CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #13

[Karinna]

Right, which would make that last unanswered call 'memorable' and a reason for Cathy to recall it. Especially in the immediate days afterwards. IMO

But why would CM & CJ have an ongoing argument about it over a few days just after the supposed call?
IMO because it had to do more with money than being concerned that Merritt didn't answer JM's call. Why turn a molehill into a mountain over a call that wasn't answered, heck he could of called Joey the next morning on the 5th.
Obviously it wasn't urgent if JM didn't call him back again that night.
What was the big deal about it on the 4th.?

 

[Karinna]

This is not testimony from the trial.

Oh you didn't specify the trial and didn't know that's what you meant.
Was it mentioned in the prosecutions or defense's OS?

 

[missy1974]

But why would CM & CJ have an ongoing argument about it over a few days just after the supposed call?
IMO because it had to do more with money than being concerned that Merritt didn't answer JM's call. Why turn a molehill into a mountain over a call that wasn't answered, heck he could of called Joey the next morning on the 5th.
Obviously it wasn't urgent if JM didn't call him back again that night.
What was the big deal about it on the 4th.?

As TJ put it... it was part of the conversation in the following days. I don't think it was an ongoing argument. JMO

 

[missy1974]

Oh you didn't specify the trial and didn't know that's what you meant.
Was it mentioned in the prosecutions or defense's OS?

It's the only testimony we have that matters at this point. In the preliminary hearing, you will notice that Merritt's lawyers didn't even ask any questions and/or put any witnesses on the stand.

 

[cobalt sky]

True. But if one of those addicted gamblers begins stealing blank checks from his boss, and then hacks into his boba's Book account and creates checks to himself, and deletes them, then CASHES THEM, by forging the bosses signature------Would that increase the possibility that the gambler might feel cornered and agitated and possibly it could end in violence?

"his boba's Book account" that made me lol

But regarding your bolded areas, yes it is possible, however we don't have any solid evidence that Chase felt cornered or agitated, or that there was any problem at all between the two of them. I don't know that it can be proven that Joey was even aware of the missing money at that point. I really wish he had told someone, or that there was a record at the bank...something to conclusively tell us that there was any issue at all between the two. Again, not saying the theory isn't correct, I just don't think it has been proven. IMO.

 

[Karinna]

It's the only testimony we have that matters at this point. In the preliminary hearing, you will notice that Merritt's lawyers didn't even ask any questions and/or put any witnesses on the stand.

Maybe the Prosecution is saving that humdinger about Merritt's heart condition and digging in the desert for their closing statetements?

 

[Karinna]

As TJ put it... it was part of the conversation in the following days. I don't think it was an ongoing argument. JMO

Didn't she say her parents were having a disagreement about it?

 

[Tortoise]

Oh you didn't specify the trial and didn't know that's what you meant.
Was it mentioned in the prosecutions or defense's OS?

They played his interview with detectives during the trial, and he told them he'd had a heart attack.

Susan Heckaman of Geis Companies also testified that Chase said he was in the hospital for a couple of weeks when they were trying to get their fountains.

 

[cobalt sky]

According to Chase, there was some form of VM left though. At the time, he told a Mcstay family member that he could hear restaurant sounds in the background. I wonder if there is a record of it actually going to VM.

BBM - That's what really annoys me about this case. This far in, we shouldn't even have to be asking questions like this. The details of key pieces of evidence like this should have been made crystal clear by the prosecution by now. But it seems that there are many facets of the state's case that are still hazy. Whether that's due to incompetence or by design is the question imo.

As for the restaurant sounds, did Chase actually say that? Or was it another "mistake" by the family member, like the McStay family was seen on the Michely video all getting into the Trooper and leaving?

 

[itsbrookie]

Is this case well known in the UK? Canada? Other countries? (How many countries do members on this discussion represent?)

I'm from New Zealand, so it is known far and wide.

ETA: posted this before I read the replies and am happy and surprised to see that I'm not the only Kiwi, wow! the McStays matter to many people all over the world.

 

[Karinna]

They played his interview with detectives during the trial, and he told them he'd had a heart attack.

Susan Heckaman of Geis Companies also testified that Chase said he was in the hospital for a couple of weeks when they were trying to get their fountains.

Thanks for clarifying Tortoise.

 

[Karinna]

As TJ put it... it was part of the conversation in the following days. I don't think it was an ongoing argument. JMO

This from previous thread
Leticia Juarez‏ @ABC7Leticia
Rodriguez is asking Jarvis to identify in her trasnscript where she told detectives her parents argument over Merritt not picking up a call from McStay last through weekend. It’s not in the transcript.

