Additionally, a family friend was helping paint the house, and left with the intention of returning on Saturday, February 6, to finish the job. Although Merritt adamantly denied being at the location of the makeshift graves, To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of. I did not do this.. McGee stated in his motion that the identity of the victims was not in dispute, and that DNA and dental records positively identified the McStay family as homicide victims after their skeletal remains were discovered in two shallow graves in November 2013, west of the 15 Freeway and north of Stoddard Wells Road. . It wasn't until January 2019 that his trial even started after it was revealed that he dismissed many lawyers to defend himself in court. Two Shallow Graves on ID is examining the tragic murders of the McStay family, who were butchered by business associate Charles Chase Merritt, and buried in the desert near Victorville, California, in 2010. While there was little evidence and various theories floated around, nobody really precisely knew what happened to Joseph, his wife, and their two sons until years later. District Attorneys Office spokesman Christopher Lee declined to comment Thursday, saying it would be inappropriate given the ongoing criminal case. On Nov. 20, at a vigil where volunteers erected white crosses and released doves, Michael pondered aloud the same questions. But several family members did not believe that the man in the video was Joseph. Charles Ray Merritt, 61, stands trial for the murder of a couple and their two sons in San Bernardino County, California. Prosecutors told jurors Merritt killed the family after learning Mr McStay was cutting him out; they said the victim told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and stealing money. Photos Of McStay Family Murder Suspect. The court upheld the jury's recommendation and Merrit was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020 for the McStay Family Massacre. The authorities initially believed this was the McStay family because of a few other things that came to light. Huong Lee and Long Nyugen were an elderly Vietnamese couplefrom Arlington, Texas, who wound up owing so-called spiritual healer Dephne Wright nearly $300,000. There were also incisions in her bra that lead investigators to believe it was cut off, the motion states. McStay Family Murders: Who Killed Them? How To Paint Citadel Miniatures Download Pdf NEW! Prosecutors pushing for the death penalty for McStay family murder suspect Charles Chase Merritt can use one family photo of the victims during trial, a . That changed in November 2013, when the bodies were found in the desert along with a sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon. They were dressed similarly to the McStays, and the children were wearing hats similar to ones they had been photographed in. In November 2013, almost four years later, a motorcycle rider found two shallow grave sites in the desert, just north of Victorville. San Bernardino County sheriffs investigators believe Summer McStay, who along with her husband Joseph and two young sons was fatally beaten with a sledgehammer and buried in a shallow grave near Victorville, may have been raped before she was killed, according to a court document. Skip Ancestry navigation Main Menu Home Your login session has expired. Merritt faces the death penalty if convicted as charged in the case. For years, that was the prevailing belief among law enforcement. He has covered San Bernardino County since 2009. At the beginning, hes like, I know this case better than the attorneys, Mr Fitpatrick adds. In 2018, the trial was postponed again so that his current defense attorney could do more investigating, Merritt remained jailed without bail. However, there was raw food left out, which seemed to indicate the family left in a hurry or had the intention to come back soon after. LOS ANGELES 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 . But hed also tell Kay during his television interview that he had definitely been the last person to see Joseph. Tribune Broadcasting. GUILTY. McStay Memorial Erected In . Investigators believed that the family pictured is likely the McStays, based on analysis of family photos and home videos. Prosecutors contend greed is the motive for the murders. Around about February 4, 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, 40; his wife, Summer, 43; and their . Charles 'Chase' Merritt was convicted in June of killing his former business associate Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer and the couple's children The McStay family vanished from their San Diego . May she rest in eternal peace. Family members of the victims were emotional in court during the preliminary hearing Monday. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road and requires visitors to leave their car at Quary Road and walk east to the actual location. All rights reserved. But after the family's nanny arrived with the children in New York later estranged husband's property the day after mom went missing, report says. Investigators also uncovered an email from Joseph dated Feb. 1, just days before the family disappeared, stating that Merritt owed him nearly $43,000. McGee argued that the use of family photos and/or videos in the case should only be relevant if they are used for identifying victims, otherwise they are irrelevant. San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith ruled Monday afternoon that there is sufficient evidence for Merritt to stand trial. Autopsy Photos. USA Spot News. He was a business partner of Joseph McStay. Nicole Berte Murder: Where is Randy Lee Bode Now. A motorcyclist found human remains in a desert near Victorville, California. Their car was located a few days later, near San Diego, close to the Mexican border. What to Know. Skip to main content. Then a biker in the Mojave Desert finds their bodies in shallow graves. The sizes of the people appear to match 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. Prosecutors said he bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5th 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Perry-McStay Funeral Home (2555 Pawtucket Ave, East Providence, RI 02914). If you wish to write to us in regards to this matter, please be advised that we reserve the right to post your. Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. The 58-year-old Merritt is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of McStay, 40; McStay's wife, Summer, 43; and the couple's two sons, Gianni, 4; and Joey, 3. . When all four members of the McStay family seemingly vanish into thin air -- here one day, gone the next -- a years-long quest for answers begins. He was joined by his defense team: three attorneys from the High Desert. The remains were identified as the McStay family's and were buried in two shallow graves. The original memorial consisting of 4 white crosses. This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. In an email Thursday, sheriffs Lt. Sarkis Ohannessian declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal case. Prosecutors contend, among other things, that the jury is entitled to put a face to the remains of the McStay family, and that the jury has a right to know of whom the witnesses are talking about, McGee noted in another motion the defenses response to the prosecutions opposition motion, filed on Thursday. Apr 20, 2020 Joan's husband, Hal Rogers, stayed behind to care for the family's dairy farm.. Joan, Michelle and Christe Rogers.. Photo Source: Crime 1.7k votes, 195 comments.. From the LA Times: "A jury Monday found a man guilty of bludgeoning a family of four and burying their bodies in shallow , Charles Ray Merritt has been sentenced to death for the murders of McStay family members, .. Charles "Chase" Merritt, left, reacts after being found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder of the McStay family, in San Bernardino Superior Court in San Bernardino on June 10. Investigation Discovery's 'Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. When you look at the totality of the picture, you just came right back to its Charles Merritt, Imes tellsAmerican Greed.. There was the new husband of Mr McStays ex-wife, a man with a history of violence whod allegedly threatened to muzzle Mrs McStay and beat up her husband. Photo: McStay Family/ZUMA. Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for financial gain. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. While there were no signs of forced entry, it seemed like the McStays left in a hurry. Cell phone records placed Merritt in the desert where the bodies were ultimately discovered just two days after the family disappeared. Eddie Bachman tells American Greed. That kind of cued into us as a red flag there because I dont know how any one person could be certain and say that he was the last person that saw his best friend alive if he wasnt in fact the last person who saw him alive.. They had recently moved to a home Jan 21, 2020 Charles Merritt was sentenced to death for killing the McStay family.. A jury recommended the death penalty for Merritt for the murders of Summer Jan 22, 2020 Charles Merritt has been sentenced to death for killing the entire McStay family in a bizarre California case that went unsolved for years. The McStay case started . The mysterious murders of the McStay family. The bodies of 40-year-old California businessman Joseph McStay, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, were found . Do you, This was definitely in IL because we are friends with, Hi. Josephs father Patrick McStay, however, continues to be haunted by Merritts dark deeds. Prosecutors claim that the McStays were murdered by Merritt for . It was sort of one sort of absurdity after the other, Kevin Fitzpatrick, an executive producer of Two Shallow Graves, tells The Independent. The family of four had just moved into their Southern California home when they vanished on the night of Feb. 4, 2010. Earlier in the week before the family disappeared, Summer had made plans to visit her sister, who had recently had a baby. According to reports, denying his involvement in the murders, Merritt told the court. Investigators searched for passport records of the family, and discovered that Joseph had a valid passport that had not been used before or after the disappearance. 'It was blow after blow after blow to a child's skull,' the prosecutor said. She was predeceased by : her parents, Manuel Sousa and Nicolina Sousa (Melo); and her siblings . Joseph was 40-years-old back then, and Summer was 43. Later that night, he received a phone call from animal control, which was planning to take the dogs because they had been left outside without food for over a week. How did four people end up here in the middle of nowhere, over 100 miles from where they live? he asked. I never settled on anybody. BREAKING: A jury found Charles 'Chase' Merritt GUILTY of first-degree murder in the bludgeoning deaths of the McStay family, Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4), Joseph Jr. (3). A 3-pound sledgehammer was found with the bodies, which was believed to be the murder weapon. Lee Harvey Oswald autopsy photo. Joseph Sr ran a successful waterfall business in suburban California, spending every inch of spare time with his raven-haired wife, Summer, and their two young sons, Gianni, four, and Joey Jr, three. Selena autopsy photo. McStay Family Murder Investigation: Search Warrants Unsealed, Reveal Details Of Fallbrook House. Autopsy Photos. Nearly a decade after the skeletal remains of a family of four were found buried in the California desert, their accused killer was sentenced to death. On February 9, when family and business partners hadnt heard from Joseph in five days, they sent a co-worker to the house to see if the familys beloved dogs were there. So, lets find out what happened then, shall we? January 21, 2020 Merritt, 62, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Joseph McStay, 40. In Fallbrook, CA, their home was fifty miles north of San Diego and twenty miles inland from the Pacific coast. Similarly, on February 6, his phone pinged off of towers in Victorville, placing him at the burial site. Both are convinced of Merritts guilt, but even they shake their heads and raise eyebrows at some of the other unexpected threads to the case. Two days later, the remains were identified as the McStay family. Two Shallow Graves delves into a case that garnered national news headlines, eventually culminating in the killer being brought to justice close to a decade later. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. There were no signs of foul play, but the fact that they had left the car and toys four days after leaving home, so close to the Mexican border was bizarre. A man riding his dirt bike in the area discovered some of the remains and contacted police. There is reportedly a DNA match that links Merritt to the McStay May 27, 2021 The McStay family murders occurred on or near February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, Mcstay family autopsy photos Merritt is on trial for the murder of the McStay family from Fallbrook tried to cover his tracks after the murders. It wasnt until November 2013 that the case moved forward. Otherwise, the family looked identical to the McStays. Merritt, in the series, contends: They didnt have any direct evidence to support that I did these crimes. Sheriffs investigators believe Merritt, a business associate of Joseph McStay who built custom decorative water fountains for McStays online business, killed the McStays for financial gain. It didnt take this long. I think its a story where people want answers, and this project is another step in trying to give people answers to what really happened.. Jaroslav Jerry Hanel had tormented the Diamond Head, Huong Lee and Long Nyugen were an elderly Vietnamese couple. In late November 2009, the family moved to Fallbrook, California, for a fresh start in a peaceful and friendly neighborhood. Two Shallow Graves: The McStay Family Murders: With Suzanne Armstrong, Tony Azzaro, Taylor Jarvis, Shawn Patrick Murphy. The mystery was largely treated as a missing-persons case until this month, after a motorcyclist riding through the desert above Victorville, Calif., came across a weathered skull and called police. As the investigation continued, it also emerged that the last call from Mr McStays phone had been to Merritt whose cell phone pinged near a tower in the desert in the vicinity of the shallow graves. The defense now moves to exclude certain expected testimony and evidence from the prosecutions case in chief on the grounds that this evidence is not relevant, and that the onlypurposes of the expected evidence are to sensationalize the alleged crimes and inflame the passions of the jury against Mr. Merritt, according to the Nov. 20 motion. The morning of February 4, 2010, started like any other day for the family. Investigation Discoverys Two Shallow Graves delves into a case that garnered national news headlines, eventually culminating in the killer being brought to justice close to a decade later. On November 5, 2014, Chase Merritt, a business associate of McStay was arrested and charged with four counts of murder, after his DNA was discovered inside the McStay vehicle. On a seemingly inconsequential day in early 2010, Mr McStay had a conversation with his father and told him he had a lunch meeting. A few months before the McStay family disappeared from their Fallbrook home on Feb. 4, 2010, Summer McStay filed a Child Protective Services complaint against McFadden, according to Joseph McStay's father, Patrick McStay." McFadden has a pretty violent criminal history, and that coupled with Joseph wanting custody of his son, leads Patrick to . But there was an astonishing number of other people whod had significant run-ins with the McStays, according to the new series. My fear is that Im looking for two adult shallow graves and my two nephews crosses, Josephs kid brother, Michael, told the Orange County Register a few weeks after the Feb. 4, 2010, disappearance. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. Heavy. Two Shallow Graves on ID is examining the tragic murders of the McStay family, who were butchered by business associate Charles "Chase" Merritt, and buried in the desert near Victorville, California, in 2010. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? Lots of peoples names came up, and lots of different theories came up, executive producer Jacinda A Davis tells The Independent. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. On November 5, 2014, Chase Merritt, a business associate of McStay was arrested and charged with four counts of murder, after his DNA was discovered inside the McStay vehicle. The McStay family of Fallbrook were last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. The 62-year-old welder convicted in the brutal beating deaths of a Fallbrook family of four . Everything was circumstantial. But privately, investigatorsnoticed Merritt had displayed some concerning behavior after the family disappeared. A new documentary series re-examines the trial and evidence in a 'comprehensive' look at the case, writes Sheila Flynn The deaths have been ruled a homicide. These bodies were soon confirmed as the McStay family. ABC 7. The police concluded that Merritt killed the family for financial gain; the killer had a severe gambling problem, and after the murders, he managed to gain some control of Josephs business accounts. Research genealogy for Elizabeth McStay of Draycott, Derbyshire, England, as well as other members of the McStay family, on Ancestry. Lord Hanuman Angry Animated Wallpapers Hd posted by Sarah Anderson a28a80e3cc. He stands charged with first-degree murder in connection with the February 2010 bludgeoning deaths of Summer McStay, 43, her husband Joseph McStay,40, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. So without direct evidence, then they have to show enough circumstantial evidence to convice the jury that it was me at their home and who killed them.. The authorities also found Chases DNA on the steering wheel and the gearshift handle of the McStay family car; he had claimed earlier to have never driven that vehicle. Joseph and Summer McStay had two sons Gianni and Joseph Jr. If you have any suggestions for any crime locations, infamous crimes or infamous people you want me to cover, (mostly around WA state as that is where I live. The San Diego Sheriffs Department even posted footage of a family that resembled the McStays walking across the border to Mexico. 