We develop trading and investment tools such as stock charts for Private Investors. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Investigators also say they found emails indicating the family had been interested in obtaining passports to travel to Mexico, according to the outlet. [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. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. Investigators from the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department soon uncovered the bodies of all four McStay family membersincluding Joseph, Summer, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old JosephJr.buried in two shallow graves in the harsh desert. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. The family had moved into the house three months earlier, and was in the process of unpacking and doing renovations. Um, no, Charles Merritt has NOT been put to death. Tragically, that's exactly what happened whenJoseph and Summer McStay and their two young sons vanished from their home in northern San Diego in early 2010. Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. Investigators believed that the family was tortured before they were killed. Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen, The Best True Crime Documentaries to Stream Now, Wisc. 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. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. A three-pound sledgehammer is also found at the site. 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. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. "[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. WebFebruary 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. 'You had a choice. [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. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. Patrick McStay says the murder of a family of four was "all about money" By Elaine Aradillas. 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. Investigators immediately seized the car and searched it for evidence. He is in San Quentin Prison on death row. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. 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. Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. 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. Webdollar tree plastic candy jars with lids. The original memorial consisting of 4 white crosses. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend,once telling CNNs Randi Kay that although they began as work acquaintances, they quickly grew to be friends, playing paintball together andsharingdinnera few nights a week. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. minneapolis crime statistics by race / blackpink members height in feet and weight / blackpink members height in feet and weight Dental records confirm that the remains are those of Joseph and Summer McStay and other remains are believed to be those of their children, the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department announcedat a news conference. 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. he was moved to death row on january 21, 2020, NOT executed. The driver for all Investors is the continuous search for investment opportunities. Investigators believed that the family pictured is likely the McStays, based on analysis of family photos and home videos. WebThe McStay family murders occurred on or near February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States; their bodies were According to the San Bernardino Sun, prosecutors alleged Merritt was a gambling addict who committed the crime for financial gain and wrote thousands of dollars in checks on Josephs business account for days after he disappeared. Prosecutors said he bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer. November 8, 2014, 3:05 PM 2:09 The McStay family is seen in this undated family photo provided to KGTV. There was a huge sigh of relief. There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home The world was robbed of four beautiful souls, Josephs brother, Mike McStay said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cell phone records indicate that he drove home after the meeting, and he continued to make calls into the evening. The family went missing in 2010, four months after they moved into a new house in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, California. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. Merritt is documented as writing checks totaling $21,000 on McStays business account, after McStay went missing. I did not do this thing.. Joe Nelson is an award-winning investigative reporter who has worked for The Sun since November 1999. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. Documentary Crime Mystery Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. WebA motorcyclist found human remains in a desert near Victorville, California. Now She's Sentenced to Life for Starving Girl to Death, How a Calif. Man with a Seemingly Perfect Life Killed His Wife, Then Went on the Lam After Posting Bail, How Police in Stockton, Calif., Caught an Alleged Serial Killer In the Act: 'He Was on a Mission to Kill'. Summers passport was expired and investigators could not find any records that she had applied for a new one. On February 15, eleven days after the family was last heard from, the police searched the McStay family home. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. According to a news article from CNN, it states how Food had been left out and the dogs were home. How do you do that?. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. Its been a tough road.. 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. The video, NBCSandiego reportedin 2010, is dated around 7 p.m. Feb. 8. by all accounts aloving family with no enemies,baffled investigators. He could face the death penalty as a result. After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. The familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border. In an email Thursday, sheriffs Lt. Sarkis Ohannessian declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal case. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. 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. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. Crying for mommy and daddy?' Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Cell phone records as well as forged checks also linked him to the crime. To learn more aboutwhy Merritt committed such a horrible crime and to see exclusive interviews with Joseph's family, watch Killer Motive airing Saturday at 6/5c on Oxygen. 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. District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. Get up to speed on the investigation with the timeline below. Just a monster. November 11, 2013 A motorcyclist finds human remains in the desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles north of the McStay home. The following year, authorities filed murder charges against Merritt, Josephs onetime business partner. The defense now moves to exclude certain expected testimony and evidence from the prosecutions case in chief on the grounds that this evidence is not relevant, and that the onlypurposes of the expected evidence are to sensationalize the alleged crimes and inflame the passions of the jury against Mr. Merritt, according to the Nov. 20 motion. Look out for wildlife like rattlesnakes. Your article on Chase Merritt was perfect- just last paragraph was incorrect . Merritt, who faces the death penalty if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer.. This information was alarming enough for Josephs brother to call the police and report the family missing, as it was uncharacteristic of them to leave the dogs without food. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. Duchess is seen visiting woke coffee brand she invested in - her first public Lovely in lilac! The show features new suspects, witnesses, evidence, and theories regarding the case, as well as the trial from both the defendant's and prosecutor's points of view.[35]. CNN. This allows you to focus on the securities you are interested in, so you can make informed decisions. 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 "[22], In January 2014, Merritt said that he might write a book about the family, alleging that Summer had anger issues and that Joseph had been ill for some time with a mysterious ailment. Chase Merritt /edit Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. The entire case left investigators and loved ones completely puzzled. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance., DNA samples were collected from the McSays' family, friends, and associates, but investigators couldn't get a search warrant to access their financial records because there was no evidence of a crime at the time., Vanished: Mike also discovered Summer's prescription sunglasses on the kitchen counter, Looking back: Summer is pictured wearing her prescription sunglasses prior to the family's disappearance, Case to crack:There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord, First clue: Their neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family's Isuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing, They got their first clue when they learned a neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family'sIsuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing., A license plate search for the vehicle led to the discovery that the McStay's SUV had been towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, California, right near the U.S.-Mexico border, on February 8, 2010, four days after they went missing., As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play., On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico., The next week, deputies released a video of a group of people similar to the McStay family entering Mexico hand in hand through the pedestrian gate around 7 p.m. on February 8, 2010, the same day their vehicle was towed., Huh?