He is an actor and writer, known for doctor who 1963, coronation street 1960 and the avengers 1961. Jan 22, 2020 charles chase merritt, 62, was convicted in june of killing his former business associate joseph mcstay, 40, mcstays wife, summer, 43, and their two children, gianni, 4, and joseph jr. Merritt, 58, of homeland, faces the death penalty for the executionstyle beating deaths of joseph mcstay, 40. Man is sentenced to death for murdering family of four. They said charles merritt owed joe mcstay about 45k. Businessman killed the mcstay family with a sledgehammer and then buried them in a desert grave, prosecutors will claim. Charles chase merritt at an arraignment hearing on friday, nov. Man convicted of killing mcstay family sentenced to death. Charles merritt within four years of the mcstays disappearance, charles merritt, josephs business partner was finally arrested on suspicion of first degree murder in the deaths of all the family members.
Jan 21, 2020 charles chase merritt was convicted in june of killing his former business associate joseph mcstay, mcstays wife, summer, and their 4 and 3yearold sons, gianni and joseph jr. Merritt masqueraded as mcstay in try to commandeer account posted on february 8, 2019 by venturi in the fifth week of the charles merritt murder trial, the prosecution stole a march on the defense, presenting testimony prosecutors say shows the defendant masqueraded as the murder victim five days after he had killed him and his. Patrick mcstay official page for mcstays, taken too soon, a true story. Guilty chase merritt charged wmurder of joseph, summer. Man convicted of killing mcstay family sentenced to death the san.
Patrick mcstay says the last time he spoke with merritt was in january or february of this year when he called merritt after reading in the media that merritt was writing a book. Jun 11, 2019 the discovery of their bodies, however, silenced all the wild theories and finally charles chase merritt, the last man to see joseph mcstay alive, knew police were coming to see him. She attended northwestern university and the university of chicago. Lookup charles merritts family members, old roommates, friends and more instantly. Daugherty said cell phone records delineate contact between joseph mcstay and charles merritt during what would be the last days and hours of the mcstay familys lives, and that joseph mcstay had driven all the way from fallbrook to rancho cucamonga to confront merritt over his thefts on february 1, 2010. Man accused of killing the mcstay family will stand trial. Charles chase merritt was convicted in june of killing former business associate joseph mcstay, mcstays wife summer and their sons, gianni, 4. Nov 12, 2014 patrick mcstay says the last time he spoke with merritt was in january or february of this year when he called merritt after reading in the media that merritt was writing a book.
Margaret passed away in month 1971, at age 89 at death place. When i dedicated myself to this case, i never imagined the trial would take five months. Nine years after the mcstay family disappeared, their. In the book, i suggested that summer may have killed joey and fled to south america. What small time business owner continues to work with someone who racks up a 45k debt to them. Charles chase merritt, 58, has been accused of murdering his business partner, joseph mcstay, the mans wife and their two young sons. Look up facts like where charles merritt lives including full address history, public records, cell phone number, email address and more for free. California man found guilty of killing mcstay family charles ray merritt was found guilty june 10 of killing a california family of four and burying them in the mojave desert. Judge finds enough evidence for trial in mcstay homicides. In 2010, summer mcstay age 43 and her husband, joseph age 40, lived in fallbrook, california, with their sons gianni age 4 and joseph jr.
Ap many questions remain about the familys disappearance. Pro per is when a defendant acts as their own attorney. Read the truth about the mcstay murders as told by the family of joseph mcstay. Cbs 8ap on monday, a judge ordered charles chase merritt, who is accused of killing the mcstay family from fallbrook, to stand trial. Charles merritt prelim in mcstay family murder case moved. Lookup charles merritt s family members, old roommates, friends and more instantly. Mcstays taken too soon contains facts and evidence along with family information not seen on the tv programs or in newspaper and magazine articles.
On june 10, 2019, a san bernardino county jury found merritt guilty of murdering the mcstay family. Merritt, being the last person to have spoken to joseph mcstay, was always a person of interest to the police. Detectives analyzed the familys vehicle and collected dna swabs. The authorities did not reveal a motive for the mass murder. Charles chase merritt, 62, was convicted in june of killing his former business associate joseph mcstay, 40, mcstays wife, summer. Sheriff backs off decision to resume evictions on the books before. Nov 07, 2014 charles chase merritt, 57, of homeland was due in court later in the day to face four counts of murder in the deaths of joseph mcstay, 40, his wife, summer, 43, and their sons, 4yearold. Back in 2010, charles chase merritt was among the first to sound the alarm that. Charles chase merritt, left, pictured here on the first day of his murder trial, is accused of killing the mcstay family in 2010 and burying their bodies in the desert in victorville.
