What Happened to the McStays? · Podcast summary
The Best Friend
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.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 💔Kathy Jarvis, Chase Merritt's ex-girlfriend, found it hard to believe Chase could be involved in the McStay family's deaths, stating it didn't feel real.00:55
- 💸Investigators believed Joseph confronted Chase about financial issues and fired him during a meeting at Chick-fil-A on February 4th, 2010.01:01
- 📞Kathy recalls a phone call from Joseph to Chase on February 4th, 2010, that Chase dismissed, a detail that later troubled her.01:032
- 💰Detectives alleged Chase owed Joseph $42,000 and had been forging checks from him, based on an email and financial records.01:40
- 🔪Investigators theorized Chase murdered the McStay family at their home after the confrontation, using a sledgehammer later found in one of the graves.02:05
- 🤥Chase's alibi of visiting his sister in the desert on February 6th, 2010, was contradicted by his sister, who stated she hadn't seen him in five years.02:45
Chapters
- 0:00🎙️ Introduction: A Quick Reminder
- 0:45💔 Kathy Jarvis's Reaction to the News
- 3:37🤔 Chase Merritt: A Different Perspective
- 6:32🤠 Chase's Character and Background
- 12:01🛠️ Troubles with the Law and a New Career Path
- 14:11🤝 The Business Relationship with Joseph McStay
- 16:55📞 The Last Phone Call and Growing Concerns
- 25:03💰 Investigators' Theory: Confrontation and Motive
- 33:49🔪 The Murders and Evidence
- 36:42🤥 Chase's Denial and Alibi
- 48:38🚨 Arrest and Public Announcement
- 50:18⚖️ Susan Blake's Statement and the Prospect of Justice
The digest
This episode delves into the complex relationship between Chase Merritt and Joseph McStay, as told by Kathy Jarvis, Chase's ex-girlfriend and mother of his three children. Kathy provides a unique perspective on Chase's character, his business dealings with Joseph, and the events surrounding the McStay family's disappearance and murder.
A Relationship Forged in the Desert
Kathy Jarvis and Chase Merritt met in the early 1990s and were together, on and off, for about 20 years. Despite their eventual breakup, Kathy remembers Chase as a good person, albeit a bit arrogant and goofy, with a good sense of humor. She recalls their first meeting at a country-western bar, where Chase, in a cowboy hat, accidentally hit her with a pool cue. Their instant attraction led to a long-term relationship.
Chase grew up in Hesperia, California, in the Mojave Desert, a place Kathy describes as "pretty much the middle of nowhere" in the 60s and 70s. He came from a large family of eight siblings and was seen as the reliable one. Kathy notes that some of Chase's family, including his sister Juanita, still live in the desert, near Victorville, where the McStay family's bodies were later found.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 5 more sections, and every new episode from What Happened to the McStays? and the creators you follow.
- Business and Friendship: Chase and Joseph
- The Last Call: A Troubling Detail
- Interrogations and Accusations
- A Dangerous Confrontation
- Justice for the McStays
More from What Happened to the McStays?
Life or Death
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.
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.
In the Desert
In November 2013, a man riding his motorcycle in the Mojave Desert discovered human remains, which were later identified as the missing McStay family. This episode delves into the discovery, the subsequent investigation, and the emotional impact on those close to the family.
Missing?
In this episode of "What Happened to the McStays?", we delve deeper into the mysterious disappearance of the McStay family, exploring the initial investigations, the discovery of crucial video footage, and the conflicting theories that emerged.
11 Days
The McStay family vanishes from their Fallbrook, California home, leaving behind a puzzling scene and sparking a desperate search for answers. This episode delves into the initial days of their disappearance and the growing concern among family, friends, and authorities.