McStay Family Massacre

Written by: Kenzie Desrosiers

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On February 13, 2010, Michael McStay traveled to the home of his brother, Joseph, after several failed attempts to reach him. When he arrived at the home, he gained entry through an unlocked back window.

While the home was empty, Michael discovered Joseph’s two dogs in the backyard, rotting food on the counter and small bowls of popcorn left on the couch.

Two days later, Michael called the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department to report Joseph, 40, his wife Summer, 43, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr, 3, missing.

The SDCSD arrived at the home to conduct a welfare check but finding no signs of forced entry or foul play they left.

On February 19, police executed a search warrant on the home which found no evidence of a struggle; however, there was evidence that the McStay’s left in a hurry.

During their investigation, detectives learned that on February 8, the family’s white Isuzu Trooper was impounded after being found abandoned in a strip mall parking lot near the Mexico border. It is believed that the vehicle had been parked there earlier that evening. Police authorized a search warrant for the vehicle, during which they collected DNA and fingerprints.

Computer search history with searches like “What documents do children need for traveling to Mexico” further suggests that the family left on their own accord.

On the same day, detectives later discovered surveillance footage that captured a family of four matching the McStay’s crossing the Mexico border around 7 p.m.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators learned that Joseph’s business partner Charles “Chase” Merritt was the last person to see and talk to Joseph alive. On the morning of the disappearance, Joseph met Merritt at a “Chick-fil-a” restaurant to discuss business.

At 10:28PM, Joseph called Chase to discuss a fountain being fabricated for a company in Saudi Arabia. This was the last cell phone activity according to Joseph’s cell phone records.

Chase allegedly attempted to call Joseph several times in the following days to no avail. On either Feb 9 or 10, Merritt went to the McStay home but was unable to locate the family.

Nearly four years later, Joseph’s business associate, Charles “Chase” Merritt was arrested and charged with four counts of murder in the mcStay murders.

Nearly four years later, deputies respond to a call of possible human remains found in a desert area of Victorville by an off-road motorcyclist. Coroner Andy Avery identified a partial skull of a child and with the help of forensic anthropologist Dr. Alexis Gray, they discovered additional human remains in two shallow graves. Near the remains, detectives discovered a 3-pound sledgehammer.

The human remains were later identified as the McStays through dental records and DNA comparison.

The following day, Dr. C. Changsri conducted the autopsy of the McStay’s and determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death a homicide.

On February 20, 2014, DNA analysis results from McStay's vehicle were received. The analysis was compared against Merritt’s DNA that was collected during the investigation. It was a match. The DNA swabs matching Chase were collected from the steering wheel, 4x4 shifter, and radio/AC control panel.

During an interview on February 17, 2010, Chase claimed he rode in the passenger seat of McStay's vehicle and never drove it. Chase had a fresh injury to his hand, which he claimed happened when he cut his hand on sheet metal. He made several statements about Joseph in the past tense.

During an interview, Chase claimed that he did not like Summer. He also told investigators that he did no like Daniel kavanaugh. “If I were ever going to commit murder, it would be with him,” he said.

Chase and Daniel were partners in Joseph’s business, Earth Inspired Products. EIP was a water fountain design and distribution company. Chase was hired as a designer and builder of custom fountains and Daniel was in charge of e-commerce.

According to Daniel, Joseph lent Chase $30,000 to pay a gambling debt, which was supposed to be paid around the time of their disappearance. Daniel made additional claims that Joseph planned to fire Chase.

Chase told investigators that Daniel was responsible for the murders. However, it was later proven that he was in Hawaii. Chase even claimed that Joseph told him in confidence that Summer was poisoning him.

Furthermore, phone records show Chase in the area where the graves were located within days after the disappearance. Around this time, Chase was in contact with his girlfriend Catherine Jarvis. Cell phone records for Chase and Catherine would have conflicting information as to their whereabouts. The investigation would suggest a possible witness or suspect in the homicide.

On November 5, 2014, detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department arrested Chase in connection with the deaths of the McStay family. Chase was charged with four counts of murder. During the trial, investigators testified they believed the McStay Family was tortured prior to death. The skeletal remains of Joseph McStay were found with a cutoff extension cord wrapped around the neck, and the rest of the body wrapped in a white towel, all of it secured by a tie-down strap.

Chase, a serial gambler, murdered the McStay Family and then used Joseph’s quickbooks account to make payments to himself. Joseph’s account was accessed multiple times after the family’s disappearance. Between Feb 5-8, 2010, checks were printed from the account and endorsed to Chase.

The following day, Chase called Intuit claiming to be Joseph. The call lasted 100 minutes and consisted of Chase changing the phone number listed on the account to his own. Seven months later, Chase called again and requested the account be closed. Chase told investigators he had permission to access the account and admitted to signing three checks.

On June 10, 2019, Chase was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Six months later, the court upheld the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Chase to death. He waits on death row in San Quentin State Prison.

Joseph McStay leaves behind eldest son, Jonah, from a previous marriage. “Sometimes, just seeing another boy with their dad reminds me of the tremendous loss I have endured… I fight each and every day to mend the wounds left by someone who instead of healing, sought to destroy others, my family, for their own personal gain.”