Charles chase merritt was convicted in june of killing his former business associate joseph mcstay, mcstays wife, summer, and their 4 and 3yearold sons, gianni and joseph jr. Joseph mcstay s mother susan blake center, and other members of the mcstay family leave the courthouse after merritt was found guilty. Lead defense attorney seeks withdrawal from case, delay of merritts sentencing by richard k. California man guilty of killing family of 4 found in desert. The 57yearold and joseph mcstay had been business partners. Jurors visit desert gravesite where remains of missing mcstay. On november 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested charles chase merritt, joseph mcstays business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders on february 4, 2010, at 7. Charles merritt arrested for murder of mcstay family. Mcstay family didnt stay safe in their own home killers.
Prosecutors say merritt killed the family with a sledgehammer at a time when he owed mcstay money and was being cut out of the victims business making and selling custom water fountains. 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. Jan 21, 2020 charles chase merritt was convicted in june of killing former business associate joseph mcstay, mcstay s wife summer and their sons, gianni, 4, and joseph jr, 3. Jan 07, 2019 now, 61yearold charles chase merritt is facing trial in the murder of joseph mcstay, mcstays wife summer, and their 3 and 4yearold boys. Michael mcstay, the brother of joseph mcstay and his mother susan blake enter the court monday through the throng of media before the start of the preliminary hearing for charles merritt in the. Joseph, summer, gianni and joseph jr mcstay were found dead last year. It will consist of 5 different skill games such as crosswords. Mcstay family murder suspect charles chase merritt gets. Jun 10, 2019 the mcstay family vanished suddenly in 2010, with bowls of popcorn left uneaten in their house and no sign an attacker forced their way inside. Two graduate degrees and seven jobs later, she finally figured out what she wants to be when she grows up. California man found guilty of killing mcstay family the. Prosecutors said merritt killed the family with a sledgehammer at a time when he owed mcstay money and was being cut out of the victims business making and selling custom water fountains the. A whole family vanished on february 4, 2010 from their home in fallbrook, ca. Charles merritt murder mcstay family random topics.
Moments before learning his fate, charles chase merritt, 62, tearfully told the judge he was innocent in the 2010 killings of business associate joseph mcstay, 40, wife summer mcstay, 43. Charles merritt, 57, has been arrested over murder of four family members. The discovery of their bodies, however, silenced all the wild theories and finally charles chase merritt, the last man to see joseph mcstay alive, knew police were coming to. Michael mcstay, the brother of joseph mcstay and his mother susan blake enter the court monday through the throng of media before the start of. Now, a jury has reached a verdict in the murder case. Cecil merritt, royal military college of canada cadet. Charles merritt, california man, accused in deaths of mcstay. Mcstay s taken too soon contains facts and evidence along with family information not seen on the tv programs or in newspaper and magazine articles. Charles chase merritt during closing arguments in his murder trial.
Charles chase merritt, left, reacts after being found guilty of four counts of firstdegree murder of the mcstay family, in san bernardino superior court. Charles merritt gets death penalty for killing mcstay family. Man convicted of killing family, burying all 4 in desert. Charles chase merritt, 57, of homeland was due in court later in the day to face four counts of murder in the deaths of joseph mcstay, 40. True crime author believes merritt is guilty of mcstay. Evidence against mcstay family murder suspect charles. A southern california man was convicted monday of bludgeoning a couple and their two little boys to death, then burying their bodies in a remote desert area where the crime. The mcstays were an american family found murdered in the desert near victorville, california. Patrick went on record saying he trusted merritt, but that was apparently all a ruse, to gain his trust and assist law enforcement. Kenneth aranda from hawaii via skype summers brother. The attorney for mcstay family murder suspect charles chase merritt told a san bernardino superior court judge friday he cannot begin trial until he finishes defending another client in a public corruption case, scheduled to begin oct. Find any and all information about charles merritt.
Radio host rick baker published a book, no goodbyes. Charles cecil ingersoll merritt vc, ed 10 november 1908 12 july 2000 was a canadian recipient of the victoria cross and member of parliament. Feb 03, 2019 charles chase merritt, left, pictured here on the first day of his murder trial, is accused of killing the mcstay family in 2010 and burying their bodies in the desert in victorville. Chase merritt found guilty in mcstay family murders the san diego. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mcstays, taken too soon.
