Missing Families -- Jamison (10/09), Szczepanik (12/09 - Presumed Deceased, Son Found Deceased), McStay (2/10)

Weeziethm wrote:Evidence in killing of California family to be revealed  (McStay Case)

At a preliminary hearing set to begin Tuesday, prosecutors are expected to reveal for the first time the evidence that led them to file murder charges against Charles "Chase" Merritt, the sole suspect in the case

http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-killing-california-family-revealed-060753649.html

~snipped~ from the article above that Weezie posted:

"Merritt, 58, has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself. He is being held without bail."

Why is it that so many of these accused murderers insist on trying to represent themselves?  Apparently, they REALLY believe that they are smarter and more capable than an attorney/team of attorneys that has trained for years.  I suppose it is not surprising that they also thought that they were smart enough to get away with murder.

Mylife101 wrote:

Weeziethm wrote:Evidence in killing of California family to be revealed  (McStay Case)

At a preliminary hearing set to begin Tuesday, prosecutors are expected to reveal for the first time the evidence that led them to file murder charges against Charles "Chase" Merritt, the sole suspect in the case

http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-killing-california-family-revealed-060753649.html

~snipped~ from the article above that Weezie posted:

"Merritt, 58, has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself. He is being held without bail."

Why is it that so many of these accused murderers insist on trying to represent themselves?  Apparently, they REALLY believe that they are smarter and more capable than an attorney/team of attorneys that has trained for years.  I suppose it is not surprising that they also thought that they were smart enough to get away with murder.

I can think of only two reasons:
Finances
(fear of getting an atty in bed with the state prosecutor because they can't/won't be able to afford a "good" atty)

Control
(They are the only ones who realize how important this case is to them; they want to be a part of what is going on; fear of the atty suppressing info or failing to get the witnesses that could exonerate them.)

I hope they end up with a "team" consisting of a lawyer and the defendant.
IMO, they only one I have heard who WAS capable of representing himself was Ted Bundy, IIRC.
I get him confused with a few others from the area also committing serial murders...

.....well, hurry up and wait!

Hearing in California family murder case delayed

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith delayed proceedings until Friday because the prosecutor was sick and defendant Charles "Chase" Merritt, 58, may retain a defense attorney.

http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-killing-california-family-revealed-060753649.html

Weeziethm wrote:.....well, hurry up and wait!

Hearing in California family murder case delayed

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith delayed proceedings until Friday because the prosecutor was sick and defendant Charles "Chase" Merritt, 58, may retain a defense attorney.

http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-killing-california-family-revealed-060753649.html

^^^BBM
Well, now there's a novel idea! Merritt may get a defense attorney. As, they say..."only a fool has himself for a client".

Darn delay.  I was hoping to learn what evidence the prosecution was able to get since this case was cold for so long.  Patience...

Freckles wrote:

Mylife101 wrote:

~snipped~ from the article above that Weezie posted:

"Merritt, 58, has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself. He is being held without bail."

Why is it that so many of these accused murderers insist on trying to represent themselves?  Apparently, they REALLY believe that they are smarter and more capable than an attorney/team of attorneys that has trained for years.  I suppose it is not surprising that they also thought that they were smart enough to get away with murder.

I can think of only two reasons:
Finances
(fear of getting an atty in bed with the state prosecutor because they can't/won't be able to afford a "good" atty)

Control
(They are the only ones who realize how important this case is to them; they want to be a part of what is going on; fear of the atty suppressing info or failing to get the witnesses that could exonerate them.)

I hope they end up with a "team" consisting of a lawyer and the defendant.
IMO, they only one I have heard who WAS capable of representing himself was Ted Bundy, IIRC.
I get him confused with a few others from the area also committing serial murders...

@Freckles: The reasons you suggest do make sense in regard to why some defendants might decide to defend themselves.  I just thought of one more possibility.  Perhaps, some of them fire their defense counsel and go it alone because they cannot get their defense attorney to agree/cooperate with the line of defense that the defendant wants to use.  Some attorneys probably refuse to do/say what the defendant wants them to because they know they can be disbarred if they present a completely unethical defense.  Of course, as we have seen, some attorneys don't seem to care about these kinds of pesky details.

