Josephs father Patrick McStay, however, continues to be haunted by Merritts dark deeds. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. While Joseph went to a work meeting, Summer spoke to her sister over the phone and planned to visit later. 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. It took some time for people to become concerned; the family sometimes took small vacations, so it was more than a week before Mr McStays brother, Michael, stopped by the house to see if it held answers to where they might be. I never settled on anybody. The McStays looked like the All-American family living the dream. She adds that she still thinks one of the other suspects was involved in the brutal kilings. Look out for wildlife like rattlesnakes. 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.. The autopsy report details the pathologist's findings.. Merritt is charged with murdering the McStay family of four in February 2010 in San Diego County. So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? While there were no signs of forced entry, it seemed like the McStays left in a hurry. Vivian McStay 1901-1942 - Ancestry The McStay family murders occurred on or about February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States. On Jan. 21, 2020, Merritt was sentenced to life in prison and given the death penalty. I never knew who did it, Ms Watson says in Two Shallow Graves. Read Less Posted: Jan 23, 2015 / 12:29 PM PST What Clue Revealed McStay Family's Killer As Charles Merritt? | True A family photo shows Joseph McStay, his wife Summer and sons Gianni and Joseph. In February 2010, the McStay family vanished without a trace, propelling the authorities to investigate. Witnesses say those checks were backdated to the last day the family was seen. 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. Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home Just a monster.". He tried to deflect the cops by claiming that Summer suffered from anger issues and that Joseph had failing health. The first three episodes of Two Shallow Graves will air on ID (Investigation Discovery) on Sunday, May 22, at 9:00 PM ET. 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.. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In November 2013, almost four years later, a motorcycle rider found two shallow grave sites in the desert, just north of Victorville. In 2019, Charles "Chase" Merritt was accused of killing Joseph McStay's family during his trial for the murders. Border Surveillance Video (Possibly the McStay Family) - San Diego 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. 'It was blow after blow after blow to a child's skull,' the prosecutor said. The 58-year-old Merritt is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of McStay, 40; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; and the couple's two sons, Gianni, 4; and Joey, 3. . The pair had met through Josephs successful decorative waterfall business, Earth Inspired Products. 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. An attorney eventually represented Merritt, and the jury decided in favor of the victims. Her disappearance was widely reported in the national news media. The McStay Family Mystery' Saturday, Jan. 23 - San Bernardino Sun Their car was located a few days later, near San Diego, close to the Mexican border. 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. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. 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. The video shows a male adult and a child walking in front of a female adult with another child. Merritt told detectives that during their last lunch meeting, Joseph had given him physical copies of checks to pay for some of the projects they were working on. There was a huge sigh of relief. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. He had a criminal record and, it turned out, had been skimming money from the enterprise. At the beginning, hes like, I know this case better than the attorneys, Mr Fitpatrick adds. At that point, the investigation shifted from searching for missing persons to investigating a possible murder. Charles Merritt, former business partner of Joseph McStay, has just been found guilty of killing the entire McStay family with a sledgehammer and burying their bodies in the desert. 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. You can also watch "The McStay Family Mystery" on Oxygen's "Killer Motive.". Man Convicted Of Killing Couple, Their 2 Sons, 10 Years After Familys Skeletal Remains Found In Desert. Though it is possible that Summer was using a different name, there are no records of passports under any of her other names. GUILTY. 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. 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. On November 11, 2013, the remains of two adults and two children were recovered in the California desert. Lastly, neither party to this case is arguing or disputing that it was in fact the McStays whom were the victims in this case, according to McGees motion. He found rotting food and Mrs McStays prescription sunglasses; there was no sign of foul play. 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. There was the new husband of Mr McStays ex-wife, a man with a history of violence whod allegedly threatened to muzzle Mrs McStay and beat up her husband. Sheriffs investigators arrested Charles Chase Merritt, 60, of Homeland, in November 2014. Princess Diana flashes a cheeky grin in rare bikini photos. 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.. Their bodies were found on November 13, 2013 in the desert near Victorville, California. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. The authorities initially believed this was the McStay family because of a few other things that came to light. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Josephs brother found no sign of the family, so he left a note for the person feeding the dogs and asked them to call him, as he was concerned about his family. According to cell tower data, on February 4, 2010, his phone was near the McStay family home. Who Killed The McStay Family? Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? However, a breakthrough in the case came in November 2014 when the cops found Merritts DNA on the steering wheel of McStays car. 