joseph mcstay surviving son

I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. The parents of a man who disappeared with his wife and two young children have detailed how they searched for the family for years before it was discovered that their son's business partner brutally murdered them with a sledgehammer. Mystery:Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home in Fallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010, Tragedy: Joseph'sparents, Patrick McStay and Susan Blake, have opened up about the murders on the second season of the Oxygen true-crime series Killer Motive. This despicable, evil monster. [2][12], On November 11, 2013, a dirt biker found four sets of human remains buried in two shallow graves in the desert near Victorville, California. During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. 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. 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. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. 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. Father of Joseph McStay, whose remains and wife's were found this week after 2010 disappearance, calls San Diego Sheriff's Dept. At the time, Joseph owned an online company named Earth Inspired Products that sold decorative water fountains. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. And while he does not believe Summer was directly involved, he will dedicate a significant amount of the book to her behavior and the couples relationship. 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 scared were they, Chase? 'Are you that family? By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. she said. 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,. 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. [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. 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. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. "Not natural causes; there was intent here.". Merritt lashed out at prosecutors he said framed him, some witnesses he accused of lying and the judge he said allowed it to happen. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites 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. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Joseph's 1996 Isuzu Trooper was missing, but their dogs were in the backyard. Huh? The judge has been speaking for the last hour - and still going, reviewing in slow, excruciating detail certain facts of the case. I just dont remember very much because I fell to the office floor. He will focus on a number of key incidents and characters and try to paint a picture of what really happened in the lead up to that fateful day. And then the family that was killed by their own friend?'" . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. Scholarly publications with full text pdf download. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "It marked my kids.". There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord. She really didnt like anyone being around Joseph and the family other than herself and a very small, selective group of people. After three years of searching, the San Diego Sheriff's Department investigators concluded in April 2013 that the McStay family had gone to Mexico voluntarily. Gov. 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. He maintained his innocence, saying something has always been "amiss" in this case. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. Joseph McStay has operated Earth Inspired Products, a waterfall and garden accessories business in San Clemente, since 1996, according. He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". I was not his best friend, but he was mine and I believe he opened up to me about things he would not tell anyone else. The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. "Death was the appropriate verdict for those three offenses," the judge said. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! What about the little guys? 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. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. Prosecutors say he bludgeoned them with a sledgehammer. Maline spent several hours speaking before the judge. Disappeared examines the case of the McStay family who vanished from their Southern California home and may have headed into Mexico. " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. No one can explain how a seemingly normal suburban family who only moved into their new home in Fallbrook, California, three months earlier, could be living a regular life one day and then vanish the next. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. A lot of his close friends did not trust her and thought she treated him very badly. By By Jill Sederstrom The McStay Family Goes Missing Now Playing Preview The McStay Family Goes Missing 2:14 Preview McStay Family Car Found Near Mexican Border 2:24 Mrs Blake described Josephs symptoms as something similar to vertigo and said he complained of feeling 'woozy'. And when we were out she would call him constantly. Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on executions while hes in office. 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. She would shout at him in the privacy of their own home, but then put on a front like he was the most important person in the world when they were in public. Joseph McStay; his wife, Summer; and their two children, Gianni and Joseph Mateo, have not been heard from since the night of Thursday, February 4, 2010. 2023.03.03 04:09 oz2usa I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. [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? Just a monster.". On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. How could you beat two precious little babies? California has not executed anyone since 2006. In October 2009, Joseph McStay excitedly e-mailed a friend about the house he and his wife had purchased in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, Calif. Their remains were eventually discovered in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. They were in the process of remodeling their four-bedroom, three-bathroom home when they went missing. 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. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. Chase you are a low life coward and a baby killer. "Our family has already received a life sentence. The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. We dont run this circus. "I did not do this thing. 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. McStay family went missing nearly three years ago Surveillance video shows four people of similar size crossing into Mexico Relatives dispute author's claim that wife was involved in. And if the truth be told, despite everything, he was still infatuated with Summer. Merritt also says Summer had a terrible temper and would often snap at her husband over completely insignificant things. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. On February 23, 2010, detectives notified Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, to be on the lookout for the family heading to Mexico. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. Who'll find love on our blind date? On Monday, more than four years since his arrest in connection with the slayings, the family's accused killer, Charles "Chase" Merritt, is scheduled to go on trial on murder charges in San. Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers. A neighbor's security camera was triggered at 7:47PM when the McStays . Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, 40, McStay's wife, Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr.,. Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. The family's computer had recent internet searches for: 'What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico?' It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. 