Susan blake, center, mother of joseph mcstay, addresses court prior to the sentencing of charles chase merritt. Moriah mcstay grew up in memphis, tn, where she acquired a comeandgo drawl and a lifelong love of cowboy boots and fried pickles. Chase merritt trial in horrific mcstay family murder case. True crime author jd crighton couldnt have known how long it would take for the state of california to attempt to prove that charles chase merritt is guilty of murdering the mcstay family.
Mar 04, 2016 pro per is when a defendant acts as their own attorney. Patrick identified merritt from the get go as being a suspect in his familys murders. After the mcstay family remains were discovered, i offered refunds to anyone who had purchased no goodbyes. Dec 31, 2019 on november 5, 2014, deputies with the san bernardino sheriffs office arrested charles chase merritt at his home in chatsworth, california for the murder of the mcstay family. Riverside man convicted in mcstay family murders kpbs. The trial began on january 7, 2019, in san bernardino, california. Mcstay family murder suspect charles chase merritt gets new.
Charles merritt, california man, accused in deaths of. Mike mcstay runs a site, where there are photos and videos of the family and occasional updates about sightings montana, indiana, baja. Jan 11, 2019 daugherty said cell phone records delineate contact between joseph mcstay and charles merritt during what would be the last days and hours of the mcstay familys lives, and that joseph mcstay had driven all the way from fallbrook to rancho cucamonga to confront merritt over his thefts on february 1, 2010. May 22, 2015 charles merritt s preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for tuesday but got pushed to friday because deputy district attorney sean daugherty was sick and merritt left his case files at the. The mysterious disappearance of the mcstay family rick baker on. Now, 61yearold charles chase merritt is facing trial in the murder of joseph mcstay, mcstays wife summer, and their 3 and 4yearold boys. 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. Evidence against mcstay family murder suspect charles merritt. Charles merritt, left, with his attorney, rajan maline, awaiting opening statements in his trial for the murder of joseph and summer mcstay and their two boys, gianni, 4, and joseph jr. On november 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested charles chase merritt, joseph mcstays business partner, and intended to charge him with the murders. Chase merritt found guilty of murdering mcstay family. True crime author believes merritt is guilty of mcstay murders. Members of the mcstay family wept, one wiping her eyes with a tissue. The mcstay family vanished suddenly in 2010, with bowls of popcorn left uneaten in their house and no sign an attacker forced their way inside.
Prosecution wants testimony from summers sister, tracy russell, who is currently on vacation in greece via skype tomorrow. Charles ray merritt has been named as the suspect in the murders of the mcstay family in the san diego area in 2010. Charles chase merritt is accused of bludgeoning the mcstay family and. Jurors visit desert gravesite where remains of missing. Joseph mcstays mother susan blake center, and other members of the mcstay family leave the courthouse after merritt was found guilty. California man guilty of killing family of 4 found in. How does this same master mind be stupid enough to start writing and cashing checks from the dead families accounts. Over 50,000 copies sold, only one wanted their money back. The 57yearold merritt planned to release a book later this year titled, afraid of the light, in which he claimed joseph mcstay had been. Charles merritt prelim in mcstay family murder case moved to. Charles merritt appears for closing arguments in the murder trial of the mcstay family of four at the san bernardino justice center in san bernardino, calif. Jun 10, 2019 prosecutors say merritt killed the family with a sledgehammer at a time when he owed mcstay money and was being cut out of the victims business making and selling custom water fountains. Margaret mcstay historical records and family trees.
Chase merritt, man accused of murdering mcstay family, was writing. Smith then set june 15 as the date of the preliminary hearing, which will determine if there is enough evidence that merritt killed four members of the mcstay family to hold him. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Oct 15, 2015 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. Charles chase merritt, 62, was sentenced to death tuesday for killing a family of four and burying their bodies in the california desert. On november 5, 2014, deputies with the san bernardino sheriffs office arrested charles chase merritt at his home in chatsworth, california for the murder of the mcstay family. He is an actor and writer, known for doctor who 1963, coronation street 1960 and. Mike mcstay runs a site, where there are photos and videos of the family and occasional updates about sightings montana, indiana, baja and other developments. Charles chase merritt, suspected of killing the mcstay family of four and burying their bodies in the high desert, appeared in san bernardino county superior court for a hearing thursday.
1153 1258 822 414 837 495 986 456 240 693 157 273 833 1330 829 800 1066 41 87 973 1015 835 276 762 1417 1480 209 423 319 81 751 825 1122 1113