joseph mcstay surviving son

she said. Merritt said the people responsible for the slayings are still free. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. I remember one woman in particular was all over him for a while. And they told me they were also gone. As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. 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. ': 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!' 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. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. The bodies of two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. On February 13, Joseph's brother Michael traveled to the McStay residence and climbed in and gained entry to the home upon finding an open window in the back. [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. 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. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. 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 . [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. 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? "We don't run this circus. How could you beat two precious little babies? '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. And she recounted for Rodriguez how she gave $4,410 in personal checks to Merritt in the months after her son and his family disappeared, based on Merritts claims he needed the money to complete projects for the business. 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. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. In further sensational claims, Merrits new book Afraid of the Light will detail how the couple were having major problems in their relationship and had not had sex for more than a year before they went missing. 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. 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. I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. [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. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . And while he does not believe Summer was directly involved, he will dedicate a significant amount of the book to her behavior and the couples relationship. Joseph managed a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. He said healing will be a lifelong thing for his family, but he knows they can do it together. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. I did not know any of that part, Blake said. 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. But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. 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. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. Arguing, and Dan just wasnt going to budge, she said. [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. 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. It was to me, at the time, very scary, so I literally walked out and said If my son loses his business, so be it, I need to find my family and I left., Under questioning by Rodriguez, Blake described the argument as filled with A lot of, lot of cussing, screaming at each other Chase wanted to wring his neck.. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. What about the little guys? For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. In the last of the two meetings, They were definitely yelling, big time, at each other. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. "I loved Joseph. The evidence finally placing Merritt at the scene of the crime was his cellphone data, prosecutors said. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. 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. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. 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. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites 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 break came, defense attorneys said, when Merritt and McStay separately worked on a custom-fountain side of the business that did not include Kavanaugh. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. 14:31 EST 05 Jan 2014. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. [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 looked at Blake as she spoke. All of the motions were denied. Situated in northern San Diego County, the community is known as "The Friendly Village." Sadly, disaster would soon strike the tranquil town. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. 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. San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael Smith upheld the jurys recommendation of death following a two-day sentencing hearing that included a flurry of last-minute motions from Merritt and his lawyer, who accused prosecutors of misconduct, Merritts earlier attorneys of incompetence and, on Tuesday, tried to remove the judge himself from the case. How could you beat two precious little babies? The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. Last month marked the 3rd anniversary since a family of four mysteriously vanished from their Southern California home. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. The McStays, their two boys Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished in 2010, leaving food on the table and a massive mystery. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. 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. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. 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. Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. 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. I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. 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. 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. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. 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. 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. Despite all the time I spent with Joseph, I had no kind of relationship with her. "Not natural causes; there was intent here.". Were they scared, Chase? 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. Merritt was convicted in June 2019 of the murders of his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. (Irfan. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. Huh? He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". Our last name is mentioned. 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. 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. 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 just gave me the quote of the day on the continuing delays. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. 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. Indian lodge motel in joseph oregon. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. In the gallery sat Merritt's daughter and brother. "[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. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. 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 car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Victorville, California CNN . With all the action and breaks, there was no time left for victim impact statements and the actual sentencing of Merritt. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. Chase Merritt, 62, is facing a potential death sentence, or life in prison. Merritt's attorneys said the two men were best friends and investigators overlooked another possible suspect in the killings. 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. Jurors in San Bernardino. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. But the details of this case go back decades and has many twists and turns. "Our family has already received a life sentence. Crying for mommy and daddy?' [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?" ___ 12 a.m. 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. (Will Lester . Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. Where were they? Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Judge just denied defense motion to reduce potential sentence to life in prison (Judge will also consider death). 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. 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. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. 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. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. "So unnatural. 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. I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. Here are some last-minute, Best last-minute Valentines Day gifts for him, These are places to live on the West Coast, Scooter rider killed in crash near border identified, SD Co. Sheriff: 2022 inmate death now ruled a homicide, A new pirate-themed speakeasy has washed ashore in, This SD campground is among the best in America, CA extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. Joseph McStay owned a custom fountain business and worked with Merritt. Sentencing still has not happened. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. Don't worry, your fate will be way less tragic than that of the family you murdered. 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. At that time, no one knew what happened to the family. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Chase Merritt sobs and says I did not do this thing. #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. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. 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 back of the check said endorsement cancelled, he pointed out. The McStays' disappearance from their serene San Diego-area community of Bonsall has since prompted an investigation by police who still have no idea what happened. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. The McStays have deep Orange County ties, Cirignani said. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, breaks down while speaking at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Investigators believed the murder weapon was a 3-pound sledgehammer, which was found in the grave containing the remains of Summer and her son. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay, took his turn. And that those sounds haunt you, Chase, he said. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Inconclusive:After three years of searching, the San Diego Sheriff's Department investigators concluded in April 2013 that the McStay family had gone to Mexico voluntarily, Frustrating: The McStays friends and family insisted they would never go to Mexico with their children, but there was no other explanation, Heartbreaking: On November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across the family's human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. Two Shallow Graves takes a look at the murders of the McStay family: Joseph, Summer and their two young boys, followed by the shocking trial . 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010.

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