CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #3

[Edmo]

Exactly. At that time in California 3 strikes mean a very long prison term. Excellent point. I hope the prosecutors catch this one. Very big deal imo.

3 strikes sentence was an AUTOMATIC 25 to life sentence.

 

[thelmadawg]

So then I wonder why he says in his interview that Joey would never take the kids there. I think he maintained that over the years, didn't he? He said that it was NOT them on the Mexico video too. I don't understand the logic of that if he was the one that did the search on the computer. JMO

Either Summer or Joey might have searched for passports for a possible future trip to Cabo San Lucas. This was a place they had been before, I believe, at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. I think we even saw some photos early on taken there. Great surfing close by and a beautiful place to visit apparently.

 

[Force Ten]

Can anyone direct me to where it is in the video where Merritt appears shaken up? I watched the testimony of the pants first being shown and the camera doesn't show Merritt until 20 minutes later and he looks cool as a cucumber.

 

[missy1974]

Can anyone direct me to where it is in the video where Merritt appears shaken up? I watched the testimony of the pants first being shown and the camera doesn't show Merritt until 20 minutes later and he looks cool as a cucumber.

1:12:20 is where the witness says the stain on the pants were consistent with bleach, and the defense objects.

1:13:58 is when they pan to the defense table because they are allowing the jury to physically look at the bra in the envelope because it wasn't showing up on the screen well.

JMO He doesn't seem shaken up. We don't have much to compare it with since we don't have a cam on the table all the time. And it looked like Maline had his panties in a knot first and was talking to McGee, which makes sense since McGee did the cross. Watching this again, the prosecutor also asks her if it's the kind of staining she has seen before due to decomposition... makes me think the defense must have a witness that will testify about this (and they have read the report already) and they knew the question of bleach/no bleach was coming?

 

[citygirl]

JMO[/QUOTE[/QUOTE]

1:12:20 is where the witness says the stain on the pants were consistent with bleach, and the defense objects.

1:13:58 is when they pan to the defense table because they are allowing the jury to physically look at the bra in the envelope because it wasn't showing up on the screen well.

JMO He doesn't seem shaken up. We don't have much to compare it with since we don't have a cam on the table all the time. And it looked like Maline had his panties in a knot first and was talking to McGee, which makes sense since McGee did the cross. Watching this again, the prosecutor also asks her if it's the kind of staining she has seen before due to decomposition... makes me think the defense must have a witness that will testify about this (and they have read the report already) and they knew the question of bleach/no bleach was coming?

We need a lip reader.

 

[ehenson88]

Can anyone direct me to where it is in the video where Merritt appears shaken up? I watched the testimony of the pants first being shown and the camera doesn't show Merritt until 20 minutes later and he looks cool as a cucumber.

Start at 1:16 of the video. Around 1:16:45, he physically kind of jumps with his face like something his attorney told him just shocked him. Then he turns red and sort of looks embarrassed or guilty for a flash second.

 

[missy1974]

Start at 1:16 of the video. Around 1:16:45, he physically kind of jumps with his face like something his attorney told him just shocked him. Then he turns red and sort of looks embarrassed or guilty for a flash second.

Funny how we see things differently lol I guess that's why they have 12 jurors and not just 1 ;-)

I wish we did get to see him more, have a little Chase cam in the corner or something lol

 

[ehenson88]

JMO[/QUOTE

We need a lip reader.[/QUOTE]
FWIW I think he said around the 1:15 mark to the guy behind him something like "they think it's bleach" either way the last word seems clearly to be bleach. And that's what maline seemed to have his panties in a twist about during his cross. I wonder why that's such a big deal? It's not like bleach would be the only thing linking them to the home. There are towels, victims without shoes, possible futon cover, oh and the backpack with the children's spoon in it! My theory after seeing summers bra and sweatpants is she was attacked while she was cleaning out a paint tray, probably in the downstairs shower area. The surprise caused her to splash paint on her bra and she likely wound up deceased in the shower. The bra may have been cut off and she was stripped down to avoid transferring paint onto the carpet or elsewhere I think he used the plastic storage bins from the master closet (that were holding clothes) to transport the three of them. Joseph was the only one too large to fit in something like that hence the makeshift blanket and ratchet strap handles etc. .. As for why not bury them in the bins, much bulkier and deeper a grave to be dug.

 

[KALI]

Sigh. I just hope the prosecutors and law enforcement have their ducks in a row and Chase Merritt is going to pay for what he allegedly did to this beautiful family and their loving friends.
Don't mess it up prosecutors!!!!

This is a horrible, horrible crime that never should have happened. Two little baby boys bludgeoned to death? Who the heck does that over money?
I really hate the murderer of this family. Plus it brings me great sadness to know how they likely died. Sad that our world can have normal looking evil walking and working amongst us. I don't even know if there is a lesson to be learned here.
How can you prepare for evil like this?

 

[Force Ten]

1:12:20 is where the witness says the stain on the pants were consistent with bleach, and the defense objects.

1:13:58 is when they pan to the defense table because they are allowing the jury to physically look at the bra in the envelope because it wasn't showing up on the screen well.

