The sentencing was supposed to begin at 8:30 a.m. but was delayed by about an hour because Merritt, for unknown reasons, wasn't transported to the courthouse. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. . The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. The shocking claims will stun everyone who has followed the McStay family disappearance since they first went missing back on February 4, 2010. Crying for mommy and daddy?" Joseph McStay owned a custom fountain business and worked with Merritt. 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. "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. So why was being grilled about her books on Mastermind so Why should I be asked to tip when I shop online? Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. [2], On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph McStay's business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders. The evidence finally placing Merritt at the scene of the crime was his cellphone data, prosecutors said. Charles Chase Merritt, l'associ du pre de famille retrouv mort avec femme et . 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, on February 8, 2010, four days after they went missing. He was married to Summer McStay for seven years. On Friday, he. But despite that public front, I know, prior to their disappearance they had not had sex in more than a year. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. 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. [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. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. Arguing, and Dan just wasnt going to budge, she said. 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. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. Joseph managed a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. 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!' The trial in the downtown San Bernardino Justice Center is before Judge Michael A. Smith. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. ___ 12 a.m. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. On Monday, more than four years since his arrest in connection with the slayings, the family's accused killer, Charles "Chase" Merritt, is scheduled to go on trial on murder charges in San. If you were trying to save the business, Ms. Blake, what steps did you take to learn about the funds that were coming into the business and going out of the business, Maline asked, surviving an objection from Rodriguez. 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. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. We used to speak to each other 10 or 12 times almost every day and we would talk about absolutely everything. [5], In 2010, Joseph McStay (age 40) and his wife Summer (age 43) lived in Fallbrook, California, with their sons Gianni (age 4) and Joseph Jr. (age 3). She talked about how the slayings of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons have destroyed her family. Never again will we hear their voices. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/CGQmypfaZb. The bodies of the McStay family were found buried in the Mojave desert in 2013, three years after the family vanished from their home in San Diego County. Charles "Chase" Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr.. 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. Charles "Chase" Merritt, who was convicted of murdering the McStay family of four of Fallbrook, speaks to the judge before his sentencing at San Bernardino Superior Court in San Bernardino on. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. Investigators said they also traced Merritts cellphone to the area where the bodies were buried in the days after the family disappeared and to a call seeking to close McStays online bookkeeping account. Michael McStay's wife spoke next, talking about the pain her family and husband live with every single day. The disappearance of Joseph, Summer and their two sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 gripped the nation for almost four years, keeping people guessing until their bodies were discovered lying in a shallow grave in the Californian desert on November 15. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. "We don't run this circus. Now Merritt who actually took a voluntary lie detector test at the time of their disappearance and was the last person to see Joseph alive has decided to write a tell all book, in an effort to clear up the mystery. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. I would never have hurt him in any way. The mother of Joseph McStay wept on the witness stand Tuesday as she recounted the moment in November 2013 when she learned the remains of her son, his wife, and their boys aged 3 and 4, missing for more than three years, had been found buried in the High Desert near Victorville. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. She said the two tangled over how to keep the business afloat. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. 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. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. She said: 'My son had been sick since last August and hes normally a very healthy person. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. 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. The bodieswere found in November 2013and Merrittwas arrested and chargeda year later. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. His face was stoic. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. California man pleads not guilty to killing family of four Susan Blake (L), the mother of Joseph McStay, leaves the courtroom with her son Michael McStay after Charles "Chase" Merritt was. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? "I hope you burn in Hell," he told the man convicted of killing his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Patrick McStay has waited for this day, when he finally gets to speak in court, gets to speak for his slain son Joseph McStay, daughter-in-law Summer and two young grandsons. The family's computer had recent internet searches for: 'What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?' [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. Joseph's father, Patrick McStay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. Joseph 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 (San Bernardino. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. He asked for funds to keep the business going, and at that time I would do anything to help my son probably not in my right mind anyway at that time, she said. Merritt looked at Blake as she spoke. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. Merritt was arrested the following year. [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. Around five months before his disappearance he started suffering terrible problems with his equilibrium and his stomach. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Prosecutors say he bludgeoned them with a sledgehammer. " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. The comments below have not been moderated. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. 