'As a mother, you're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them,' she explained. Theyre not there, but their dogs are in the backyard and theres food rotting in the kitchen. While no one has the answer, there are many leads, provided by people like Josephs father, Patrick McStay, who has complained for years that the San Diego Sheriffs Department was not treating the case seriously, and Rick Baker, who traveled the world researching his book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. According to investigators, DNA allegedly matching Merritts was found on the steering wheel of the McStays white Isuzu Trooper, which was abandoned near the Mexico border following the familys disappearance. Investigators 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 nearby parking lot. 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 However, three years later, in November 2013, the remains of the McStay family were discovered in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, near Victorville. However, a new discovery on border surveillance video changed the course of the investigation. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them. After the family of four was reported missing, the authorities discovered surveillance footage from the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. Hes a scumbag;hes a creep;he doesnt deserve to walk the earth or take a breath, Patrick tellsAmerican Greed. He killed somebody that trusted in him and gave him a chance when a lot of other people knew he was a crook and then he kills my grandsons, brutally. Summer McStay may have been raped before she, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Summer McStay may have been raped before she was killed, buried in desert, court document says, Riverside County DA implores state lawmakers in war on fentanyl: We need your help!, Rep. Aguilar announces $500k for sickle cell mental health support, Stunning new park in South Fontana offers something for all outdoor enthusiasts, Is there a problem with paying cash for a car? San Bernardino County Det. The pair had met through Josephs successful decorative waterfall business, Earth Inspired Products. 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.. [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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. 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. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. amily members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. 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. Though it is possible that Summer was using a different name, there are no records of passports under any of her other names. Crying for mommy and daddy?' 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. But hed also tell Kay during his television interview that he had definitely been the last person to see Joseph. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. Summers skull was fractured and one of their sons heads was bludgeoned seven times, according to court testimony. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. January 21, 2020Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. He is in San Quentin Prison on death row. The family did not appear to have any plans to be gone that day. Princess's dance partner Wayne Sleep reveals she would do his washing-up Do not sell or share my personal information. 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 Webmcstay family autopsy photoscavalier king charles breeders near paris. He seemed caught off guard, like Oh, I didnt realize I was doing that, San Bernardino County District AttorneyBritt Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. Dan Hanke tells American Greed that when investigators examined Josephs QuickBooks account they did, in fact, discover a series of checks made out to Merritt or other vendors that Merrittowed money to that were dated Feb. 4, but the metadata stored within the computer revealed that the checks had not actually been written that day. The family had moved into the house three months earlier, and was in the process of unpacking and doing renovations. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. Cell phone records as well as forged checks also linked him to the crime. 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. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. In an email Thursday, sheriffs Lt. Sarkis Ohannessian declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal case. Merritt, who faces the death penalty if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. WebFebruary 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. WebIn 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. Nelson is a graduate of California State University Fullerton. Their skulls and jaws were smashed and fractured. PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? [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. shame on you. Charles Merrit was found guilty of the murders in 2019. and Spanish language lessons. 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 entire case left investigators and loved ones completely puzzled. I would never have hurt him in any way. Later that night, he received a phone call from animal control, which was planning to take the dogs because they had been left outside without food for over a week. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! February 13, 2010 Josephs brother, Michael, goes to his siblings house and enters it through an open window to search for the family. 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. How could you beat two precious little babies?, Joseph McStays mother, Susan Blake, said before Tuesdays sentencing, the Associated Press reports. I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. "Business partner arrested in McStay family slaying, desert burial", "Trial underway for man accused of killing 4 from San Diego", "Charles Merritt Sentenced to Death for Killing McStay Family, Burying Their Bodies in Mojave Desert", "Authorities distribute 'endangered missing' flier pertaining to missing McStay family", "Buried bodies identified as members of missing McStay family", "Man last phoned by McStay father says he took polygraph test", "Author of McStay book criticized by victim's family", "After discovery, mystery of McStay family's disappearance deepens", "Investigators say Missing McStay family left voluntarily", "McStay Family Update: FBI Joins Search for Missing Family", "Search for Missing Fallbrook family continues", "McStay family Mystery: Who is Chase