joseph mcstay surviving son

She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. '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. [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. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Who'll find love on our blind date? Jurors in San Bernardino. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. 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. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. Last month marked the 3rd anniversary since a family of four mysteriously vanished from their Southern California home. "We don't run this circus. She would shout at him in the privacy of their own home, but then put on a front like he was the most important person in the world when they were in public. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. Doctors couldnt diagnose the energy-sapping condition and according to his close friend, Chase Merritt, he started to suspect that his fiery wife may have something to do with it. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. 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.. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. He then spoke to his friend several more times on his mobile over the course of the afternoon and actually missed a call from him at 8.28pm, which was the last time Joseph used his phone. Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. Charles "Chase" Merritt interrupted his attorney Friday during legal proceedings. Michael McStay's wife spoke next, talking about the pain her family and husband live with every single day. 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. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. Sheriffs officials announced that the remains of the four people found buried in the desert belong to the McStay family, a Fallbrook family missing since 2010. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. 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. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. 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. [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. 14:31 EST 05 Jan 2014. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and on the (February) 4, he was talking to my mother and he had to pull over when he was driving home because he felt vertigo type symptoms.'. The McStays, their two boys Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished in 2010, leaving food on the table and a massive mystery. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. 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. When the McStays car was found in San Ysidro on the Mexican border four days after they were last seen and security footage of a family of four an hour later heading into the Central American country surfaced, the idea they had left of their own accord gained momentum. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. 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. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. She had asked to get the money back, she said, But I never saw any., Blake had told an investigator that Merritt told her he completed a job for a customer in Saudi Arabia and was paid $17,000. Businessman Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two young sons -- Gianni 4, Joseph Jr. 3 -- were last heard from Feb. 4. Kavanaugh has denied any involvement in the familys disappearance and slayings. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. 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. 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. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. ", 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. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. He boasted it had a "loft/game room & big. 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. 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. "[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. 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. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Victorville, California CNN . "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. 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. Merritt's attorneys said the two men were best friends and investigators overlooked another possible suspect in the killings. You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said. [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? [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. The McStays have deep Orange County ties, Cirignani said. We used to speak to each other 10 or 12 times almost every day and we would talk about absolutely everything. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. [2] In April 2013, the San Diego Sheriff's Department announced that they believed that the McStays traveled to Mexico voluntarily.[18]. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. 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). During the last stretch of Friday's marathon day in court, only one person was able to deliver a victim impact statement: Patrick McStay, Joseph McStay's father. 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. Why were they gone? Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his former business associate, Joseph McStay, 40. 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. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. We dont run this circus. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. 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. [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. 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. Crying for mommy and daddy?" And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. [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. The court took a brief break. Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. You just do what you can for your son, and your family, she said. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. What about the little guys? - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. His face was stoic. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. On February 19, California police notified Interpol to be on the lookout for the family. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. 'When I last talked to my son, on February 4, he said he still didnt feel good,' said Blake, adding that she had provided the Sheriffs Dept with information on Josephs health problems. He was arrested last year. By Charles Chase Merritt, l'associ du pre de famille retrouv mort avec femme et . The mother of Joseph McStay provided emotional testimony on the second day of the McStay murder trial. "You had a choice. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites All rights reserved, Jury Recommends Death Penalty for Business Associate Convicted of Killing McStay Family, Business Partner Found Guilty in McStay Family Killings, Check Your Pockets: These Coins Can Be Worth Up To $24,000, Glendale Neighborhood Frustrated After an Illegal Hostel Moves In, NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Winter Storm, Tax Deadlines Extended to October for Most Californians Due to Storms. Joseph McStay, de 40 aos, su mujer, Summer, de 43, y sus hijos Gianni, de 4, y Joseph Jr., de 3, desaparecieron de su casa en Fallbrook, California, el 4 de febrero de 2010 DESAPARICIN The family disappeared without a trace in February 2010. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/nZp6QeV6sQ, I dont know that I can ever explain the impact this man has had on my family, she said. A lot of his close friends did not trust her and thought she treated him very badly. 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 would fawn over him and call him, her Joseppi. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! Situated in northern San Diego County, the community is known as "The Friendly Village." Sadly, disaster would soon strike the tranquil town. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. [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. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, disappeared along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3, from their their serene San Diego-area community more than a month ago. He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. 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. The shocking claims will stun everyone who has followed the McStay family disappearance since they first went missing back on February 4, 2010. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. The attorney argued a motion to reduce Merritt's sentence in the killings of Summer McStay and the children to life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty previously recommended by the jury that convicted Merritt. 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. The parents of a man who disappeared with his wife and two young children have detailed how they searched for the family for years before it was discovered that their son's business partner brutally murdered them with a sledgehammer. Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers. 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? It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. 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. Il ne rpond pas au . For years, police speculated they. And when four skeletal remains were found in shallow graves in the remote Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, it put an end to any belief the McStays had started a new life in the sunshine. 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? As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. His attorney also says Merritt himself will want to speak. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. 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. We are scarred for life., Its been almost 10 years and the pain hasnt subsided, she added. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. The home had no signs of forced entry. . (Will Lester . I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. That 8-hour day in court included lengthy motions arguments from Merritt's attorney, Rajan Maline, and even a moment when Merritt tried to interrupt proceedings and fire Maline. But the details of this case go back decades and has many twists and turns. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. Ill never get another conversation with him. ': Anguish of $21m fraudster banker's wife after he's found running POT FARM a year after faking his suicide, 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 back of the check said endorsement cancelled, he pointed out. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "[22], In January 2014, Merritt said that he might write a book about the family, alleging that Summer had anger issues and that Joseph had been ill for some time with a mysterious ailment. Just a monster.". Joseph's father, Patrick McStay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. Arent you tired, man? he asked. [2][12], On November 11, 2013, a dirt biker found four sets of human remains buried in two shallow graves in the desert near Victorville, California. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., were a fun-loving, happy family who'd recently settled into a comfortable life in Fallbrook, California. She talked about how the slayings of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons have destroyed her family. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. 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. Merritt lashed out at prosecutors he said framed him, some witnesses he accused of lying and the judge he said allowed it to happen. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Merritt looked at Blake as she spoke. 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. My brother was I looked up to my brother. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. [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. And when we were out she would call him constantly. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, wipes her eyes at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, November 15, 2013.