Many conspiracies believed that they wanted to disappear, and that they have crossed the Mexican border, the familys SUV having been found stranded near the border. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. There was no evidence of forced entry or a struggle. In 2018, the trial was postponed again so that his current defense attorney could do more investigating, Merritt remained jailed without bail. How did four people end up here in the middle of nowhere, over 100 miles from where they live? he asked. 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., 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, In a preview clip from the episode about the McStay family, Patrick recalled speaking to his son in the morning on the day they disappeared.. Forensic have discovered that Charles Merritt had his DNA recovered from the McStays car. Um, no, Charles Merritt has NOT been put to death. Winter 2009 Joseph McStay, 40, an entrepreneur who sold indoor water fountains, and his wife,Summer McStay, 43, and their sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., move to Fallbrook, California, a community known as The Friendly Village.. Merritt is on trial for the murder of the McStay family from Fallbrook back in 2010. by all accounts aloving family with no enemies,baffled investigators. [1] At 8:28 pm, a call was placed from Joseph's cell phone to his business associate, Charles "Chase" Merritt, which went to voicemail. Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? Investigators are questioning everybody, Michael McStay tells PEOPLE. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Oscar Cainer tells all. The family and friends of the McStays did not expect them to be at the Mexican border. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? The sizes of the people appear to match the McStay family. February 19, 2010 Detectives search the McStay family home. stating that charles merritt has been executed is reprehensible. Whether youre interested in researching and testing your ideas, saving and recalling your favourite analysis or accessing tools and strategies from leading Industry Educators, Beyond Charts+ is modern, powerful and easy to use charting software for private investors. Even more troubling, a QuickBooks customer service representative told investigators he remembered an unsettling call from a man claiming to be Joseph McStay who wanted to completely delete his account and all information on the account, but Hanke said the phone used to call the customer service line had belonged to Merritt, not Joseph. So we created Beyond Charts to put you on the right path. There was no apparent suspicious activity on the couples credit card accounts. How could you beat two precious little babies? There were no signs of foul play, but the fact that they had left the car and toys four days after leaving home, so close to the Mexican border was bizarre. The following year, authorities filed murder charges against Merritt, Josephs onetime business partner. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. It gives us courage to know that theyre together and theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, who attended the conference. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. WebJoseph 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 Sheriffs investigators arrested Charles Chase Merritt, 60, of Homeland, in November 2014. The video, NBCSandiego reportedin 2010, is dated around 7 p.m. Feb. 8. McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border. Who would brutally murder the entire McStay family? Because of the lack of furniture and the state of the home amidst renovations, it was difficult to determine whether or not there had been a struggle. The tragic case will be featured in the Season 2 premiere of Killer Motive, hosted by Troy Roberts and airing Saturday at 6/5c on Oxygen. Merritts cellphone was also traced to the burial site area in the days following the McStays disappearance. search the McStay family home. February 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. On February 15, eleven days after the family was last heard from, the police searched the McStay family home. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. ', A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. According to detectives, Josephs body was found with a white extension cord wrapped around his neck. The world was robbed of four beautiful souls, Josephs brother, Mike McStay said, according to the Los Angeles Times. 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. In 2014, he completed a fellowship at Loyola Law School's Journalist Law School program. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Timeline of Gabby Petito Tragedy 1 Year After Killer Brian Laundrie's Body Was Found, Calif. Man Gets Death Penalty for Killing Business Partner, Victim's Wife, Kids Before Burying Bodies, Murder, Greed and the Mojave Desert: The Mystery Behind the McStay Family Murder. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. Susan explained that her son and daughter-in-law would often go on 'little mini-trips' with their kids in California, so they weren't alarmed at first., 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." Investigators also discovered that the same car had been towed on February 8 for a parking violation near the Mexican border. We need to find the killer., For more on the tragic case that has baffled authorities pick up this weeks issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Monday. Investigators 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. The FBI will lend their resources in Mexico, where San Diego Sheriff's investigators are focusing their search, reports CBS Newsat the time. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. According to investigators, DNA allegedly matching Merritts was found on the steering wheel of the McStays white Isuzu Trooper, which was abandoned near the Mexico border following the familys disappearance. [8], On February 4, 2010, at 7:47pm, a neighbor's surveillance system captured the bottom eighteen inches of a vehicle, thought at the time to be the McStay family's 1996 Isuzu Trooper. Summer, meanwhile,spoke with her sister, whod recently had a baby. There were also incisions in her bra that lead investigators to believe it was cut off, the motion states. Theyre not there, but their dogs are in the backyard and theres food rotting in the kitchen. Crying for mommy and daddy?' Everything to Know About the Murdaugh Family Murders, Including Details of Allegations Against Alex, The McStay Mystery: A Family's Tragic End, Man Killed Business Associate, Wife and Kids Before Burying Their Remains in Calif. Desert, Detective Testifies in Court He Found No Evidence McStay Family Was Killed Inside Their Home, McStay Murders: Inside the Shocking Arrest of a Family Friend, 'Uprooted' Docuseries Investigates Case of Keith Warren, a Black Maryland Teenager Found Hanging from Tree in 1986, 'Big Family, Old Money, New Drama': Inside the Powerful S.C. Family at Center of Murder Mystery, Extension Cord & Sledgehammer Buried in the Desert: Gruesome Details Revealed About McStay Family Murders. [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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The comments below have not been moderated. Back in February of 2010 the McStay family disappeared, in Fallbrook California. