Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. [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?" Related research topic ideas. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. 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. The two children were very young a three-year-old and a four-year-old. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. Crying for mommy and daddy?" The 58-year-old Merritt is. "Death was the appropriate verdict for those three offenses," the judge said. Summers sister: My sister walked with a passion and purpose. The car's location from February 4 to February 8 remains unknown. [8], On February 4, 2010, at 7:47pm, a neighbor's surveillance system captured the bottom eighteen inches of a vehicle, thought at the time to be the McStay family's 1996 Isuzu Trooper. 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. 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. "The gruesome and brutal details of the crime that you committed are his family," she said to Merritt. [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. The hearing, which consumed more than 10 hours, concluded with several emotional statements from McStays mother, brother, in-laws and surviving son, as well as from Merritt himself, who continued to maintain his innocence, I loved Joseph, he said, his voice shaking a times. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. I remember one woman in particular was all over him for a while. Blake said Merritt and Kavanugh got into arguments in two meetings during the spring of 2010. Joseph was 40 years old while his wife Summer was 43 making them a rather young family. 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. After 8-Hour Day in Court, Sentencing Delayed for Man Who Killed McStay Family. 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. "[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. Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. I just spoke to the prosecuting attorney in the Merritt case. [27], Prosecutors allege that Merritt had a gambling problem and killed the McStay family for financial gain. Sentencing still has not happened. "I loved Joseph. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. 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. Victorville, California - Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. Merritt was due to speak next. Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and the couple's two young sons mysteriously disappeared in Feb. 2010. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. Seven months later, on November 11, 2013, an off-road motorcyclist came across human remains in San Bernardino County's Mojave Desert. 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. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. Were they scared, Chase? I'm so bummed out after realising my diagnosis made a few years ago is legitimate. Who'll find love on our blind date? [1][2] Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 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. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. [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. 'We went all the way down to Cabo because at first they said there were sightings, and then we just took the car and went north. 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. But despite that public front, I know, prior to their disappearance they had not had sex in more than a year. Then a few people started putting the idea in his head that maybe Summer was behind it. Vanished: Mike also discovered Summer's prescription sunglasses on the kitchen counter, Looking back: Summer is pictured wearing her prescription sunglasses prior to the family's disappearance, Case to crack:There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord, First clue: Their neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family's Isuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing. But the details of this case go back decades and has many twists and turns. [33] The court upheld the jury's recommendation, and Merritt was sentenced to death on January 21, 2020. This despicable, evil monster. 'This despicable, evil monster. Josephs illness was well documented and had left his entire family completely baffled. You start calling his cellphones, her cellphones,' she said. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys - Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 . "You had a choice. There were no signs of forced entry or any foul play, which baffled investigators and suggested the family left on their own accord. Arguing, and Dan just wasnt going to budge, she said. "corrupt" . How scared were they, Chase? 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. " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. For years, police speculated they. This world was robbed of four beautiful souls. By February 2016, he had gone through five attorneys. 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. This included Susan Blake, Joseph McStay's mother. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and on the (February) 4, he was talking to my mother and he had to pull over when he was driving home because he felt vertigo type symptoms.'. I would never raise my hand to a woman or a child.". A license plate search for the vehicle led to the discovery that the McStay's SUV had been towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, California, right near the U.S.-Mexico border, on February 8, 2010, four days after they went missing. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. I even went to the hospital with him to try and see what was wrong; we thought maybe it was stress.'. 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.. 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. Charles Merritt was found guilty of murdering a family of four, and now the jury is recommending the death penalty. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. I loved Joseph. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/gDh8XuxqiV, Merritt said he has the "utmost disdain" for the investigators and prosecutors who "put them all in this courtroom" and for the people who, in his words, "manipulated the evidence.". The family had moved to Fallbrook, 45 miles north of San Diego, in November 2009 fromSan Clemente. Will Payne
Im heading to San Bernardino and will keep you updated. We're just the clowns," Imes said. 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. [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. Around five months before his disappearance he started suffering terrible problems with his equilibrium and his stomach. So unnatural," he said. Joseph McStay, 43-year-old Summer McStay and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey, 3, vanished without a trace in February 2010 shortly after moving to Fallbrook from Orange County. 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. "[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. #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/usvvTgHitl. "[21][22], In 2013, Merritt acknowledged he had spent more than an hour with Joseph the day the McStay family went missing. He told me when they had first got together they had a great sex life, but she just lost interest. Merritt was transferred to San Quentin State Prison until an execution date is scheduled. By
Who killed the McStay family? 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. 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. The comments below have not been moderated. But even then rumors of dubious dealings with Mexican cartels bubbled away. 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. [27] Merritt's trial was delayed as he had repeatedly fired his attorneys or attempted to represent himself. Working through prosecutor Rodriguezs objections, Maline asked Blake, Do remember if it bounced?. Chase, you are a low-life coward and a baby killer. His face was stoic. 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. Patrick said, "I truly believe she loved my son. The case initially puzzled. We dont run this circus. 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. 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 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. 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." I have been in complete denial about having schizophrenia for the last few years. [5], 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). Their dogs. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily. And now, victim impact statements before formal sentencing. Four years ago, Patrick McStay lost everything he loved. He had this problem right up until the day he went missing. Patrick also searched for their son in Mexico and thought he had a lead when a family claimed to have seen the McStays at Walmart, but security footage confirmed it wasn't them. He just gave me the quote of the day on the continuing delays. 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 . [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. I see its written, yes, she answered, confirming it was her signature. 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. Officers arrived at the home and requested a search warrant, executed on February 19, 2010. Six victim impact statements were heard before Merritt got a chance to speak at the continued sentencing hearing Tuesday. How scared were they, Chase? Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. The bodies were identified asJoseph, Summer, Joseph Mateo, and Gianani McStay. On Friday, he. Merritt is charged with killing his business associate Joseph McStay; McStay's wife, Summer; and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. Indiana Man Charged After Son In Diapers Points Gun At . Authorities think they've caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family. I just dont remember very much because I fell to the office floor. They make up a small part of Merritts new book, which is due to be released later this year. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG). Arent you tired? You just do what you can for your son, and your family, she said. "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. The shocking claims will stun everyone who has followed the McStay family disappearance since they first went missing back on February 4, 2010. Blake said, speaking to Merritt. He always said, "I have messed up one family before, I will not be unfaithful and ruin another one". 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. 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. "I want to psychologically mess you up," he said to Merritt. Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. "We don't run this circus. Do you remember writing that check? he asked. 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. The judge has been speaking for the last hour - and still going, reviewing in slow, excruciating detail certain facts of the case. NBC 7 was once again inside the courtroom Tuesday. Merritt built fountains, while Kavanaughdesigned EIPs website and did search engine optimization. "It's not just a Netflix documentary to us. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. The sentencing was supposed to begin at 8:30 a.m. but was delayed by about an hour because Merritt, for unknown reasons, wasn't transported to the courthouse. and Spanish language lessons. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. He maintained his innocence, saying something has always been "amiss" in this case. 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. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. He didnt know what was wrong with him and he was desperate. How scared were they, Chase? The McStays, their two boys Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished in 2010, leaving food on the table and a massive mystery. Mike crawled through a window and discovered food rotting in the kitchen, and Summer's prescription sunglasses were also left on the table. But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? If I want to speak with him, I have to go to a gravesite," Michael McStay added. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. 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. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. Susanmade an equally emotional statement ahead of the sentencing being handed down, telling the court how the killings had scarred their lives. My brother was I looked up to my brother. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that.