JMO He doesn't seem shaken up. We don't have much to compare it with since we don't have a cam on the table all the time. And it looked like Maline had his panties in a knot first and was talking to McGee, which makes sense since McGee did the cross. Watching this again, the prosecutor also asks her if it's the kind of staining she has seen before due to decomposition... makes me think the defense must have a witness that will testify about this (and they have read the report already) and they knew the question of bleach/no bleach was coming?

Thanks. I do remember watching that now. I don't know what to make of Merritt's expressions. To me he doesn't look nervous or shocked, more like dumbfounded, as if someone just told him his DNA is somewhere it shouldn't be. Maline looked pissed though talking to Mcgee. Then at the end had "Just ridiculous" as an expression on his face.

 

[missy1974]

Thanks. I do remember watching that now. I don't know what to make of Merritt's expressions. To me he doesn't look nervous or shocked, more like dumbfounded, as if someone just told him his DNA is somewhere it shouldn't be. Maline looked pissed though talking to Mcgee. Then at the end had "ridiculous" as an expression on his face.

It really didn't seem that out of the ordinary. They were pissed that that the judge allowed her to say it was "consistent with bleach". I am not sure if that's in the video though? I didn't see it, and I don't think I'm crazy that they said something outside of the jury? maybe right before the break.

 

[HelenK]

Sigh. I just hope the prosecutors and law enforcement have their ducks in a row and Chase Merritt is going to pay for what he allegedly did to this beautiful family and their loving friends.
Don't mess it up prosecutors!!!!

This is a horrible, horrible crime that never should have happened. Two little baby boys bludgeoned to death? Who the heck does that over money?
I really hate the murderer of this family. Plus it brings me great sadness to know how they likely died. Sad that our world can have normal looking evil walking and working amongst us. I don't even know if there is a lesson to be learned here.
How can you prepare for evil like this?

You don't. Because it's impossible to do so.

 

[citygirl]

Thanks. I do remember watching that now. I don't know what to make of Merritt's expressions. To me he doesn't look nervous or shocked, more like dumbfounded, as if someone just told him his DNA is somewhere it shouldn't be. Maline looked pissed though talking to Mcgee. Then at the end had "Just ridiculous" as an expression on his face.

Yes. Dumbfounded. Almost deflated. A tad panicky, IMO.

 

[Tssiemer]

I see Merritt’s expression as “no no no that’s not what happened!” He’s frustrated they are getting it wrong? Angry almost. IMO.

 

[shorty42404]

Wow. I remember their bodies were found, but I never checked back here until recently because of another case. Crazy! It’s interesting that there is unidentified dna at the gravesites though. Did someone (Meritt?) hire hit people? Hard to believe only 1 person involved. It’s hard to look at the news because of the details coming out, especially since little people were involved... can’t stomach it. I hope and pray the truth is known and justice served here.

 

[ThorJanus]

Please forgive me for my long absence. I have been going over my notes about the spoiler Mr. Daugherty mentioned near the opening of this trial about the Isuzu trooper shown in the video footage as leaving the the house due to the absence of tailpipe. I have heard so many different theories over the last 8 years. The prosecution is showing that the trooper drove away from the home sometime between 8-9 pm on the night of Feb. 4. 2010. I am so confused over this, can anyone out there confirm or deny this?

 

[Timekeeper65]

Welcome Thor Janus!!

 

[MsFacetious]

Please forgive me for my long absence. I have been going over my notes about the spoiler Mr. Daugherty mentioned near the opening of this trial about the Isuzu trooper shown in the video footage as leaving the the house due to the absence of tailpipe. I have heard so many different theories over the last 8 years. The prosecution is showing that the trooper drove away from the home sometime between 8-9 pm on the night of Feb. 4. 2010. I am so confused over this, can anyone out there confirm or deny this?

Were they talking about the trooper or the suspects truck? I thought it was the truck but I'm sure someone else will have a definite answer for you.

 

[ehenson88]

I was born and raised in S. Calif but moved up north 2 years ago. While in Riverside visiting my sister I was able to attend day 9 of the trial. That's when John Sequeida finished his testimony, John Bluth (the guy who found the skull), and Sgts Avila and Hart testified. There may have been 1 or 2 others but I can't remember off the top of my head.

It was surreal. Notes: Chase's oldest daughter was there but that was the only family member there that I noticed. I couldn't really see the jury box, but had a good view of some of the alternates. One guy in the alternate box kept his eye on CM the whole time.

I was surprised at how small the courtroom is.
1 1/2 hours for lunch is way to long.

JMO

What was your feel on the jury. More men/women? Younger/older? Did they seem engaged or bored? TIA!

 

[mrjitty]

Can we not speculate on here?

Until I see concrete evidence I still am not convinced Joey made it home. He didn’t answer Summers phone calls and instead listened to voice mails but oddly didn’t call her back. He also listened to previous voice mails he had already listened to earlier in the day.

So I am allowed to voice my opinion and say something doesn’t add up to me . If you don’t like my train of thoughts then please ignore them. My feelings won’t be hurt.

Sorry - i did not mean to imply we should limit discussion of the case!

I meant only that the most obvious interpretation of the phone evidence is that each man still had his own phone at 5:47pm

Of course it is possible Joey was lured away from lunch (if it ever happened) but as far as I can see there are no facts in evidence to support this.