On February 4, 2010, Joseph and Summer McStay, as well as their two toddler sons, Joseph, Jr. and Gianni vanished from their home. Nine days after they went missing, it was reported to police, as people realized that they had not simply went on vacation. Joseph's vehicle was found left at the United States Mexico border, and the scene in their home looked as if they were taken in the middle of a normal day as popcorn had been spilled on the couch, and a carton of raw eggs had been left on the counter. The family's remains were finally found in a shallow grave in the desert on November 13, 2013 by a passing motorcyclist. It was determined that the family had died from blunt force trauma. Joseph's friend and business partner, Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt was arrested in November of 2014 when his DNA had been found in the family's vehicle. He had bludgeoned the family to death with a sledgehammer and buried them in the desert, all for financial gain as he had a gambling addiction. Chase Merritt was sentenced to death finally 10 years after the crime in January 2020.

Note: I'm not sure what was wrong with my microphone, but throughout the episode it would get crackly and I tried my best to re-record and edit the segments. :( Sorry!!

Sources :

Crime Museum. (2017). McStay Family. Retrieved from: https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/cold-cases/mcstay-family/

Figueroa, Teri. (2019, May 28). The missing McStay family: A timeline of the disappearance, investigation, discovery, and trial. Retrieved from: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2019-05-28/the-missingmcstay-family-a-timeline-of-the-disappearance-investigation-discovery-and-trial

AP & Reuters. (2015, January 25). McStay home revealed what led police to believe they had been murdered. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2926153/Half-eaten-bowls-popcorn-couch-packed-suitcases-bedroom-Court-docs-reveal-scene-McStay-family-home-led-police-believe-d-kidnapped-murdered.html

Payne, Will. (2014, January 4). EXCLUSIVE: McStay family husband feared his wife was POISONING him before they disappeared and were found dead in desert, claims explosive new book. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533474/EXCLUSIVE-McStay-family-husband-feared-wife-POISONING-disappeared-dead-desert-claims-explosive-new-book.html

Videos: Law & Crime: McStay Family Murder-Sentencing-Charles Merritt Gives His Statement and Sentencing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o81HVaKYhz8

Law & Crime: McStay Family Murder-Sentencing-Victim Impact Statements Continue, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5GC4UjU-Co&t=1785s