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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. 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? During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Just a monster. - Susan Blake, Joseph McStays mother. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Every time you hear a sound in prison or in a movie similar to the sounds you made that day when you murdered this family, I hope it rings loud in your ears. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. #nbc7 #mcstay He told Merrit, I want to psychological mess you up. https://t.co/0xbSXeb9kX. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. Charles "Chase" Merritt appears at his sentencing hearing in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 21, 2020. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. and Spanish language lessons. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me, he added. Mystery:Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home in Fallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010, Tragedy: Joseph'sparents, Patrick McStay and Susan Blake, have opened up about the murders on the second season of the Oxygen true-crime series Killer Motive. Two Shallow Graves takes a look at the murders of the McStay family: Joseph, Summer and their two young boys, followed by the shocking trial . (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. He boasted it had a "loft/game room & big. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. After three years of suspicion, the family's bones were discovered in a desert over a hundred miles from their house. Chase you are a low life coward and a baby killer. "I loved Joseph. [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. He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. 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. He was in a really bad way. Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. 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. [16], After their disappearance, it was speculated that the McStays left voluntarily since investigators found searches on the family's computers for "What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?" She had once told him she wanted that song played at her funeral. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. They make up a small part of Merritts new book, which is due to be released later this year. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. Yes, sir, McStay replied. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. Merritt was found guilty on June 10, 2019, on four counts of murder. Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Arent you tired? [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. "It's not just a Netflix documentary to us. Joseph and Summer McStay were found buried in shallow desert graves along with their two young sons nearly four years after they vanished from their suburban California home (San Bernardino. Blake was followed in testimony by her son and Joseph McStays brother, Michael McStay who said Joseph gave him $2,000 to start his fire sprinkler system business. The skeletal remains of the McStay family were found near Victorville in 2013 and Merritt was arrested a year later. Michael McStay's wife spoke next, talking about the pain her family and husband live with every single day. Prosecutors eventually discovered that about the time the family vanished thousands of dollars in checks allegedly from McStay to Merritt had been written and cashed. 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. With the motions finally out of the way, the judge moved on to the victim impact statements just before 11:20 a.m. Merritt was also expected to speak after the victims delivered their statements. Joseph and Summer McStay were found buried in shallow desert graves along with their two young sons nearly four years after they vanished from their suburban California home (San Bernardino. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Do I think Chase is involved? Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. Although a search of the house found no evidence of a struggle or foul play, there were indications of a hasty departure: a carton of eggs had been left on the counter, and two child-size bowls of popcorn sat on a sofa. The details are shocking and nauseating to sit through.". 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. His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Before the sentencing was handed down, six of the McStay family's loved ones delivered tearful, spine-tingling impact statements in court, staring straight at the face of the killer who took the lives of their family. And when four skeletal remains were found in shallow graves in the remote Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, it put an end to any belief the McStays had started a new life in the sunshine. If I want to speak with him, I have to go to a gravesite," Michael McStay added. 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. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. In the family's home, investigators found bowls of uneaten popcorn, as if the family had just been there, and planned to return. At the time, Joseph owned an online company named Earth Inspired Products that sold decorative water fountains. 09:19 EST 04 Jan 2014 Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. Where were they? Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. 'This despicable, evil monster. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. [35], Last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11, "Business partner arrested in McStay family slaying, desert burial", "Trial underway for man accused of killing 4 from San Diego", "Charles Merritt Sentenced to Death for Killing McStay Family, Burying Their Bodies in Mojave Desert", "Authorities distribute 'endangered missing' flier pertaining to missing McStay family", "Buried bodies identified as members of missing McStay family", "Man last phoned by McStay father says he took polygraph test", "Author of McStay book criticized by victim's family", "After discovery, mystery of McStay family's disappearance deepens", "Investigators say Missing McStay family left voluntarily", "McStay Family Update: FBI Joins Search for Missing Family", "Search for Missing Fallbrook family continues", "McStay family Mystery: Who is Chase Merritt", "Tentative trial date set for McStay family murder suspect 'Chase' Merritt", "Backlash over book's new theory on McStay murders", "Merritt attorneys want McStay case dismissed", "McStay family murder suspect Charles 'Chase' Merritt fires attorneys", "McStay family murder suspect Charles 'Chase' Merritt wants new attorneys", "San Bernardino judge allows McStay family murder suspect to have more case files in his cell", "Lawyers for defendant in McStay family murder case want some evidence tossed", "San Bernardino judge delays ruling in bid to exclude key evidence in McStay family murder case", Charles Merritt Found Guilty Of Slaying McStay Family, "Jury recommends death penalty for man who killed McStay family", "Southern California man sentenced to death for killing family of 4", "ID's Two Shallow Graves: How did Charles "Chase" Merritt know the McStay family and where is he now? "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.". Blake said, speaking to Merritt. I would never hurt him in any way. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. I loved Joseph. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/gDh8XuxqiV, Merritt said he has the "utmost disdain" for the investigators and prosecutors who "put them all in this courtroom" and for the people who, in his words, "manipulated the evidence.". Merritt said the people responsible for the slayings are still free. There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord. I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Merritt looked at Blake as she spoke. By Duchess dons $1,610 Carolina Herrera cape, $300 vegan leather Lovely in lilac! Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. The attorney argued a motion to reduce Merritt's sentence in the killings of Summer McStay and the children to life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty previously recommended by the jury that convicted Merritt. 14:31 EST 05 Jan 2014. #nbc7 https://t.co/muZXjqJBFT. "It marked my kids.". At that time, no one knew what happened to the family. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. Merritt lashed out at prosecutors he said framed him, some witnesses he accused of lying and the judge he said allowed it to happen. Crying for mommy and daddy?" ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. 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. Merritt was convicted in June 2019 of the murders of his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. (Irfan. Summers ex husband made good on a promise the two made years ago and just played a portion of Norman Greenbaums Spirit in the Sky. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. But despite that public front, I know, prior to their disappearance they had not had sex in more than a year. 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. Doctors couldnt diagnose the energy-sapping condition and according to his close friend, Chase Merritt, he started to suspect that his fiery wife may have something to do with it. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. she said. The father's parents, Patrick McStay and Susan Blake, have opened up about the murders on the second season of the Oxygen true-crime series Killer Motive, which premieres on January 23. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. On Friday, he. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/Ojp02cg2cJ. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. The court took a brief break. Charles "Chase" Merritt interrupted his attorney Friday during legal proceedings. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. The book will be released later this year. I would never have hurt him in any way. Just a monster., After a delay, the convicted killer of the McStay family of Fallbrook will be sentenced today. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. He said: Summer was a very self-centered, self-obsessed person with an awful temper. The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 vanished. A lot of his close friends did not trust her and thought she treated him very badly. How could you beat two precious little babies? On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. "It didn't just mark me that day," Michael McStay said. At center is Erin McStay, Michaels wife. Investigators and the public also focused on Merritt, the last known person to have had contact with Joseph and the first to notice his disappearance. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. She said the day detectives told her they had found her family's bodies, it felt as if she'd been hit by a boulder. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. 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. 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. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. "[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. Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Mrs Blake described Josephs symptoms as something similar to vertigo and said he complained of feeling 'woozy'. 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. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/nZp6QeV6sQ, I dont know that I can ever explain the impact this man has had on my family, she said. Soon, the family's car was found at a strip mall in south San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border. 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. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. I honestly believed my psychiatrist . Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. At one point he said to me, "Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food". A neighbor's security camera was triggered at 7:47PM when the McStays . He maintains his innocence. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. [5], 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). After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. Oscar Cainer tells all, How to dress like a grown up: Trust me, loose fit can be flattering, says Shane Watson, Anti-agers no one but you needs to know about,Inge Van Lotringen tells all. 