And yes, you are correct that Ted Bundy was educated as a lawyer.  He earned a bachelors degree in psychology, was involved in politics, and attended law school for a year and a half before dropping out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy

Hearing delayed on evidence in killing of former San Clemente McStay family

May 19, 2015 | Updated 1:05 p.m.

SAN BERNARDINO — A preliminary hearing was postponed Tuesday in the case of a man accused in the deaths of four members of a California family who mysteriously disappeared from their home.

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith delayed proceedings until Friday because the prosecutor was sick and defendant Charles “Chase” Merritt, 58, may retain a defense attorney.

Read more:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/family-662306-home-merritt.html

Mylife101 wrote:

Weeziethm wrote:Evidence in killing of California family to be revealed  (McStay Case)

At a preliminary hearing set to begin Tuesday, prosecutors are expected to reveal for the first time the evidence that led them to file murder charges against Charles "Chase" Merritt, the sole suspect in the case

http://news.yahoo.com/evidence-killing-california-family-revealed-060753649.html

~snipped~ from the article above that Weezie posted:

"Merritt, 58, has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself. He is being held without bail."

Why is it that so many of these accused murderers insist on trying to represent themselves?  Apparently, they REALLY believe that they are smarter and more capable than an attorney/team of attorneys that has trained for years.  I suppose it is not surprising that they also thought that they were smart enough to get away with murder.

He originally had a lawyer, then decided to represent himself:

The 57-year-old Homeland resident asked last month to represent himself in the hopes of moving the case faster through the court, because he has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Source:  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/19/chase-merritt-first-time-in-court-as-own-attorney/

^^^
Interesting.
Does he think he will be acquitted then?
Or is he hoping the state will pay for his medical condition?

( I find this of interest because I do believe what goes round comes around... He apparently has a heart condition which means his heart is not functioning properly. IF he committed these murders I would say karma just took a big bite out of him! To have murdered these people and especially those sweet little boys would tell me he DOES have something wrong with his heart....)

McStay case: Merritt may hire attorney
Representing himself, accused killer considering about-face
Posted May. 19, 2015 at 3:27 PM  Updated May 19, 2015 at 4:39 PM

   SAN BERNARDINO — The man accused of killing the McStay family could be retaining an attorney, a move that would be a surprising about-face after his decision to defend himself in order to accelerate proceedings due to health concerns.

   Charles Merritt, 58, said Tuesday he might hire Jimmy Mettias, a private attorney with offices in Victorville and Rancho Cucamonga. The news was just part of a confluence of events that ultimately pushed back Merritt's scheduled preliminary hearing until Friday.

...    In November, it was announced that Merritt had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In January, Merritt decided to part ways with attorney Robert Ponce. The shift to pro per was painted by Merritt and Ponce as a means to move criminal proceedings forward more quickly amid Merritt's worries that his life expectancy would be diminished by the illness.

   Yet the possibility that Merritt would now retain Mettias, a move that was still uncertain Tuesday, would appear to contradict the earlier narrative. Mettias sat next to Merritt at the defense table but later told reporters he had not yet been hired.

...If brought on as Merritt's attorney, Mettias would be faced with some 10,000 pages of evidence to pore over — a task that Ponce had previously acknowledged was a challenge. Getting up to speed would likely cause further delays to a case that has already had its share of unique problems.

Read more:  http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150519/NEWS/150519704/10056/NEWS

-----

Maybe he's intentionally causing delays, hoping his health will fail before it ever gets to trial.  

Agreed, CP.

Delay, delay, delay.

How does he have funds for a private attorney anyway?

Charles Merritt
Defense team:


".....Mettias said it was about two weeks ago when he got a phone call.

“After talking to Mr. Merritt, I became certain that was a case I wanted to take,” said Mettias.

He took the case officially Wednesday and put together a defense team.

“I’ve worked with Jimmy on a lot of cases,” said Jim Terrell, attorney.

Terrell has been practicing law for 21 years and is also a former police officer. He said he has worked with Mettias for the past 5 years.

