CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #10

[Edmo]

ok, but they still have to have a reason, right? Is "because we think he did it" going to be a good enough reason?

There is a diff between Pros and Defense Atty. The Pros uses "warrants," whereas Defense Atty's use a "Court Order," in order to get one to comply with whatever the court order is for.

 

[Bernina]

At 1.26, Day 25 (towards the very end) the Judge reads portions from the transcript from the jail visit recording February 3rd and 8th between CM and JM. Interesting......CM was in the club house on the 4th (is he insinuating he left his phone in the condo?), "refreshing" CJ on his business w/JM, can't remember phone call at 8:26, told her he owed JM money but was going to make payments............audio is iffy, but if you're bored.

 

[HelenK]

Well now that you have posted this. Did you read about when he caught the cat by his tail and swung him around to the horror of his children? Can we post this stuff? If not the mods can delete it.

I know where it came from on the other forum. There is a lot more there about Chase Merritt from people who purportedly worked with and knew him, all seemingly legit. Whether it is verifiable is another question. FWIW, here is an upload from this forum of a post on an unknown site:



Again, mods, if this is not allowed, please delete it.

 

[Edmo]

@missy1974 In Calif, the word "shall" is mandatory, whether it's in a union clause, general orders or a court order. Whatever the reason, one can NOT object/not do what is ordered, if that makes sense?

Example: If the defense atty's get a "court order" that Missy SHALL wear a white shirt on such and such court day, Missy can NOT defy that request. Does that make sense? That is all I'm trying to say.

 

[katydid23]

If never accessed in the first place, I don’t know for sure, all I know is after listening the system would always ask if I wanted to save for 2 weeks or delete, if you didn’t respond it would automatically save for 2 weeks. There’s a lot of unanswered details and loose ends, this is what leads to and creates reasonable doubt.

I don't see how deleted emails create reasonable doubt about if Chase was the killer or not. ...?

 

[missy1974]

@missy1974 In Calif, the word "shall" is mandatory, whether it's in a union clause, general orders or a court order. Whatever the reason, one can NOT object/not do what is ordered, if that makes sense?

Example: If the defense atty's get a "court order" that Missy SHALL wear a white shirt on such and such court day, Missy can NOT defy that request. Does that make sense? That is all I'm trying to say.

I understand that. But they have to get a judge to sign something first, right?

 

[katydid23]

JMarsh asked for evidence that Chase had no boundaries (which could be used to support the claim that he murdered the family in the horrendous way), the replies first assume that Chase did murder the family, then use that assumption as if it's a fact to conclude that he had no boundaries--well, because he murdered them.

Evidence that he had no boundaries?

Look up his numerous business complaints in RIPOFF.com-----many many vociferous complaints of fraud, thievery, deceit, etc. That indicates a lack of boundaries when someone purposely defrauds a client, keeping their down payment and then ghosting them.

 

[Edmo]

I understand that. But they have to get a judge to sign something first, right?

Yes. W/o a Judges's signature, the "court order" is null and void. The Judge represents our Government in whatever case/civil that is being tried.

A defense atty can "petition the court" to get an order as well. Whether it's a DNA collection/comparison, or bank records etc.

 

[katydid23]

Also from article posted by @missy1974 :

"After the hearing, Maline reiterated that tests performed by the defense at the graves found none of Merritt’s DNA, but instead the DNA of three men and one woman. Maline said he hopes prosecutors will test Daniel Kavanaugh, a business associate of Joseph McStay, to see whether his DNA matches."

Jurors will hear tape of McStay murder defendant being quizzed by detectives – Press Enterprise

Why isn't the defense doing the swab and testing? Can't they get a "probable cause" warrant for DK's DNA? He's "their guy", seriously, what's the problem? All this "DK this", "DK that", "did you check DK", "where's DK's alibi", "did you look at DK's financials and phone records".

Come on, your office is going to throw this at the wall during opening statements and continually deflect the testimony with "DK" but you won't do the testing to make it stick?

I call "Red Herring".

And their prime witness was his girlfriend for 10 years off and on? Wouldn't she have something with his DNA on it?

 

[QueenBofOB]

Evidence that he had no boundaries?

Look up his numerous business complaints in RIPOFF.com-----many many vociferous complaints of fraud, thievery, deceit, etc. That indicates a lack of boundaries when someone purposely defrauds a client, keeping their down payment and then ghosting them.

Not paying taxes, delinquent on rent, bankruptcies, driving on a suspended license...

 

[katydid23]

Just stumbled across an old article I have never seen before:

McStay murder mystery: Who is Chase Merritt?


For the past three decades, Merritt has lived in and around Los Angeles and Victorville.

According to public records, Merritt once lived in Apple Valley, Calif., about 12 miles away from the site where the McStay family was found buried in shallow graves.

Merritt also used a mailing address in Oro Grande, Calif., according to a pair of 2011 traffic citations obtained by CBS News 8. The address listed on the traffic tickets is six miles away from the McStay grave sites.

And 35 years ago, Merritt was convicted of burglarizing a house located at 15854 Kewanee in Apple Valley, Calif., just five miles away from the McStay grave sites.

Despite the Victorville connection, Joseph McStay's father, Patrick McStay, told CBS News 8 that he has a hard time believing Merritt had anything to do with the murders.

