Heavy. Later that night, he received a phone call from animal control, which was planning to take the dogs because they had been left outside without food for over a week. Nelson is a graduate of California State University Fullerton. Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? Reports state that it was via Joseph's flourishing decorative fountain business and Earth Inspired Products that the two first became acquainted. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. San Bernardino County Det. Then began the authorities' quest to figure out who killed the loving family of four. While there were no signs of forced entry, it seemed like the McStays left in a hurry. Nearly a decade after the skeletal remains of a family of four were found buried in the California desert, their accused killer was sentenced to death. They recognized that the children and Summer were the people in the video, but Josephs mother believed that if the man in the video were Joseph, his hair would have been much bushier. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Reports state that Susan, Joseph's mother, was visibly upset and described him as a "despicable, evil monster," adding that knowing how the family was murdered had made her life a nightmare. That was the last time they would ever speak; no one heard from the McStays after 4 February 2010. . So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? 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 . Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. In November 2013, almost four years later, a motorcycle rider found two shallow grave sites in the desert, just north of Victorville. Investigators made a break in the investigation when a neighbors security camera caught the McStays car leaving their home on the evening of February 4. Reportedly, on January 21, 2020, Merritt was convicted of his crime and issued a sentence of life in prison and the death penalty. Similarly, on February 6, his phone pinged off of towers in Victorville, placing him at the burial site. Autopsy Photos. 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. Investigators also found a three-pound sledgehammer that they believe was the murder weapon and clothing, some of it marked with the same color paint that the McStay family had been using to paint their home when they went missing. 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. When family members were called in to help identify the people on the video, they had mixed reactions. Investigation Discovery's 'Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, the man who [] 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. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. Merritt had previously worked with Joseph McStay, who owned and ran the Earth Inspired Products decorative fountain company. Lots of peoples names came up, and lots of different theories came up, executive producer Jacinda A Davis tells The Independent. Their children, Gianni and Joseph Jr., were 4 and 3, respectively. Selena autopsy photo. This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this . Initial investigation revealed that the family car was found at around 11 pm on February 8, 2010, in a parking lot close to the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their . Merrit himself, the producers say, was nervous to participate since he could not control the narrative. Sheriffs investigators believe Merritt, a business associate of Joseph McStay who built custom decorative water fountains for McStays online business, killed the McStays for financial gain. 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. The deaths have been ruled a homicide. They were actually written several days after the family disappeared and backdated to make it appear as though theyd been issued before the family vanished. 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 latestepisode of CNBC's American Greed, airing Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. While Joseph went to a work meeting, Summer spoke to her sister over the phone and planned to visit later. Complete Murderpedia Autopsy Photos online with US Legal Forms.. .. Descargar Dmelect Gratis. Merritts trial finally began on January 7, 2019 and on June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Charles "Chase" Merritt was sentenced to death Tuesday for killing the McStay family of Fallbrook. All rights reserved. He was given the death penalty for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt is on San Quentin Death Row. On the same day as they are broadcast, episodes will be available on discovery+. I think its fair to say the show looks at other suspects, and its fair to say that, towards the end of the show, we will confront some of them.. Syd Field Four Screenplays Pdf 11 !!HOT!! 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. Merritt constantly denied he had anything to do with the crime. He was a business partner of Joseph McStay. Charles 'Chase' Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer and the couple's children The McStay family vanished from their San Diego . It wasn't until January 2019 that his trial even started after it was revealed that he dismissed many lawyers to defend himself in court. 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. Charles Merritt Gets Death Penalty McStay Family Murders PHOTO: Charles Ray Merritt was arrested on Nov.. 5, 2021 by the San.. 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. Two Shallow Graves on ID is examining the tragic murders of the McStay family, who were butchered by business associate Charles "Chase" Merritt, and buried in the desert near Victorville, California, in 2010. 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. On February 13, when the family hadnt been heard from in nine days, Josephs brother went to the house. People. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Pic credit: San Diego County Police. McStay Memorial Erected In . With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Maria Carvalho (Providence, Rhode Island), who passed away on March 3, 2023. The story of the McStay family is one that has baffled San Diego investigators for years.. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. Prosecutors say Merritt owed McStay more than $42,000. Inside, they found a relatively normal scene: there were a number of new toys, the childrens car seats were in their positions, and the front seats were adjusted to Summer and Josephs relative sizes. The murder suspect, Charles "Chase" Merritt, was present in court, wearing a gray shirt and pattern tie that was delivered to him by his family. A whole family vanished on February 4, 2010 from their home in Fallbrook, CA.. Suspicion had long fallen on Joseph McStays business partner, Chase Merritt, as he had been the last person to have contact with the family, and he also had a criminal record, albeit for small-time offenses. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. These bodies were soon confirmed as the McStay family. However, a new discovery on border surveillance video changed the course of the investigation. 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 San Bernardino Superior Court judge . Their car was located a few days later, near San Diego, close to the Mexican border. The family had been savagely beaten to death. At the beginning, hes like, I know this case better than the attorneys, Mr Fitpatrick adds. The motive was greed and the murders were brutal. But privately, investigatorsnoticed Merritt had displayed some concerning behavior after the family disappeared. 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. Each is holding the hand of a child. Case 8, Dorothy Scott Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Though it is possible that Summer was using a different name, there are no records of passports under any of her other names. When Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons disappeared from the family's Fallbrook, California home in February 2010, it was as if they'd simply vanished into thin air. As the investigation continued, it also emerged that the last call from Mr McStays phone had been to Merritt whose cell phone pinged near a tower in the desert in the vicinity of the shallow graves. If you wish to write to us in regards to this matter, please be advised that we reserve the right to post your. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. Michaels worst fears were realized. 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. 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. A new documentary series re . 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.. Two Shallow Graves airs Sunday from 9/8c on Investigation Discovery. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Credit: Find the McStay Family Facebook Page. This site is to discuss and explore the Mcstay family murders. Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. Merritt insists on his innocence in the face of the prosecution's evidence, raising the question: Did Merritt murder the McStay family? McGee stated in his motion that the identity of the victims was not in dispute, and that DNA and dental records positively identified the McStay family as homicide victims after their skeletal remains were discovered in two shallow graves in November 2013, west of the 15 Freeway and north of Stoddard Wells Road. Her disappearance was widely reported in the national news media. When Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons disappeared from the familys Fallbrook, California home in February 2010, it was as if theyd simply vanished into thin air. It didnt take this long. About three days before the disappearance, Joseph emailed Chase regarding the money and was close to firing him. McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border, 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 latestepisode of, For years the familys mysterious disappearance would continue to baffle investigators until a motorcyclistriding the trails in the Mojave Desert on Nov. 13, 2013 made a, Investigators from the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department soon. Lord Hanuman Angry Animated Wallpapers Hd posted by Sarah Anderson a28a80e3cc. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. "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 . The following year, police arrested Merritt, whod worked with Mr McStay in his custom waterfall business. About three days later, Josephs brother, Mike, got into the house through an open window and saw that the pet dogs were still at home but no sign of the family. This gave him a flexible schedule and the ability to work from home, so he could spend more time with his family. Investigators from the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department soon uncovered the bodies of all four McStay family membersincluding Joseph, Summer, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old JosephJr.buried in two shallow graves in the harsh desert. Chase went on TVand talked about his relationship with Joseph and one of the key statements that he made was something to the effect of he was definitely the last person who saw Joseph alive, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Sgt. There was a huge sigh of relief. The deaths have been ruled a homicide. She was predeceased by : her parents, Manuel Sousa and Nicolina Sousa (Melo); and her siblings . On February 4, 2010,Summer McStay, her husbandJoseph, and their young sonsGianni andJoseph Jr.disappeared from San Diego, California. Cell phone records indicate that he drove home after the meeting, and he continued to make calls into the evening. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Authorities say Merritt, a business associate of 40-year-old Joseph McStay, beat the family to death inside their residence. For years, that was the prevailing belief among law enforcement. Summers passport was expired and investigators could not find any records that she had applied for a new one. Merritt's DNA was found on the steering wheel and gearshift, even though Merritt told detectives he had never driven that vehicle. Two Shallow Graves is a seven-part docu-series that delves into the details of the case.The premiere . The autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads. To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of "American Greed" at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC. In January 2010, just days before the disappearance, the home computer was used to search for passport requirements for kids traveling to Mexico. McGee argued that the use of family photos and/or videos in the case should only be relevant if they are used for identifying victims, otherwise they are irrelevant. PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? In October 2009, Joseph McStay excitedly e-mailed a friend about the house he and his wife had purchased in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, Calif. Judge Michael A. Smith determined there It was sort of one sort of absurdity after the other, Kevin Fitzpatrick, an executive producer of Two Shallow Graves, tells The Independent. As it turned out, someone from animal control had stopped by and fed the dogs, so Summer and Joseph had not arranged for someone to feed them. Two Shallow Graves: The McStay Family Murders: With Suzanne Armstrong, Tony Azzaro, Taylor Jarvis, Shawn Patrick Murphy. Summer will be forever missed by her family and many friends. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. memorial page for Virginia Lisa "Summer" Aranda McStay (27 Dec 1966-4 Feb 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID 120355781, citing El Toro . They were dressed similarly to the McStays, and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had been photographed in. When the family went missing, the pair began their own investigation, describing in the new series how they combed through the McStays emails and followed up any lead they could find. The cops also learned that his cellphone had been pinged in the area where the family was buried. Merritt is documented as writing checks totaling $21,000 on McStays business account, after McStay went missing. Case 7, McStay. The remains were identified as the McStay familys and were buried in two shallow graves. A 3-pound sledgehammer was found with the bodies, which was believed to be the murder weapon. Merritt's girlfriend gives him an alibi, but the prosecution attempts to discredit her . Investigation Discovery aired a docuseries focused on the McStay family murders in late May. Photos Of McStay Family Murder Suspect. 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 . The missing persons flier for the McStay family. The McStay family murders occurred on or about February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. Good Housekeeping. On February 15, the family reported them missing, and the authorities searched 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. John F. Kennedy autopsy photo (#1) 0. There were also incisions in her bra that lead investigators to believe it was cut off, the motion states. How do you do that?. I think that, when this show airs, so many people know the case Theres going to be a lot of debate. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. Investigators believed that the family pictured is likely the McStays, based on analysis of family photos and home videos. But hed also tell Kay during his television interview that he had definitely been the last person to see Joseph. Given the evidence, Chase was eventually found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Today, he is still imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison and on death row. The caller lacked the necessary passcodeto delete the account and the customer service representative was unable to carry out his requestleaving the damaging information for investigators to discover later. 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. A California businessman has been sentenced to death for brutally murdering a family of four and then dumping their bodies in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert. Watch the horrifying tale of the McStay family murders and the controversial trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt in ID's Two Shallow Graves, set to air this May 22, 2022. A man riding his dirt bike in the area discovered some of the remains and contacted police. Investigation Discovery's 'Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. Read More:Nicole Berte Murder: Where is Randy Lee Bode Now? Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. 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. 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, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, There are many ways to fight writers block, find inspiration, A.K. An attorney eventually represented Merritt, and the jury decided in favor of the victims. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and it appeared they were tortured before they were killed. In addition, security cameras for the parking lot from which the car was towed confirmed that the car had not arrived there until the afternoon of February 8, so there was four days of which the family was unaccounted for. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Victim(s): Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Joseph McStay Jr, Gianni McStay, . 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. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. The family's disappearance had puzzled investigators, who said there . 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. Prosecutors claim he killed business partner Joseph McStay, McStay's 43-year-old wife Summer, and the couple's sons--4 year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. But jurors disagreed and Merritt was convicted and later sentenced to death for the slayings in January 2020. Investigators 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 nearby parking lot. While speaking to Merritt, she said. 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. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed..

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