“He’s got a fantastic criminal practice too,” said Terrell.

Sharon Brunner, another attorney that works with Terrell is also co-counsel for Merritt.

“Sharon and I work on these cases, especially the high profile cases and we love to merge and do stuff with the Mettias firm,” said Terrell.

Brunner and Terrell are the attorneys who defended an Apple Valley man, who was beaten and kicked by San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputies when he was apparently trying to surrender.   The incident was caught on camera by a television helicopter. Francis Pusok ended up settling with the San Bernardino County for $650,000.

(IIRC, the man had stolen a horse as a vehicle for his escape. The horse threw him. Then TEN deputies jumped the man and beat him as he lay handcuffed on the ground. The moral of the story: Never use a recalled Pinto for a major escape. Rely upon the all American Mustang! )

Mettias, an attorney of 5 years has won several civil cases out of Los Angeles.

“The length of time hasn’t been a lot, but there’s some substance in what we’ve accomplished in that period of time,” said Mettias.

Also assisting is Associate David Askander from Mettias’ office.

“We’re all here on a truth for justice,” said Askander.

The team has much work ahead of them and they have yet to receive all files in the case.

“There’s one set that’s 10,000 pages and another that’s 5,000 pages,” said Mettias. ...."


http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/05/23/charles-merritts-new-attorney-talks-to-fox-5-about-fighting-for-accused-killers-innocence/

Key hearing in McStay case set for June 15
By Teri Figueroa10:33 a.m.May 22, 2015

SAN BERNARDINO — With a team of defense attorneys now in the mix, a key pretrial hearing for the man accused of killing the McStays — a Fallbrook family of four — has been rescheduled for June 15, a court official said today.

...The long-awaited preliminary hearing will mark the first public airing of evidence that authorities say ties Merritt to the slayings of Joseph McStay, 40, wife Summer, 43, and their sons Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3.

...The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has not yet said whether they will pursue execution if Merritt is convicted of multiple murders.

Read more:  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/22/mcstay-family-chase-merritt-prelim-set-mid-june/

Attorney: Sledgehammer alleged weapon in McStay family killings

Paint-stained tool was found in grave, according to Mettias


Charles Merritt, left, goes over his case file with attorney Jimmy Mettias in San Bernardino Superior Court last month.. Mettias formally announced he and a team including three other attorneys will represent Merritt before the case's preliminary hearing was postponed until June 15. (James Quigg, Daily Press)

By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 7:30 PM

SAN BERNARDINO — Prosecutors plan to argue next week that Charles Merritt bludgeoned to death the McStay family inside their Fallbrook home with a "small three-pound sledgehammer" before dumping the four bodies in shallow graves near Victorville, a Merritt attorney told the Daily Press on Tuesday.

Jimmy Mettias, who is part of a four-attorney legal team representing Merritt since May 20, said the sledgehammer had been found in one of the desert graves upon the discovery of the family's bodies in November 2013 north of Victorville.

The alleged murder weapon had been previously alluded to by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos in a November interview with CNN as a "common object," but Ramos declined to specifically name it.

An attempt to reach a District Attorney spokesperson late Tuesday evening was not immediately successful.

Mettias said there was paint on the sledgehammer, but no fingerprints, and the paint was a negative match to the type prosecutors will allege Merritt used to paint the McStay family's home as part of his purported after-murder cover-up efforts.

Read more:

http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20150609/NEWS/150609737/3331/FRONTPAGE

^^^^
This is sick. Not just the mass murdering but the terrorism he brought. And then to have the parents or the children have to witness the murders of the other family members.
Pity the cops haven't found him dead in his cell...

Why did the defense attorney talk about the alleged weapon used in the McStay case to the media?

snipped:  The question I have, is the information about the sledgehammer as the weapon, and in the grave, Joey's hands tied, and other things Mettias spoke of in violation of ethical rules as it is not public record? I mean, it is not public record, right?  I do not remember anything being let out by the courts.  

http://www.missingpersonsofamerica.com/2015/06/why-is-defense-attorney-talking-about.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MissingPersonsOfAmerica+%28Missing+Persons+of+America%29

Good find and share, Weez.

