Whether or not Merritt receives the death penalty has yet to be decided. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. 'It was blow after blow after blow to a child's skull,' the prosecutor said. He was joined by his defense team: three attorneys from the High Desert. Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. Follow the links to read about more violent crimes profiled on ID. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. John F. Kennedy autopsy photo (#1) 0. Judge Michael A. Smith determined there Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department described in detail what they found, describing the remains of four bodies, 45 groups of bones, including ribs and parts of legs from two adults and two children. 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. Detectives said when they interviewed Merritt about the missing family, he referred to them in the past tense, saying Joseph McStay "was my best friend.". Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their . What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. 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. An attorney eventually represented Merritt, and the jury decided in favor of the victims. A hearing on McGees motion is scheduled Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court. It didnt take this long. In Fallbrook, CA, their home was fifty miles north of San Diego and twenty miles inland from the Pacific coast. But jurors disagreed and Merritt was convicted and later sentenced to death for the slayings in January 2020. 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. In 2018, the trial was postponed again so that his current defense attorney could do more investigating, Merritt remained jailed without bail. To add a new type of media, please go to the Admin Console. 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 about February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. While there were no signs of forced entry, it seemed like the McStays left in a hurry. 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. The McStay family of Fallbrook were last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. Heavy. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. What to Know. If you wish to write to us in regards to this matter, please be advised that we reserve the right to post your. A few months before the McStay family disappeared from their Fallbrook home on Feb. 4, 2010, Summer McStay filed a Child Protective Services complaint against McFadden, according to Joseph McStay's father, Patrick McStay." McFadden has a pretty violent criminal history, and that coupled with Joseph wanting custody of his son, leads Patrick to . Joseph Sr ran a successful waterfall business in suburban California, spending every inch of spare time with his raven-haired wife, Summer, and their two young sons, Gianni, four, and Joey Jr, three. Family members of the victims . Something doesnt, No , the murder happened in Ohio . At the beginning, hes like, I know this case better than the attorneys, Mr Fitpatrick adds. While Joseph went to a work meeting, Summer spoke to her sister over the phone and planned to visit later. Your login session has expired. When the partner arrived at the home, he found both dogs outside, with food in their bowls, which led them to believe that the family had gone out of town and had somebody caring for the dogs. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Its kind of remarkable, Ms Davis says. Charles Merritt Gets Death Penalty McStay Family Murders PHOTO: Charles Ray Merritt was arrested on Nov.. 5, 2021 by the San.. Everything. 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. Merritt was a fabricator, who Joseph had turned to to expand the custom side of his business. However, a new discovery on border surveillance video changed the course of the investigation. SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - He wrote a book on the McStay case, but an investigative author is expressing shock over the tragic new twist in the case. According to reports, three years after their disappearance, the family's remains were unearthed in two shallow graves in a remote area of the California desert. While there was little evidence and various theories floated around, nobody really precisely knew what happened to Joseph, his wife, and their two sons until years later. That changed in November 2013, when the bodies were found in the desert along with a sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon. It gives you the story of the trial, and it gives you the story of the relationship between Merritt and Joseph McStay, and it gives you the understanding of the families on both sides going through the trial one of the interview subjects that we talked to said, This is going to be the comprehensive look at this story - which has not been done before.. 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 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-examines the trial and evidence in a 'comprehensive' look at the case, writes Sheila Flynn 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. The sledge hammer is the likely murder weapon. 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. The bodies of 40-year-old California businessman Joseph McStay, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found . The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has yet to release a . Lastly, neither party to this case is arguing or disputing that it was in fact the McStays whom were the victims in this case, according to McGees motion. 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. Lee Harvey Oswald autopsy photo. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. He found no signs of a break-in, except for a partially open window, which he used to get into the house. 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. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. When questioned about his choice of language by investigators, Merritt said he had no idea why he'd done that. The McStay family - whose bodies were found in a shallow grave in the Californian desert almost four years after they mysteriously vanished - could barely afford to pay $210 a week on rent just . Princess Diana flashes a cheeky grin in rare bikini photos. The family's disappearance had puzzled investigators, who said there . On Nov. 20, at a vigil where volunteers erected white crosses and released doves, Michael pondered aloud the same questions. The man convicted of killing a California family of four and burying them in the Mojave Desert nearly 10 years ago has been sentenced to death, San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A . 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 . So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? Reports state that it was via Joseph's flourishing decorative fountain business and Earth Inspired Products that the two first became acquainted. He has covered San Bernardino County since 2009. Photographer Behind Iconic Princess Diana Funeral Photos Reflects on Intimate Moments From Service. The grave sites were the main discussion in court. Merritt disputes the theory and argues, in the documentary, that hed been the one raising the alarm about the McStays disappearance, claiming he would have reported the four missing if the family hadnt. In addition, investigators also discovered that Summer had changed her name multiple times throughout her life. Otherwise, the family looked identical to the McStays. I think, normally when you [look at] a case, youre like, Oh, there could be one or two people involved., There were potentially more than one or two people involved when we started this. Given the evidence, Chase was eventually found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Merritt insists on his innocence in the face of the prosecution's evidence, raising the question: Did Merritt murder the McStay family? Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. Michaels worst fears were realized. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. The four-year-old Gianni had suffered a shocking seven blows to the head. 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 gruesome discovery. Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. All rights reserved. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020 . Merrit himself, the producers say, was nervous to participate since he could not control the narrative. 1:22. McStay Family Murders: Who Killed Them? The man found a small human skull that appeared to belong to a child. Two Shallow Graves delves into a case that garnered national news headlines, eventually culminating in the killer being brought to justice close to a decade later. I would follow all of these paths, but I never followed just one to the exclusion of the others., She says: To be honest, I was not disappointed when they arrested Chase [Merritt] but scared that perhaps [investigators] didnt look into the whole thing enough because of the fact that we found so much compelling stuff in these other peoples files.. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. 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. There was the new husband of Mr McStays ex-wife, a man with a history of violence whod allegedly threatened to muzzle Mrs McStay and beat up her husband. 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. What Happened to the McStays, Who Vanished 3 Years Before They Were Found Buried in the Desert? Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. While speaking to Merritt, she said. Defence attorney Raj Maline in the series describes this suspect as a walking, talking red flag but Merritts team was barred in court from bringing up him or the other suspects without concrete evidence linking them to the crimes. The paint was still fresh on the walls, the corners bordered by blue painter . Gas prices rise for 31st consecutive day in LA County, Carjacking victim comes face to face with suspect during wild chase, How Paul Murdaugh helped solve his own murder. He could face the death penalty as a result. The remains were identified as the McStay familys and were buried in two shallow graves. Merritt had previously worked with Joseph McStay, who owned and ran the Earth Inspired Products decorative fountain company. Two shallow graves contained the remains of Joseph, his wife Summer, 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old son Joe Jr. Investigators say they have a lot of work ahead to find the killers, and no predictions as to who they are or why they would kill a whole family. The sizes of the people appear to match the McStay family. Read More:Nicole Berte Murder: Where is Randy Lee Bode Now? Since opening statements Jan. 7, prosecutors have tried to show jurors that he was the person who killed the McStay family in their Fallbrook home in northern San Diego County and buried them near the High Desert town of Victorville in San Bernardino County. