The McStay Family...missing family from Fallbrook (Victorville: lease, lawsuit)

[pinusconus]

Michael McStay, Joey's brother didn't report the family missing to LE until 11 days after the family's disappearance.

During that time family members were in and out of the house cleaning, removing items, feeding the dogs, etc. Chase Merritt himself said he was coming by to feed the dogs. San Diego police dept and family believed the four McStays had disappeared into Mexico because their Trooper was found parked at the border 4 days after disappearance.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by aboveordinary

I am kind of hesitant to read any books that come out soon after a murder. A lot of these authors have no expertise in crimes or murders and their books are basically just speculation

"One individual who has injected himself into our case, changed, concocted, and altered his story numerous times, is the self-proclaimed expert Rick Baker. All family members from both the Aranda & McStay families are completely remorseful they ever met Mr. Baker due to his behavior and are infuriated by all the nasty comments about family members and friends. He has also written slanderous things about deceased McStay family members, though he claims he was trying to help."
The Joseph Mcstay Family Website - Help bring home Joseph, Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr

[pinusconus]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

"One individual who has injected himself into our case, changed, concocted, and altered his story numerous times, is the self-proclaimed expert Rick Baker. All family members from both the Aranda & McStay families are completely remorseful they ever met Mr. Baker due to his behavior and are infuriated by all the nasty comments about family members and friends. He has also written slanderous things about deceased McStay family members, though he claims he was trying to help."
The Joseph Mcstay Family Website - Help bring home Joseph, Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr

True. Those of us who have read his book and followed his blog from the beginning are aware Rick Baker has done the victims and their family a disservice. He is not trustworthy, imo.

[aboveordinary]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

"One individual who has injected himself into our case, changed, concocted, and altered his story numerous times, is the self-proclaimed expert Rick Baker. All family members from both the Aranda & McStay families are completely remorseful they ever met Mr. Baker due to his behavior and are infuriated by all the nasty comments about family members and friends. He has also written slanderous things about deceased McStay family members, though he claims he was trying to help."
The Joseph Mcstay Family Website - Help bring home Joseph, Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr

Thanks for this.

[Nayabone]

My first thought is on the logistics of transportation, and how one individual could manage it all. First the killer had to remove two cars from the home, either requiring two drivers or one driver to take the Trooper to the Mexican border, which is an hour away, and get a ride back to the McStay home to pick up his vehicle. He then had to drive at least two hours to Victorville, dig, bury and drive back home.
If he left the victims home with them in their car, drove to VV, buried them, then drove back to the Mexican border to drop off their car, and then get a ride back to McStay's to pick up his car. Whichever way it was done would either require two drivers, or a lot of hitchhiking or walking.
The border is an hour away from McStay's, and VV is two hours in the opposite direction, under the best of conditions. If he did all, that plus digging two graves, it took place over many hours. It just seems it would take more than one person to do all of that??

[pinusconus]

Originally Posted by Nayabone

My first thought is on the logistics of transportation, and how one individual could manage it all. First the killer had to remove two cars from the home, either requiring two drivers or one driver to take the Trooper to the Mexican border, which is an hour away, and get a ride back to the McStay home to pick up his vehicle. He then had to drive at least two hours to Victorville, dig, bury and drive back home.
If he left the victims home with them in their car, drove to VV, buried them, then drove back to the Mexican border to drop off their car, and then get a ride back to McStay's to pick up his car. Whichever way it was done would either require two drivers, or a lot of hitchhiking or walking.
The border is an hour away from McStay's, and VV is two hours in the opposite direction, under the best of conditions. If he did all, that plus digging two graves, it took place over many hours. It just seems it would take more than one person to do all of that??

Agree!

[Nayabone]

Merritt stated he and McStay had a luncheon meeting in Rancho that day and talked about all of their upcoming jobs and how bright the future of the company was. I suspect what the actual topic of discussion at the lunch meeting that day, was Merritt getting fired. Why else would you pick that very night to off your boss? Not because you got a raise..!
Who is going to argue with Merritt's version?? Anyone who might know the truth disappeared that night.

[pinusconus]

Originally Posted by Nayabone

Merritt stated he and McStay had a luncheon meeting in Rancho that day and talked about all of their upcoming jobs and how bright the future of the company was. I suspect what the actual topic of discussion at the lunch meeting that day, was Merritt getting fired. Why else would you pick that very night to off your boss? Not because you got a raise..!
Who is going to argue with Merritt's version?? Anyone who might know the truth disappeared that night.

So you believe the motive was anger? CM had nothing to gain by murdering an entire family.

[Nayabone]

Originally Posted by pinusconus

So you believe the motive was anger? CM had nothing to gain by murdering an entire family.

Like everyone else, I can only guess as to what actually happened and what the motive might be.
CM's version of the noon day meeting was an hour and a half of sunshine and roses, discussing how great the company was doing and how bright the future of the company was.
If things were that rosy why would CM, less than six hours later, commit murder and kill the golden goose, If in fact he is guilty. Until that evening, he was just a petty crook, something drastic was needed to take him to that extreme.
As far as why the whole family was killed, they were collateral damage. They were there and they knew him, so the witness' need to go.
It's true, it wouldn't appear CM had nothing to gain with murder, but what if McStay did more than fire him? What if he discovered embezzlement of company funds or some such thing. He may have fired him and threatened to have him arrested. The man had seen the inside of a cell before and had no interest in returning.
Was MC tied in with the brother, or did he enlist someone else, something yet to be determined. He may have called for a ride and the helper got involved before he or she realized murder was involved and found themselves in too deep by that time and has been threatened with a similar fate if they talk.
Once CM finds himself facing capitol murder with a death sentence facing him, he my want to talk more freely. Now that he is safely tucked away in jail where he can't harm anyone, the helper may come foreword and start to talk. This isn't over..

[pinusconus]

Originally Posted by Nayabone

Like everyone else, I can only guess as to what actually happened and what the motive might be.
CM's version of the noon day meeting was an hour and a half of sunshine and roses, discussing how great the company was doing and how bright the future of the company was.
If things were that rosy why would CM, less than six hours later, commit murder and kill the golden goose, If in fact he is guilty. Until that evening, he was just a petty crook, something drastic was needed to take him to that extreme.
As far as why the whole family was killed, they were collateral damage. They were there and they knew him, so the witness' need to go.
It's true, it wouldn't appear CM had nothing to gain with murder, but what if McStay did more than fire him? What if he discovered embezzlement of company funds or some such thing. He may have fired him and threatened to have him arrested. The man had seen the inside of a cell before and had no interest in returning.
Was MC tied in with the brother, or did he enlist someone else, something yet to be determined. He may have called for a ride and the helper got involved before he or she realized murder was involved and found themselves in too deep by that time and has been threatened with a similar fate if they talk.
Once CM finds himself facing capitol murder with a death sentence facing him, he my want to talk more freely. Now that he is safely tucked away in jail where he can't harm anyone, the helper may come foreword and start to talk. This isn't over..

You have raised some interesting points. I believe if CM is involved, he didn't act alone. But there is so much we don't know about this case. LE continues to keep a tight lid on it. Let's hope more will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. It will be years before this case gets to trial. I hope I live long enough to see its outcome. LOL