joseph mcstay surviving son

He used to spend hours at a time talking on his mobile phone and it got to the stage where he was convinced he had a brain tumor. The shocking claims will stun everyone who has followed the McStay family disappearance since they first went missing back on February 4, 2010. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. 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. And if the truth be told, despite everything, he was still infatuated with Summer. "Closer still because I know what it's like to lose people I love.". During the lull, NBC 7 spoke with prosecuting attorney Britt Imes about the continuing delays. Charles Chase Merritt, l'associ du pre de famille retrouv mort avec femme et . Chase Merritt found guilty of murdering McStay family, burying bodies He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. 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. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. Joseph McStay; his wife, Summer; and their two children, Gianni and Joseph Mateo, have not been heard from since the night of Thursday, February 4, 2010. Where Are Patrick and Michael McStay Now? - The Cinemaholic (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Prosecutors are seeking the death. The newly unsealed documents indicate Joseph McStay lent Chase Merritt money to cover a gambling debt before McStay and his family disappeared in February 2010. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. Michael McStay remembered the day detectives told him and his family that the bodies of his brother, sister-in-law, and nephews had been discovered in the desert. Merritts defense team has claimed Kavanaugh is a likely suspect in the McStay family case, but was overlooked by investigators despite what they described as a deteriorating relationship with Joseph McStay in the months before the familys disappearance. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. 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 . Patrick also searched for their son in Mexico and thought he had a lead when a family claimed to have seen the McStays at Walmart, but security footage confirmed it wasn't them. Richard K. De Atley has been a journalist since 1975, for City News Service in Los Angeles, The Associated Press in Los Angeles and New York, and The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. All of the motions were denied. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 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. Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers. On Friday, he. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. '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. That family that went missing? ', 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.'. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. [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. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. Merritt is fully aware that his book will ruffle feathers and anger certain people, but he believes his intimate knowledge of Josephs life means he may be able to shed some light on the mystery. While Merritt does not think Summer was directly involved, he has revealed she treated Joseph horrendously in the years before they went missing. We are scarred for life., Its been almost 10 years and the pain hasnt subsided, she added. Three years later, their bodies were found in a remote desert location more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away in San Bernardino County. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. Sheriffs investigators believeSummer McStay may have been rapedbefore she was killed. Prosecutors say he bludgeoned them with a sledgehammer. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? We were incredibly busy with the business, things were really flying, but he would often just have to work on his laptop from his bedroom. 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? Victorville, California - Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. How could you beat two precious little babies? Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. McStay Family Update: Joseph McStay's father calls probe of Calif 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. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. Jurors in San Bernardino. Patrick McStay, Joseph McStay's father told CBS 8 in San Diego that authorities informed him two of the bodies found in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert on Monday were that of his son and his son's wife, Summer. 'Are you that family? 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. 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? 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. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. McStay family murder: 4-year-old was struck 7 times on head Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. McStay family murder case: Man sentenced to death for killing family of 4 The mother of Joseph McStay provided emotional testimony on the second day of the McStay murder trial. He said: Summer was a very self-centered, self-obsessed person with an awful temper. 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. 'This despicable, evil monster. Kavanaugh has denied any involvement in the familys disappearance and slayings. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. California man pleads not guilty to killing family of four Maline asked Blake about the point of that argument, again struggling against Rodriguezs objections: Chase is telling (Kavanaugh) that he is a liar, that he is getting the money and not giving it to him, he managed to outline to the witness. 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. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. [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?" The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. Who killed the McStay family? | Global Justice Seekers But he would not even entertain the idea of cheating on her. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. A judge denied a motion to reduce Charles Merritt's sentencing from the death penalty to life in prison wihtout parole in the killings of Summer McStay, Gianni McStay and Joseph McStay Jr. Michael McStay talks about how much he misses his brother Joseph McStay at Merritt's sentencing. I did not know any of that part, Blake said. 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. In the family's home, investigators found bowls of uneaten popcorn, as if the family had just been there, and planned to return. 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. I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Investigators also have e-mails indicating the couple asked. The McStays' skeletal remains were unearthed along with a three-pound rusted sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon a bra and a child's pants and diaper. 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. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. The family disappeared without a trace in February 2010. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. 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. 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. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. "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. 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. Michael McStay said watching his parents bury his brother was the most "unnatural" thing he could've ever witnessed. He had a son from a previous relationship, who he didnt get to see much of and he was terrified that would happen with his two boys if he left Summer. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Il ne rpond pas au . The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Mrs Blake described Josephs symptoms as something similar to vertigo and said he complained of feeling 'woozy'. Just a monster. - Susan Blake, Joseph McStays mother. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer, Blake said as Merritt stared at her impassively. Memorial erected for McStay family that was found dead in Victorville So why was being grilled about her books on Mastermind so Why should I be asked to tip when I shop online? Their dogs. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. Crosses Erected for McStays at Site Where Remains Were Found His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Will Payne Maline spent several hours speaking before the judge. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. Related research topic ideas. They said that he wrote checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph's business account in the days after the family was killed and then went on a gambling spree at nearby casinos, where he lost thousands of dollars. According to prosecutors, greed was the motive for the killings and Merritt killed the McStays because he had been embezzling thousands of dollars from Joseph McStay's business. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . 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. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. "I loved Joseph. You cannot get back time. In the summer of 2021, shocking news rocked the state of South Carolina. He will focus on a number of key incidents and characters and try to paint a picture of what really happened in the lead up to that fateful day. [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. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. Crying for mommy and daddy?' 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. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. Le meurtrier de la famille McStay condamn mort She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. 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. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay, took his turn. 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. "It marked my kids.". McStay Family Murders: How Did They Die? Who Killed Them? Court docs: Suspect in McStay murder case owed victim money - CBS News He said healing will be a lifelong thing for his family, but he knows they can do it together. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while hes in office. Le 9 fvrier 2010, il avait envoy un courrier lectronique au pre de Joseph McStay, alertant de la disparition de son associ : Je n'ai pas de nouvelles de Joe. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. Joseph, 40, was suffering from a mystery illness in the months before he went missing with Summer and their two young children, and would spend days in bed barely able to walk. "The constant questions when we are out. As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. She had once told him she wanted that song played at her funeral. Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. He maintains his innocence. I just spoke to the prosecuting attorney in the Merritt case. You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said. The details are shocking and nauseating to sit through.". 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. 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. He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. 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. Merritt looked at Blake as she spoke. Vanished: Mike also discovered Summer's prescription sunglasses on the kitchen counter, Looking back: Summer is pictured wearing her prescription sunglasses prior to the family's disappearance, Case to crack:There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord, First clue: Their neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family's Isuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing. "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.". "I did not do this thing. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. . [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? , updated Do you remember writing that check? he asked. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty Of Murder! The Tragic Rise and Fall Of The I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. [13] Dean stated in her blog she had just finished producing a radio show for San Diego station KNSJ when she received the call, and that she asked whether she could tell her followers what he had told her. 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. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 vanished. They took none of their belongings, left $100,000 in the bank and even abandoned their beloved dogs. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. [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. This despicable, evil monster. 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!' What Clue Revealed McStay Family's Killer As Charles Merritt? | True 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.