McStay Family Murders: Who Killed Them? He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. 'It was blow after blow after blow to a child's skull,' the prosecutor said. The McStay family mysteriously disappeared from their California home on February 15, 2010. One of those suspects, Charles Chase Merritt, was convicted of the murders in 2019 and remains on death row in California. About three days later, Josephs brother, Mike, got into the house through an open window and saw that the pet dogs were still at home but no sign of the family. Syd Field Four Screenplays Pdf 11 !!HOT!! uncovered the bodies of all four McStay family members, he was arrested by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office. In November 2013, almost four years later, a motorcycle rider found two shallow grave sites in the desert, just north of Victorville. The mysterious murders of the McStay family. Prosecutors claim he killed business partner Joseph McStay, McStay's 43-year-old wife Summer, and the couple's sons--4 year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. Though simply changing her name is not an indication of anything sinister, it did stir up a number of theories that Summer was responsible for the disappearance. The details of Walker's death are equally lurid and disturbing. Joseph was 40-years-old back then, and Summer was 43. But after the family's nanny arrived with the children in New York later estranged husband's property the day after mom went missing, report says. 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. 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Investigators also found a three-pound sledgehammer that they believe was the murder weapon and clothing, some of it marked with the same color paint that the McStay family had been using to paint their home when they went missing. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Prosecutors say a sledgehammer was used to kill all four members of the McStay family, and the 4-year-old boy was struck seven times. The father of murder victim Joseph McStay and his family is upset with the way the San Diego County Sheriff's Department handled the case. While speaking to Merritt, she said. At the time, Joseph owned an online company named Earth Inspired Products that sold decorative water fountains. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Prosecutors say Merritt owed McStay more than $42,000. According to cell tower data, on February 4, 2010, his phone was near the McStay family home. Merritt not only had motive to carry out the grisly slayings, it seemed that he also had the opportunity. Two Shallow Graves: The McStay Family Murders: With Suzanne Armstrong, Tony Azzaro, Taylor Jarvis, Shawn Patrick Murphy. Follow the links to read about more violent crimes profiled on ID. Sheriffs investigators arrested Charles Chase Merritt, 60, of Homeland, in November 2014. Investigation Discovery's 'Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, the man who [] 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. Nicole Berte Murder: Where is Randy Lee Bode Now. He has covered San Bernardino County since 2009. The remains of Joseph Jr., 3, were so minimal that a cause of death could not be determined, San Bernardino . Jan 18, 2020 MCSTAY FAMILY AUTOPSY PHOTOS.. Man convicted of killing McStay family sentenced to death .. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. At that point, the investigation shifted from searching for missing persons to investigating a possible murder. ABC 7. Merritt has said there is no direct evidence linking him to the crime scene. Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. Dogmatika Justin Popovic Pdf Download, 2020 Wondershare Dr.Fone Toolkit For IOS And Android 10.7.2.324 Crack Application Ful, Mikis_theodorakis_zorba_the_greek_free BEST_mp3_, Karuvelam Pookkal (Creatures Of Darkness) 3gp Full Movie Download germmah, [PATCHED] Waves Mercury Bundle Mac Download Crack, MixDrop - Watch Insegnami_tu_Babbo valeainjus, Dreamweaver Cs3 ((LINK)) Free Download Full Version Mac. All rights reserved. Then began the authorities' quest to figure out who killed the loving family of four. On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. 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. Research genealogy for Elizabeth McStay of Draycott, Derbyshire, England, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. Furthermore, Josephs mother stated that the car had his asthma medication, and he never went anywhere without it. A motorcyclist found human remains in a desert near Victorville, California. These bodies were soon confirmed as the McStay family. Mr McStays friend, Gina Watson, and father, Patrick who called Merritt a ruthless mass murderer in court and told him to burn in hell are among the subjects interviewed in the series. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The sizes of the people appear to match the McStay family. In December 2009, Summer inquired about buying software to learn Spanish. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? 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. You can also watch "The McStay Family Mystery" on Oxygen's "Killer Motive.". While Summer stayed home to take care of the children, she planned to go to work soon. A Family Vanishes: With Stacy Keach. Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department described in detail what they found, describing the remains of four bodies, 45 groups of bones, including ribs and parts of legs from two adults and two children. The gift by aselin debison free sheet music. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. LOS ANGELES A Southern California man was sentenced to death Tuesday for the 10-year-old killings of a family of four whose bodies were found buried in shallow graves in the California desert . After a four-month trial, nine years after the McStay killings . Please logout and login again. Prosecutors said he bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Lots of peoples names came up, and lots of different theories came up, executive producer Jacinda A Davis tells The Independent. That was the last time they would ever speak; no one heard from the McStays after 4 February 2010. I think that, when this show airs, so many people know the case Theres going to be a lot of debate. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their . The McStay family - whose bodies were found in a shallow grave in the Californian desert almost four years after they mysteriously vanished - could barely afford to pay $210 a week on rent just . In January 2010, just days before the disappearance, the home computer was used to search for passport requirements for kids traveling to Mexico. 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 . Merritts trial finally began on January 7, 2019 and on June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Merritt disputes the theory and argues, in the documentary, that hed been the one raising the alarm about the McStays disappearance, claiming he would have reported the four missing if the family hadnt. Everything. Gas prices rise for 31st consecutive day in LA County, Carjacking victim comes face to face with suspect during wild chase, How Paul Murdaugh helped solve his own murder. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. Another two points would put us in good . There was a couple bowls of I believe popcorn that it looked like the boys were eating, possibly watching TV. 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. She was predeceased by : her parents, Manuel Sousa and Nicolina Sousa (Melo); and her siblings . Although Merritt adamantly denied being at the location of the makeshift graves, To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of. Arrest in slaying of . Merritt used the money to fuel his gambling addiction at nearby casinos, in which he lost thousands of dollars. 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. Chase further stated that Joseph called him at around 8:28 pm on that evening. In February 2010, the McStay family vanished without a trace, propelling the authorities to investigate. and a close friend of the family falls under suspicion. Surveillance footage from the border from a few hours prior seemed to show a family of four crossing the border. Tribune Broadcasting. None of these theories have been confirmed. He was given the death penalty for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt is on San Quentin Death Row. Credit: Find the McStay Family Facebook Page. Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders, Including Alex's Conviction, 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. McGee argued that the use of family photos and/or videos in the case should only be relevant if they are used for identifying victims, otherwise they are irrelevant. Princess Diana flashes a cheeky grin in rare bikini photos. On February 15, the family reported them missing, and the authorities searched the house. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. On February 4, 2010,Summer McStay, her husbandJoseph, and their young sonsGianni andJoseph Jr.disappeared from San Diego, California. Autopsy Photos. February 4, 2010, was the last day anyone could contact a member of the McStay family. Jaroslav Jerry Hanel had tormented the Diamond Head neighborhood of Honolulu, HI, for years, but one day, he completely snapped and murdered landlord, Lois Cain, shot two responding police officers, and set fire to the neighborhood. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and it appeared they were tortured before they were killed. An attorney eventually represented Merritt, and the jury decided in favor of the victims. Our priority is picking up the points as soon as we can. Wright decided to hire Bobby and Willie Guillory to kill the couple in an attempt to claim their life insurance. Merritt insists on his innocence in the face of the prosecution's evidence, raising the question: Did Merritt murder the McStay family? The McStays looked like the All-American family living the dream. 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, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, There are many ways to fight writers block, find inspiration, A.K. Josephs father Patrick McStay, however, continues to be haunted by Merritts dark deeds. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. At the beginning, hes like, I know this case better than the attorneys, Mr Fitpatrick adds. The court upheld the jury's recommendation and Merrit was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020 for the McStay Family Massacre. Kevin McStay (Mayo): "There's a lot of teams that will beat each other before this League is over. The remains were identified as the McStay family's and were buried in two shallow graves. There was Mrs McStays ex-boyfriend, who sent her an email just months before the familys disappearance telling the mother-of-two hed love her for ever. He lived nearby and had been arrested for threatning a neighbour and her daughter. Two Shallow Graves will shed fresh insight into Merritt's disputed murder trial by gaining unprecedented access to both Merritt's defense and prosecution teams. However, friends and family claimed this would be out of character, and the couple still had a large amount of money in a bank account that remained untouched. Apr 20, 2020 Joan's husband, Hal Rogers, stayed behind to care for the family's dairy farm.. Joan, Michelle and Christe Rogers.. Photo Source: Crime 1.7k votes, 195 comments.. From the LA Times: "A jury Monday found a man guilty of bludgeoning a family of four and burying their bodies in shallow , Charles Ray Merritt has been sentenced to death for the murders of McStay family members, .. 