 

[cobalt sky]

Here is some video footage of Taylor and Cathy testifying:

McStay murders: Defense for Merritt pokes holes in timeline of case

 

[Karinna]

BBM - That's what really annoys me about this case. This far in, we shouldn't even have to be asking questions like this. The details of key pieces of evidence like this should have been made crystal clear by the prosecution by now. But it seems that there are many facets of the state's case that are still hazy. Whether that's due to incompetence or by design is the question imo.

As for the restaurant sounds, did Chase actually say that? Or was it another "mistake" by the family member, like the McStay family was seen on the Michely video all getting into the Trooper and leaving?

I agree there is a lot of different info. on this case and can get confusing at times. But all in all i have gone back over some of the Prosecution OS and i think they laid it all out pretty well for the court. IMO.
As some have said it's not a real complex or difficult case if we go with Occam's razor.

 

[itsbrookie]

Here is some video footage of Taylor and Cathy testifying:

McStay murders: Defense for Merritt pokes holes in timeline of case

Thank you for that! It's helpful for me to be able to place a face to a voice when listening to audio. I so wish we had visuals for their entire testimony

 

[asyousay]

He called him ALL the time. It's not like he only called him here and there. I doubt it was the only time that Chase didn't answer and I doubt it would be the only time Joey didn't leave a message as well. JMO

Well as the phone call wasn’t received on Chase’s phone this is all redundant. You may wish to believe to the defense but there is way to much evidence pointing to his guilt for me to play the what if game.

 

[Karinna]

Well as the phone call wasn’t received on Chase’s phone this is all redundant. You may wish to believe to the defense but there is way to much evidence pointing to his guilt for me to play the what if game.

Agree, and this is what was stated in OS by the prosecution about what happened on the 4th. February.
At 8.28 pm Joseph’s cell phone record shows a call to the defendant, again during that time period when the defendant’s cell phone is off. The defendant’s cell phone does not register a call during that time period. Could be explained by quickly trying to call someone and hanging up before the connection is made from the closest tower to you to the closest tower to them, before that connection is made you’re calling then hanging up.
CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #2

 

[Karinna]

So from that statement JM calls CM
at 8:28pm. when CM's phone is off.
The defendant’s cell phone does not register a call during that time period.
So doesn't that mean it was a lie that anyone saw Merritt's phone ring and light up if the call doesn't register?

 

[citygirl]

So from that statement JM calls CM
at 8:28pm. when CM's phone is off.
The defendant’s cell phone does not register a call during that time period.
So doesn't that mean it was a lie that anyone saw Merritt's phone ring and light up if the call doesn't register?

Do you recall if we had cell phone pings on JM's 8:28 call that night?

 

[Karinna]

Do you recall if we had cell phone pings on JM's 8:28 call that night?

Sorry no, i don't know? Haven't followed the case as extensively as some of the other posters on here, just still learning and researching as i go,

 

[Karinna]

@asyousay, I found this article
(quote)
Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Kevin Boles testified Thursday, Feb. 21, that the cellphone belonging to Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt connected to a cellphone tower several times in the near vicinity to the high desert location that prosecutors said the bodies of a Fallbrook family of four were buried in shallow graves.

Boles' testimony focused on the movement of Merritt's and Joseph McStay's cell phones around the time of the family's disappearance.

Boles showed the alleged path that Merritt's phone took Feb. 4, first connecting with a cell tower at 9:36 a.m. and connecting with three different towers through 9:44 a.m., allegedly heading north on Interstate 15. From 5:48 p.m. to 9:32 p.m. that same day, Boles testified that phone calls to Merritt's phone appeared to be sent directly to voicemail.

According to the phone records, Merritt's phone connects again for the first time in the Upland area, then later in the Los Angeles area, finally back to the Rancho Cucamonga area and again there is no call activity from 3:54 p.m. to 9:17 p.m. when the phone pings near Limonite Road near I-15.
Boles said Merritt's phone pings at 10:46 a.m., Feb. 6, near the intersection of Mojave Drive and Interstate 15 near Victorville and hits on a cell tower from 11:30 to 11:52 a.m. and later at 1:30 p.m. in the same area that prosecutors said the family was buried.

After court was dismissed for the weekend, testimony resumed Monday, Feb. 25, with only an hour of testimony recapping his earlier report.
FBI agent testifies on Merritt, McStay cellphone locations