"What does Chase have to gain with Joey gone? Chase isn't going to get the company," said Patrick McStay. "If you recall, Chase took a lie detector test and he passed."

Merritt claimed in his interview with Daily Mail that he agreed to a polygraph examination at the request of San Diego County Sheriff's Department detectives. He said he had passed the test in the early stages of the 2010 investigation, despite "a couple of inconsistencies."


Court records show Merritt is a two-time ex-con with a criminal history that includes burglary, grand theft, petty theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, and several arrest warrants.

 

[katydid23]

Merritt violated probation several times in subsequent years and failed to appear in court on numerous occasions, resulting in his probation period being extended and at least seven warrants being issued for his arrest between 2001 and 2010, the records showed.

His probation from the 2001 felony case ended on Sept. 14, 2010.

Merritt has also received several citations for driving on a suspended license, and appeared in Victorville traffic court as recently as July 2013.

None of Merritt's past crimes are violent in nature, as he pointed out in his interview with Daily Mail.

"Nine out of ten people on this planet have got some kind of criminal background," Merritt said to the tabloid.

"I am an old man. I got into trouble here and there when I was a kid, but I do not have some long criminal history, which is what people have tried to imply," he said.

Merritt has not been named by law enforcement as a suspect in the McStay murders, and Patrick McStay insisted his son trusted Merritt as a business partner.

"I have to have faith in Chase because I have to have faith in my son. I believe that (Joseph McStay) trusted Chase and believed in Chase," Patrick McStay said. "Do I think Chase is involved? I don't think so and I truly hope not."

 

[katydid23]

 

[katydid23]

link for above post:
Exhibits

 

[katydid23]

 

[mothwings]

Can someone fill me in on what the deal is with that blacklight on the counter? Are prosecutors hinting that this was left behind by Chase who would have cleaned-up after the murders and used it to check for any residual evidence of blood?

 

[dlk1949]

You would think. It appears the cops dropped the ball on multiple occasions, it seems they discounted the disappearance because JM was a surfer dude.

Texas Red, I agree and have thought the same for a long time, about the "surfer dude." IMO, the long hair on Joey, self-employed young guy must have taken off to Mexico! That photo taken of a family at the border thought to be the family? What a giant mistake.

 

[katydid23]

Not paying taxes, delinquent on rent, bankruptcies, driving on a suspended license...

YES^^^ to the above.

People are wondering about the possibility of Chase suddenly becoming violent. How could that happen to someone who seemingly ' is the least violent person in the world' according to Chases's own words.

But if you look at his life circumstances, he must have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and stress, financially, emotionally and psychologically.

He had a long criminal history, going back decades. And even though he has no convictions for violent actions, he is a thief and a deceitful con artist. He steals from innocent people including his own clients and business partners.

Here are a few descriptions from those who worked with him:


have just read a report about Charles Merritt, AKA Waterfalls by Chase and wanted everyone to know that I was also a victim of Charles Merritt. I hired him to do a custom water feature at a shopping center. He delivered some of the materials and disappeared with $31,000.00. I have been trying to reach him ever since. All phone numbers have been disconnected. Like Dan, from Newport Beach, I agree, Do Not Give Charles Merritt your money, he will take it and dissappear! The man is a FRAUD! He frequents Home and Garden Shows, so beware!

Natasha
Northridge, California
U.S.A.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Water...ritt-ripoff-Fraud-San-Dimas-California-171395


“He ripped a lot of people off. He lived in San Dimas, and at the time I left the business his family was living at the shop we worked at, and was squatting in some house in Rancho Cucamonga. He actually ripped off a few of his employees. He took taxes out of our checks but never reported it to the IRS. [As far as violence] He punched walls at both shops I worked at and would throw stuff, but not directed at anyone in particular. He told me a few violent stories that he said he went to jail for when he was younger. "
[ex-employee]
============================================================================

SO WE HAVE TO IMAGINE HOW STRESSED CHASE WAS FEELING IN 2009.

-He was in and out of jail for probation violations and suspended driving privileges.
-He had lawsuits piling up from angry customers, tax liens from bad business practices
-Debts owed that his current boss said he had overpaid him,
-AND he was actively gambling and losing a lot, every month.
-On top of that he has a young family, who need rent and food and utilities paid. And he was always behind.

-And then he begins writing himself checks from his boss's bank account.


I can easily see how he could implode and explode from the weight of it all. If Joey had confronted him at lunch, asking about the forged checks, and threatening to stop paying Chase any upcoming checks until the previous debts were cleared.....would Chase snap?

 

[katydid23]

Something I realized today, when thinking about the check that Joey might have seen, that was cashed by Chase on the 2nd. We were all wondering why Joey hadn't don't anything concrete in reaction.

But when you think about it, Joey didnt need to do anything at all, at that point. He did owe some cash to Chase at some future date for projects they had finished and were awaiting payment on.

SO all Joey had to do was deduct that check from the monies owed. No need to panic that that point.

And he could then change his password and look through his entire check stock and report any missing check numbers as stolen.

 

[coastal]

Also from article posted by @missy1974 :

"After the hearing, Maline reiterated that tests performed by the defense at the graves found none of Merritt’s DNA, but instead the DNA of three men and one woman...<<<snip

Snipped for focus. DNA of three men and one woman = 3 male McStays and Summer McStay?
Ooh, sneaky.