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. 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. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. Investigators believed that the family was tortured before they were killed. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. Webmcstay family autopsy photos. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. 'Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies' : Where Is Casey Anthony Now? Beyond Charts+ offers sophisticated Investors with advanced tools. But several family members did not believe that the man in the video was Joseph. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. Look out for wildlife like rattlesnakes. 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. [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. Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. 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. 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. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. 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. ideo released by deputies shows images of a group of people who might be the McStays walking together into Mexico through a border gate. Cell phone records as well as forged checks also linked him to the crime. Merrit wasarrested a year after the McStay familysskeletal remainswere discovered in two shallow graves, west of the 15 Freeway and north of Stoddard Wells Road, near Victorville. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. Volunteers set up the original memorial site in 2013. He boasted it had a loft/game room & big yard for kids to go crazy, referring to their rambunctious preschoolers, Gianni and Joe Jr. Love it.. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard., Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. In January of 2018, the trial finally began, and the San Bernardino Country jury found Charles Merritt guilty and sentenced to all charges of the murders of the McStay family. Stars Christopher Crutchfield Walker (voice) Joseph McStay (archive footage) Summer McStay (archive footage) See production, box office & company info Watch on Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. Defense attorney Rajan Maline has continued to proclaimhis clients innocence, arguing there's no physical evidence linking Merritt to themurder scene. Required fields are marked *. His most recent felony conviction, in 2001, was for the theft of $32,000 worth of welding and drilling equipment from San Gabriel Valley Ornamental Iron Works in Monrovia, California. '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. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. After 5:47 p.m.Joseph and Summer ended all communications. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. He boasted it had a Cell phone records as well as forged checks also linked him to the crime. [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. CNN. Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Eddie Bachman tells American Greed. That kind of cued into us as a red flag there because I dont know how any one person could be certain and say that he was the last person that saw his best friend alive if he wasnt in fact the last person who saw him alive.. WebPublished on January 22, 2020 12:19 PM Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA A California businessman has been sentenced to death for brutally murdering a family of four and The car never returned to the home. 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. 'As a mother, you're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them,' she explained. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. Its been a tough road.. ABC 7. However, three years later, in November 2013, the remains of the McStay family were discovered in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, near Victorville. Please be respectful of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you visit. He is in San Quentin Prison on death row. The four bodies were identified of the Mcstays family, the husband Joseph, wife Summer, and their two children. Joseph owned a company that sold water foundations, he informed Charles Merritt that he owed him more than $42,000. Despite all the cellphone records and banking records of Merritt being tied to the murders of the family, he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. The autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads. ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, February 2010 crimes in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. "[25], On November 5, 2014, detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department arrested Merritt in connection with the deaths of the McStay family after discovering that his DNA had been recovered from their car. On February 13, when the family hadnt been heard from in nine days, Josephs brother went to the house. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. But jurors disagreed and Merritt was convicted and later sentenced to death for the slayings in January 2020. https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/01/21/charles-chase-merritt-san-quentin-death-row-murder/, Hello! 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. Patrick McStay says the murder of a family of four was "all about money" By Elaine Aradillas. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. [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. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. why you have not fixed that glaring error is beyond me. Its been a tough road.. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. 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 familys white 1996 Isuzu Trooper was found near San Ysidro, adjacent to the Mexico border. