mcstay family autopsy photos
Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. California currently has a moratorium on executions. Patrick McStay says the murder of a family of four was "all about money" By Elaine Aradillas. WebThe McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. WebA motorcyclist found human remains in a desert near Victorville, California. How a Serial Killer Was Caught While 'Literally Trying to Clean His Van of Evidence', Phoenix Mother Wanted to End Marriage Before Husband Killed Her and Their 3 Children, Friends Say, a white extension cord wrapped around his neck. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. PEOPLE Explains: How the McStay Family Disappeared Into the Desert but Who Killed Them? 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. The sledge hammer is the likely murder weapon. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. 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A license plate search for the vehicle led to the discovery that the McStay's SUV had been towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, California, right near the U.S.-Mexico border, Gone: The family was considered missing, and detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for headin to Mexico, Can't tell: 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, Devastating: Joseph's parents headed to Mexico to hang flyers and search for them but never found anything, 'They actually thought that was really them going over the border on the video,' said Susan, who was skeptical but still headed to Mexico to search for her family.. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. and Spanish language lessons. 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. He was charged with four counts of murder and the district attorney requested the death penalty. 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. The familys white 1996 Isuzu Trooper was found near San Ysidro, adjacent to the Mexico border. The family had moved into the house three months earlier, and was in the process of unpacking and doing renovations. I know this reply is archive but since the other replies were ridiculously over the top I just needed to add mine. March 5, 2010 A lead in the case emerges when video released by deputies shows images of a group of people who might be the McStays walking together into Mexico through a border gate. 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 tragic case will be featured in the Season 2 premiere of, 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.. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Home U.K. In this Nov. 7, 2014, photo, Michael McStay is consoled by San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon as he reacts before talking to the media about his late brother's family at a news conference. 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. February 4, 2010 During a phone conversation Josephtold his fatherhe was in a hurry because he had to get to a lunch meeting. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend. At their home in Fallbrook, California, investigators found no signs of forced entrance or violence. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. amily members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. Webmcstay family autopsy photoscavalier king charles breeders near paris. Charles Merrit was found guilty of the murders in 2019. 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. According to a news article from CNN, it states how Food had been left out and the dogs were home. February 19, 2010 Detectives search the McStay family home. In addition, investigators also discovered that Summer had changed her name multiple times throughout her life. 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. Investigators also discovered that the same car had been towed on February 8 for a parking violation near the Mexican border. On February 15, eleven days after the family was last heard from, the police searched the McStay family home. 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. 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.. On February 9, when family and business partners hadnt heard from Joseph in five days, they sent a co-worker to the house to see if the familys beloved dogs were there. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. Investigators would discover evidence that showed someone had taken control of Josephs checking account right before and right after he disappeared, writing a total of nine checks to either Merritt or those who he owed money to totaling nearly $15,000. Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. Investigators also say they found emails indicating the family had been interested in obtaining passports to travel to Mexico, according to the outlet. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled.. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? CNN. Chase Merritt /edit 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. 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. ', A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. Although Merritt adamantly denied being at the location of the makeshift graves, To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of. Before he was sentenced, Merritt tearfully proclaimed his innocence. Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. 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. omeone close to the family was convicted of bludgeoning the McStays to death before burying them in the desert. Its been a tough road.. But several family members did not believe that the man in the video was Joseph. How scared were they, Chase? The FBI will lend their resources in Mexico, where San Diego Sheriff's investigators are focusing their search, reports CBS Newsat the time. It was impounded at the time as an abandoned vehicle. 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. [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. Patrick had the chance to directly address Merritt in court, calling him a 'ruthless mass murderer' and telling him, 'I hope you burn in hell. February 13, 2010 Josephs brother, Michael, goes to his siblings house and enters it through an open window to search for the family. Princess's dance partner Wayne Sleep reveals she would do his washing-up Do not sell or share my personal information. Additionally, a family friend was helping paint the house, and left with the intention of returning on Saturday, February 6, to finish the job. WebBack in February of 2010 the McStay family disappeared, in Fallbrook California. Investigators believed that the family was willingly walking across the border, with no indication that they were in any distress. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. The bodies of Joseph and Summer McStay and their sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found in a shallow grave in 2013, about 100 miles north of their suburban San Diego home. Welcome to Beyond Charts. Webdollar tree plastic candy jars with lids. '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. Get up to speed on the investigation with the timeline below. 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