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

[Plumeria5]

First, where can you watch replays of today's trial. And secondly, how was the relationship between Summer and MM. Someone commented quite a ways back about it and I was unsure if they meant they got along or didn't. I really liked MM though. He came across as very sincere.

 

[Texas Red]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Charles-Merritt-McStay-Family-Murders-Search-Warrants-Unsealed-311271261.html?amp=y

My apologies as I was incorrectly posting that CM stated he had never been in the Trooper. It’s been 9 years so difficult to remember the details precisely. CM is lying and as I said his DNA was all over the interior, in a manner only consistent with driving. Time will tell but I stand by my opinion that he drive the Trooper despite his denial.

CM better hope that someone like you didn’t slip through the cracks in the jury selection process.

 

[mom2chloe]

Yes, I believe, IIRC, that his attorneys showed a diagram explaining how his DNA was distributed to the steering wheel---he shook hands with Joey, then Joey opened the car and touched the steering wheel---VOILA---DNA Redistributed

So he also shifted gears, changed the radio station and adjusted the AC control and all that DNA was just consistent with shaking Joey’s hand, all the while only being a passenger in the Trooper? The Defense is desperate! Thanks for sharing and please do not misconstrue my comment as bashing. I cannot believe their desperate attempts but I truly appreciate your input Katydid23!

 

[missy1974]

First, where can you watch replays of today's trial. And secondly, how was the relationship between Summer and MM. Someone commented quite a ways back about it and I was unsure if they meant they got along or didn't. I really liked MM though. He came across as very sincere.

McStay Family Murder Trial - YouTube

They will be there eventually, I don't see them yet. I was wanting to listen to some of the testimony again because I missed some.

 

[mom2chloe]

CM better hope that someone like you didn’t slip through the cracks in the jury selection process.

I didn’t make up the part where he initially denied ever being inside the Trooper, I promise! I just can’t access the information in a timely enough manner to suit you. Sorry!

 

[katydid23]

So he also shifted gears, changed the radio station and adjusted the AC control and all that DNA was just consistent with shaking Joey’s hand, all the while only being a passenger in the Trooper? The Defense is desperate! Thanks for sharing and please do not misconstrue my comment as bashing. I cannot believe their desperate attempts but I truly appreciate your input Katydid23!

Not at all. Thank you for the better description. I knew they made some kind of diagram/explanation but didnt pay attention...

 

[Texas Red]

I didn’t make up the part where he initially denied ever being inside the Trooper, I promise! I just can’t access the information in a timely enough manner to suit you. Sorry!

I don’t doubt what you’re saying, however, you must consider the source, it may have been gossip, rumor or someone intentionally spreading misinformation to promote an agenda. No matter where you heard it from it’s difficult to dismiss the testimony of a detective for the prosecution. He’s certainly not going to tell a lie that would benefit the defense. In order to seek the truth you must keep an open mind.

 

[missy1974]

So he also shifted gears, changed the radio station and adjusted the AC control and all that DNA was just consistent with shaking Joey’s hand, all the while only being a passenger in the Trooper? The Defense is desperate! Thanks for sharing and please do not misconstrue my comment as bashing. I cannot believe their desperate attempts but I truly appreciate your input Katydid23!

To be fair... the gear shift, heater/ac control's and console were all swabbed with the same swab. Which means they were not tested individually. There is no way to know where that trace DNA came from, the a/c control... the gear shift... the heater control. It also means we don't know if it was on all or just one area.

I had read that in the preliminary hearing testimony and I had to read it a few times before I got it. I am also listening to the OS's again lol I was trying to hear where they said there was DNA in the gravesites, I am on to the defense OS, still haven't found what I'm looking for, but I did just hear about the Trooper DNA again.

 

[katydid23]

That's correct, according to the OS, bodies, murder weapon and DNA, were found at the gravesite, with the DNA being present on some of the clothing items.

The OS is not 'evidence.' The judge will remind them of that.

Casey Anthony walked free because her jury accepted what Baez said in the OS 'as evidence' ---even though he never put forth any proof of such.

 

[MsFacetious]

It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer. - William Blackstone.

I know it's a difficult idea to accept when discussing the brutal murder of beautiful little boys... but it's true. Wrongful convictions are far too common and once they occur overturning them is unbelievably hard. There has to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Chase is indeed innocent until proven guilty. That being said, here is a video of his arrest. Look at him. Is this the demeanor of an innocent man being wrongly hauled off to jail?

Charles Chase Merritt Arrested

Actions speak louder than .................

It certainly could be.
I've seen innocent men wrongly hauled to jail that were crying, resisting, downright ANGRY, just in shock, disbelief, laughing in shock...
I see nothing in this video that says he's guilty at all.

I suspect he was aware he would be a suspect and is likely wondering if this is all a dream. I would imagine being arrested for 4 murders would be a bit tough to grasp in any situation. Even moreso if you were not guilty of it.

That is strange. I'm on the fence about CM being the killer. I don't want to see an innocent person go to prison.

No, definitely not. I could never convict in this case. I would have so many questions about whether there was further evidence that was destroyed. If they didn't notice spatter, what else did they miss? I just couldn't convict anyone in this case because of the lack of investigation.

In addition justice wouldn't be served for the McStays if the wrong person is convicted then obviously, the killer remains free. Whatever way this goes I believe you'll never be able to fell confident about the result, there are just too many potential suspects with very little hard evidence.

Absolutely and then when you add in the investigative screw ups... I honestly don't think there was enough here to bring this case to trial. However, I do have higher standards than the law requires. Which is why I don't work for a prosecutor!