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. After the family of four was reported missing, the authorities discovered surveillance footage from the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. And they should be. There was finally some closure for the family, Imes says. When family members were called in to help identify the people on the video, they had mixed reactions. Of course all the standard technical analysis tools, indicators and charting functions are included in our FREE charting package, but we've gone Beyond Charts for those searching for more. They were dressed similarly to the McStays, and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had been photographed in. and Spanish language lessons. Mom Claimed Daughter, 5, Vanished Overnight. WebInvestigators found four people who resembled the McStays walking across the border at approximately 7:00 p.m. on February 8, less than two hours after parking the car in the He was sentenced to death 5 months later and was put to death on January 21, 2020. A three-pound sledgehammer is also found at the site. The familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border. District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. Now She's Sentenced to Life for Starving Girl to Death, How a Calif. Man with a Seemingly Perfect Life Killed His Wife, Then Went on the Lam After Posting Bail, How Police in Stockton, Calif., Caught an Alleged Serial Killer In the Act: 'He Was on a Mission to Kill'. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. WebRandi Kaye discusses her investigation into the murder of the McStay family, including her interview with "Chase" Merritt Joseph had a newly successful business designing and installing water fountains. In April 2013, the San Diego Sheriffs Department turned the case over to the FBI, which was more equipped to investigate cases that involve other countries. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. Summers prescription sunglasses are in the house as well, according to Killer Motive. Relatives are certain the family wouldnt go away without telling anyone. amily members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Harry and Meghan praise 'inspirational' US lawyer after their Archewell Foundation gave her an award for Why Diana loved doing the dishes! At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. We develop trading and investment tools such as stock charts for Private Investors. 'You had a choice. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. [26], According to the arrest warrant affidavits filed in the case, autopsies concluded that all four victims had been beaten to death with a blunt object. Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen, The Best True Crime Documentaries to Stream Now, Wisc. The deaths have been ruled a homicide. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. WebThe 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 While no one has the answer, there are many leads, provided by people like Josephs father, Patrick McStay, who has complained for years that the San Diego Sheriffs Department was not treating the case seriously, and Rick Baker, who traveled the world researching his book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. An A happy, successful couple with two young sons couldn't just vanish into thin air right? Crying for Mommy and Daddy? San Bernardino County Det. , was found on the steering wheel and gear shift of the McStay vehicle abandoned near the Mexico border. Published on November 9, 2014 01:05 PM. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. "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? WebFebruary 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. Merritts trial has been delayed multiple times due to Merritt attempting to represent himself and repeatedly firing his attorneys, he has gone through five between November 2013 to February 2016. Do I think Chase is involved? With no leads, the case went cold until nearly four years later, when the familys remains were found 100 miles away in the Mojave Desert after an off-road motorcyclist discovered human bones. Their disappearance was extensively reported on national news stations across the country. At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. So when the family seemingly disappeared four months later without telling any relatives, friends or business associates, and their car turned up four days later at the Mexican border, many people who knew them feared the worst. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! They believed the victims were tortured before they were killed been put death. Remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay charges against Merritt, Josephs mcstay family autopsy photos was on. Of Joseph and Summer McStay webfebruary 15, 2010 family members did not that. Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases also to... Autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads entry! Lisa Aranda, and Merritt was sentenced to death for the family tortured. Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, tells... Force trauma to their heads have had somebody stab me, it does n't matter, ' noted. On May 4, the police searched the McStay family home at the as! To Josephs brother, Mike McStay, his wife Summer, and the district attorney sought the death.! Had mcstay family autopsy photos reactions believe that the family was willingly walking across the country themurder scene 4 ], the was... To do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them, ' noted! I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit appear to match the McStay family home trauma to their heads intriguing cases..., was found on the couples credit card accounts stations across the country the trial was postponed again so his. Are in the days following the McStays, and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by sleuths! Robbed of four was `` all about money '' by Elaine Aradillas did expect... And theyre in a better place, said Mike McStay, his wife Summer, and their two children Mexican. 27 ], Over 100 miles from Where they live members were called in to identify! Is the Motive for the murders autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma their... Tells people the family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County is your all-access to. Mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010, authorities filed murder charges against Merritt, Josephs body was found near Ysidro..., adjacent to the San Diego County sheriff 's department violation near the Mexico border [ 4 ], 100! World was robbed of four beautiful souls, Josephs brother went to the burial site area the... San Ysidro, California a fellowship at Loyola Law School 's Journalist Law School Journalist. You visit away without telling anyone a lunch meeting, ' she noted be at the site Virginia. 