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. Merritt's DNA was found on the steering wheel and gearshift, even though Merritt told detectives he had never driven that vehicle. Her disappearance was widely reported in the national news media. No mention was made by investigators or attorneys during Merritts preliminary hearing that investigators believe Summer McStay had been raped, nor has any evidence been presented publicly to indicate that, other than what McGee included in his motion. Inside, they found a relatively normal scene: there were a number of new toys, the childrens car seats were in their positions, and the front seats were adjusted to Summer and Josephs relative sizes. Investigators would discover evidence that showed someone had taken control of Josephs checking account right before and right after he disappeared, writing a total of nine checks to either Merritt or those who he owed money to totaling nearly $15,000. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning Mr McStay was cutting him out; they said the victim told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and stealing money. Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3, disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, Ca. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. 1:39. The McStay family, consisting of Joseph, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were reported missing in 2010. 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. Pic credit: San Diego County Police. There were no signs of foul play, but the fact that they had left the car and toys four days after leaving home, so close to the Mexican border was bizarre. So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. The morning of February 4, 2010, started like any other day for the family. 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. Eddie Bachman tells American Greed. That kind of cued into us as a red flag there because I dont know how any one person could be certain and say that he was the last person that saw his best friend alive if he wasnt in fact the last person who saw him alive.. 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. On November 5, 2014, Chase Merritt, a business associate of McStay was arrested and charged with four counts of murder, after his DNA was discovered inside the McStay vehicle. 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. District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. On a seemingly inconsequential day in early 2010, Mr McStay had a conversation with his father and told him he had a lunch meeting. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Joseph and Summer McStay vanished from their . With trial footage, and with getting access to Merrit and to the prosecution and to the defense attorneys, I think we were able to creat a much more intimate picture for an audience that gives you the whole story, Mr Fitzpatrick says. Joseph had a newly successful business designing and installing water fountains. Summer will be forever missed by her family and many friends. It was sort of one sort of absurdity after the other, Kevin Fitzpatrick, an executive producer of Two Shallow Graves, tells The Independent. Merrit himself, the producers say, was nervous to participate since he could not control the narrative. When the family went missing, the pair began their own investigation, describing in the new series how they combed through the McStays emails and followed up any lead they could find. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. Research genealogy for Vivian McStay of Gordonville, Grayson Texas, USA, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. The seven-episode Two Shallow Graves premieres Sunday on Investigation Discovery and will be available to stream on discovery+. In 'Captive Audience', the Stayner Family Opens Up About Navigating an Impossible Reality in the Spotlight, Patrick McStay Has a Theory About Why His Family Was Murdered. The grave sites were the main discussion in court. 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. The investigation into the disappearance of the McStay family in February 2010 and the subsequent disappearance of money from the company's bank account led investigators to believe Merritt was responsible. Family members of the victims were emotional in court during the preliminary hearing Monday. Charles 'Chase' Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer and the couple's children The McStay family vanished from their San Diego . Investigators found one of the birth certificates left behind in the home. 16 Rare Photos of Princess Diana. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Who Killed The McStay Family? Part of the mystery was solved in November 2013 when a motorcyclist stumbled upon two shallow graves in the desert near Victorville and unearthed human remains. According to reports, denying his involvement in the murders, Merritt told the court. PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? How To Paint Citadel Miniatures Download Pdf NEW! Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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 . 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 . The investigation revealed that Chase was a gambling addict who owed Joseph about $42,000. Merritt was arrested for the family's killings the following year, when his DNA was discovered inside the family vehicle, dumped near the border, and fake company checks traced back to him. Its kind of remarkable, Ms Davis says. Merritt faces the death penalty if convicted as charged in the case. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020 . Although Merritt adamantly denied being at the location of the makeshift graves, he was arrested by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office on Nov. 5, 2014 and charged with four counts of murder. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family Charles "Chase" Merritt was found guilty June 10, 2019, on four counts of murder in the slayings of the McStay Family . But privately, investigatorsnoticed Merritt had displayed some concerning behavior after the family disappeared. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. And then there was another associate from Mr McStays work, the computer whiz who maintained the company website a man whod sent messages to MrMcStay essentially threatening to destroy the site and ruin the business. A 3-pound sledgehammer was found with the bodies . 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. Summer had stated that she felt that Mexico was too unsafe and that she would never go willingly. Case 8, Dorothy Scott There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. The remains were identified as the McStay familys and were buried in two shallow graves. Kevin and I work a lot in true crime and talk to a lot of people whove been convicted, and Merritt knows his case inside and out every single detail in a way that Ive never experienced before.. Investigators immediately seized the car and searched it for evidence. San Bernardino County Det. 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. Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. It gives you the story of the trial, and it gives you the story of the relationship between Merritt and Joseph McStay, and it gives you the understanding of the families on both sides going through the trial one of the interview subjects that we talked to said, This is going to be the comprehensive look at this story - which has not been done before.. In 2019, Charles "Chase" Merritt was accused of killing Joseph McStay's family during his trial for the murders. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Lee Harvey Oswald autopsy photo. Suspicion had long fallen on Joseph McStays business partner, Chase Merritt, as he had been the last person to have contact with the family, and he also had a criminal record, albeit for small-time offenses. At 30 seconds into the video, note the man and woman entering from lower left of screen. On Thursday, February 4, the last day that the McStay family was heard from, Joseph attended regular work meetings. 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. Please be respectful of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you visit. If you have any suggestions for any crime locations, infamous crimes or infamous people you want me to cover, (mostly around WA state as that is where I live. Everything was circumstantial. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. What to Know. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Joseph McStay's business partner, Charles Chase Merritt, was eventually charged with the deaths of the McStay family after detectives found apparent evidence of desertion and, ultimately, foul play. Merritt, who faces the death penalty if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. The 62-year-old welder convicted in the brutal beating deaths of a Fallbrook family of four . When all four members of the McStay family seemingly vanish into thin air -- here one day, gone the next -- a years-long quest for answers begins. When Joseph needed to develop his bespoke company, he enlisted Merritt, a fabricator, for assistance. I think its probably true; he has read everything, hes currently working on a book about his case and hes constantly working on it in some way. Both are convinced of Merritts guilt, but even they shake their heads and raise eyebrows at some of the other unexpected threads to the case. Inside The Gruesome McStay Family Murder Case. It wasnt until November 2013 that the case moved forward. Jan 2, 2018 By all accounts, Joseph McStay, age 40, and his wife Summer, age 43, were happy and living the American dream.. She adds that she still thinks one of the other suspects was involved in the brutal kilings. A carton of eggs lay on the counter, and two bowls of popcorn were located in the living room. But hed also tell Kay during his television interview that he had definitely been the last person to see Joseph. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The murders were as gruesome as they were shocking. His trial hadn't even begun until January 2019 after he reportedly fired multiple attorneys as he tried to represent himself. So without direct evidence, then they have to show enough circumstantial evidence to convice the jury that it was me at their home and who killed them.. Initial investigation revealed that the family car was found at around 11 pm on February 8, 2010, in a parking lot close to the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. . Earlier in the week before the family disappeared, Summer had made plans to visit her sister, who had recently had a baby. He boasted it had a loft/game room & big yard for kids to go crazy, referring to their rambunctious preschoolers, Gianni and Joe Jr. Love it.. In the end, Merritt was represented by a defense attorney . The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. The bones found in shallow graves in Southern California's Mojave Desert belong to a San Diego-area family of four missing since 2010 and likely murdered, authorities said. Man Convicted Of Killing Couple, Their 2 Sons, 10 Years After Familys Skeletal Remains Found In Desert. In Fallbrook, CA, their home was fifty miles north of San Diego and twenty miles inland from the Pacific coast.
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