How could you beat two precious little babies? 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. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. He will focus on a number of key incidents and characters and try to paint a picture of what really happened in the lead up to that fateful day. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. The 58-year-old Merritt is. [32] On June 24, the jury recommended that Merritt be sentenced to death. They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. She had once told him she wanted that song played at her funeral. 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. They took none of their belongings, left $100,000 in the bank and even abandoned their beloved dogs. Were just the clowns, - Britt Imes.
"Death was the appropriate verdict for those three offenses," the judge said. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. At the time, Joseph owned an online company named Earth Inspired Products that sold decorative water fountains. . " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. "No more surfing; no more anything., Michael McStay said the court should never forget what this case is really about: "Those four innocent people and the lives they never got to live.".
McStay family murder: 4-year-old was struck 7 times on head Unsealed warrants: Chase Merritt owed Joseph McStay $30k Mother of Joseph McStay describes moment she learned son, family were (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, wipes her eyes at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, November 15, 2013. Charles "Chase" Merritt appears at his sentencing hearing in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 21, 2020. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. I would never hurt him in any way. "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. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts.
(File photo by Peter Surowski, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo, Michael McStay, the brother of Joseph McStay and his mother Susan Blake enter the court through the throng of media before the start of the preliminary hearing on Monday, June 15, 2015 for Charles Merritt in the 2010 slayings of four McStay family members in Fallbrook. On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. "[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. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. "You had a choice. 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. Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. He used to spend hours at a time talking on his mobile phone and it got to the stage where he was convinced he had a brain tumor. Charles Chase Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStays wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. He maintains his innocence. Chase Merritt, 62, is facing a potential death sentence, or life in prison. "Not natural causes; there was intent here.". 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. 'Are you that family? Obviously that was a real problem for Joseph and he used to talk to me about it regularly. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. Joseph McStay has operated Earth Inspired Products, a waterfall and garden accessories business in San Clemente, since 1996, according. I would never have hurt him in any way. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. As court resumed, the judge said Maline had made yet another motion: to disqualify this judge from ruling on the remaining motion to reduce Merritt's sentence. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. #nbc7 https://t.co/muZXjqJBFT. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. [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. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. What about the little guys? When the McStays car was found in San Ysidro on the Mexican border four days after they were last seen and security footage of a family of four an hour later heading into the Central American country surfaced, the idea they had left of their own accord gained momentum. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. On Monday, more than four years since his arrest in connection with the slayings, the family's accused killer, Charles "Chase" Merritt, is scheduled to go on trial on murder charges in San. Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., were a fun-loving, happy family who'd recently settled into a comfortable life in Fallbrook, California. when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert, New weekly farmers market opens in Cardiff, Dierks Bentleys Gravel & Gold tour coming to San, Vehicle pursuit prompts lane closures on SR-76, SD animal sanctuary rescues cougar orphanedin car, 2 critically injured in head-on collision, Teenage bicyclist hurt in hit-and-run crash, Experts explain concerns, benefits from CA storms, Best deals of Presidents Day weekend 2023, Forgot about Valentines Day? The attorney stopped Merritt, saying, "You can't.". I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. A year later,Charles 'Chase' Merritt, who was a partner in Joseph's water-fountain business, was arrested for bludgeoning the married couple and their children to death inside their home in Fallbrook because he owed them $30,000.
McStay murders: A man is on death row for the brutal killings of a Crying for mommy and daddy?' We dont run this circus. 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). 'When I last talked to my son, on February 4, he said he still didnt feel good,' said Blake, adding that she had provided the Sheriffs Dept with information on Josephs health problems. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. His attorney also says Merritt himself will want to speak. "I did not do this thing. In the gallery sat Merritt's daughter and brother. Despite all the problems they had and how explosive Summer was, I dont know if he ever truly believed she was capable of that, but it was definitely something he considered. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . He would spend days on end in bed. Prosecutors say he bludgeoned them with a sledgehammer. "Closer still because I know what it's like to lose people I love.". Doves were . [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. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. On Friday, he. The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. Merritt is fully aware that his book will ruffle feathers and anger certain people, but he believes his intimate knowledge of Josephs life means he may be able to shed some light on the mystery. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'.
How One Man's Greed Meant the End of the Entire McStay Family At one point he said to me, "Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food".
Police search for missing San Clemente business owner and family "I hope you burn in Hell," he told the man convicted of killing his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. "We don't run this circus. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. The fountain designer has always been seen as a key player in the mystery as he was one of Josephs closest friends and his most trusted business associate. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. Were they scared, Chase? Why were they gone? 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. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. 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. [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. I was not his best friend, but he was mine and I believe he opened up to me about things he would not tell anyone else. Il ne rpond pas au . Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. 'This despicable, evil monster. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. You just do what you can for your son, and your family, she said. A grainy video captured at a nearby border crossing deepened the mystery.
McStay Family Murders: Killer Sentenced to Death - Peoplemag ', 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. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. We're just the clowns," Imes said. I just dont remember very much because I fell to the office floor. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Merritts defense team has claimed Kavanaugh is a likely suspect in the McStay family case, but was overlooked by investigators despite what they described as a deteriorating relationship with Joseph McStay in the months before the familys disappearance. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. The clip appeared to show a family of four crossing the border into Mexico -- a family that looked like they could have been the McStays.
Who killed the McStay family? | CNN They said that he wrote checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph's business account in the days after the family was killed and then went on a gambling spree at nearby casinos, where he lost thousands of dollars. He asked for funds to keep the business going, and at that time I would do anything to help my son probably not in my right mind anyway at that time, she said. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent.
The Mystery of The McStay Family Disappearance The hearing, which consumed more than 10 hours, concluded with several emotional statements from McStays mother, brother, in-laws and surviving son, as well as from Merritt himself, who continued to maintain his innocence, I loved Joseph, he said, his voice shaking a times. Just a monster., After a delay, the convicted killer of the McStay family of Fallbrook will be sentenced today.