On February 4, 2010, Joey and Summer McStay, along with their two young sons, disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California. For four years, theories ran wild—had they left voluntarily? Were they living in Mexico? But in 2013, the truth surfaced in the most horrific way: the remains of the entire McStay family were found in shallow graves in the desert.
Who was responsible for this terrible crime? Who was responsible?
In this episode of Beach House 34, we break down the timeline, the financial red flags, and the eerie clues that make this one of the most perplexing true crime cases in recent history.
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Sources for the Episode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McStay_family_murders
https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005025/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Nov/15/timeline-mcstay-disappearance-case/
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/timeline-mcstay-family-mystery-fallbrook-disappearance/1936736/
https://web.archive.org/web/20141230083421/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mcstay-family-new-details-20141107-story.html
http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/45499/
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-victorville-bodies-mcstay-families-20131114%2C0%2C5975246.story
https://web.archive.org/web/20151107040416/http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/11/20/mcstay-memorial-erected-in-victorville/
https://web.archive.org/web/20141109032316/http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/08/us/mcstay-suspect-chase-merritt/
Additional Sources:
ID Network Documentary: Two Shallow Graves
CNN Documentary: Buried Secrets: Who Murdered the McStay Family?
Court Trial Transcripts: The People v. Charles Merritt
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Press Releases
Statements and Interviews from Family Members
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