Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. Then, he slammed the podium loudly with his hands.Come on, Chase! Seven months later, on November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. Maline asked Blake about the point of that argument, again struggling against Rodriguezs objections: Chase is telling (Kavanaugh) that he is a liar, that he is getting the money and not giving it to him, he managed to outline to the witness. His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. Who killed the McStay family? Victorville, California - Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. "[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. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. Summers ex husband made good on a promise the two made years ago and just played a portion of Norman Greenbaums Spirit in the Sky. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. For years, police speculated they. 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.'. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. We're just the clowns.". 'As a mother, you're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them,' she explained. Investigators believed the murder weapon was a 3-pound sledgehammer, which was found in the grave containing the remains of Summer and her son. That family that went missing? A year later,Charles 'Chase' Merritt, who was a partner in Joseph's water-fountain business, was arrested for bludgeoning the married couple and their children to death inside their home in Fallbrook because he owed them $30,000. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. Michael McStay's wife spoke next, talking about the pain her family and husband live with every single day. January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. Related research topic ideas. Where were they? He was sentenced to death and life in prison. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. 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. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. We're just the clowns," Imes said. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She had once told him she wanted that song played at her funeral. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. Chase Merritt sobs and says I did not do this thing. I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. He would spend days on end in bed. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. 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. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! In the gallery sat Merritt's daughter and brother. "The gruesome and brutal details of the crime that you committed are his family," she said to Merritt. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. California has not executed anyone on death row since 2006 as current Gov. 'Are you that family? Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. Our last name is mentioned. Yes, sir, McStay replied. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. . Charles "Chase" Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr.. Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. 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. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. "Our family has already received a life sentence. Charles "Chase" Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr.. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. Doves were . "It marked my kids.". [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. All of the motions were denied. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. The bodieswere found in November 2013and Merrittwas arrested and chargeda year later. Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. [4], On June 10, 2019, a San Bernardino County jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Sentencing still has not happened. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . 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. Joseph McStay owned a custom fountain business and worked with Merritt. [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? 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. He played a portion of "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum in court, saying he was making good on a promise he made to Summer McStay many years ago. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. Michael McStay said watching his parents bury his brother was the most "unnatural" thing he could've ever witnessed. (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. ', Getting worried: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, Confusing: Upon Mike's arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard, Abandoned: When Mike crawled through a window of the San Diego County home, he discovered food rotting in the kitchen. Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. He was arrested last year. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. [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. His attorney also says Merritt himself will want to speak. Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay, took his turn. "The constant questions when we are out. Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. He conducted dozens of interviews on the case (traveling to Mexico, Belize, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic), followed leads, and reported sightings of the family. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. We were incredibly busy with the business, things were really flying, but he would often just have to work on his laptop from his bedroom. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. Charles "Chase" Merritt interrupted his attorney Friday during legal proceedings. Joseph managed a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. The attorney stopped Merritt, saying, "You can't.". But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? "We don't run this circus. 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. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. 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. 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. He boasted it had a "loft/game room & big. Authorities think they've caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me, he added. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. 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. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. Blake was followed in testimony by her son and Joseph McStays brother, Michael McStay who said Joseph gave him $2,000 to start his fire sprinkler system business. A deep pause followed as Michael McStay tried to collect himself. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. A neighbor's security camera was triggered at 7:47PM when the McStays . #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. Radio host Rick Baker published a book, No Goodbyes: The Mysterious Disappearance of the McStay Family. A grainy video captured at a nearby border crossing deepened the mystery. The mother of Joseph McStay provided emotional testimony on the second day of the McStay murder trial. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges that he killed McStay, 40, a former business associate; his wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, in their Fallbrook home on Feb. 4, 2010, then buried their bodies more than 100 miles away in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, north of Victorville and west of the 15 Freeway. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. He maintains his innocence. He was married to Summer McStay for seven years. Joseph McStay has operated Earth Inspired Products, a waterfall and garden accessories business in San Clemente, since 1996, according. We dont run this circus. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010.
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