Their skulls and jaws were smashed and fractured. Defense attorney Rajan Maline has continued to proclaimhis clients innocence, arguing there's no physical evidence linking Merritt to themurder scene. she said. His last known call was with Charles Chase Merritt, a business associate. Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. Forensic have discovered that Charles Merritt had his DNA recovered from the McStays car. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. WebSAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Prosecutors say a sledgehammer was used to kill all four members of the McStay family, and the 4-year-old boy was struck seven times. [14], The circumstances surrounding the family's disappearance and the lack of clues about their whereabouts triggered speculation by amateur sleuths. Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. Investigators believe Summer was raped at the time as her pants were in the grave near her head, and her panties were in the pants as (if) they were pulled off together, according to the motion. However, there was raw food left out, which seemed to indicate the family left in a hurry or had the intention to come back soon after. Many conspiracies believed that they wanted to disappear, and that they have crossed the Mexican border, the familys SUV having been found stranded near the border. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. The remains were identified as the McStay familys and were buried in two shallow graves. The family did not appear to have any plans to be gone that day. Watchara Phomicinda/Digital First Media/The Press-Enterprise via Getty, Pa. Police Arrest 'Supposed' Friend, Business Partner in Death of Mom Found in Shallow Grave, After 30 Years, Police ID Calif. Woman Who Was Stabbed to Death, but Her Daughters Remain Missing, Ohio Mom and Her 2 Teen Sons Found Dead in Home After Murder-Suicide, N.J. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. mount horeb to kadesh barnea map. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. San Quentin, Calif Death Row, Your email address will not be published. November 11, 2013 A motorcyclist finds human remains in the desert near Victorville, California, 100 miles north of the McStay home. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Buried in the Desert: Was a Family Friend Their Killer? 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. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Merrit wasarrested a year after the McStay familysskeletal remainswere discovered in two shallow graves, west of the 15 Freeway and north of Stoddard Wells Road, near Victorville. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. Autor de la entrada: Publicacin de la entrada: junio 16, 2022 Categora de la entrada: rivian executive vice president Comentarios de la entrada: Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He was given the, for killing Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. Now, Merritt, To learn more aboutwhy Merritt committed such a horrible crime and to see exclusive interviews with Joseph's family, watch. 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. The familys car was discovered at a strip mall near the U.S.-Mexico border. Theres a carton of eggs on the table as if maybe Summer or Joseph were about to make some food or something and the dogs, they had two dogs, they were just left there.. There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. WebPublished on January 22, 2020 12:19 PM Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA A California businessman has been sentenced to death for brutally murdering a family of four and Webmcstay family autopsy photos. Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen, The Best True Crime Documentaries to Stream Now, Wisc. The McStay family of four was living a happy life, and had recently moved to a new house, which they were renovating and turning into their dream home. How did four people end up here in the middle of nowhere, over 100 miles from where they live? he asked. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Credit: Find the McStay Family Facebook Page. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. In addition, security cameras for the parking lot from which the car was towed confirmed that the car had not arrived there until the afternoon of February 8, so there was four days of which the family was unaccounted for. He boasted it had a 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. The autopsy revealed all four victims died from blunt force trauma to their heads. The defense now moves to exclude certain expected testimony and evidence from the prosecutions case in chief on the grounds that this evidence is not relevant, and that the onlypurposes of the expected evidence are to sensationalize the alleged crimes and inflame the passions of the jury against Mr. Merritt, according to the Nov. 20 motion. 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. poorly researched and poorly written blog. 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. How could you beat two precious little babies? To add a new type of media, please go to the Admin Console. In April 2013, the San Diego Sheriffs Department turned the case over to the FBI, which was more equipped to investigate cases that involve other countries. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road and requires visitors to leave their car at Quary Road and walk east to the actual location. In 2018, the trial was postponed again so that his current defense attorney could do more investigating, Merritt remained jailed without bail. The comments below have not been moderated. The car never returned to the home. At one point, investigators wondered if the family had decided to start a new life in Mexico. 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. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. 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. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance., DNA samples were collected from the McSays' family, friends, and associates, but investigators couldn't get a search warrant to access their financial records because there was no evidence of a crime at the time., Vanished: Mike also discovered Summer's prescription sunglasses on the kitchen counter, Looking back: Summer is pictured wearing her prescription sunglasses prior to the family's disappearance, Case to crack:There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord, First clue: Their neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family's Isuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing, They got their first clue when they learned a neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family'sIsuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing., 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., As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play., On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico., 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., Huh? What Happened to the McStays, Who Vanished 3 Years Before They Were Found Buried in the Desert? He was a big part of my life and my familys life. 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.. Summer McStay may have been raped before she, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Summer McStay may have been raped before she was killed, buried in desert, court document says, Riverside County DA implores state lawmakers in war on fentanyl: We need your help!, Rep. Aguilar announces $500k for sickle cell mental health support, Stunning new park in South Fontana offers something for all outdoor enthusiasts, Is there a problem with paying cash for a car? A sledgehammer was also found buried at the site. He boasted it had a loft/game room & big yard for kids to go crazy, referring to their rambunctious preschoolers, Gianni and Joe Jr. Love it.. We just had to go over all kinds of money stuff, Merritt told detectives in an interview recording obtained by American Greed.. But privately, investigatorsnoticed Merritt had displayed some concerning behavior after the family disappeared. Investigators are questioning everybody, Michael McStay tells PEOPLE. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. "[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. ABC 7. WebThe McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Additionally, a family friend was helping paint the house, and left with the intention of returning on Saturday, February 6, to finish the job. by all accounts aloving family with no enemies,baffled investigators. They were dressed similarly to the McStays, and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had been photographed in. Around the same date, fliers were distributed to aid in the search. The family and friends of the McStays did not expect them to be at the Mexican border. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. WebMcStay Family Murder Investigation: Search Warrants Unsealed, Reveal Details Of Fallbrook House. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. WebSan Bernardino County sheriffs investigators believe Summer McStay, who along with her husband Joseph and two young sons was fatally beaten with a sledgehammer and buried 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. Being spoiled by my rich friend makes me feel like a charity case, Anti-agers no one but you needs to know about,Inge Van Lotringen tells all, How to dress like a grown up: Trust me, loose fit can be flattering, says Shane Watson, The one thing I've learnt byBinky Felstead, My Daily Horoscope: What does 27th February bring for my star sign? On Thursday, February 4, the last day that the McStay family was heard from, Joseph attended regular work meetings. 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. There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. Days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as the McStay family Memorial is located in a rural! Four people end up here in the desert no enemies, baffled investigators since 2006 as current.. 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