Prosecutors to make case in death of family buried in desert

snipped:  But San Bernardino prosecutors on Monday are expected to finally reveal the case they've been building against 58-year-old welder Charles "Chase" Merritt for the murders of his business partner, Joseph McStay, the man's wife and their two young sons

Merritt's lawyer, Jimmy Mettias, said he expected prosecutors to allege his client used a sledgehammer to kill McStays after a business dispute and covered up his tracks by painting the family's house and burying his victims and the weapon in the desert.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/06/15/prosecutors-to-make-case-in-death-of-family-buried-in-desert/21195809/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl15%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1160620761

eta: Hearing is due to begin at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (San Diego, CA) - FYI

Twitter feed for the McStay hearing...

https://twitter.com/DP_Shea?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.courtchatter.com.usrfiles.com%2Fhtml%2F943520_0974cd4d2f6dab19a4948752538df899.html&profile_id=1323084170&tw_i=610508072516124672&tw_p=embeddedtimeline&tw_w=568806875634745344

Keep your fingers crossed.
San Bernardino city and county officials have been on the hot seat for illegally administering duties of offices for the past 5 years ( at least) according to a LA Times story of June 14, 2015. This includes embezzlement, accepting bribes, and selling meth.
Recently, during a council meeting, the mayor challenged the police chief to fisti-cuffs.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter  · 49m  
So #CharlesMerritt told Detectives early on that he NEVER drove #McStay vehicle. Now we learn his DNA is on steering wheel, gear shift, etc.


Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 28m  
Michael #McStay walks by me in courthouse, says under breath: "That's about as open and shut as you're going to get."


Teri Figueroa ‏@TeriFigueroaUT  · 47m 
FBI agent says Chase Merritts cell phone pinged off nearest towers to #McStay grave sites two days after  family disappeared.


Paul Krueger ‏@pkruegernbcsd  · 53m 
In #McStay family murders, FBI agent says suspect Chase Merritt's phone linked to calls made in area where bodies were found #NBC7


David Gotfredson ‏@DavidCBS8  · 1h
#Mcstay prelim: FBI agent Kevin Boles takes stand as witness #7.  His being questioned about cell phone tracking records.


Teri Figueroa ‏@TeriFigueroaUT  · 1h  
This is first mention I can recall that Merritts DNA found in #McStay trooper, found four days after family disappeared.


Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 1h  
Trace DNA from gearshift handle of #McStay Isuzu Trooper also matched that of #ChaseMerritt, Bachman said.


Tom (T.J.) Wait ‏@CBSLATom  · 1h  
Merritt trial: Merritt's DNA was found on steering wheel and other controls in the McStay's vehicle that was found abandoned #McStay


Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 1h  
DNA taken from McStay's Isuzu trooper found abandoned at Mexican border matched that of #ChaseMerritt, Bachman said. #McStay


Paul Krueger ‏@pkruegernbcsd  · 2h
Detective: murder suspect Chas Merritt talked about #McStay family in "past tense" when questioned, which made detectives suspicious. #NBC7


Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 2h  
Joseph #McStay was wrapped in a tan, heavy woven material matching that of the missing Futon cover from #McStay home, Steers said.


David Gotfredson ‏@DavidCBS8  · 2h
#Mcstay prelim: Mike told cops he though Merritt acted suspicious when they checked out the home Feb 15, Merritt did not touch anything.


Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 2h  
After 3 law enforcement testimonies, prosecutors yet to unveil any evidence against Merritt. But it's early. 15 min recess. #mcstay


More ...

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Fox 5 Sharon Chen ‏@sharonchenfox5 · 18m
#McStay Court in recess, time to grab lunch! I'll be back on at 1:30!

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 6m  
What we've learned so far: 1) McStay family died of blunt force trauma to head. 2) More than 45 bones at graves site. #McStay cont...


Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 3m
3) Merritt's DNA matches swab in Isuzu Trooper.4) Two days after family disappeared, Merritt's cell pings at towers nearest graves. #mcstay


https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Prosecutors present case in death of the McStay family found buried in desert in 2013

June 15, 2015 | Updated 11:37 a.m.


