[1] At 8:28 pm, a call was placed from Joseph's cell phone to his business associate, Charles "Chase" Merritt, which went to voicemail. 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. "I loved Joseph. 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. The family had been beaten to death with a three-pound sledgehammer found in one of the graves. 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. [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. [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. [2], On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph McStay's business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders. His mother was not available to speak to MailOnline about Merritt's latest revelations. [31] The trial finally began on January 7, 2019, in a San Bernardino court, with both sides making opening statements. Blakes testimony came during the second day in the capital murder trial of Charles Chase Merrit, 61, of Rancho Cucamonga. By Michael McStay remembered the day detectives told him and his family that the bodies of his brother, sister-in-law, and nephews had been discovered in the desert. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline Merritt who worked with Joseph in his fountain business - said: I was extremely close to Joseph. [7] His attorney was arguing motions before Merritt was set to be sentenced. 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." Ill never get another conversation with him. 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. 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. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. 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. Published: 23:50 GMT, 22 January 2021 | Updated: 23:58 GMT, 22 January 2021. An acquaintance of Merritt's told a San Diego reporter, "I think police should look at him and anyone associated with him. The evidence finally placing Merritt at the scene of the crime was his cellphone data, prosecutors said. 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. Charles Merritt was found guilty of murdering a family of four, and now the jury is recommending the death penalty. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Basically, she wouldnt let him near her. He just gave me the quote of the day on the continuing delays. 'Some rough places, but you have had somebody stab me, it doesn't matter,' she noted. Two members of a renowned legal family had been shot and killed on their property. We used to speak to each other 10 or 12 times almost every day and we would talk about absolutely everything. "corrupt" . Just a monster. ", 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. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. During the lull, NBC 7 spoke with prosecuting attorney Britt Imes about the continuing delays. 'I'm gonna get out the information and try to find them.'. 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. 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. "It marked my kids.". The correct identity is San Bernardino CountySupervising Deputy District Attorney Britt Imes. Where were they? How could you beat two precious little babies? 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. 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. 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. [30] On May 4, the case was scheduled to go to trial in July 2018. 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 attorney argued a motion to reduce Merritt's sentence in the killings of Summer McStay and the children to life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty previously recommended by the jury that convicted Merritt. She talked about how the slayings of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons have destroyed her family. If I want to speak with him, I have to go to a gravesite," Michael McStay added. 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. 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. Hes considering motion of insufficient evidence to support verdict. #McStay family visibly frustrated. Instead, they said, authorities zeroed in on an innocent man. Ending my life for a crime that I did not commit," Merritt said. Alex Murdaugh Is Guilty! [26], According to the arrest warrant affidavits filed in the case, autopsies concluded that all four victims had been beaten to death with a blunt object. "From Day One, I just had this gut feeling that I was never going to see them again," he said, swallowing tears. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! He was visibly shaken, fighting back tears. [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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In the summer of 2021, shocking news rocked the state of South Carolina. 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. 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. 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. Theres nothing more valuable on this Earth than time and that was stolen from them; that was stolen from us," he said. The case initially puzzled. "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. Who'll find love on our blind date? But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? 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. Patrick noted that it was 'highly unusual for [the dogs] to be left out alone like that. 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. Judge just said clearly its not timely. #mcstay #nbc7 https://t.co/qLzXb6wJlM. Merritt and Kavanaugh both worked with McStays online business, Earth Inspired Products, which offered outdoor water fountains to customers. 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. The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. 'This despicable, evil monster. 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. The trial in the downtown San Bernardino Justice Center is before Judge Michael A. Smith. 'Are you that family? They got their first clue when they learned a neighbor's surveillance camera had captured what appeared to be the family'sIsuzu trooper leaving the cul de sac at 7:47 p.m. on the night they went missing. Dont worry, your fate will be way less tragic than of the family you murdered.. The attorney stopped Merritt, saying, "You can't.". 