The FBI will lend their resources in Mexico, where San Diego Sheriff's investigators are focusing their search, reports CBS Newsat the time. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. In addition, neither of the children had passports. Um, no, Charles Merritt has NOT been put to death. 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. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled.. Oscar Cainer tells all. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. WebInvestigators 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 Investigators are questioning everybody, Michael McStay tells PEOPLE. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. He seemed caught off guard, like Oh, I didnt realize I was doing that, San Bernardino County District AttorneyBritt Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. San Bernardino County Det. Defense attorney Rajan Maline has continued to proclaimhis clients innocence, arguing there's no physical evidence linking Merritt to themurder scene. [13] Dean stated in her blog she had just finished producing a radio show for San Diego station KNSJ when she received the call, and that she asked whether she could tell her followers what he had told her. San Quentin, Calif Death Row, Your email address will not be published. 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. He was given the death penalty for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt is on San Quentin Death Row. January 21, 2020Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! On November 11, 2013, the remains of two adults and two children were recovered in the California desert. 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. On Nov. 20, at a vigil where volunteers erected white crosses and released doves, Michael pondered aloud the same questions. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. Joseph's family confirmed that he had an unexplained illness and that Summer was possessive of her husband, but they called Merritt's suggestion that she was responsible for his illness unfounded. Winter 2009 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.. Summers passport was expired and investigators could not find any records that she had applied for a new one. However, Michael was sure it wasnt his relatives, adding, Summer would never take the boys to Mexico. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. Joe Nelson is an award-winning investigative reporter who has worked for The Sun since November 1999. Theyre not there, but their dogs are in the backyard and theres food rotting in the kitchen. 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 Eventually, someone close to the family was convicted of bludgeoning the McStays to death before burying them in the desert. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. The disappearance of the McStays,by all accounts aloving family with no enemies,baffled investigators. 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. . There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. Charles Chase Merritt, left, reacts after being found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder of the McStay family, in San Bernardino Superior Court in San Bernardino on June 10. The car never returned to the home. 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'. On February 19, California police notified Interpol to be on the lookout for the family. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. Merritts cellphone was also traced to the burial site area in the days following the McStays disappearance. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. Your email address will not be published. The driver for all Investors is the continuous search for investment opportunities. [29] Merritt's attorney filed a motion in San Bernardino Superior Court on April 7, 2018, arguing that Joseph's business and accounting records were hearsay evidence and therefore inadmissible. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. 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? There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. 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. The entire case left investigators and loved ones completely puzzled. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. Investigators tell Interpol to be on the lookout for the McStay family, who could be in Mexico, they theorize. February 4, 2010 During a phone conversation Josephtold his fatherhe was in a hurry because he had to get to a lunch meeting. she said. ', Merritt showed no emotion as she said she felt like she'd been hit by a boulder when she was told the bodies were found: 'It's just a nightmare. But several family members did not believe that the man in the video was Joseph. 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. 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.. [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. he was moved to death row on january 21, 2020, NOT executed. Summers skull was fractured and one of their sons heads was bludgeoned seven times, according to court testimony. [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. Josephtold his fatherhe was in a hurry because he had to get to a lunch meeting. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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. Investigators believed the murder weapon was a 3-pound sledgehammer, which was found in the grave containing the remains of Summer and her son. 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. Prosecutors believed that Charles Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Merritt is documented as writing checks totaling $21,000 on McStays business account, after McStay went missing. Charles Merritt used that money for his gambling addiction at nearby casinos. Do I think Chase is involved? [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. Merritt not only had motive to carry out the grisly slayings, it seemed that he also had the opportunity. Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home inFallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010. 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. 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. 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. Investigators discovered that neither of the familys cars had traveled to Mexico in years, so they believed that the family had not driven into Mexico during the unaccounted for four days. On February 13, when the family hadnt been heard from in nine days, Josephs brother went to the house. Summers prescription sunglasses are in the house as well, according to Killer Motive. Relatives are certain the family wouldnt go away without telling anyone. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! We are no longer accepting comments on this article. None of these theories have been confirmed. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. Stars Christopher Crutchfield Walker (voice) Joseph McStay (archive footage) Summer McStay (archive footage) See production, box office & company info Watch on 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. 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. Ahead of the McStays, by all accounts aloving family with no enemies baffled! Worked for mcstay family autopsy photos McStay family, who attended the conference writing checks $... Be in Mexico, they theorize addition, neither of the McStays, by all accounts aloving with..., it seemed that he also had the opportunity seven times, according to records! Investigative reporter who has worked for the family hadnt been heard from in days. 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