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. CNN. The mysterious murders of the McStay family. 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. There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. A new documentary series re . We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. Where Are Patrick and Michael McStay Now? - The Cinemaholic On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Summer will be forever missed by her family and many friends. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. Merrit himself, the producers say, was nervous to participate since he could not control the narrative. 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. Roscommon v Mayo, Allianz League Division 1: What time, what channel The McStay case started . 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. 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, .. Additionally, a family friend was helping paint the house, and left with the intention of returning on Saturday, February 6, to finish the job. "The house was as if somebody just beamed them up to the Starship Enterprise," reporter Tony Shin, who covered the case for KNSD-TV, recalls in the latest episode of CNBC's "American Greed . USA Spot News. Prosecutors pushing for the death penalty for McStay family murder suspect Charles Chase Merritt can use one family photo of the victims during trial, a . He stands charged with first-degree murder in connection with the February 2010 bludgeoning deaths of Summer McStay, 43, her husband Joseph McStay,40, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. Dispute involving attorney delays sentencing for man convicted of On February 15, eleven days after the family was last heard from, the police searched the McStay family home. The bodies of 40-year-old California businessman Joseph McStay, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found . Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. The investigation revealed that Chase was a gambling addict who owed Joseph about $42,000. Autopsy Photos Archives - Weird Picture Archive Live Blog: The McStay Family Murder Trial | Law & Crime Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5th 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Perry-McStay Funeral Home (2555 Pawtucket Ave, East Providence, RI 02914). TRUE CRIME 6: The Crimes of this World (True Crime English D. W. Loder) There were at least four impacts to the skull of Joseph McStay, and at least seven impacts to 4-year-old Gianni. . I think that, when this show airs, so many people know the case Theres going to be a lot of debate. McGees law partner, Rajan Maline, is also representing Merritt in the case. About three days before the disappearance, Joseph emailed Chase regarding the money and was close to firing him. 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. Investigators were stumped until they came upon a distressing hint that directed them towards Charles "Chase" Merritt, a close friend and business partner of Joseph McStay's. 1:39. McStay Family Murders: Killer Sentenced to Death - Peoplemag Investigation Discoverys Two Shallow Graves delves into a case that garnered national news headlines, eventually culminating in the killer being brought to justice close to a decade later. 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.. There wasnt a sign or sound from them for nearly four years until an off-road motorcyclist came upon two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, tragically revealing the bodies of the couple and their children. Lying beside the family was a sledgehammer. Two Shallow Graves also points to an advertisement allegedly placed by the same man to sell the water fountain business from under its rightful owner. But several family members did not believe that the man in the video was Joseph. He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. There were also incisions in her bra that lead investigators to believe it was cut off, the motion states. Since opening statements Jan. 7, prosecutors have tried to show jurors that he was the person who killed the McStay family in their Fallbrook home in northern San Diego County and buried them near the High Desert town of Victorville in San Bernardino County. They were living at Fallbrook and simply listed as missing. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent And they should be. Earlier in the week before the family disappeared, Summer had made plans to visit her sister, who had recently had a baby. 'Two Shallow Graves': Everything You Need to Know About the McStay He 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 . The car never returned to the home. 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. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Maria Carvalho (Providence, Rhode Island), who passed away on March 3, 2023. Research genealogy for Elizabeth McStay of Draycott, Derbyshire, England, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. In Fallbrook, CA, their home was fifty miles north of San Diego and twenty miles inland from the Pacific coast. At 30 seconds into the video, note the man and woman entering from lower left of screen. Otherwise, the family looked identical to the McStays. Investigation Discovery aired a docuseries focused on the McStay family murders in late May. memorial page for Virginia Lisa "Summer" Aranda McStay (27 Dec 1966-4 Feb 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID 120355781, citing El Toro . mcstay family autopsy, mcstay family autopsy photos, mcstay family murders autopsy, how did the mcstay family died, did they ever find the mcstay family, why was the . 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 . Merritt would also make a bold claim about his last contact with Joseph. Merritt not only had motive to carry out the grisly slayings, it seemed that he also had the opportunity. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. Chase Merritt, suspect in murder of McStay family, chooses to represent When questioned about his choice of language by investigators, Merritt said he had no idea why he'd done that. But that changed when the remains of the McStay family were found in November 2013, [] 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. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. A 3-pound sledgehammer was found with the bodies . The McStay Family Disappearance and Murder - Medium The autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. 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. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. The familys remains were later unearthed by sheriffs crime scene investigators and forensic anthropologists. Investigators found one of the birth certificates left behind in the home. The skeletal remains . District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. On the same day as they are broadcast, episodes will be available on discovery+. SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - He wrote a book on the McStay case, but an investigative author is expressing shock over the tragic new twist in the case. People. One of the most infamous murder cases in the Inland area will be a focus of the second season premiere of the Oxygen show "Killer Motive" Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. But the killer remained a mystery until investigators uncovered a disturbing clue they said pointed them toward Joseph McStays close friend and business associate, Charles Chase Merritt. Joseph and Summer McStay vanished from their . Inside The Gruesome McStay Family Murder Case. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner Walker's body was discovered in a "pugilistic stance," meaning the 40-year-old actor died with his arms up, instinctively trying to shield his head and face from impact. He continued to plead his innocence, and at his sentencing, he told the judge, I dont deserve this. Summers passport was expired and investigators could not find any records that she had applied for a new one. The motive was greed and the murders were brutal. The ID series features new interviews with Merritt who, unsurprisingly, remains adamant that he is innocent as well as trial footage, interviews with legal teams and the McStays loved ones. SAN BERNARDINO, California- The man accused of killing four members of the McStay family in 2010 will stand trial, a California judge ruled this week. Mcstay-family-autopsy-photos - vencokapost.weebly.com Create your own unique website with customizable templates. But there was an astonishing number of other people whod had significant run-ins with the McStays, according to the new series. Investigators believe Summer was raped at the time as her pants were in the grave near her head, and her panties were in the pants as (if) they were pulled off together, according to the motion. Investigators immediately seized the car and searched it for evidence. Elizabeth McStay, born 1905 - Ancestry Police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph McStay's business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders. Merritt is documented as writing checks totaling $21,000 on McStays business account, after McStay went missing. Reportedly, on January 21, 2020, Merritt was convicted of his crime and issued a sentence of life in prison and the death penalty. Michael's worst fears were realized. 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 . On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Charles 'Chase' Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family and recommended that he be sentenced to death. Summer and Joseph McStay as well as their sons Joseph Mateo and Gianni had vanished without leaving much behind in terms of clues or without really informing any of their kith and kin. 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. The family had moved into the house three months earlier, and was in the process of unpacking and doing renovations. Virginia Lisa "Summer" Aranda McStay (1966-2010) - Find a Grave Bones found in Mojave Desert do belong to - New York Daily News Surveillance footage from the border from a few hours prior seemed to show a family of four crossing the border. What Happened to the McStays, Who Vanished 3 Years Before They Were Found Buried in the Desert? 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 . princess diana autopsy photos - video Dailymotion That was when Charles Merritts story started falling apart and really gave us the motive, Hanke said. Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. However, a new discovery on border surveillance video changed the course of the investigation. 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. Jaroslav Jerry Hanel had tormented the Diamond Head, Huong Lee and Long Nyugen were an elderly Vietnamese couple. ABC 7. Photos of McStay Family Murder . On February 13, when the family hadnt been heard from in nine days, Josephs brother went to the house. 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. Everything was circumstantial. Investigation Discovery's 'Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, the man who [] Kevin McStay (Mayo): "There's a lot of teams that will beat each other before this League is over. Credit: Find the McStay Family Facebook Page. 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. There was a couple bowls of I believe popcorn that it looked like the boys were eating, possibly watching TV. A Family Vanishes: With Stacy Keach. If you wish to write to us in regards to this matter, please be advised that we reserve the right to post your. The shocking find led to even more mysteries and revealed a surprising number of suspects who seemingly had motives to go after the family, according to a new series premiering this weekend on Investigation Discovery. Detectives said when they interviewed Merritt about the missing family, he referred to them in the past tense, saying Joseph McStay "was my best friend.". The deaths have been ruled a homicide. Inside, he found a relatively normal scene. Please be respectful of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you visit. His trial hadn't even begun until January 2019 after he reportedly fired multiple attorneys as he tried to represent himself. The District Attorneys Office, according to McGee, has opposed the motion about the familys photos and videos, which will be argued Friday before Judge Michael A. Smith. Merritt was a close friend to the McStays and a business partner. 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.