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. Authorities think they've caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. You cannot get back time. Sentencing still has not happened. The parents of a man who disappeared with his wife and two young children have detailed how they searched for the family for years before it was discovered that their son's business partner brutally murdered them with a sledgehammer. Mike crawled through a window and discovered food rotting in the kitchen, and Summer's prescription sunglasses were also left on the table. [24] When asked if he thought Merritt was a suspect, Joseph's father Patrick said, "I have to have faith in Chase because I have to have faith in my son. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. Dont worry, your fate will be way less tragic than of the family you murdered.. Sheriffs investigators believeSummer McStay may have been rapedbefore she was killed. The judge has been speaking for the last hour - and still going, reviewing in slow, excruciating detail certain facts of the case. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. The comments below have not been moderated. [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. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. I know the thought of leaving her crossed his mind, probably quite a lot, but he would never actually go through with it., The comments below have not been moderated, 'Insane' man who lived with his dead mother and stepfather for three days after murdering them recaptured one day after escaping from mental institution, Alabama pastor suspected of stabbing wife to death in July arrested as he tried to board flight to Germany, 'Jail food is cold, the water's bad and my cell doesn't have a microwave': Drug lord suspect writes to complain about prison conditions as he awaits trial, 'Can you imagine telling your four kids he's gone, then he turns up alive? I remember one woman in particular was all over him for a while. Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. And if the truth be told, despite everything, he was still infatuated with Summer. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay, took his turn. "Not natural causes; there was intent here.". The bodies of the McStay family were found buried in the Mojave desert in 2013, three years after the family vanished from their home in San Diego County. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. And that those sounds haunt you, Chase, he said. Susan had her son Mike stop by the family's San Diego County home on February 13, 2010, nine days after her son was last heard from. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. With all the action and breaks, there was no time left for victim impact statements and the actual sentencing of Merritt. Crying for mommy and daddy?' He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Merritt has pleaded not guilty to the murders of McStay; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. Indian lodge motel in joseph oregon. 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. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. In the last of the two meetings, They were definitely yelling, big time, at each other. , updated Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, disappeared along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3, from their their serene San Diego-area community more than a month ago. Why were they gone? Here are the seven best ways to wear them this spring. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Prosecutors are seeking the death. Sheriffs officials announced that the remains of the four people found buried in the desert belong to the McStay family, a Fallbrook family missing since 2010. "Ultimately, I hope to be a father and when I am, I will hold my children close," he continued. The disappearance of the McStay family - Joseph, 41, Summer, 43, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3 - occurred in 2013, when they vanished without a trace from their California home. Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Patrick had the chance to directly address Merritt in court, calling him a 'ruthless mass murderer' and telling him, 'I hope you burn in hell. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. Chase Merritt sobs and says I did not do this thing. 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. The hearing, which consumed more than 10 hours, concluded with several emotional statements from McStay's mother, brother, in-laws and surviving son, as well as from Merritt himself, who . Will Payne Businessman Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two young sons -- Gianni 4, Joseph Jr. 3 -- were last heard from Feb. 4. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. Patrick McStay has waited for this day, when he finally gets to speak in court, gets to speak for his slain son Joseph McStay, daughter-in-law Summer and two young grandsons. The break came, defense attorneys said, when Merritt and McStay separately worked on a custom-fountain side of the business that did not include Kavanaugh. And now, victim impact statements before formal sentencing. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. Sheriffs officials announced that the remains of the four people found buried in the desert belong to the McStay family, a Fallbrook family missing since 2010. Investigators believe that Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph, were bludgeoned to death in their home in the San Diego County community of Fallbrook on Feb. 4, 2010, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said Friday. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Joseph was his older brother, by three years, two months, three days, he toldSan Bernardino County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. 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. Indiana Man Charged After Son In Diapers Points Gun At . The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Never again will we hear their voices. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/CGQmypfaZb. 'We went all the way down to Cabo because at first they said there were sightings, and then we just took the car and went north.