What Happened to the McStay Family?
In February 2010, Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons vanished from their San Diego home. Their remains were found in the desert near Victorville in November 2013. Authorities later ruled the deaths homicides.
Who Was Charged?
Charles "Chase" Merritt, a longtime business associate of Joseph McStay, was arrested in 2014. Prosecutors alleged he killed the family during a dispute over a business deal involving a solar energy project. Merritt pleaded not guilty.
What Was the Outcome?
In 2019, a jury convicted Charles Merritt of four counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death. The case drew widespread attention through media coverage and documentaries. For details, see the Wikipedia summary of the McStay family murder.
