On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. We're just the clowns," Imes said. Joseph McStay - the father of the family of four found dead in the California desert after vanishing nearly four years ago - had suspicions his wife was POISONING him in the days before their . He conducted dozens of interviews on the case (traveling to Mexico, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic), followed leads, and reported sightings of the family. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "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. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. Scholarly publications with full text pdf download. 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. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play. At that time, no one knew what happened to the family. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. I dont remember bouncing a check, she said. "I did not do this thing. , updated Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. Just a monster. Merritt was found guilty on June 10, 2019, on four counts of murder. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. Never again will we hear their voices. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/CGQmypfaZb. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. Three years later, their bodies were found in a remote desert location more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away in San Bernardino County. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. In further sensational claims, Merrits new book Afraid of the Light will detail how the couple were having major problems in their relationship and had not had sex for more than a year before they went missing. She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. In the last of the two meetings, They were definitely yelling, big time, at each other. "[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. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/Ojp02cg2cJ. 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. We used to speak to each other 10 or 12 times almost every day and we would talk about absolutely everything. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. We're just the clowns.". He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. 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. He played a portion of "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum in court, saying he was making good on a promise he made to Summer McStay many years ago. #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. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. ': Anguish of $21m fraudster banker's wife after he's found running POT FARM a year after faking his suicide, 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!' Did you always look up to him Imes asked. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. They were in the process of remodeling their four-bedroom, three-bathroom home when they went missing. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning McStay was cutting him out of his business making and selling custom water fountains. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. Joseph McStay, de 40 aos, su mujer, Summer, de 43, y sus hijos Gianni, de 4, y Joseph Jr., de 3, desaparecieron de su casa en Fallbrook, California, el 4 de febrero de 2010 DESAPARICIN Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and on the (February) 4, he was talking to my mother and he had to pull over when he was driving home because he felt vertigo type symptoms.'. They make up a small part of Merritts new book, which is due to be released later this year. Crying for mommy and daddy?' The trial in the downtown San Bernardino Justice Center is before Judge Michael A. Smith. Ultimately, officials determined it was not the McStay family in that video. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. Defense attorney Rajan Maline produced a check to Merritt for $3,300 that was issued in April 2010 and signed by Blake, not on her personnel account, but on an account for Earthinspiredproducts.com. 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. Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. List of journal articles on the topic 'Kirkland House (Cambridge, Mass.)'. With all the action and breaks, there was no time left for victim impact statements and the actual sentencing of Merritt. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. 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. Charles Chase Merritt, l'associ du pre de famille retrouv mort avec femme et . 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. The bodies of Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife Summer, 43, along with their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found in a shallow grave in the desert north of Victorville in 2013. Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. 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. Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me, he added. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. Crying for mommy and daddy? In July 2015, Merritt's defense attorney filed a request to have the case dismissed because of the wording used by the prosecution when the charges were filed. Sheriffs investigators believeSummer McStay may have been rapedbefore she was killed. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. But he would not even entertain the idea of cheating on her. Indian lodge motel in joseph oregon. [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. On Friday, he. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. 'This despicable, evil monster. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. 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. She said: 'My son had been sick since last August and hes normally a very healthy person. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. A small public memorial was held Wednesday afternoon in honor of the McStay family, a couple and their two young sons whose bodies were discovered last week in the Mojave Desert. [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. His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. Around five months before his disappearance he started suffering terrible problems with his equilibrium and his stomach. His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. The evidence finally placing Merritt at the scene of the crime was his cellphone data, prosecutors said. He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. 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!' Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. Merritt said the people responsible for the slayings are still free. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. 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. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. By Jill Sederstrom The McStay Family Goes Missing Now Playing Preview The McStay Family Goes Missing 2:14 Preview McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border 2:24 [2][11], During their investigation, the police learned that around 11:00 pm on February 8, the family's Trooper had been towed from a strip mall parking lot in San Ysidro, San Diego, near the Mexican border. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord. The family's computer had recent internet searches for: 'What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?' He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. Crying for mommy and daddy?" The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. ', 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.'. 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. Soon, the family's car was found at a strip mall in south San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border. Mike crawled through a window and discovered food rotting in the kitchen, and Summer's prescription sunglasses were also left on the table. Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. 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. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. He was sentenced to the death penalty for the slayings of Joseph McStay's wife, Summer McStay, 43, and the couple's two sons, Gianni McStay, 4, and Joseph McStay, Jr., 3. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. [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. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges that he killed McStay, 40, a former business associate; his wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, in their Fallbrook home on Feb. 4, 2010, then buried their bodies more than 100 miles away in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, north of Victorville and west of the 15 Freeway. At center is Erin McStay, Michaels wife. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. On Tuesday, the judge said the sentencing stands: Merritt gets life in prison for the killing of Joseph McStay, and the death penalty for the slayings of Summer McStay, Gianni McStay, and Joseph McStay Jr. Charles Merritt was sentenced to death for killing the McStay family. Then a few people started putting the idea in his head that maybe Summer was behind it.
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