In February 2010, the McStay family—Joseph, Summer, and their two young children, Gianni and Joseph Jr.—vanished without a trace from their home in Fallbrook, California. Their disappearance quickly became one of the most perplexing and chilling mysteries of the decade. The McStays seemed to lead a normal life, running a small business and living in a modest home. But on February 4th, the family’s sudden and unexplained disappearance set off alarm bells. The last known sighting of them was captured on a security camera of their car leaving their driveway. Months passed, and the case grew colder. Speculation ranged from theories of a financial dispute gone awry to potential connections with criminal networks. The McStay family’s sudden and eerie silence left investigators grasping for answers. Then, in November 2013, the case took a harrowing twist.

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Sources for this episode include:

https://www.sbsun.com/2017/12/07/defense-attorneys-request-family-photos-videos-be-excluded-from-mcstay-family-murder-suspects-trial/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McStay_family_murders

https://www.oxygen.com/killer-motive/crime-news/mcstay-family-murders-who-killed-them

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/a-florida-man-was-free-for-a-year-before-he-killed-again

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/mcstay-murder-california-documentary-chase-merritt-b2084210.html

https://wbd.com/go-inside-the-controversial-and-shocking-trial-of-charles-chase-merritt-for-the-mcstay-family-murders-in-ids-new-seven-part-docuseries-two-shallow-graves/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-sentenced-death-killings-mcstay-family-members-n1119911

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1alda28/do_you_think_charles_ray_merritt_is_innocent/

https://wbd.com/go-inside-the-controversial-and-shocking-trial-of-charles-chase-merritt-for-the-mcstay-family-murders-in-ids-new-seven-part-docuseries-two-shallow-graves/

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-clue-revealed-mcstay-familys-killer-as-charles-merritt

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-sentenced-death-killings-mcstay-family-members-n1119911

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