Look out for wildlife like rattlesnakes. He had a criminal record and, it turned out, had been skimming money from the enterprise. Hes a scumbag;hes a creep;he doesnt deserve to walk the earth or take a breath, Patrick tellsAmerican Greed. He killed somebody that trusted in him and gave him a chance when a lot of other people knew he was a crook and then he kills my grandsons, brutally. McStay Family May Have Been Beaten to Death With Sledgehammer - KTLA The remains were identified as the McStay family's and were buried in two shallow graves. Home; . The four-year-old Gianni had suffered a shocking seven blows to the head. He could face the death penalty as a result. District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. 'You Are a Baby Killer': Calif. Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Murder, Greed and the Mojave Desert: The Mystery Behind the McStay The man convicted of killing a California family of four and burying them in the Mojave Desert nearly 10 years ago has been sentenced to death, San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A . Although both instances raised investigators' suspicions, another glaring clue would ultimately put Merritt at the center of the investigation. Merritt was arrested for the family's killings the following year, when his DNA was discovered inside the family vehicle, dumped near the border, and fake company checks traced back to him. Furthermore, Chase wrote several checks on the online business starting February 5; he then went to a few casinos to spend that money. On Feb. 4, 2010, Joseph and Summer McStay, ages 40 and 43, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and 3-year-old Joey Jr., vanished without a trace from their Fallbrook home. I think, normally when you [look at] a case, youre like, Oh, there could be one or two people involved., There were potentially more than one or two people involved when we started this. My fear is that Im looking for two adult shallow graves and my two nephews crosses, Josephs kid brother, Michael, told the Orange County Register a few weeks after the Feb. 4, 2010, disappearance. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. What to Know. Photos of McStay Family Murder . The 58-year-old Merritt is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of McStay, 40; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; and the couple's two sons, Gianni, 4; and Joey, 3. . ID's Two Shallow Graves: How did Charles "Chase" Merritt know the 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. The bodies of 40-year-old California businessman Joseph McStay, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found . The accused was found guilty of the charges against him. There was no evidence to determine where the family went or why they had left. The entire case left investigators and loved ones completely puzzled. Pic credit: San Diego County Police. Chase further stated that Joseph called him at around 8:28 pm on that evening. Publicly Merrittwho had several prior convictions on his recordclaimed to be Josephs best friend,once telling CNNs Randi Kay that although they began as work acquaintances, they quickly grew to be friends, playing paintball together andsharingdinnera few nights a week. Research genealogy for Vivian McStay of Gordonville, Grayson Texas, USA, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. Furthermore, Josephs mother stated that the car had his asthma medication, and he never went anywhere without it. Chase Merritt found guilty of murdering McStay family, burying bodies Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. California man sentenced to death in killings of McStay family members in 2010 "I did not do this thing," Charles Jan 22, 2020 Smith upheld the recommendation the jury made on June 24, 2019, which said Merritt should be put to death for the murders of Summer McStay and Apr 22, 2020 Chase Merritt sentenced to death.. Much evidence linking Chase Merritt to the McStay family murders were presented by the prosecution.. Perhaps Jan 20, 2021 February 15, 2010 Family members report the McStays missing to the San Diego County sheriff's department. It would have been impossible for the McStays to travel into Mexico with insufficient documents. Smiley Public Library program will focus on womens dress during the Civil War, BLU Education Foundation helps Black, Latino students prepare for careers, Dine 909: New restaurants coming to San Bernardino, Upland and Redlands, Plow the roads, mountain residents say, as San Bernardino County vows to do better, Snow collapses roof of Goodwin and Sons, Crestlines only grocery store, 55-hour closures on 210 Freeway in Redlands and San Bernardino postponed again, Obernolte: Newsom must declare state of emergency for San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino mountain residents frustrated after volunteer helicopter efforts are restricted, We are coming, San Bernardino County officials tell trapped mountain residents, Conditions for snowed-in Crestline mobile home park pretty bleak, Shake Shack sets date for Victoria Gardens grand opening, Monday, March 13, 3 apparent gas explosions in San Bernardino mountain homes worry local residents, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Maria Carvalho (Providence, Rhode Island), who passed away on March 3, 2023. CNN. Initial investigation revealed that the family car was found at around 11 pm on February 8, 2010, in a parking lot close to the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California. The authorities initially believed this was the McStay family because of a few other things that came to light. When Joseph needed to develop his bespoke company, he enlisted Merritt, a fabricator, for assistance. Investigators immediately seized the car and searched it for evidence. Family members of the victims were emotional in court during the preliminary hearing Monday. A carton of eggs lay on the counter, and two bowls of popcorn were located in the living room. McStay Family Murders: How Did They Die? Who Killed Them? Lee Harvey Oswald autopsy photo. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Who Killed The McStay Family? Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020 . There were no signs of foul play or any forced entry. The McStay family of Fallbrook were last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. Be the first one to comment on this story. Merritt would also make a bold claim about his last contact with Joseph. 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.. On February 9, when family and business partners hadnt heard from Joseph in five days, they sent a co-worker to the house to see if the familys beloved dogs were there. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The man accused of killing the McStays, a family of four who disappeared in 2010 and whose remains were found in 2013 in the . True Crime : The McStay Family Murders (Murdered 2010) @Crimedoor Just a monster.". The skeletal remains . On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Prosecutors said he bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer. McStay Family Murders: Who Killed Them? Photos Of McStay Family Murder Suspect. Ive heard people say that before and it not be true. Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3, disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, Ca. I think its probably true; he has read everything, hes currently working on a book about his case and hes constantly working on it in some way. Detectives said Merritt had grown up in the area and was familiar with the terrain. A new documentary series re-examines the trial and evidence in a 'comprehensive' look at the case, writes Sheila Flynn Lastly, neither party to this case is arguing or disputing that it was in fact the McStays whom were the victims in this case, according to McGees motion. Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home Another two points would put us in good . The McStay Family Disappearance and Murder - Medium Two Shallow Graves is a seven-part docu-series that delves into the details of the case.The premiere . Lets make no mistake about it, Mr. Merritt is innocent, Maline tells American Greed.. Then began the authorities' quest to figure out who killed the loving family of four. Its not all as simple as it seems; I think thats the point of the show, Mr Fitzpatrick tells The Independent. Two Shallow Graves on ID is examining the tragic murders of the McStay family, who were butchered by business associate Charles "Chase" Merritt, and buried in the desert near Victorville, California, in 2010.