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. They had recently moved to a home Jan 21, 2020 Charles Merritt was sentenced to death for killing the McStay family.. A jury recommended the death penalty for Merritt for the murders of Summer Jan 22, 2020 Charles Merritt has been sentenced to death for killing the entire McStay family in a bizarre California case that went unsolved for years. The case had been baffling from the start. BREAKING: A jury found Charles 'Chase' Merritt GUILTY of first-degree murder in the bludgeoning deaths of the McStay family, Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4), Joseph Jr. (3). Mcstay-family-autopsy-photos DMz.Sora [UPD] Indir Title Zamanda Aile Ailede Zaman Pdf Oku Al Quran In Microsoft Word Steffi, 38 @iMGSRC.RU ((LINK)) Crack For Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 2020 V9.2.0.10 X64 Free Download - Wor brolau 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. That was when Charles Merritts story started falling apart and really gave us the motive, Hanke said. Two shallow graves contained the remains of Joseph, his wife Summer, 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old son Joe Jr. Investigators say they have a lot of . So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? Family members of the victims were emotional in court during the preliminary hearing Monday. CNN. Dan Hanke tells American Greed that when investigators examined Josephs QuickBooks account they did, in fact, discover a series of checks made out to Merritt or other vendors that Merrittowed money to that were dated Feb. 4, but the metadata stored within the computer revealed that the checks had not actually been written that day. With trial footage, and with getting access to Merrit and to the prosecution and to the defense attorneys, I think we were able to creat a much more intimate picture for an audience that gives you the whole story, Mr Fitzpatrick says. However, a breakthrough in the case came in November 2014 when the cops found Merritts DNA on the steering wheel of McStays car. They spoke with him for months in 15-minute phone calls allowed by the prison and both were taken aback by his knowledge of the case. McStay Murder Suspect Chase Merritt Has Heart Condition, Lawyer Says . The authorities zeroed in on Chase after the remains were found and arrested him in the first week of November 2014. She adds that she still thinks one of the other suspects was involved in the brutal kilings. Investigators immediately seized the car and searched it for evidence. 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. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? Victim(s): Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Joseph McStay Jr, Gianni McStay, . On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph . Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. California man sentenced to death in killings of McStay family members in 2010 "I did not do this thing," Charles Jan 22, 2020 Smith upheld the recommendation the jury made on June 24, 2019, which said Merritt should be put to death for the murders of Summer McStay and Apr 22, 2020 Chase Merritt sentenced to death.. Much evidence linking Chase Merritt to the McStay family murders were presented by the prosecution.. Perhaps Jan 20, 2021 February 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. The deaths have been ruled a homicide. 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. 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. He was a business partner of Joseph McStay. 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. 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. Jaroslav Jerry Hanel had tormented the Diamond Head neighborhood of Honolulu, HI, for years, but one day, he completely snapped and murdered landlord, Lois Cain, shot two responding police officers, and set fire to the neighborhood. Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. uncovered the bodies of all four McStay family members, he was arrested by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office. Charles Merrit was found guilty of the murders in 2019. Case 7, McStay. Both are convinced of Merritts guilt, but even they shake their heads and raise eyebrows at some of the other unexpected threads to the case. Inside The Gruesome McStay Family Murder Case. Prosecutors said he bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer. On February 10, 2010, Josephs business partner, Charles Chase Merritt, asked the authorities to check on the family, but an officer felt nothing was amiss. Charles Meritt did the welding, creating some of the metal work, the fountains, and Joseph was the businessman behind it all, and from all accounts, he was flourishing, Shin tells American Greed.. 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 . 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 . The investigation into the disappearance of the McStay family in February 2010 and the subsequent disappearance of money from the company's bank account led investigators to believe Merritt was responsible. The police concluded that Merritt killed the family for financial gain; the killer had a severe gambling problem, and after the murders, he managed to gain some control of Josephs business accounts. Even though Merritt was at one point representing himself, that is no longer the case. 1:39. ABC 7. After a four-month trial, nine years after the McStay killings . Joseph was 40-years-old back then, and Summer was 43. Merritt has said there is no direct evidence linking him to the crime scene. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The discovery of the McStay family's remains in November 2013 brought an end to more than three years of speculation regarding what happened to them. The morning of February 4, 2010, started like any other day for the family. Chase further stated that Joseph called him at around 8:28 pm on that evening. GUILTY. Merritt's DNA was found on the steering wheel and gearshift, even though Merritt told detectives he had never driven that vehicle. The McStays None of these theories have been confirmed. Investigators found one of the birth certificates left behind in the home. 