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 . Do I think Chase is involved? #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. A jury recommended the death penalty for Merritt for the murders of Summer McStay and the children, and life without the possibility of parole in the killing of Joseph McStay. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. All of the motions were denied. ', 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.'. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. The disappearance of the McStay family - Joseph, 41, Summer, 43, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3 - occurred in 2013, when they vanished without a trace from their California home. The home had no signs of forced entry. Watch live on social media with @fox5sandiego pic.twitter.com/jm1tgT66R2, Jeff McAdam (@JeffMcAdamTV) January 21, 2020, The victims family members, meanwhile, dismissed Merritt as, in the words of McStays mother, Susan Blake, a despicable, evil monster.. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. [19] Relatives of the McStays doubted that they would travel to Mexico, saying that Joseph and Summer avoided the country because of the safety threat posed by recent drug wars. 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. "So unnatural. Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. Just a monster. - Susan Blake, Joseph McStays mother. Obviously there wasnt money coming in, cause I was paying for money going out., So to your knowledge, Maline said, there is no money coming in, or you didnt learn of any money coming in.. He conducted dozens of interviews on the case (traveling to Mexico, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic), followed leads, and reported sightings of the family. 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. Duchess dons $1,610 Carolina Herrera cape, $300 vegan leather Lovely in lilac! "We don't run this circus. Joseph McStay the father of the family of four found dead in the California desert after vanishing nearly four years ago had suspicions his wife was POISONING him in the days before their disappearance, according to an explosive new book. The case initially puzzled. And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. The bodies of two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. "[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. "It didn't just mark me that day," Michael McStay said. Merritt was found guilty on June 10, 2019, on four counts of murder. 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. McStay says he's felt all along that multiple people were involved in the February 2010 disappearance of his son, Joseph; Joseph's wife, Summer; and their children; 3-year-old Joey and. I just dont remember very much because I fell to the office floor. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. (File photo by Peter Surowski, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo, Michael McStay, the brother of Joseph McStay and his mother Susan Blake enter the court through the throng of media before the start of the preliminary hearing on Monday, June 15, 2015 for Charles Merritt in the 2010 slayings of four McStay family members in Fallbrook. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. 09:19 EST 04 Jan 2014 Soon, the family's car was found at a strip mall in south San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Gunfire at 7-Eleven stores killed a clerk in Brea and a 24-year-old man in Santa Ana and injured three others in La Habra and Riverside early Monday, July 11, authorities said. Charles Merritt was found guilty of murdering a family of four, and now the jury is recommending the death penalty. Chase Merritt, 62, is facing a potential death sentence, or life in prison. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. Don't worry, your fate will be way less tragic than that of the family you murdered. After frustrating delays in proceedings in a Southern California courtroom last week, an emotional sentencing hearing resumed Tuesday for the man convicted in the mysterious killings of the McStay family, including two boys, ages 3 and 4. The mother of Joseph McStay wept on the witness stand Tuesday as she recounted the moment in November 2013 when she learned the remains of her son, his wife, and their boys aged 3 and 4,. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. 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. The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. A deep pause followed as Michael McStay tried to collect himself. Yes, sir, McStay replied. He maintained his innocence, saying something has always been "amiss" in this case. McStay family went missing nearly three years ago Surveillance video shows four people of similar size crossing into Mexico Relatives dispute author's claim that wife was involved in. Related research topic ideas. He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. 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. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. By
Judge just denied defense motion to reduce potential sentence to life in prison (Judge will also consider death). Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. I was just trying to keep the customers or whoever was calling calm and hopefully to keep the business going. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. The 58-year-old Merritt is. No one can explain how a seemingly normal suburban family who only moved into their new home in Fallbrook, California, three months earlier, could be living a regular life one day and then vanish the next. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. Merritt has pleaded not guilty to the murders of McStay; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. How could you beat two precious little babies? How scared were they, Chase? California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. "Hes an excellent surfer and soccer player. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. I would never hurt him in any way. 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 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. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. Joseph McStay, 43-year-old Summer McStay and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey, 3, vanished without a trace in February 2010 shortly after moving to Fallbrook from Orange County. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while he's in office. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. Charles "Chase" Merritt appears at his sentencing hearing in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 21, 2020. He maintains his innocence. 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. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. [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?" Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. That family that went missing? , updated "I loved Joseph. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. Sentencing still has not happened. 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His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Joseph McStay - the father of the family of four found dead in the California desert after vanishing nearly four years ago - had suspicions his wife was POISONING him in the days before their . 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 were they? 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.