Cathy Russon on Twitter
Cathy Russon‏ @cathyrusson 2m2 minutes ago
#McStay - On Feb 16 Susan Blake called DuGal to say she was at the house cleaning up and Mike had taken the computers. DuGal said that was disheartening. He told her to stop what she was doing and also have Mike return computers. Said he knew Susan was just trying to be good mom

I thought the cops told her she could clean?
If they were returning with a search warrant why wasn't the house sealed?
Why would anyone want to clean if they were returning with a search warrant?
I don't understand, at all. This makes no sense to me.

It's splatter of something, but DAMN! how did Susan and Mike miss that during the cleanup, if it is indeed blood?

OMG Dugal just said that he and his team SAT AT THE TABLE and didn't notice the spatter!!!!

ETA: the "splatter" could be anything, spaghetti sauce, stain, unfortunately it sounds like it wasn't tested so we will never know if it was really blood

The cops didn't notice it. Holy crap. Okay then.
I could not trust any of this investigation.

 

[missy1974]

I don’t doubt what you’re saying, however, you must consider the source, it may have been gossip, rumor or someone intentionally spreading misinformation to promote an agenda. No matter where you heard it from it’s difficult to dismiss the testimony of a detective for the prosecution. He’s certainly not going to tell a lie that would benefit the defense. In order to seek the truth you must keep an open mind.

Until today... I thought Dugal told the family it was okay to clean up!!!!

 

[MsFacetious]

Until today... I thought Dugal told the family it was okay to clean up!!!!

Okay, that wasn't just me? I feel less out of the loop now...

 

[Texas Red]

It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer. - William Blackstone.

I know it's a difficult idea to accept when discussing the brutal murder of beautiful little boys... but it's true. Wrongful convictions are far too common and once they occur overturning them is unbelievably hard. There has to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt.




It certainly could be.
I've seen innocent men wrongly hauled to jail that were crying, resisting, downright ANGRY, just in shock, disbelief, laughing in shock...
I see nothing in this video that says he's guilty at all.

I suspect he was aware he would be a suspect and is likely wondering if this is all a dream. I would imagine being arrested for 4 murders would be a bit tough to grasp in any situation. Even moreso if you were not guilty of it.




No, definitely not. I could never convict in this case. I would have so many questions about whether there was further evidence that was destroyed. If they didn't notice spatter, what else did they miss? I just couldn't convict anyone in this case because of the lack of investigation.




Absolutely and then when you add in the investigative screw ups... I honestly don't think there was enough here to bring this case to trial. However, I do have higher standards than the law requires. Which is why I don't work for a prosecutor!




I thought the cops told her she could clean?
If they were returning with a search warrant why wasn't the house sealed?
Why would anyone want to clean if they were returning with a search warrant?
I don't understand, at all. This makes no sense to me.




The cops didn't notice it. Holy crap. Okay then.
I could not trust any of this investigation.

Something that must be taken into consideration is the fact that the SDCDA didn't want to prosecute this case even after the gravesites were found but the SBCDA jump all over it. At the time I figured it was a jurisdictional issue since the gravesites were in SB County, however, in Ca. if it's claimed that the initial crime was committed in another county, that county can claim jurisdiction. So it looks to be that SD county simply didn't want to prosecute this case even after the bodies were found. From what we've seen so far I'm starting to think that SBCDA Ramos, possibly pursued this prosecution as a political stunt.

 

[Force Ten]

CM better hope that someone like you didn’t slip through the cracks in the jury selection process.

Or someone as yourself. Your snark is unnecessary.

 

[Texas Red]

The OS is not 'evidence.' The judge will remind them of that.

Casey Anthony walked free because her jury accepted what Baez said in the OS 'as evidence' ---even though he never put forth any proof of such.

Yes, I was amazed by that there's nothing like a jury box full of jurors with AADD.

 

[Texas Red]

Or someone as yourself. Your snark is unnecessary.

I would think you’d be more concerned about false and inaccurate comments than the tone of my reply. But considering I’ve seen you do the same I do understand.

 

[missy1974]

Something that must be taken into consideration is the fact that the SDCDA didn't want to prosecute this case even after the gravesites were found but the SBCDA jump all over it. At the time I figured it was a jurisdictional issue since the gravesites were in SB County, however, in Ca. if it's claimed that the initial crime was committed in another county, that county can claim jurisdiction. So it looks to be that SD county simply didn't want to prosecute this case even after the bodies were found. From what we've seen so far I'm starting to think that SBCDA Ramos, possibly pursued this prosecution as a political stunt.

That's interesting. I wonder if this is something that the defense can bring up in cross examination of Dugal or the SB detectives? Don't think they can put the attorney's on the stand....

 

[Texas Red]

I've been trying to find video of the interview Ramos gave soon after the bodies were found, he implied durning the interview that they had a mountain of evidence against CM, unfortunately, so far my searching has been unsuccessful.

 

[missy1974]

I've been trying to find video of the interview Ramos gave soon after the bodies were found, he implied durning the interview that they had a mountain of evidence against CM, unfortunately, so far my searching has been unsuccessful.

Would it have been after the bodies were found or after CM was arrested?

 

[cobalt sky]

I've been trying to find video of the interview Ramos gave soon after the bodies were found, he implied durning the interview that they had a mountain of evidence against CM, unfortunately, so far my searching has been unsuccessful.

Is this the one you are looking for?

McStay case D.A.: We have the evidence - CNN Video