CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #20

[Karinna]

I've been reading about the Rhoden family and ïnterestingly," their dogs (pitbulls) were spared. That leads me to believe the killers were obviously known to the dogs, or they would've attacked. Being that the McStays also owned a couple of dogs, that didn't bark like crazy that night, I would say the same holds, true--the killer was known to the McStay family.

Yes i agree. I also think its a possibility he murdered them at their home, not even necessarily in the house either. If he subdued the victims in whatever way he did that, with a weapon?, then if he had premeditated these murders, he could of even killed them in the garage with tarps? That way there would be no blood evidence left behind. He could of even lined the back of his vehicle with one, so again no evidence there either.
I base that theory on the fact of the shop towels which were in the McStay garage, and a white shop towel in the grave with the blue painters tape.
(quote)
There was a blue painter’s tape that was in the white shop towel, in the grave. That white shop towel was consistent with the roll of shop towels that was found in the garage.
Excerpt from Prelim. Pgs 47 – 49 (Detective Joseph Steers)

 

[Niner]

Oh Good!
La2Cabo and Frankie Hellis will be reporting!!

I think the Judge will allow each side 2 hours for closing....

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, May 28th:
*Trial continues (Day 56) (@ 9am PT) - CA - McStay Family: Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4) & Joey Jr (3) (Feb. 4, 2010, Fallbrook; found Nov. 11, 2013) - *Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt aka Charles Ray Mandel aka Charles Ray Morritt aka Chase Meredith aka Chase Jarvis (57/now 62) arrested (11/5/14) & indicted (11/7/14) of 4 counts of murder with special circumstance; plead not guilty. DP case.
Trial started 1/7/19. Dark on all Fridays. 7 women & 4 men & 1 ? (alternates include 4 men & 2 women-minus one).
Trial Days (1-55: 1/7/19 thru 5/23/19) reference post #32 here:
CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #20
5/28/19 Day 56: Closing Arguments!!! Finally!!
Tentative Schedule for week of May 27th thru May 31st: NO court-Memorial Day Holiday: May 27th (Monday). May 28th (Tuesday)-Closing Arguments, May 29th (Wednesday)-Jury deliberates, May 30th (Thursday)-Jury deliberates or Verdict? Dark on May 31st (Friday).



@Tricia - when you make a new thread - could you please move this over there? TIA!

 

[Tricia]

Hey Everyone,
We are on Verdict Watch.
Thank you for the recap Niner. Your post is on the new verdict watch thread
Please continue your discussion RIGHT HERE

 

[Tricia]

Caitlin Rother has a new book out about the McStay's. We are interviewing her tonight at l0:30 PM Eastern on Websleuths YouTube LIVE. The book is called "Down to the Bone: A Missing Family's Murder and Elusive Quest for Justice.

 

[Force Ten]

DOWN TO THE BONE—Caitlin Rother

Podcast Episode · True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers · 06/23/2025 · 57m

podcasts.apple.com

 

[katydid23]

DOWN TO THE BONE—Caitlin Rother

Podcast Episode · True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers · 06/23/2025 · 57m

podcasts.apple.com

Is this a good podcast? Does she know what she's talking about?

 

[Mind your biscuits]

I think Chase is exactly where he needs to be. Moo.

 

[Force Ten]

Is this a good podcast? Does she know what she's talking about?

She is pretty much down the middle but she sort of favors Chase. Or at least some the questionable dealings of Kavanaugh. She’s wrong about many things though, saying that they were quick to arrest Chase after a year of investigation. A year is actually a long time considering the investigation from the 3 prior years to them being discovered AND the enormous amount of detectives on the case. I feel like she glossed over a lot but I’m sure the book tells more.

The podcast is descent, though the recording is subpar. Yet it is the very first ever True Crime podcast.

 

[Force Ten]

I think Chase is exactly where he needs to be. Moo.

100% agree.

 

[fridaybaker]

She is pretty much down the middle but she sort of favors Chase. Or at least some the questionable dealings of Kavanaugh. She’s wrong about many things though, saying that they were quick to arrest Chase after a year of investigation. A year is actually a long time considering the investigation from the 3 prior years to them being discovered AND the enormous amount of detectives on the case. I feel like she glossed over a lot but I’m sure the book tells more.

The podcast is descent, though the recording is subpar. Yet it is the very first ever True Crime podcast.

I've never understood this line of thought, although we've heard it many times. They focused on Chase early on, failed to consider Kavanaugh or Mike, etc. But LE did look at the pieces of information or aspects of the case that fit those two and likely others (I can't remember now who those may be now). Yes, there were things that made you go "hmmm...". One I remember is simply Mike's terminology about two crosses and two shallow graves or something to that effect. However, there are many cases where many people have bits or pieces that seem to fit -until they don't. Those pieces either stand alone, or they stand with few other pieces of information.

To find the guilty party, the "pieces" have to line up. Be cohesive. Chase's actions and all the bits of information about him were consistent and formed a whole picture. When you put together all of his actions, the cell phone info, etc., it was easy to connect the dots. And there's the underlying "story" that makes it all make sense.

 

[fridaybaker]

By story, I mean Joey's problems with Chase, Chase's history, etc.