joseph mcstay surviving son

But when Rodriguez questioned her Tuesday, Blake said, Thats what was said, but I dont know for sure.. And now, victim impact statements before formal sentencing. The mother of Joseph McStay provided emotional testimony on the second day of the McStay murder trial. 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. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. 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. Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. Businessman Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two young sons -- Gianni 4, Joseph Jr. 3 -- were last heard from Feb. 4. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. 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 . Gunfire at 7-Eleven stores killed a clerk in Brea and a 24-year-old man in Santa Ana and injured three others in La Habra and Riverside early Monday, July 11, authorities said. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. , updated The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. It cant be, Susan Blake testified after she regained herself. Crying for Mommy and Daddy? Crying for mommy and daddy? Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. The details are shocking and nauseating to sit through.". Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts. Indiana Man Charged After Son In Diapers Points Gun At . And then the family that was killed by their own friend?'" During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. Description. 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 said. His most recent felony conviction, in 2001, was for the theft of $32,000 worth of welding and drilling equipment from San Gabriel Valley Ornamental Iron Works in Monrovia, California. How could you beat two precious little babies? The McStay family disappeared from their Fallbrook home in San Diego's North County in 2010. 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. Joseph's father, Patrick McStay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. His arrest was announced on November 7, 2014. He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. What lack of sleep REALLY does to your face: Expert reveals the warning signs your skin is suffering, My Daily Horoscope: What does March 2nd hold for MY star sign? 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. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. Victorville, California CNN . After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. Our lives were intertwined both on a business and a personal level. [2][7] The deaths were ruled a homicide and San Bernardino County authorities said they believed the family died of blunt force trauma inside their home, but declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. 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. Jurors in San Bernardino. Susan said they would stop in little towns that had just a gas station and a grocery store to post flyers. How scared were they, Chase? The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. [3] The trial began on January 7, 2019, in San Bernardino. 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. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. Joseph's family confirmed that he had an unexplained illness and that Summer was possessive of her husband, but they called Merritt's suggestion that she was responsible for his illness unfounded. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. The break came, defense attorneys said, when Merritt and McStay separately worked on a custom-fountain side of the business that did not include Kavanaugh. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Scholarly publications with full text pdf download. The McStay family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. 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. [13] Dean stated in her blog she had just finished producing a radio show for San Diego station KNSJ when she received the call, and that she asked whether she could tell her followers what he had told her. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. 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. 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. And if the truth be told, despite everything, he was still infatuated with Summer. The bodies of two members of a family that went missing in 2010 have been identified. 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 The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. She was obsessed with the idea of being Italian and that was her name for him. Prosecutors eventually discovered that about the time the family vanished thousands of dollars in checks allegedly from McStay to Merritt had been written and cashed. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. [28], In January 2018, a trial-setting conference was scheduled for February 23. It would take years for investigators to discover the family's grisly fate. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. His attorney also says Merritt himself will want to speak. #nbc7 #mcstay He told Merrit, I want to psychological mess you up. https://t.co/0xbSXeb9kX. [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?" Merritt later told police that he ignored the voicemail because he was watching a movie. It was a mystery and he started to consider everything and anything. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. Chase, you are a low-life baby killer, Blake said as Merritt stared at her impassively. 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. 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. 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,. Don't worry, your fate will be way less tragic than that of the family you murdered. 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. 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. 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. 09:19 EST 04 Jan 2014 SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. A Southern California man was sentenced to death Tuesday for the 10-year-old killings of a family of four whose bodies were found buried in shallow graves in the California desert. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. "So unnatural. He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. Gov. Merritt was arrested the following year. He was the last known person to see Joseph alive, during an hour-and-a-half long meeting in Rancho Cucamonga, California just hours before the family vanished into thin air. Victorville, California - Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. 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. That 8-hour day in court included lengthy motions arguments from Merritt's attorney, Rajan Maline, and even a moment when Merritt tried to interrupt proceedings and fire Maline. Kavanaugh has denied any involvement in the familys disappearance and slayings. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Just stop all the appeals, all the shenanigans. The fountain designer has always been seen as a key player in the mystery as he was one of Josephs closest friends and his most trusted business associate. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. 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. "We don't run this circus. Doves were . Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning McStay was cutting him out of his business making and selling custom water fountains. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. [7] He was arrested last year. How they stalked the stalker: A gripping new true crime 'It did get weird': Couple who are in the middle of divorce Woman finds out her husband was cheating on her after he was made an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. ', 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. Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. 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. 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.. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. Although a search of the house found no evidence of a struggle or foul play, there were indications of a hasty departure: a carton of eggs had been left on the counter, and two child-size bowls of popcorn sat on a sofa. ", Missing McStay family killed, buried in desert, sheriff says, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McStay_family_murders&oldid=1138842709, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:11. 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. "We don't run this circus. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. 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. 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. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. 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. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Chase you are a low life coward and a baby killer. During the lull, NBC 7 spoke with prosecuting attorney Britt Imes about the continuing delays. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, disappeared along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3, from their their serene San Diego-area community more than a month ago. Around five months before his disappearance he started suffering terrible problems with his equilibrium and his stomach. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. Investigators said they also traced Merritts cellphone to the area where the bodies were buried in the days after the family disappeared and to a call seeking to close McStays online bookkeeping account. 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 He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". called the investigation into his son's disappearance . The book will be released later this year. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. Michael did not find any family at home, and their two dogs were in the backyard. ', 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. Now Merritt who actually took a voluntary lie detector test at the time of their disappearance and was the last person to see Joseph alive has decided to write a tell all book, in an effort to clear up the mystery. The court took a brief break. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. How to trick yourself slim: Top nutritionist reveals her tips including shrinking your cutlery, sniffing Meghan's (very expensive) date night look! They took none of their belongings, left $100,000 in the bank and even abandoned their beloved dogs. [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. [2][11], During their investigation, the police learned that around 11:00 pm on February 8, the family's Trooper had been towed from a strip mall parking lot in San Ysidro, San Diego, near the Mexican border. While Merritt does not think Summer was directly involved, he has revealed she treated Joseph horrendously in the years before they went missing. And that those sounds haunt you, Chase, he said. Situated in northern San Diego County, the community is known as "The Friendly Village." Sadly, disaster would soon strike the tranquil town. This despicable, evil monster. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. 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 . 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. In the family's home, investigators found bowls of uneaten popcorn, as if the family had just been there, and planned to return. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. Merritt was due to speak next. '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. I remember one woman in particular was all over him for a while. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. Just a monster.". The comments below have not been moderated. Patrick McStay has waited for this day, when he finally gets to speak in court, gets to speak for his slain son Joseph McStay, daughter-in-law Summer and two young grandsons. And they told me they were also gone. Father of Joseph McStay, whose remains and wife's were found this week after 2010 disappearance, calls San Diego Sheriff's Dept. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. 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.. How scared were they, Chase? Did you always look up to him Imes asked. A lot of his close friends did not trust her and thought she treated him very badly. Duchess dons $1,610 Carolina Herrera cape, $300 vegan leather Lovely in lilac! 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. 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. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). They said that he wrote checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph's business account in the days after the family was killed and then went on a gambling spree at nearby casinos, where he lost thousands of dollars. #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. 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. she said. He was sentenced to death and life in prison. Ultimately, officials determined it was not the McStay family in that video. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. 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. Prosecutors say he bludgeoned them with a sledgehammer. Were they scared, Chase? On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. "Death was the appropriate verdict for those three offenses," the judge said. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. 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. Their bodies were not found until 2013, when an off-road motorcyclist came across them in the Mojave Desert. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Just a monster. - Susan Blake, Joseph McStays mother. Investigators also have e-mails indicating the couple asked. "[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. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. He called Merritt a "ruthless mass murderer.". Merritt's attorneys said the two men were best friends and investigators overlooked another possible suspect in the killings. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. 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. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose.

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