Charles Merritt, seated, Monday in Department S-1 of the San Bernardino Justice Center. Left to right are defense attorneys Sharon Brunner, Jimmy Mettias, and Jim Terrell before the start of the preliminary hearing Merritt in the 2010 slaying of four McStay family members in Fallbrook.
KURT MILLER , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

By AMY TAXIN / The Associated Press

SAN BERNARDINO – After months of silence about a motive, prosecutors on Monday began presenting evidence in the case against a California man accused of killing a family of four and burying their bodies in shallow desert graves

The testimony came during a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide whether Charles “Chase” Merritt, 58, must stand trial for the deaths of his business partner, Joseph McStay, the man’s wife and their two young sons.

Merritt, who was arrested last November, has pleaded not guilty to four murder charges.

~Snipped~

Detective Edward Bachman testified that the remains included those of a man with a white extension cord wrapped around his neck, tied in a knot.

There was a large hole in the back left side of the man’s skull, Bachman said. The skeletal remains were wrapped in a woven white blanket and tied with a strap.

Avila said tire tracks led to the grave sites from a gas line road, and it appeared someone had backed up a vehicle toward the graves.

Mettias said earlier that nothing on the sledgehammer could be traced to Merritt, and he questioned prosecutors’ ability to link his client to the crimes.

“We have serious issues with the state of the evidence,” he said. “I could see where they chose, OK, we’re going to go with this guy, but nothing that is going to prove his guilt.”

Read more:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/prosecutors-666589-mcstay-merritt.html

Hearing in McStay family murders gets under way in San Bernardino


Charles Merritt, seated, appears in San Bernardino Superior Court on Monday, June 15, 2015, with defense attorneys, Sharon Brunner, left, Jimmy Mettias and Jim Terrell before the start of his preliminary hearing in the murders of the McStay family. (Photo by Kurt Miller, Riverside Press-Enterprise, via AP/POOL PHOTO)

By Joe Nelson, The Sun

Posted: 06/15/15, 10:29 AM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago

Prosecutors are presenting evidence against McStay family murder suspect Charles Chase Merritt during a preliminary hearing this morning in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Detective Eddie Bachman, who was working in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at the time the McStay family was found in shallow graves in the Victorville desert on Nov. 11, 2013, testified this morning that trace DNA taken from McStay’s Isuzu trooper found abandoned at Mexican border matched that of Merritt.

Merritt, 58, of Homeland, stands charged with four counts of murder for the beating deaths of Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, in their Fallbrook home, in San Diego County, on or around Feb. 4, 2010.

Merritt could face the death penalty.

Sheriff’s Detective Jose Armando Avila also testified this morning that he was working the homicide detail when the remains of the McStay family were discovered in 2013.

“At some point, we discovered the skull of a child,” said Avila. The remainder of the small child’s bone system was later found.

“We found clothing that appeared to belong to an adult, and then we found clothing that appeared to belong to a child.” he said.

He also testified that among items found near and in the graves were a child’s blue pants with diapers in them and a 3-pound sledgehammer, Avila said.

Prosecutors believe Merritt acted alone, killing the family in their home and burying their bodies in two shallow graves in the Mojave Desert on the outskirts of Victorville, west of the 15 Freeway and north of Stoddard Wells Road.

Read more:

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150615/hearing-in-mcstay-family-murders-gets-under-way-in-san-bernardino

Attorney: Greed alleged motive in McStay family slayings
6/10/ 2015

"......Prosecutors believe greed motivated Charles “Chase” Merritt to allegedly kill his business associate, his business associate’s wife and their two young sons before burying their bodies in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, Merritt’s lead attorney said Wednesday.

During Merritt’s preliminary hearing, scheduled to begin on Monday in San Bernardino Superior Court, prosecutors will present for the first time since Merritt’s arrest in November what they believe to be evidence showing Merritt wrote multiple checks to himself on business associate Joseph McStay’s QuickBooks account, then deleted those entries, Merritt’s attorney, Jimmy Mettias, said Wednesday.