16 Rare Photos of Princess Diana. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. And then there was another associate from Mr McStays work, the computer whiz who maintained the company website a man whod sent messages to MrMcStay essentially threatening to destroy the site and ruin the business. SAN BERNARDINO, California- The man accused of killing four members of the McStay family in 2010 will stand trial, a California judge ruled this week. Jaroslav Jerry Hanel had tormented the Diamond Head neighborhood of Honolulu, HI, for years, but one day, he completely snapped and murdered landlord, Lois Cain, shot two responding police officers, and set fire to the neighborhood. The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. Summer McStay may have been raped before 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), Summer McStay may have been raped before she was killed, buried in desert, court document says, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, There are many ways to fight writers block, find inspiration, A.K. There wasnt a sign or sound from them for nearly four years until an off-road motorcyclist came upon two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert, tragically revealing the bodies of the couple and their children. On Feb. 4, 2010, Joseph and Summer McStay, ages 40 and 43, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and 3-year-old Joey Jr., vanished without a trace from their Fallbrook home. In April 2013, the San Diego Sheriffs Department turned the case over to the FBI, which was more equipped to investigate cases that involve other countries. 1:22. He was convicted in June 2019, however, and sentenced to death the following January. In an interview with detectives just two weeks after the family was last seen, Merritt talked about his friend in the past tense. February 4, 2010, was the last day anyone could contact a member of the McStay family. Case 8, Dorothy Scott Merritts trial has been delayed multiple times due to Merritt attempting to represent himself and repeatedly firing his attorneys, he has gone through five between November 2013 to February 2016. This gave him a flexible schedule and the ability to work from home, so he could spend more time with his family. Mr McStays friend, Gina Watson, and father, Patrick who called Merritt a ruthless mass murderer in court and told him to burn in hell are among the subjects interviewed in the series. Everything. But that changed when the remains of the McStay family were found in November 2013, [] At 30 seconds into the video, note the man and woman entering from lower left of screen. One of the most infamous murder cases in the Inland area will be a focus of the second season premiere of the Oxygen show "Killer Motive" Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. Merritt told detectives that during their last lunch meeting, Joseph had given him physical copies of checks to pay for some of the projects they were working on. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. To learn more about the case, tune into Monday's episode of "American Greed" at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC. About three days later, Josephs brother, Mike, got into the house through an open window and saw that the pet dogs were still at home but no sign of the family. He boasted it had a loft/game room & big yard for kids to go crazy, referring to their rambunctious preschoolers, Gianni and Joe Jr. Love it.. Investigators found four people who resembled the McStays walking across the border at approximately 7:00 p.m. on February 8, less than two hours after parking the car in the nearby parking lot. The McStays looked like the All-American family living the dream. So when the family seemingly disappeared four months later without telling any relatives, friends or business associates, and their car turned up four days later at the Mexican border, many people who knew them feared the worst. Inside, he found a relatively normal scene. What looked normal to Josephs brother but was alarming to investigators. Please be respectful of the memorial and do not leave any trash when you visit. Detectives testified during Merrittspreliminary hearingin June 2015 that Merritt was a gambling man who had written multiple checks totaling more than $21,000 on Joseph McStays QuickBooks account in the weeks after the McStay family was last seen on Feb. 4, 2010. However, the rest of the family thought it was unusual for them to just leave so abruptly. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Maria Carvalho (Providence, Rhode Island), who passed away on March 3, 2023. He started as a crime reporter and went on to cover a variety of beats including courts and the cities of Colton, Highland and Grand Terrace. June 10, 2019 Merritt is found guilty of murdering the McStay family. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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Josephs brother found no sign of the family, so he left a note for the person feeding the dogs and asked them to call him, as he was concerned about his family. They were actually written several days after the family disappeared and backdated to make it appear as though theyd been issued before the family vanished. Nelson is a graduate of California State University Fullerton. The video shows a male adult and a child walking in front of a female adult with another child. The family was from Fallbrook, a quiet bedroom community in San Diego County. On Feb. 15, the family was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.