Just stop all the appeals, all the shenanigans. The trial in the downtown San Bernardino Justice Center is before Judge Michael A. Smith. Here are the seven best ways to wear them this spring. Chase Merritt found guilty of murdering McStay family, burying bodies [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. Who'll find love on our blind date? I honestly believed my psychiatrist . 'As a mother, you're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them,' she explained. Family members react to the arrest: Summer McStays brother-in-law, Joseph Russell, speaks and then Michael McStay, brother of Joseph McStay, speaks. I remember one woman in particular was all over him for a while. All rights reserved. [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? He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Richard K. De Atley has been a journalist since 1975, for City News Service in Los Angeles, The Associated Press in Los Angeles and New York, and The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. 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. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Prosecutors are seeking the death. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020. Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. 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. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. 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. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. If I want to speak with him, I have to go to a gravesite," Michael McStay added. Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. Do I think Chase is involved? Unanswered Questions About The McStay Family Disappearance McStay murders: A man is on death row for the brutal killings of a The Mystery of The McStay Family Disappearance McStay murders: A man is on death row for the brutal killings of a They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico. He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Defense attorney Rajan Maline produced a check to Merritt for $3,300 that was issued in April 2010 and signed by Blake, not on her personnel account, but on an account for Earthinspiredproducts.com. 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? [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. "The constant questions when we are out. 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. After 4 Years Of Investigation, Authorities Say McStay - HuffPost #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. "Ultimately, I hope to be a father and when I am, I will hold my children close," he continued. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me, he added. The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. Mother of McStay family murder victim: 'We'll never ever be the same May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. '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. 'You Are a Baby Killer': Calif. Man Sentenced to Death for Killing McStay Family Murders: Who Killed Them? | Crime News - Oxygen Official Site In the summer of 2021, shocking news rocked the state of South Carolina. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer, Blake said as Merritt stared at her impassively. Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. 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 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. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. Investigators believe that Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph, were bludgeoned to death in their home in the San Diego County community of Fallbrook on Feb. 4, 2010, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said Friday. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". 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. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. ', Gruesome: The McStays' skeletal remains were unearthed along with a three-pound rusted sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon, Crime: Charles 'Chase' Merritt, who was a partner in Joseph's water-fountain business, was arrested for the murders in 2014 and found guilty in 2019 (pictured), Criminal: In January 2020, Merritt was sentenced to death for bludgeoning the couple and their children to death inside their home because he owed them $30,000. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. 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.. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. 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. , updated Everything with her seemed to be done for gain.. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. Were they scared, Chase? #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/Ojp02cg2cJ. He was sentenced to the death penalty for the slayings of Joseph McStay's wife, Summer McStay, 43, and the couple's two sons, Gianni McStay, 4, and Joseph McStay, Jr., 3. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. [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. California has not executed anyone since 2006. The comments below have not been moderated. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. [8], On February 4, 2010, at 7:47pm, a neighbor's surveillance system captured the bottom eighteen inches of a vehicle, thought at the time to be the McStay family's 1996 Isuzu Trooper. And that those sounds haunt you, Chase, he said. Investigators and the public also focused on Merritt, the last known person to have had contact with Joseph and the first to notice his disappearance. Charles Merritt, McStay family killer, gets death penalty 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. The court took a brief break. In a preview clip from the episode about the McStay family, Patrick recalled speaking to his son in the morning on the day they disappeared. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. Le mystre de la famille McStay rsolu - Ils ont t tus par l'associ How could you beat two precious little babies? (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). How to trick yourself slim: Top nutritionist reveals her tips including shrinking your cutlery, sniffing Meghan's (very expensive) date night look! On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. We dont run this circus. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. And now, victim impact statements before formal sentencing. 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. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. 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. Who killed the McStay family? The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty Of Murder! The Tragic Rise and Fall Of The On Friday, he. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. How scared were they, Chase? 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. ': 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!' 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. "It marked my kids.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Chase Merritt sobs and says I did not do this thing. 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. Merritt was found guilty on June 10, 2019, on four counts of murder. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. Sentencing still has not happened. McStay Family Update: Joseph McStay's father says he suspects three 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. "We don't run this circus. How could you beat two precious little babies? Why were they gone? Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. 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!' How One Man's Greed Meant the End of the Entire McStay Family