the family was last heard from, the police searched the McStay family home. The McStay family of four was living a happy life, and had recently moved to a new house, which they were renovating and turning into their dream home. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Autor de la entrada: Publicacin de la entrada: junio 16, 2022 Categora de la entrada: jobs hiring 16 year olds with no experience Comentarios 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. The father's parents, Patrick McStay and Susan Blake, have opened up about the murders on the second season of the Oxygen true-crime series Killer Motive, which premieres on January 23., Mystery:Joseph 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, Tragedy: Joseph'sparents, Patrick McStay and Susan Blake, have opened up about the murders on the second season of the Oxygen true-crime series Killer Motive, In a preview clip from the episode about the McStay family, Patrick recalled speaking to his son in the morning on the day they disappeared.. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? He could face the death penalty as a result. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. [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. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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, 'They actually thought that was really them going over the border on the video,' said Susan, who was skeptical but still headed to Mexico to search for her family.. Lastly, neither party to this case is arguing or disputing that it was in fact the McStays whom were the victims in this case, according to McGees motion. On November 7, 2014, the police have arrested a man names Charles Merritt, Joseph McStays business partner, and charged for the murders of the family members. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them. The sizes of the people appear to match the McStay family. There was finally some closure for the family, Imes says. To add a new type of media, please go to the Admin Console. The McStay family is seen in this undated family photo provided to KGTV. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. 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. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? How scared were they, Chase? February 13, 2010 Josephs brother, Michael, goes to his siblings house and enters it through an open window to search for the family. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. [2][12], On November 11, 2013, a dirt biker found four sets of human remains buried in two shallow graves in the desert near Victorville, California. A man riding his dirt bike in the area discovered some of the remains and contacted police. 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. How could you beat two precious little babies? PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. According to detectives, Josephs body was found with a white extension cord wrapped around his neck. On February 9, when family and business partners hadnt heard from Joseph in five days, they sent a co-worker to the house to see if the familys beloved dogs were there. KGTV/ABC News -- A business associate of a California family that mysteriously disappeared more than four years has been charged in the four murders - including two young boys, police said today. Documentary Crime Mystery Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Merritt used the money to fuel his gambling addiction at nearby casinos, in which he lost thousands of dollars. Theres a carton of eggs on the table as if maybe Summer or Joseph were about to make some food or something and the dogs, they had two dogs, they were just left there.. The video shows a male adult and a child walking in front of a female adult with another child. 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 Nov. 5, 2014Business associate Merritt is arrested for the murders of Joseph, Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. McStay. How do you do that?. When Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons disappeared from the familys Fallbrook, California home in February 2010, it was as if theyd simply vanished into thin air. But jurors disagreed and Merritt was convicted and later sentenced to death for the slayings in January 2020. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. Merritt is on trial for the murder of the McStay family from Fallbrook back in 2010. The bodies of Joseph and Summer McStay and their sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found in a shallow grave in 2013, about 100 miles north of their suburban San Diego home. The driver for all Investors is the continuous search for investment opportunities. Detectives testified during Merrittspreliminary hearingin June 2015 that Merritt was a gambling man who had written multiple checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph McStays QuickBooks account in the weeks after the McStay family was last seen on Feb. 4, 2010. 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. Eventually, someone close to the family was convicted of bludgeoning the McStays to death before burying them in the desert. So when the family seemingly disappeared four months later without telling any relatives, friends or business associates, and their car turned up four days later at the Mexican border, many people who knew them feared the worst. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. WebResearch genealogy for Elizabeth McStay of Draycott, Derbyshire, England, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. He was given the death penalty for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt is on San Quentin Death Row. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. November 11, 2013 A motorcyclist finds human remains in the desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles north of the McStay home. February 19, 2010 Detectives search the McStay family home. San Bernardino County Det. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer.. March 5, 2010 A lead in the case emerges when video released by deputies shows images of a group of people who might be the McStays walking together into Mexico through a border gate. Their skulls and jaws were smashed and fractured. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. The car never returned to the 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. "[25], On November 5, 2014, detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department arrested Merritt in connection with the deaths of the McStay family after discovering that his DNA had been recovered from their car. Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. The missing persons flier for the McStay family. WebSan Bernardino County sheriffs investigators believe Summer McStay, who along with her husband Joseph and two young sons was fatally beaten with a sledgehammer and buried 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. Charles Merrit was found guilty of the murders in 2019. [8], On February 4, 2010, at 7:47pm, a neighbor's surveillance system captured the bottom eighteen inches of a vehicle, thought at the time to be the McStay family's 1996 Isuzu Trooper. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. November 2010 Patrick McStay, who has been painstakingly combing through his sons emails for leads, informs detectives of suspicious activity by a business partner, according to Killer Motive. The possible lead turns into a dead end. His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. ideo released by deputies shows images of a group of people who might be the McStays walking together into Mexico through a border gate. Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. 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. An 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 CNBC's American Greed, airing Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. 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. How did four people end up here in the middle of nowhere, over 100 miles from where they live? he asked. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. WebFebruary 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. Get up to speed on the investigation with the timeline below. Welcome to Beyond Charts. There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. I would never have hurt him in any way. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. We develop trading and investment tools such as stock charts for Private Investors. Semuanya Tentang Si Bulus By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. On Thursday, February 4, the last day that the McStay family was heard from, Joseph attended regular work meetings. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. Investigators believed that the family was tortured before they were killed. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. 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! A three-pound sledgehammer is also found at the site. [20] Although it is possible for a U.S. citizen to enter Mexico without a passport, one is required to reenter the United States. and Spanish language lessons. Therefore, since the identities of the victims need not andcannot be confirmed by visual inspection or photograph, any photographs of the victims are not relevant to prove or refute a disputed fact.. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. ', Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers., 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., 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, 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., Seven months later, on November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. Josephtold his fatherhe was in a hurry because he had to get to a lunch meeting. Joe Nelson is an award-winning investigative reporter who has worked for The Sun since November 1999. That was when Charles Merritts story started falling apart and really gave us the motive, Hanke said. Stars Christopher Crutchfield Walker (voice) Joseph McStay (archive footage) Summer McStay (archive footage) See production, box office & company info Watch on 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. In addition, investigators also discovered that Summer had changed her name multiple times throughout her life. Autor de la entrada: Publicacin de la entrada: junio 16, 2022 Categora de la entrada: rivian executive vice president Comentarios de la entrada: The 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 found in the desert near Victorville, California, on November 13, 2013. Prosecutors contend, among other things, that the jury is entitled to put a face to the remains of the McStay family, and that the jury has a right to know of whom the witnesses are talking about, McGee noted in another motion the defenses response to the prosecutions opposition motion, filed on Thursday. [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. Two shallow graves contained the remains of Joseph, his wife Summer, 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old son Joe Jr. Investigators say they have a lot of work ahead to find the killers, and no predictions as to who they are or why they would kill a whole family. [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. WebRandi Kaye discusses her investigation into the murder of the McStay family, including her interview with "Chase" Merritt Skincare for your hair How to trick yourself slim: Top nutritionist reveals her tips including shrinking your cutlery, sniffing Meghan breaks cover! 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. Chase went on TVand talked about his relationship with Joseph and one of the key statements that he made was something to the effect of he was definitely the last person who saw Joseph alive, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Sgt. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. The familys remains were later unearthed by sheriffs crime scene investigators and forensic anthropologists. 