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Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. Charles "Chase" Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his former business associate, Joseph McStay, 40. (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. Merritt was convicted in June 2019 of the murders of his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. (Irfan. 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. Maline spent several hours speaking before the judge. 09:19 EST 04 Jan 2014 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. This included Susan Blake, Joseph McStay's mother. 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. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. Joseph loved to eat out anyway, but I know he made a real effort to eat away from his house after that.. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Merritt said the people responsible for the slayings are still free. 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. [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?" #nbc7 https://t.co/5tmfTOuzsD. He just gave me the quote of the day on the continuing delays. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. Obviously that was a real problem for Joseph and he used to talk to me about it regularly. [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. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. 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. 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. I believe that [Joseph] trusted Chase and believed in Chase. I just dropped me to my knees I will never go back to that spot, she told San Bernardino County Deputy District AttorneyMelissa Rodriguez. As a precaution, investigators took DNA samples from the car, but there was still no evidence of foul play. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. In the last of the two meetings, They were definitely yelling, big time, at each other. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. She said they clashed in front of her as they argued how to keep the business going. 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!' And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. 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? #nbc7 #mcstay He told Merrit, I want to psychological mess you up. https://t.co/0xbSXeb9kX. Just a monster., After a delay, the convicted killer of the McStay family of Fallbrook will be sentenced today. ', 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. Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. [32] On June 24, the jury recommended that Merritt be sentenced to death. 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. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. 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. He has been the entertainment editor, a features writer, a business writer and is now a courts and breaking news reporter. "The gruesome and brutal details of the crime that you committed are his family," she said to Merritt. Merritt has pleaded not guilty to the murders of McStay; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; 4-year-old son Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr. Smith ordered Merritt transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/xNxV3CqRtr. That family that went missing? 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. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning McStay was cutting him out of his business making and selling custom water fountains. 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. You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said. Joseph McStay has operated Earth Inspired Products, a waterfall and garden accessories business in San Clemente, since 1996, according. [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. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. Sorry because he was worth it, he told Imes. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. I did not know any of that part, Blake said. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." 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. The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. Description. Ill never get another conversation with him. Charles Merritt was found guilty of murdering a family of four, and now the jury is recommending the death penalty. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. , updated "It's not just a Netflix documentary to us. 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. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. With all the action and breaks, there was no time left for victim impact statements and the actual sentencing of Merritt. We're just the clowns.". After frustrating delays in proceedings in a Southern California courtroom last week, an emotional sentencing hearing resumed Tuesday for the man convicted in the mysterious killings of the McStay family, including two boys, ages 3 and 4. For years, police speculated they went to Mexica, but the McStays bodies were later found buried in the Mojave Desert in November 2013. How could you beat two precious little babies? She said the day detectives told her they had found her family's bodies, it felt as if she'd been hit by a boulder. "The extreme violence and savagery of the nature of the killings -- particularly of two small children -- far outweigh the totality of all of the mitigating evidence," the judge added. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. 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.,. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. [7] Summer was born Virginia Lisa Aranda, and had also been known as Summer Martelli. Charles Chase Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStays wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year-old sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr. In further sensational claims, Merrits new book Afraid of the Light will detail how the couple were having major problems in their relationship and had not had sex for more than a year before they went missing. The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. 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. she said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/nZp6QeV6sQ, I dont know that I can ever explain the impact this man has had on my family, she said. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. Joseph and Summer McStay were found buried in shallow desert graves along with their two young sons nearly four years after they vanished from their suburban California home (San Bernardino. I honestly believed my psychiatrist . During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. Charles "Chase" Merritt appears at his sentencing hearing in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 21, 2020. ', 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.'. He would try to ignore it at first, but she would call and call and eventually he would have to go off and deal with whatever drama there was. I did not do this thing.. Oscar Cainer tells all, How to dress like a grown up: Trust me, loose fit can be flattering, says Shane Watson, Anti-agers no one but you needs to know about,Inge Van Lotringen tells all. Merritt was due to speak next. He had this problem right up until the day he went missing. At that time, no one knew what happened to the family. And when we were out she would call him constantly. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. She said the two tangled over how to keep the business afloat. 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.. We're just the clowns," Imes said. The disappearance of the McStay family - Joseph, 41, Summer, 43, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3 - occurred in 2013, when they vanished without a trace from their California home. (Will Lester . He would spend days on end in bed. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife, Summer, 43, went missing along with their two children, Gianna, 4, and Joseph, 3. Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. - The mysterious disappearance of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two sons in February 2010 raised a lot of questions. [34], On May 22, 2022, the case was looked at again on the Investigation Discovery docuseries Two Shallow Graves. 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). So unnatural," he said. I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Soon, the family's car was found at a strip mall in south San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border. 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. [17] Because their car was found so close to the Mexican border, police reviewed surveillance footage of the pedestrian gate into Mexico. 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 told me he was in a hurry because he had a lunch meeting,' the dad told Killer Motive host Troy Roberts. 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. In the book, he speculated that Summer might have committed the murders. called the investigation into his son's disappearance . 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 Il avait t le premier dplorer la disparition de Joseph McStay et sa famille , en fvrier 2010. They make up a small part of Merritts new book, which is due to be released later this year. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. Judge just denied defense motion to reduce potential sentence to life in prison (Judge will also consider death). 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. Never again will we hear their voices. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/CGQmypfaZb. [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. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 vanished. He maintained his innocence, saying something has always been "amiss" in this case. Scholarly publications with full text pdf download. Investigators testified they believed the victims were tortured before they were killed. 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. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. [15] Baker began following the case in 2013 after interviewing Michael McStay on his program. He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Investigators also have e-mails indicating the couple asked. Merritt added: If Im honest, I have no idea why he put up with it. 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 . Mike crawled through a window and discovered food rotting in the kitchen, and Summer's prescription sunglasses were also left on the table. This despicable, evil monster. "[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. "I did not do this thing. Three years later, the remains of the family were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote desert in Southern California. I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. 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). He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. "So unnatural. Arent you tired? 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 . Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. 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. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. Inconclusive: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, Frustrating: The McStays friends and family insisted they would never go to Mexico with their children, but there was no other explanation, Heartbreaking: On November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across the family's human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. Patrick McStay was there, too, along with other members of the McStay family, including Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay. But despite that public front, I know, prior to their disappearance they had not had sex in more than a year. Then, he slammed the podium loudly with his hands.Come on, Chase! Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. Merritt looked at Blake as she spoke. 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.. 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. 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. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished from their home inFallbrook, California, on February 4, 2010. The bodieswere found in November 2013and Merrittwas arrested and chargeda year later. 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. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. Two days later, two sets of remains were officially identified as those of Joseph and Summer McStay. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. They also linked him to a call seeking to close Joseph McStay's online bookkeeping account. The surviving McStay family members held an emotional memorial for. How could you beat two precious little babies? Note:A previous version of this story misidentified the prosecutor who questioned Michael McStay. Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. 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. Yes, sir, McStay replied. [7] The book will be released later this year. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. When their remains were unearthed, investigators also found a rusty sledgehammer that they said was used to kill the family. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. The McStays have deep Orange County ties, Cirignani said. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. "I hope you burn in Hell," he told the man convicted of killing his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. 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.