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. In the gallery sat Merritt's daughter and brother. He had this problem right up until the day he went missing. 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 . Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. You just do what you can for your son, and your family, she said. and Spanish language lessons. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. I dont remember bouncing a check, she said. I would never have hurt him in any way. 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.. In 2010, Joseph McStay (age 40), and his wife Summer (age 43), lived in Fallbrook, California, with their sons Gianni (age 4) and Joseph Jr. (age 3). Yes, sir, McStay replied. 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 gruesome and brutal details of the crime that you committed are his family," she said to Merritt. I would never hurt him in any way. Jurors in San Bernardino. Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. California man pleads not guilty to killing family of four Susan Blake (L), the mother of Joseph McStay, leaves the courtroom with her son Michael McStay after Charles "Chase" Merritt was. 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. 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. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. When the McStays car was found in San Ysidro on the Mexican border four days after they were last seen and security footage of a family of four an hour later heading into the Central American country surfaced, the idea they had left of their own accord gained momentum. Sentencing still has not happened. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. In the last of the two meetings, They were definitely yelling, big time, at each other. Just a monster. - Susan Blake, Joseph McStays mother. 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. 'He told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. I would never raise my hand to a woman or a child.". Investigators also have e-mails indicating the couple asked. Patrick McStay was there, too, along with other members of the McStay family, including Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay. How scared were they, Chase? I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. She said: 'My son had been sick since last August and hes normally a very healthy person. The home had no signs of forced entry. Merritt was due to speak next. 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. The skeletal remains of the McStay family were found near Victorville in 2013 and Merritt was arrested a year later. I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. Do I think Chase is involved? I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me, he added. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. Merritts defense team has claimed Kavanaugh is a likely suspect in the McStay family case, but was overlooked by investigators despite what they described as a deteriorating relationship with Joseph McStay in the months before the familys disappearance. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. His face was stoic. The back of the check said endorsement cancelled, he pointed out. Joseph's cellphone pinged a tower in Fallbrook. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020. 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!' [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning McStay was cutting him out of his business making and selling custom water fountains. Chase Merritt sobs and says I did not do this thing. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. Charles "Chase" Merritt interrupted his attorney Friday during legal proceedings. ', 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. 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. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. 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. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! 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. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. (Will Lester . They told how the McStays Joseph, Summer and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 were bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer and buried in shallow graves in the high desert outside. The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. The bodies of the McStay family were found buried in the Mojave desert in 2013, three years after the family vanished from their home in San Diego County. 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. At center is Erin McStay, Michaels wife. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. Day by day, month by month, the case grew colder. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. A deep pause followed as Michael McStay tried to collect himself. On Tuesday, the judge said the sentencing stands: Merritt gets life in prison for the killing of Joseph McStay, and the death penalty for the slayings of Summer McStay, Gianni McStay, and Joseph McStay Jr. Charles Merritt was sentenced to death for killing the McStay family. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Merritt who was once a person of interest in the familys 2010 disappearance claims some of Josephs friends started telling him to be careful around Summer, 43. "[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. 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. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his former business associate, Joseph McStay, 40. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . 'This despicable, evil monster. Where were they? The show features new suspects, witnesses, evidence, and theories regarding the case, as well as the trial from both the defendant's and prosecutor's points of view. Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. While Merritt does not think Summer was directly involved, he has revealed she treated Joseph horrendously in the years before they went missing. I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. California currently has a moratorium on death row executions. 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. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took the podium. So why was being grilled about her books on Mastermind so Why should I be asked to tip when I shop online? Merritt was arrested the following year. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. Mother of Joseph McStay describes moment 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), Mother of Joseph McStay describes moment she learned son, family were dead, San Bernardino mountain residents grow worried as they cant access medicine, supplies, LA man arrested, suspected ofcarjackinga vehicle in Corona and firing shots at police during pursuit, Teacher at high school in Menifee arrested, suspected of inappropriate relationship with student, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, her son, his wife, and their boys aged 3 and 4, Dine 909: New restaurants coming to San Bernardino, Upland and Redlands, Snow collapses roof of Goodwin and Sons, Crestlines only grocery store, Plow the roads, mountain residents say, as San Bernardino County vows to do better, San Bernardino mountain residents frustrated after volunteer helicopter efforts are restricted, Obernolte: Newsom must declare state of emergency for San Bernardino Mountains, 55-hour closures on 210 Freeway in Redlands and San Bernardino postponed again, We are coming, San Bernardino County officials tell trapped mountain residents, Shake Shack sets date for Victoria Gardens grand opening, Monday, March 13, Desperate Crestline residents help one another while awaiting assistance from San Bernardino County, Conditions for snowed-in Crestline mobile home park pretty bleak, 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.

Dede Wilsey Napa, List Of Car Accidents In Texas Yesterday, Articles J