“I think the big bombshell evidence they’re going to present is there’s some QuickBooks entries and deletions,” Mettias said. He said prosecutors are also expected to present evidence showing that Merritt contacted a QuickBooks representative on Feb. 8, 2010, four days after the McStay family was last seen alive, and requested that McStay’s QuickBooks account be deleted.

“That may be the evidence everybody is waiting to hear, but we do have a defense for it,” Mettias said.

QuickBooks is accounting software....."

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150610/attorney-greed-alleged-motive-in-mcstay-family-slayings?source=most_viewed

Ann O'Neill ‏@AnnoCNN · 3m
Phone pings near shallow graves, DNA on steering wheel, gear shift of #McStay Isuzu Trooper not good for #ChaseMerritt


Ann O'Neill ‏@AnnoCNN · 5m
At prelim for #ChaseMerritt, accused of killing #McStay family. All barefoot, skulls fractured w sledgehammer


https://twitter.com/AnnoCNN

PE_Gail Wesson ‏@PE_GailWesson · 1m
#McStay prelim for Merritt continues, finished with FBI expert on cell phone tracking, now onto investigator talking about financial records

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 2h2 hours ago  
Merritt and Joseph McStay spoke on the phone 27 times Feb. 4, 2010, last time family was heard from, Boles said

....and this

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 11m11 minutes ago  
Charles Merritt was added as a vendor to Joseph McStay's Quickbooks account three days before family last heard from
n ‏@DP_Shea  · 1m1 minute ago  

Between Feb. 1-4, more than $11K in checks were written to Merritt from Joseph McStay's Quickbook account, Hanke

Pretrial for McStay Killings Suspect Begins

Charles Merritt is accused of killing the McStay family of Fallbrook in February 2010 in a case that stumped investigators for years

By  Samantha Tatro and Paul Kreuger

Updated 2 hours ago

The apparent body of Joseph McStay found in a shallow grave had an extension cord wrapped around his neck and a blanket around his body, prosecutors said in court Monday.

During a preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing a Fallbrook family of four, prosecutors laid out never-before-seen evidence the McStay family murder case that baffled officials for years, including testimony from detectives and other witnesses about the evidence against the suspect.

~Snipped~

A detective that testified in court said tire tracks from a "large vehicle" were found near the two graves, not four as originally stated by officials. He said they found 45 bones, at least two from children, in the desert graves, in addition to an entire body and skull of a "small child" and clothing in the shallow graves.

~Snipped~

After Merritt’s preliminary trial occurs, a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to send Merritt to trial.

Read more:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pretrial-for-McStay-Killings-Suspect-Begins-307387761.html#ixzz3dAPLBgLE

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 4m
Between Feb. 1-4, more than $11K in checks were written to Merritt from Joseph McStay's Quickbook account, Hanke says. #mcstay

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 1m1 minute ago
3 of 4 checks were later deleted. B4 Feb. 4, the account was accessed from somewhere else other than Joseph's computer or laptop

Teri Figueroa ‏@TeriFigueroaUT · 8m
Chase Merritt cashed $2,495 from #Mcstay's quickbooks account -- but that check NOT written off of Mcstay computers, detective says

https://twitter.com/TeriFigueroaUT

Teri Figueroa ‏@TeriFigueroaUT · 17m
Three days before #McStay family vanished, Chase Merritt's name added to JM's quickbooks account -- but not from JM's computer.

https://twitter.com/TeriFigueroaUT

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 24s25 seconds ago
Checks later written from Joseph's account to Merritt on Feb. 5 were edited to be backdated Feb. 4



....that was dumb, Merritt!!

Tony Shin ‏@TonyNBCLA · 3m
Motive revealed in #McStay murders.. Prosecutors implying that #ChaseMerritt was stealing money from #McStays @NBCLA




https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 42s
Hanke: Merritt tied directly to phone call Feb. 8 canceling Joseph McStay's online Quickbooks account. #mcstay

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Paul Krueger ‏@pkruegernbcsd · 2m
Detective: Suspicious checks for large amounts were deposited to accused killer's bank account after #McStay victims disappeared #NBC7

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Teri Figueroa ‏@TeriFigueroaUT · 2m
On Feb. 9, someone called quickbooks from Merritts cell phone, id'ed self as Joey #McStay and tried to delete the account, cop says

