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. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. 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. "It didn't just mark me that day," Michael McStay said. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! 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. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, breaks down while speaking at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. Investigators said they also traced Merritts cellphone to the area where the bodies were buried in the days after the family disappeared and to a call seeking to close McStays online bookkeeping account. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. And when we were out she would call him constantly. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. Just a monster.". We dont run this circus. He would try to ignore it at first, but she would call and call and eventually he would have to go off and deal with whatever drama there was. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. A deep pause followed as Michael McStay tried to collect himself. "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. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/nZp6QeV6sQ, I dont know that I can ever explain the impact this man has had on my family, she said. Oscar Cainer tells all, How to dress like a grown up: Trust me, loose fit can be flattering, says Shane Watson, Anti-agers no one but you needs to know about,Inge Van Lotringen tells all. 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, missing for more than three years, had been found buried in the High Desert near Victorville. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Here are the seven best ways to wear them this spring. Just stop all the appeals, all the shenanigans. [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. Father of Joseph McStay, whose remains and wife's were found this week after 2010 disappearance, calls San Diego Sheriff's Dept. "The gruesome and brutal details of the crime that you committed are his family," she said to Merritt. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. Dont worry, your fate will be way less tragic than of the family you murdered.. Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. All of the motions were denied. He said healing will be a lifelong thing for his family, but he knows they can do it together. He was married to Summer McStay for seven years. Doves were . In the gallery sat Merritt's daughter and brother. Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. 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. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. 'We went all the way down to Cabo because at first they said there were sightings, and then we just took the car and went north. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. [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. Merritt was arrested the following year. 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. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. "So unnatural. She would fawn over him and call him, her Joseppi. [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. All rights reserved. On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico. 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. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. He boasted it had a "loft/game room & big. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. ", 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. Charles "Chase" Merritt interrupted his attorney Friday during legal proceedings. The family disappeared without a trace in February 2010. The impression I get is that Summer would use her sexuality to get attention and get what she wanted. 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. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while hes in office. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. 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. I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. Judge just denied defense motion to reduce potential sentence to life in prison (Judge will also consider death). " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! Authorities think they've caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family. ", Chase Merritt watching and listening. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. 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. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. ___ 12 a.m. The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael Smith upheld the jurys recommendation of death following a two-day sentencing hearing that included a flurry of last-minute motions from Merritt and his lawyer, who accused prosecutors of misconduct, Merritts earlier attorneys of incompetence and, on Tuesday, tried to remove the judge himself from the case. In October 2009, Joseph McStay excitedly e-mailed a friend about the house he and his wife had purchased in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, Calif. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. 'You had a choice. That 8-hour day in court included lengthy motions arguments from Merritt's attorney, Rajan Maline, and even a moment when Merritt tried to interrupt proceedings and fire Maline. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. He maintains his innocence. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. So why was being grilled about her books on Mastermind so Why should I be asked to tip when I shop online? Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer, Blake said as Merritt stared at her impassively. and Spanish language lessons. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. Arent you tired? 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. "Not natural causes; there was intent here.". Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. He was sentenced to death and life in prison. Where were they? Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. But he would not even entertain the idea of cheating on her. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Joseph managed a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. . How scared were they, Chase? 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 two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. Joseph McStay, de 40 aos, su mujer, Summer, de 43, y sus hijos Gianni, de 4, y Joseph Jr., de 3, desaparecieron de su casa en Fallbrook, California, el 4 de febrero de 2010 DESAPARICIN Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. They took none of their belongings, left $100,000 in the bank and even abandoned their beloved dogs. A grainy video captured at a nearby border crossing deepened the mystery. "We don't run this circus. Ill never get another conversation with him. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. And now, victim impact statements before formal sentencing. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. Arent you tired, man? he asked. 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. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. The attorney stopped Merritt, saying, "You can't.". The disappearance of the McStay family - Joseph, 41, Summer, 43, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3 - occurred in 2013, when they vanished without a trace from their California home. 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. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, 40, McStay's wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr.,. 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. 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.. 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. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. 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. I did not do this thing.. ', 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. 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. He then spoke to his friend several more times on his mobile over the course of the afternoon and actually missed a call from him at 8.28pm, which was the last time Joseph used his phone. On Friday, he. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. What about the little guys? During the last stretch of Friday's marathon day in court, only one person was able to deliver a victim impact statement: Patrick McStay, Joseph McStay's father. Chase Merritt, 62, is facing a potential death sentence, or life in prison. The case initially puzzled. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. 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. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. 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. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. , updated 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. "It's not just a Netflix documentary to us. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. Smith ordered Merritt transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. Charles "Chase" Merritt appears at his sentencing hearing in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 21, 2020. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. I was just trying to keep the customers or whoever was calling calm and hopefully to keep the business going. Crying for mommy and daddy?' 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. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. Watch live on social media with @fox5sandiego pic.twitter.com/jm1tgT66R2, Jeff McAdam (@JeffMcAdamTV) January 21, 2020, The victims family members, meanwhile, dismissed Merritt as, in the words of McStays mother, Susan Blake, a despicable, evil monster.. Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". 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. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. Despite all the time I spent with Joseph, I had no kind of relationship with her. 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). Why were they gone? 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. I would never raise my hand to a woman or a child.". 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. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. How scared were they, Chase? An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. 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. California has not executed anyone since 2006. Joseph McStay owned a custom fountain business and worked with Merritt. 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. [23] Merritt, who reportedly was the last person Joseph called from his cell phone, also said that he had passed a polygraph test and did not know anything that could help solve the mystery of the family's disappearance. 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). 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. How scared were they, Chase? 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. "I hope you burn in Hell," he told the man convicted of killing his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. 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. 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. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. The sentencing was supposed to begin at 8:30 a.m. but was delayed by about an hour because Merritt, for unknown reasons, wasn't transported to the courthouse. The McStays have deep Orange County ties, Cirignani said. #nbc7 #mcstay He told Merrit, I want to psychological mess you up. https://t.co/0xbSXeb9kX. If you were trying to save the business, Ms. Blake, what steps did you take to learn about the funds that were coming into the business and going out of the business, Maline asked, surviving an objection from Rodriguez. 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. Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. 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. And they told me they were also gone. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. 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.