The judge has been speaking for the last hour - and still going, reviewing in slow, excruciating detail certain facts of the case. He was in a really bad way. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. Father of Joseph McStay, whose remains and wife's were found this week after 2010 disappearance, calls San Diego Sheriff's Dept. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. 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. "Hes an excellent surfer and soccer player. Police search for missing San Clemente business owner and family With the motions finally out of the way, the judge moved on to the victim impact statements just before 11:20 a.m. Merritt was also expected to speak after the victims delivered their statements. 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. 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. Situated in northern San Diego County, the community is known as "The Friendly Village." Sadly, disaster would soon strike the tranquil town. The court took a brief break. But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? California has not executed anyone since 2006. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. She had asked to get the money back, she said, But I never saw any., Blake had told an investigator that Merritt told her he completed a job for a customer in Saudi Arabia and was paid $17,000. 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, Gone: The family was considered missing, and detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for headin to Mexico, Can't tell: 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, Devastating: Joseph's parents headed to Mexico to hang flyers and search for them but never found anything. 'You Are a Baby Killer': Calif. Man Sentenced to Death for Killing 'As a mother, you're going to do absolutely anything and everything you can to find them,' she explained. Michael McStay's wife spoke next, talking about the pain her family and husband live with every single day. His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. He had a son from a previous relationship, who he didnt get to see much of and he was terrified that would happen with his two boys if he left Summer. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. Missing Family May Have Been Spotted - NBC 7 San Diego The sentencing was supposed to begin at 8:30 a.m. but was delayed by about an hour because Merritt, for unknown reasons, wasn't transported to the courthouse. 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 . called the investigation into his son's disappearance . The McStays have deep Orange County ties, Cirignani said. [17] Other critics of the theory noted that the McStays had more than $100,000 in bank accounts, with no withdrawal of funds in preparation for a trip, and their accounts were untouched after their disappearance. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. 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 . , updated Chase you are a low life coward and a baby killer. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. Gunfire at four 7-Elevens leaves 2 dead, in Brea and Santa Ana, 3 A small public memorial was held Wednesday afternoon in honor of the McStay family, a couple and their two young sons whose bodies were discovered last week in the Mojave Desert. 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. Related research topic ideas. A decade after the family went missing, their killer was sentenced to death in January 202. Just a monster., After a delay, the convicted killer of the McStay family of Fallbrook will be sentenced today. 2023.03.03 04:09 oz2usa I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. Arent you tired? Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. 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. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. Man convicted of killing McStay family sentenced to death [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. Mother of Joseph McStay describes moment she learned son, family were Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. '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. Just a monster. [19] Relatives of the McStays doubted that they would travel to Mexico, saying that Joseph and Summer avoided the country because of the safety threat posed by recent drug wars. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. Don't worry, your fate will be way less tragic than that of the family you murdered. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. Ultimately, officials determined it was not the McStay family in that video. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. Joseph McStay feared wife was POISONING him before they disappeared Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. Joseph's father, Patrick McStay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. Before the sentencing was handed down, six of the McStay family's loved ones delivered tearful, spine-tingling impact statements in court, staring straight at the face of the killer who took the lives of their family. 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 . #nbc7 https://t.co/muZXjqJBFT. Joseph McStay - Biography - IMDb The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. 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. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. "We don't run this circus. How One Man's Greed Meant the End of the Entire McStay Family It was believed to have been parked there between 5:30 and 7:00 that evening. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! I would never hurt him in any way. He used to spend hours at a time talking on his mobile phone and it got to the stage where he was convinced he had a brain tumor. What Clue Revealed McStay Family's Killer As Charles Merritt? | True Summer and Joseph McStay as well as their sons Joseph Mateo and Gianni had vanished without leaving much behind in terms of clues or without really informing any of their kith and kin. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. Victorville, California - Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. She would fawn over him and call him, her Joseppi. Joseph McStay, 43-year-old Summer McStay and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey, 3, vanished without a trace in February 2010 shortly after moving to Fallbrook from Orange County. ', Merritt showed no emotion as she said she felt like she'd been hit by a boulder when she was told the bodies were found: 'It's just a nightmare.'. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty Of Murder! The Tragic Rise and Fall Of The ___ 12 a.m. Patrick also searched for their son in Mexico and thought he had a lead when a family claimed to have seen the McStays at Walmart, but security footage confirmed it wasn't them. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. Who killed the McStay family? | Global Justice Seekers I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. . Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. Michael McStay said watching his parents bury his brother was the most "unnatural" thing he could've ever witnessed. 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. We dont run this circus. 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. "[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. Indian lodge motel in joseph oregon | | I'm so bummed out after Patrick McStay speaks out, believes his family was killed over money May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. Charles Merritt was convicted of killing Joseph and Summer McStay along with their two sons. "[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. The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. I would never raise my hand to a woman or a child.". Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. How could you beat two precious little babies? Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. 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 boasted it had a "loft/game room & big. Indiana Man Charged After Son In Diapers Points Gun At . Despite all the problems they had and how explosive Summer was, I dont know if he ever truly believed she was capable of that, but it was definitely something he considered. If you were trying to save the business, Ms. Blake, what steps did you take to learn about the funds that were coming into the business and going out of the business, Maline asked, surviving an objection from Rodriguez. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. We're just the clowns," Imes said. California man sentenced to death in killings of McStay family members The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. The clip appeared to show a family of four crossing the border into Mexico -- a family that looked like they could have been the McStays. McStay family murder case: Man sentenced to death for killing family of 4 Then, he slammed the podium loudly with his hands.Come on, Chase! Sheriffs officials announced that the remains of the four people found buried in the desert belong to the McStay family, a Fallbrook family missing since 2010. 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. Last month marked the 3rd anniversary since a family of four mysteriously vanished from their Southern California home. [29] Merritt's attorney filed a motion in San Bernardino Superior Court on April 7, 2018, arguing that Joseph's business and accounting records were hearsay evidence and therefore inadmissible. 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. This included Susan Blake, Joseph McStay's mother. [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?" His mother Susan Blake gave an interview to Myvalleynews.com six weeks after her sons disappearance, where she said she was very concerned about his health. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! He had this problem right up until the day he went missing. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. 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. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. What about the little guys? I was just trying to keep the customers or whoever was calling calm and hopefully to keep the business going. Mystery of McStay money: Family found dead could barely afford rent. I honestly believed my psychiatrist . Three Weeks Later, Still No Sign of California's McStay Family 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." Susan explained that her son and daughter-in-law would often go on 'little mini-trips' with their kids in California, so they weren't alarmed at first. and Spanish language lessons. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. How can you take that all in?, Susan Blake, right, mother of Joseph McStay, reaches over and holds the hand of her other son Michael McStay, left, at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters, Friday, November 15, 2013. she said. Ill never get another conversation with him. [20] Although it is possible for a U.S. citizen to enter Mexico without a passport, one is required to reenter the United States. He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. For years, police speculated they. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. He said: Summer was a very self-centered, self-obsessed person with an awful temper. "Ultimately, I hope to be a father and when I am, I will hold my children close," he continued. 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. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. All of the motions were denied. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. And that those sounds haunt you, Chase, he said.
The Way International Lawsuit, Articles J