When a family of four vanished without a trace in 2010 months after moving into a new house in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, California, it looked like a missing-persons case. There were no bodies and no answers.
Three years later, in November 2013, a motorcyclist stumbled upon a skull in the Mojave Desert and called investigators who, soon after, uncovered two graves.
The McStay family had been found.
But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? Authorities think they’ve caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family has a theory about motive.
Three years later, in November 2013, a motorcyclist stumbled upon a skull in the Mojave Desert and called investigators who, soon after, uncovered two graves.
The McStay family had been found.
But what happened to Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife, Summer, and sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3? Authorities think they’ve caught the killer, who is awaiting trial, and the family has a theory about motive.
- 11/21/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
In 2010, a picture-perfect family of four vanished without a trace four months after moving into a new house in the San Diego suburb of Fallbrook, California.
Three years later, in November 2013, a motorcyclist stumbled upon a skull in the Mojave Desert and called investigators who — soon after — uncovered two shallow graves containing the remains of a man, a woman and two little boys.
The missing McStay family had been found.
The mystery of who killed them and why will be the focus of Monday night’s episode of People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery.
The disappearance of Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife,...
Three years later, in November 2013, a motorcyclist stumbled upon a skull in the Mojave Desert and called investigators who — soon after — uncovered two shallow graves containing the remains of a man, a woman and two little boys.
The missing McStay family had been found.
The mystery of who killed them and why will be the focus of Monday night’s episode of People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery.
The disappearance of Joseph McStay, 40, his 43-year-old wife,...
- 11/20/2017
- by Chris Harris
- PEOPLE.com
A man accused of slaughtering a California family of four appeared in court for the first time on Thursday as his own lawyer. Charles "Chase" Merritt was arrested last November and charged with four counts of murder in connection withthe deaths of Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph. The family mysteriously disappeared in 2010. Their bodies were found three years later in shallow graves in the California desert. Merritt, a former business associate of McStays, told the judge that the jail library is inadequate and "almost useless," according to U-t San Diego. Access to...
- 2/20/2015
- by Tara Fowler, @waterfowlerta
- PEOPLE.com
After Joseph McStay and his family went missing in February 2010, Joseph’s father, Patrick, wanted to speak to his friends - even if it meant possibly speaking to his son’s killer. He had a list of people he thought could have harmed his son and his family. One of the names was Charles "Chase" Merritt, 57, a business associate who worked with Joseph and helped with his decorative water sculpture company. "I didn't have proof and I didn't know it was definitely him," Patrick McStay tells People. "I had direct contact with him, so I had to try and keep...
- 11/13/2014
- by Elaine Aradillas, @elaineja
- PEOPLE.com
For nearly a year, Patrick McStay would receive calls from detectives at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, which was investigating the death of his son Joseph and his family who were found buried in the California desert. "They would call just to see how I was doing," he said. But last Wednesday's call was different. Detectives arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, a business associate of his son, and charged him with the deaths of Joseph McStay, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two children Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. About 20 minutes after the arrest, the detectives called Patrick with the news. "I...
- 11/9/2014
- by Elaine Aradillas, @elaineja
- PEOPLE.com
For nearly a year, Patrick McStay would receive calls from detectives at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, which was investigating the death of his son Joseph and his family who were found buried in the California desert. "They would call just to see how I was doing," he said. But last Wednesday's call was different. Detectives arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, a business associate of his son, and charged him with the deaths of Joseph McStay, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two children Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. About 20 minutes after the arrest, the detectives called Patrick with the news. "I...
- 11/9/2014
- by Elaine Aradillas, @elaineja
- PEOPLE.com
Charles “Chase” Merritt, a business partner and friend of Joseph McStay, has been arrested for murdering Joseph, his wife and his two young children.
Man Arrested For McStay Murders
Merritt, 57, was arrested Wednesday in Chatsworth, Calif., Detective Chris Fisher told CNN. He has been charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of married couple Joseph and Summer McStay and their two sons – Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. A motive for the murder has not been revealed.
San Bernadino County District Attorney Michael Ramos has yet to announce whether or not he’ll seek the death penalty for Merritt, calling Merritt’s act a "cold and callous murder of an entire family."
The McStays went missing from their San Diego home in 2010. Their remains were discovered off Interstate 15 in San Bernadino County in two shallow graves and were identified via dental records. The cause of death was determined to be “blunt force trauma,...
Man Arrested For McStay Murders
Merritt, 57, was arrested Wednesday in Chatsworth, Calif., Detective Chris Fisher told CNN. He has been charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of married couple Joseph and Summer McStay and their two sons – Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3. A motive for the murder has not been revealed.
San Bernadino County District Attorney Michael Ramos has yet to announce whether or not he’ll seek the death penalty for Merritt, calling Merritt’s act a "cold and callous murder of an entire family."
The McStays went missing from their San Diego home in 2010. Their remains were discovered off Interstate 15 in San Bernadino County in two shallow graves and were identified via dental records. The cause of death was determined to be “blunt force trauma,...
- 11/7/2014
- Uinterview
A memorial was held for the McStay family on Saturday that culminated in a paddle-out off the coast near San Clemente, Calif., pier, where the family had lived shortly before their deaths.
McStay Family Memorial
The memorial service was held for all four members of the McStay family, Joseph, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3. The entire family disappeared mysteriously in 2010, and it was believed that they had fled to Mexico until their remains were discovered in the Mojave Dessert on Nov. 13, 2013.
Michael McStay, Joseph's brother, along with three other loved ones, wore white lays as they paddled out onto the water after the service to honor each member of the deceased McStay family. They were accompanied by about 10 other surfers, and other mourners looked on from the pier.
“It’s definitely important for the family. This is something that they loved to do, so...
McStay Family Memorial
The memorial service was held for all four members of the McStay family, Joseph, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two children, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3. The entire family disappeared mysteriously in 2010, and it was believed that they had fled to Mexico until their remains were discovered in the Mojave Dessert on Nov. 13, 2013.
Michael McStay, Joseph's brother, along with three other loved ones, wore white lays as they paddled out onto the water after the service to honor each member of the deceased McStay family. They were accompanied by about 10 other surfers, and other mourners looked on from the pier.
“It’s definitely important for the family. This is something that they loved to do, so...
- 1/7/2014
- Uinterview
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. 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." 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. "My fear is that I'm looking for two adult shallow graves and ... my two nephews' crosses,...
- 11/25/2013
- by Howard Breuer
- PEOPLE.com
Four skeletons found in shallow graves in the Southern California desert are believed to be those of a San Diego County family that vanished three years ago, police said Friday, resolving one mystery and raising a host of new questions about what happened to the seemingly happy couple and their two young sons. The McStay family - Joseph, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3 - were apparent homicide victims, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said. Police now will try to piece together what led the McStays to disappear and end up 100 miles from their home,...
- 11/17/2013
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
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