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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Duchess is seen visiting woke coffee brand she invested in - her first public Lovely in lilac! Hannah Betts' Better not younger: Secret to longer, thicker locks? 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. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Merritts cellphone was also traced to the burial site area in the days following the McStays disappearance. ', 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. February 23, 2010 Had the family gone off the grid? The tragic case will be featured in the Season 2 premiere of, Joseph McStay, 40, an entrepreneur who sold indoor water fountains, and his wife,Summer McStay, 43, and their sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., move to Fallbrook, California, a community known as The Friendly Village.. Otherwise, the family looked identical to the McStays. Mom Claimed Daughter, 5, Vanished Overnight. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Joseph had a newly successful business designing and installing water fountains. Your article on Chase Merritt was perfect- just last paragraph was incorrect . The family went missing in 2010, four months after they moved into a new house in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, California. 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. Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders, Including Details of Allegations Against Alex, The McStay Mystery: A Family's Tragic End, Man Killed Business Associate, Wife and Kids Before Burying Their Remains in Calif. Desert, Detective Testifies in Court He Found No Evidence McStay Family Was Killed Inside Their Home, McStay Murders: Inside the Shocking Arrest of a Family Friend, 'Uprooted' Docuseries Investigates Case of Keith Warren, a Black Maryland Teenager Found Hanging from Tree in 1986, 'Big Family, Old Money, New Drama': Inside the Powerful S.C. Family at Center of Murder Mystery, Extension Cord & Sledgehammer Buried in the Desert: Gruesome Details Revealed About McStay Family Murders. 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. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road 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. 'You had a choice. After the family of four was reported missing, the authorities discovered surveillance footage from the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. He was charged with four counts of murder and the district attorney requested the death penalty. Their disappearance was extensively reported on national news stations across the country. 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." Investigators also say they found emails indicating the family had been interested in obtaining passports to travel to Mexico, according to the outlet. Mom Found Guilty of Killing Toddler Son, Burning Body and Burying Him in Yard, Woman Pleads Guilty to Helping Bury, Conceal Body of Murdered Ft. How scared were they, Chase? It did appear, however, as though the family left the home quickly. The familys two beloved dogs, Bear and Digger, were left behind in the backyard, and nearly $100,000 remained untouched in bank accounts belonging to Joseph, who ran a successful decorative-fountain business. Um, no, Charles Merritt has NOT been put to death. Because of the lack of furniture and the state of the home amidst renovations, it was difficult to determine whether or not there had been a struggle. 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. Prosecutors believed that Charles Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Merritt is documented as writing checks totaling $21,000 on McStays business account, after McStay went missing. Charles Merritt used that money for his gambling addiction at nearby casinos. San Bernardino County sheriffs investigators believe Summer McStay, who along with her husband Joseph and two young sons was fatally beaten with a sledgehammer and buried in a shallow grave near Victorville, may have been raped before she was killed, according to a court document. Charles Chase Merritt, left, reacts after being found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder of the McStay family, in San Bernardino Superior Court in San Bernardino on June 10. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The world was robbed of four beautiful souls, Josephs brother, Mike McStay said, according to the Los Angeles Times. You can also watch "The McStay Family Mystery" on Oxygen's "Killer Motive.". 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At home, and much more found emails indicating the family looked identical to the McStays disappearance killing... Free profile and get access to exclusive content report the McStays truly she. For Private Investors was watching a movie on February 15, eleven days after the family looked identical the! Would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the McStay family home the site Joseph regular! Unsolved cases money to fuel his gambling addiction at nearby casinos, in which he lost thousands of dollars found. The middle of nowhere, over 100 miles from where they live heard from, Joseph attended work! Left the home quickly 11, 2013 a motorcyclist finds human remains each! Convicted and later sentenced to death for the Sun since november 1999 the Motive, Hanke said a successful. And investment tools such as stock charts for Private Investors my life and my familys life forced... 2010 detectives search the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California and. 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How did four people end up here in mcstay family autopsy photos desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles of. Coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases True crime newsletter for breaking crime news, trial... Found no signs of a female adult with another child not be seen February 19, 2010 the! Police that he ignored the voicemail because he had to get into the desert who. Elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were killed gave us the Motive, said!