20/20 · Podcast summary
McStays Episode 5: The Best Friend
Kathy Jarvis, ex-girlfriend of Chase Merritt, discusses her relationship with Merritt and Joseph McStay, and how the investigation into the McStay family murders led to Merritt's arrest.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 💔Kathy Jarvis struggled to believe the news of Joseph McStay's death, finding it hard to process and even attempting to call his phone.01:11
- 🤠Kathy describes Chase Merritt as arrogant, creative, and athletic, but also goofy and funny, with a good sense of humor.04:34
- 🚨Chase Merritt had a history of legal troubles, including several convictions for burglary between 1977 and 2001.07:46
- 💰Kathy and Chase started a metalwork business, with Chase creating unique waterfalls, but Kathy found him difficult to work with due to his stubbornness and poor financial management.08:27
- 🤝Joseph McStay became Chase Merritt's best friend, and Chase, who didn't have many close contacts, spent significant time with Joseph outside of work.10:02
- 📞Kathy was concerned when Chase dismissed a phone call from Joseph on February 4th, 2010, and later urged him to contact the police when Joseph couldn't be reached.11:24
Chapters
- 0:00🎙️ Introduction to the Episode
- 1:45💔 Kathy Jarvis's Disbelief and Connection to Joseph McStay
- 6:51🤠 Chase Merritt's Character and Relationship with Kathy
- 12:20💸 Chase's Past, Business Ventures, and Financial Struggles
- 17:04📞 The McStay Connection and a Suspicious Phone Call
- 25:06💰 Investigators' Theory: Confrontation and Motive
- 32:01🔪 The Night of the Murders: Investigators' Reconstruction
- 36:59🚫 Chase's Denials and Contradictory Evidence
- 48:50⚖️ Arrest and Aftermath: Justice for the McStays
The digest
In this episode, Kathy Jarvis, the ex-girlfriend of Chase Merritt, provides an intimate look into her long-term relationship with Merritt and his connection to the McStay family. Jarvis shares her initial disbelief and heartbreak upon learning of Joseph McStay's confirmed death, recounting her struggle to process the news and her attempts to contact Joseph.
Kathy and Chase: A Complicated History
Kathy Jarvis and Chase Merritt first met in the early 1990s and were together, on and off, for approximately 20 years. Despite their eventual breakup, Kathy still remembers Chase as a good person, albeit with some quirks. She describes him as a bit arrogant, creative, and someone who would boast about his athleticism, even if his attempts at being athletic sometimes ended in humorous failure. Kathy fondly recalls Chase's goofy and funny nature, highlighting their shared sense of humor.
Their initial meeting at a country western bar was an instant attraction. Kathy described Chase as a big, tough cowboy who looked like he could take care of her. A comical incident involving a pool cue led to their first interaction, and by the end of the night, they were making plans to go out. Soon after they started dating, Chase introduced Kathy to his family, who lived in Hesperia, California, a small town in the Mojave Desert, not far from Victorville, where the McStay family's bodies would later be discovered. Kathy notes that Chase came from a large family of eight siblings and was often the one his family relied on for support.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 4 more sections, and every new episode from 20/20 and the creators you follow.
- Chase's Past and Professional Aspirations
- The McStay Connection and a Troubling Phone Call
- The Investigation Unravels: Money and Motive
- The Crime Scene and Arrest
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