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. Woman is wearing light colore. The 58-year-old Merritt is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of McStay, 40; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; and the couple's two sons, Gianni, 4; and Joey, 3. . Dylan Eason and Isaiah Churchwell were convicted of murdering Cynthia William "Patrick" Alexander remains in prison for murder. Surveillance footage from the border from a few hours prior seemed to show a family of four crossing the border. They were dressed similarly to the McStays, and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had been photographed in. 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 . A new documentary series re . The autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads. Joseph's brother expressed his sorrow, saying. The pair had met through Josephs successful decorative waterfall business, Earth Inspired Products. Apr 20, 2020 Joan's husband, Hal Rogers, stayed behind to care for the family's dairy farm.. Joan, Michelle and Christe Rogers.. Photo Source: Crime 1.7k votes, 195 comments.. From the LA Times: "A jury Monday found a man guilty of bludgeoning a family of four and burying their bodies in shallow , Charles Ray Merritt has been sentenced to death for the murders of McStay family members, .. And they should be. A Family Vanishes: With Stacy Keach. There was a huge sigh of relief. 16 Rare Photos of Princess Diana. 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. Lying beside the family was a sledgehammer. Josephs father Patrick McStay, however, continues to be haunted by Merritts dark deeds. The accused was found guilty of the charges against him. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. Summer will be forever missed by her family and many friends. San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith ruled Monday afternoon that there is sufficient evidence for Merritt to stand trial. On February 15, the family reported them missing, and the authorities searched the house. Two Shallow Graves will shed fresh insight into Merritt's disputed murder trial by gaining unprecedented access to both Merritt's defense and prosecution teams. Charles 'Chase' Merritt is currently on death row in California after his 2019 conviction for the murders of Joseph and Summer McStay and their two young sons. Similarly, on February 6, his phone pinged off of towers in Victorville, placing him at the burial site. The family did not appear to have any plans to be gone that day. The remains of Joseph Jr., 3, were so minimal that a cause of death could not be determined, San Bernardino . On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Defense attorney Rajan Maline has continued to proclaimhis clients innocence, arguing there's no physical evidence linking Merritt to themurder scene. Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for . SAN BERNARDINO, California- The man accused of killing four members of the McStay family in 2010 will stand trial, a California judge ruled this week. Merritt told detectives that during their last lunch meeting, Joseph had given him physical copies of checks to pay for some of the projects they were working on. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Their bodies were found on November 13, 2013 in the desert near Victorville, California. In an email Thursday, sheriffs Lt. Sarkis Ohannessian declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal case. 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. I think its a story where people want answers, and this project is another step in trying to give people answers to what really happened.. Please be respectful of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you visit. San Bernardino County Det. Nelson is a graduate of California State University Fullerton. The car never returned to the home. 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. According to reports, denying his involvement in the murders, Merritt told the court. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. The seven-episode Two Shallow Graves premieres Sunday on Investigation Discovery and will be available to stream on discovery+. At that point, the investigation shifted from searching for missing persons to investigating a possible murder. The defendant faces four counts of murder and the possibility of the death penalty if convicted. Investigators also discovered that the same car had been towed on February 8 for a parking violation near the Mexican border. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. That was the last time they would ever speak; no one heard from the McStays after 4 February 2010. The original memorial consisting of 4 white crosses. At 30 seconds into the video, note the man and woman entering from lower left of screen. Joseph had a newly successful business designing and installing water fountains. Nicole Berte Murder: Where is Randy Lee Bode Now. Skip to main content. 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. Two Shallow Graves is a seven-part docu-series that delves into the details of the case.The premiere . Arrest in slaying of . The bones found in shallow graves in Southern California's Mojave Desert belong to a San Diego-area family of four missing since 2010 and likely murdered, authorities said. McGee noted that investigators submitted a DNA analysis request form to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Departments Forensic Biology Unit to help identify involved parties and verify involved parties. He also referenced an excerpt from page three of the form, which revealed something that has not been disclosed by investigators to date: they believe Summer McStay had been raped before she was killed.