What Happened To The McStay Family? McStay Family Documentary
by Samina
Updated Feb 24, 2023
Who Is The McStay Family?
The McStay family was a family of four who resided in Fallbrook, California. The family consisted of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer McStay, and their two young children, Gianni and Joseph Jr.
Joseph McStay was a successful businessman who owned a company that designed and installed custom water features, while his wife Summer was a stay-at-home mom. They were known for being a close-knit and loving family who enjoyed spending time together.
What Happened To The McStay Family?
The McStay family was a family of four from Fallbrook, California, consisting of Joseph McStay, his wife Summer McStay, and their two young children, Gianni and Joseph Jr. They disappeared without a trace in February 2010.
For several years, the case remained a mystery, with no leads or suspects in the family's disappearance. In 2013, the family's remains were discovered buried in shallow graves in the desert outside of Victorville, California, about 100 miles from their home. It was determined that they had been killed by blunt force trauma to the head.
McStay Family Documentary
There have been several documentaries made about the McStay family and their tragic disappearance and murder.
One of the most well-known documentaries is "The McStay Family Tragedy", which was produced by Investigation Discovery and originally aired in 2015. The documentary explores the family's disappearance, the subsequent investigation, and the eventual arrest and conviction of Charles "Chase" Merritt.
Another documentary, "The Lost McStay Family", was released in 2018 and focuses on the family's life before their disappearance, as well as the investigation into their case.
Additionally, there have been numerous news segments and true crime podcasts that have covered the McStay family case over the years, highlighting the family's story and the impact their tragedy had on their community.
Why Did Charles Merritt Kill The McStay Family?
Charles "Chase" Merritt was convicted of killing the McStay family in February 2010. According to the prosecution, Merritt killed the family as a result of a financial dispute he had with Joseph McStay, who was a business associate and friend of his.
At the time of the murders, Merritt owed Joseph McStay a significant amount of money, and the two had been in a heated argument over the debt. The prosecution argued that Merritt killed the family in order to cover up his financial crimes and avoid paying the money he owed to McStay.
Who Killed The McStay Family?
The evidence presented at trial included cell phone records, DNA evidence, and testimony from witnesses who had seen Merritt in the area where the McStay family was buried. Additionally, investigators found evidence that Merritt had used Joseph McStay's QuickBooks account after the family's disappearance, suggesting that he had taken over his business after killing him.
In 2019, Merritt was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The case shocked and saddened the local community, and it took years of investigation and forensic analysis to finally bring closure to the case and bring the perpetrator to justice.
What Happened To The McStay Family - FAQs
The McStay family went missing February 4, 2010 and nearly four years later, their skeletal remains were found in shallow graves in the desert. 10 years after their remains were found, Charles “Chase” Merritt was convicted of killing the family.
In 2010, Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons disappeared without a trace. Three years later, the nationwide search for answers in their disappearance came to a heartbreaking close when the family's bodies were found in the middle of the California desert in two shallow graves.
Charles “Chase” Merritt was sentenced to death Tuesday for killing the McStay family of Fallbrook.
The McStay Family Memorial is located in a very rural desert area directly north of the I-15 Stoddart Wells/Quary Rd exit. The memorial is located about 200 feet west of Quary road and requires visitors to leave their car at Quary Road and walk east to the actual location.
The evidence finally placing Merritt at the scene of the crime was his cellphone data, prosecutors said. On the day the McStays disappeared, Merritt's cellphone pinged off towers near the McStays' home in Fallbrook.