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. [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. 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.. According to state records, Merritt had felony convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. 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. "No more surfing; no more anything., Michael McStay said the court should never forget what this case is really about: "Those four innocent people and the lives they never got to live.". Merritt was due to speak next. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. Son of Patrick McStay and Susan Blake. On February 15, Michael phoned the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSD) and reported that his brother and his family were missing. In the McStay family murders, Judge listens to arguments that sentence should be reduced from death penalty to life in prison without parole. I would never have hurt him in any way. [3] Merritt was charged with four counts of murder, and the district attorney sought the death penalty. (File photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), In this file photo Susan Blake, mother of Joseph McStay, breaks down while speaking at a press conference at the San Bernardino Sheriff Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. [4] On June 10, 2019, a jury found Merritt guilty of murdering the McStay family. We are scarred for life., Its been almost 10 years and the pain hasnt subsided, she added. During that period, she got an early-morning call from someone in Saudi Arabia, demanding his fountain, she recalled. Summer had also ordered a Spanish-language education program a few months prior to their disappearance. [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. Immediately, the mysterious case gripped the community. He was arrested last year. 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. For years, police speculated they. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. Joseph McStay's brother, Michael McStay, took his turn. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Merritt was supposed to be sentenced last Friday, Jan. 17, but dramatic twists, turns, and delays prevented that from happening as planned. Neither was Joseph's brother, Michael. Judge just denied defense motion to reduce potential sentence to life in prison (Judge will also consider death). We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 'It's like they went poof,' Susan recalled. Mystery at the Border: With Christopher Crutchfield Walker, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay, Gianni McStay. 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. Homicide investigators search the family's home on Avocado Vista Lane and found no sign of a struggle. A judge denied a motion to reduce Charles Merritt's sentencing from the death penalty to life in prison wihtout parole in the killings of Summer McStay, Gianni McStay and Joseph McStay Jr. Michael McStay talks about how much he misses his brother Joseph McStay at Merritt's sentencing. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. 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. 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. The 58-year-old Merritt is. Never again will we hear their voices. #mcstay #nbc7 pic.twitter.com/CGQmypfaZb. The thing that is bringing you this solace, is ending my life. We're just the clowns," Imes said. Video recorded the evening of February 8, released on March 5, showed a family of four resembling the McStays crossing the border. Princess Diana's nieces Lady Eliza and Amelia share Do not sell or share my personal information. The 30 Best Shows on Netflix for Kids. His words were a precursor to the deep pain the rest of the McStay family's loved ones would share Tuesday in court. [6] Joseph owned and operated Earth Inspired Products, a company that built decorative fountains, and Summer was a licensed real estate agent. She said it was not until six months later that she could bear to go out to the site, marked by four crosses. He was such a great guy and he got his share of female attention. But the details of this case go back decades and has many twists and turns. On the surface, while tragic, it may not seem all that crazy. Victorville, California CNN . Summer's sister stated that her passport was expired. The case has sparked endless speculation, with both the police and amateur sleuths coming up with countless theories, some plausible, some wild and outrageous. Then a few people started putting the idea in his head that maybe Summer was behind it. He asked for funds to keep the business going, and at that time I would do anything to help my son probably not in my right mind anyway at that time, she said. How to trick yourself slim: Top nutritionist reveals her tips including shrinking your cutlery, sniffing Meghan's (very expensive) date night look! Jurors in San Bernardino. Joseph McStay's mother Susan Blake addresses the court during the sentencing of Charles Chase Merritt on Jan. 21, 2020. They took none of their belongings, left $100,000 in the bank and even abandoned their beloved dogs. Obviously that was a real problem for Joseph and he used to talk to me about it regularly. "It's not just a Netflix documentary to us. Merritt lashed out at prosecutors he said framed him, some witnesses he accused of lying and the judge he said allowed it to happen. Joseph's father, Patrick McStay, told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. A neighbor's security camera was triggered at 7:47PM when the McStays . 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. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. At center is Erin McStay, Michaels wife. Tony Shin reports for NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2019. [32] On June 24, the jury recommended that Merritt be sentenced to death. It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering, said a soft-spoken Jonah McStay.