We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The 58-year-old Merritt is. Unsealed warrants: Chase Merritt owed Joseph McStay $30k Authorities said they traced his cellphone to the gravesite area. Journal articles: 'Kirkland House (Cambridge, Mass.)' - Grafiati On Friday, he. Patrick McStay, Joseph's father, was informed of the discovery and phoned missing person advocate Jerrie Dean to tell her what he knew. 'And then as the days went by, you start thinking, "Okay, something's not right here." He said healing will be a lifelong thing for his family, but he knows they can do it together. McStay Family Update: Joseph McStay's father says he suspects three The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. How One Man's Greed Meant the End of the Entire McStay Family Court docs: Suspect in McStay murder case owed victim money - CBS News That family that went missing? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Ultimately, I hope to be a father and when I am, I will hold my children close," he continued. "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. But speaking on CNN in 2010 he said: 'My understanding was in the last year hed been having these vertigo type symptoms. We used to speak to each other 10 or 12 times almost every day and we would talk about absolutely everything. His son, Joseph, his daughter-in-law, Summer, and their two little boys, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 vanished. "We don't run this circus. They said McStay told friends Merritt was doing shoddy work and pilfering money from him. Voice shaking, it was Merrit's turn to speak to the courtroom and to the McStay family's loved ones. Ultimately, officials determined it was not the McStay family in that video. 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. She also touched on the media attention and pressures her family has coped with for years, including questions from strangers. They slept in the same bed, but were never intimate. Duchess dons $1,610 Carolina Herrera cape, $300 vegan leather Lovely in lilac! 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.'. The McStay family of Fallbrook was last heard from or seen on Feb. 4, 2010. He was a big part of my life and my familys life. Why? Imes asked, and Michael broke down on the witness stand. She said: 'My son had been sick since last August and hes normally a very healthy person. Charles Merritt was found guilty of murdering a family of four, and now the jury is recommending the death penalty. He went to the doctor a number of times, but they just didnt know what was wrong with him. Did you always look up to him Imes asked. I know you dont believe me and thats what kills me. When the bodies were found, he offered a refund to those who purchased his book before November 2013. During her morning testimony, Blake also described heated arguments between Merritt and Dan Kavanaugh, both business partners in McStays decorative fountain business. [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. All of the motions were denied. 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. Merritt is accused of killing his former business associate, Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their two small children on Feb. 4, 2010. 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. In the summer of 2021, shocking news rocked the state of South Carolina. "It is my deepest desire in my own life not to spread pain and suffering," said a. The judge has been speaking for the last hour - and still going, reviewing in slow, excruciating detail certain facts of the case. May 23, 2022 Investigation Discovery's ' Two Shallow Graves' follows the trial of Charles "Chase" Merritt, accused of murdering Joseph McStay and his family. And the fountain designer told MailOnline how Joseph once said to him, Maybe I should start eating out more and stop eating her food. Le 9 fvrier 2010, il avait envoy un courrier lectronique au pre de Joseph McStay, alertant de la disparition de son associ : Je n'ai pas de nouvelles de Joe. McStay Family Murders: Killer Sentenced to Death - Peoplemag He would often come up and visit me and we would go out for dinner with my wife at the time, but Summer never came. Three Weeks Later, Still No Sign of California's McStay Family ", Chase Merritt watching and listening. [9] In the surveillance recording, the vehicle's occupants could not be seen. I did not know any of that part, Blake said. [20] Although it is possible for a U.S. citizen to enter Mexico without a passport, one is required to reenter the United States. 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. De Atley is a Cal State Long Beach graduate with a double major in journalism and political science. 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. Why were they gone? 'Are you that family? Businessman Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two young sons -- Gianni 4, Joseph Jr. 3 -- were last heard from Feb. 4. The McStays, their two boys Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, vanished in 2010, leaving food on the table and a massive mystery. Inside the Gruesome McStay Family Murder Case - Peoplemag " Finally, Joseph McStay's only surviving son from a previous marriage, Jonah McStay, took. 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. Unconfirmed family sightings were reported in Mexico and elsewhere, perpetuating hopes that they were safe and had left voluntarily. Summer McStay's ex-husband spoke next. I don't think so, and I truly hope not. '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. (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. 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 After 4 Years Of Investigation, Authorities Say McStay - HuffPost 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. "The constant questions when we are out. 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!' (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Prosecutors are seeking the death. Joseph McStay's mother, Susan Blake, followed. NBC 7's Jackie Crea has more. Sentencing set Friday for man convicted of killing McStay family [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). I would have never raised my hand for a woman or child. 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. [2] In April 2013, the San Diego Sheriff's Department announced that they believed that the McStays traveled to Mexico voluntarily.[18]. His attorney also says Merritt himself will want to speak. After Joseph, along with his wife and kids, suddenly went missing in February 2010, the authorities didn't have many leads. 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.,. [10], Over the next several days, relatives of the McStays unsuccessfully tried to contact the family. As recently as April, the FBI believed the family went to Mexico voluntarily.