Merritt", "Tentative trial date set for McStay family murder suspect 'Chase' Merritt", "Backlash over book's new theory on McStay murders", "Merritt attorneys want McStay case dismissed", "McStay family murder suspect Charles 'Chase' Merritt fires attorneys", "McStay family murder suspect Charles 'Chase' Merritt wants new attorneys", "San Bernardino judge allows McStay family murder suspect to have more case files in his cell", "Lawyers for defendant in McStay family murder case want some evidence tossed", "San Bernardino judge delays ruling in bid to exclude key evidence in McStay family murder case", Charles Merritt Found Guilty Of Slaying McStay Family, "Jury recommends death penalty for man who killed McStay family", "Southern California man sentenced to death for killing family of 4", "ID's Two Shallow Graves: How did Charles "Chase" Merritt know the McStay family and where is he now? You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said., 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. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. It showed a family that appeared to look like the McStays, crossing into Mexico. February 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. 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.. 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. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. WebA motorcyclist found human remains in a desert near Victorville, California. Merritt used the money to fuel his gambling addiction at nearby casinos, in which he lost thousands of dollars. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer.. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. WebPublished on January 22, 2020 12:19 PM Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA A California businessman has been sentenced to death for brutally murdering a family of four and Eventually, someone close to the family was convicted of bludgeoning the McStays to death before burying them in the desert. 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. The following year, authorities filed murder charges against Merritt, Josephs onetime business partner. February 23, 2010 Had the family gone off the grid? 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. On February 19, California police notified Interpol to be on the lookout for the family. 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. The former welder was sentenced to death for the murders of Summer, Gianni and Joseph Jr. and life without parole for the murder of Joseph. The missing persons flier for the McStay family. Get up to speed on the investigation with the timeline below. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. Inside The Gruesome McStay Family Murder Case. None of these theories have been confirmed. 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. WebThe McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Were they victims of a crime? 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. That was when Charles Merritts story started falling apart and really gave us the motive, Hanke said. According to a news article from CNN, it states how Food had been left out and the dogs were home. [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. Published on November 9, 2014 01:05 PM. 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! According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. [20] Although it is possible for a U.S. citizen to enter Mexico without a passport, one is required to reenter the United States. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. Timeline of Gabby Petito Tragedy 1 Year After Killer Brian Laundrie's Body Was Found, Calif. Man Gets Death Penalty for Killing Business Partner, Victim's Wife, Kids Before Burying Bodies, Murder, Greed and the Mojave Desert: The Mystery Behind the McStay Family Murder. After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. The familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [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. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Beyond Charts+ offers sophisticated Investors with advanced tools. Although Merritt adamantly denied being at the location of the makeshift graves, To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of. According to detectives, Josephs body was found with a white extension cord wrapped around his neck. Back in February of 2010 the McStay family disappeared, in Fallbrook California. The McStay family is seen in this undated family photo provided to KGTV. 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. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. November 15, 2013 The cause of death for all of them is deemed to be blunt force trauma. Documentary Crime Mystery Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Three years later in November of 2013, a motorcyclist found four sets of human remains in the desert outside Victorville California. ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, February 2010 crimes in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. [32] On June 24, the jury recommended that Merritt be sentenced to death. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. 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. 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. In 2014, he completed a fellowship at Loyola Law School's Journalist Law School program. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. 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. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021, 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.. November 11, 2013 A motorcyclist finds human remains in the desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles north of the McStay home. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? Investigators searched for passport records of the family, and discovered that Joseph had a valid passport that had not been used before or after the disappearance. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. [5], 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). After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. Dad Broke into Ex's Home and Fatally Stabbed Their Children, 3 and 5, in Their Beds, Idaho Murders Timeline: Everything to Know About the Case, Phoenix Dad Kills Wife, Toddler Son and Twin Baby Daughters in Murder-Suicide: 'Complete Shock', Investigators Reveal How They Learned Chris Watts Was Lying and that He Killed Pregnant Wife, 2 Daughters, Fla. [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. 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