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Fox 5 Sharon Chen ‏@sharonchenfox5 · 3m
#McStay Investigator testifying 5 checks totaling $18K were written and deleted, cashed from McStay's business account.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 6m
Hanke: Quickbook associate told me Merritt identified himself as Joseph #McStay.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 7m
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Det. Ryan Smith now on the stand. #mcstay


Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 8m 
Hanke on confronting Merritt about deleting Quickbooks: ..."There were multiple stories." #mcstay


Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea  · 9m  
Hanke on Merritt's cell pinging in Victorville on Feb. 6: "He told me he was not in the High Desert on that day." #McStay


https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcstay

Paul Krueger ‏@pkruegernbcsd  · 3m
In #McStay murder hearing: evidence that accused killer, Charles Merritt, looted McStay bank acct and used $$ for casino gambling. #NBC7

https://twitter.com/pkruegernbcsd

Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 6m  
All the checks written on McStay's QuickBooks account after Feb. 4, 2010 were backdated to that date, Hanke said. #McStay #ChaseMerritt


David Gotfredson ‏@DavidCBS8  · 6m 
#Mcstay preliim:SB homicide Det. Ryan Smith testified in Feb 2010 Merritt cashed several checks written with Quickbooks


Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 10m 
But #Merritt was already a listed vendor on the other QuickBooks account, Henke said. #McStay


Joe Nelson ‏@SBcountyNow  · 10m  
On Feb. 1, 2010, a vendor named "charlesmerritt" was added onto one of two QuickBooks accounts Joseph #McStay had, Henke said. #ChaseMerritt


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Shea Johnson ‏@DP_Shea · 5m
Last recess of the day. Still unclear whether preliminary will finish today. #mcstay

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McStay Killings Suspect Must Stand Trial: Judge

Charles Merritt is accused of killing the McStay family of Fallbrook in February 2010 in a case that stumped investigators for years

By  Samantha Tatro and Paul Kreuger

~Snipped~

Charles Merritt is accused of murdering his former business partner, Joseph McStay, along with Joseph’s wife, Summer McStay, and the couple’s two sons, 4-year-old Gianni McStay and 3-year-old Joseph Mateo McStay in February 2010.

At the preliminary hearing, the judge ruled that there was "probable cause" Merritt was involved in the murder and that he must stand trial.

~Snipped~

Merritt sat with his four attorneys in a San Bernadino court Monday as officials laid out evidence in the case. An attorney for Merritt said there was "not one shred of evidence" that directly linked him to the murder.

Read more:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pretrial-for-McStay-Killings-Suspect-Begins-307387761.html#ixzz3dAyD7cTT

Artie Ojeda ‏@ArtieNBCSD · 4m
Merritt defense team: "Graveyard has nothing to do with our client. You've only heard one side of the story so far." #nbc7 #mcstay

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Artie Ojeda ‏@ArtieNBCSD · 9m
Mike McStay; I'm not opposed to he death penalty. "Use a rusty nail for all I care". #nbc7 #mcstay

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David Gotfredson ‏@DavidCBS8  · 39m  
#Mcstay preliim: Judge:  There is probably cause to believe Chase Merritt committed the four murders.


David Gotfredson ‏@DavidCBS8  · 41m  
#Mcstay preliim: Judge orders Merritt to stand trial on four counts of murder; cites Quickbook checks, DNA on trooper, cell phone pings.


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Candace Marin ‏@CandyMarin 6h6 hours ago
#McStay from the description of their injuries sounds like McStay parents fought like hell to protect their kids!

Candace Marin ‏@CandyMarin 6h6 hours ago
@GrameKeln yes. Broken leg on Joseph sounds like defensive wound if hands tied. Summer broken arm could be defense also?


Candace Marin ‏@CandyMarin 6h6 hours ago
@GrameKeln glad to see you following the case . I love your YouTube work on this!


Gray Hughes ‏@GrameKeln 2h2 hours ago
@CandyMarin Thank you! Been following it since the bodies were discovered. we sent our tire track research to detectives and they used it.

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