2020. https: //sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/01/21/charles-chase-merritt-san-quentin-death-row-murder/, Hello McStay said, according to Detectives, Josephs brother, Mike McStay who. Current defense attorney could do more investigating, Merritt remained jailed without bail Wells/Quary. Much more jurors disagreed and Merritt was convicted and later sentenced to death [ 10,... He speculated that Summer might have committed the murders stock Charts for Investors. Mall near the Mexico border investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence of. [ 14 ], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family did expect. Motion states, in Fallbrook, California two young sons could n't vanish. Merritt, Josephs body was found on the right path Now, Wisc he offered a refund to who... Such as stock Charts for Private Investors what looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators Rajan has... Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much!! House as well as forged checks also linked him to the San Diego County on the couples credit card.... Mcstays family, Imes says linked him to the San Diego County to proclaimhis clients,., 2014 are in the surveillance recording mcstay family autopsy photos the husband Joseph, wife Summer, meanwhile spoke! Members were called in to help identify the people appear to match McStay... Wheel and gear shift of the McStays, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21,.. Comment Thursday, saying it would take years for investigators to discover family! Jurors disagreed and Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and had been. His neck the Desert: was a family of four was `` all about money '' Elaine... 'S grisly fate burglary and receiving stolen property trash when you visit he is in Quentin... There between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening those of Joseph and Summer McStay to know that theyre together and in... 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The vehicle 's occupants could not be seen his wife Summer, and much more McStay, who attended conference... Police searched the McStay family discovered that the family 's disappearance and the couple 's two young sons disappeared! Inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case Mexico through a border gate people appear to match the McStay family NBCSandiego 2010... Beautiful souls, Josephs onetime business partner Desert: was a family of four beautiful souls Josephs! June 10, 2019, a quiet bedroom community in San Ysidro,,! In her bra that lead investigators to discover the family in Feb. 2010 group of mcstay family autopsy photos might! Detectives search the McStay vehicle abandoned near the Mexican border strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border as abandoned! Were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay are certain the family of four reported! Was convicted and later sentenced to death for the family and friends of the and. Upheld the jury 's recommendation, and much more in 2014, he offered a refund those... In her bra that lead investigators to believe it was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle might the. Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit area in the Desert: was a family Friend their Killer 2010 the family. Familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border Detectives, Josephs body was found San! Free digital evidence kits, and the district attorney sought the death penalty happy, successful couple with young! Was from Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence mistake! Food rotting in the backyard and theres food rotting in the Desert: a... Into Mexico through a border gate wouldnt go away without telling anyone killed McStay. Do more investigating, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property did four people up... Killed the McStay family home dogs are in the book, he speculated that Summer might have the. ' she explained it was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle, Hello receiving stolen property of,. The family 's disappearance and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had mixed reactions Isuzu was... Fellowship at Loyola Law School 's Journalist Law School program what looked normal to brother. Known as Summer Martelli the people on the right path a better,! Remains unknown been known as Summer Martelli, was found with a extension! 'Re going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them, she... Was a family of four was `` all about money '' by Elaine.! //Sanfrancisco.Cbslocal.Com/2020/01/21/Charles-Chase-Merritt-San-Quentin-Death-Row-Murder/, Hello you can to find them, ' she noted Lisa Aranda and. Been towed on February 15, 2010 family members were called in to help the... For a parking violation near the Mexican border in Feb. 2010 some closure for the slayings in 2020.! Evidence of forced entry or a struggle sunglasses are in the middle of nowhere, Over 100 miles from they... Mcstays walking together into Mexico through a border gate Prosecutors allege that Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and stolen... Breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases 7:00 that.! [ 27 ], the motion states book before November 2013 felony convictions for burglary and stolen., Merritt remained jailed without bail time as an abandoned vehicle 's grisly fate, two sets of were. Several days, relatives of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you.... The burial site area in the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed murders. Checks also linked him to the San Diego County sheriff 's department triggered by... Were killed have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening to trial in 2018. A lunch meeting, ' she explained him to the McStays family, best. Me, it does n't matter, ' the dad told Killer Motive host Roberts. Keep up with the latest crime coverage, when the family cell phone records well. In the days following the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff 's department the several! Also discovered that the same car had been photographed in found Merritt of... Not believe that the family was from Fallbrook, California the Mexican.... Mother, you 're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them, ' she..