What Happened to the McStays? · Podcast summary
Questions and Answers
San Bernardino County Sheriff's detectives re-interview Chase Merritt about the disappearance of the McStay family, uncovering inconsistencies in his story and evidence that points to his involvement.
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In October 2014, nearly a year after the bodies of the McStay family were discovered in the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County Sheriff's detectives brought Chase Merritt in for a second interview. Merritt, a business associate of Joseph McStay, had previously been interviewed by San Diego detectives shortly after the family's disappearance in 2010. This time, however, the detectives were armed with new evidence and a growing list of questions, suggesting that Merritt's initial account of events might not be the full truth.
The Initial Interview and Red Flags
During the initial investigation in 2010 by San Diego detectives, Merritt claimed to be Joseph McStay's best friend, stating they spoke "many, many times a day." He also mentioned helping the family move into their new house in late 2009 and frequently playing paintball with Joseph. Merritt emphasized the devastating impact of Joseph's disappearance on his life and welding business, which he claimed was entirely dependent on Joseph. However, San Bernardino detectives, upon reviewing the old case files, found several "red flags" in Merritt's previous statements.
One significant inconsistency was Merritt's use of the past tense when referring to the McStay family during his 2010 interview. He repeatedly said, "he was my best friend," which struck Detective Ryan Smith as unusual, especially given the ongoing missing persons investigation. When questioned about this, Merritt claimed he didn't know why he used the past tense, and the San Diego detectives at the time didn't press the issue. However, San Bernardino investigators, now dealing with a multiple homicide case, suspected this choice of words could indicate Merritt knew the McStays were already dead, even in the immediate aftermath of their disappearance.
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The full 5-minute article, 3 more sections, and every new episode from What Happened to the McStays? and the creators you follow.
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In this episode, the murder trial of Charles Chase Merritt begins, with both the prosecution and defense presenting their cases and evidence regarding the deaths of the McStay family.
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Kathy Jarvis, ex-girlfriend of Chase Merritt, shares her perspective on Chase's relationship with Joseph McStay and the events leading up to the murders.
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