Chase Merritt on trial for McStay Family Murders

From Feb 2015:

".....POSTED: 02/19/15, 9:17 AM PST | UPDATED: ON 02/19/2015 0 COMMENTS
Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two sons went missing in 2010. The Fallbrook family’s skeletal remains were found in the desert near Victorville in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Rick Baker)
Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer, and their two sons went missing in 2010. The Fallbrook family’s skeletal remains were found in the desert near Victorville in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Rick Baker)
SAN BERNARDINO >> Charles “Chase” Merritt, accused of beating a family to death in their home five years ago and burying their bodies in the Mojave Desert near Victorville, appeared in court Thursday for the first time as his own attorney — without a doctor’s note.

Merritt, 57, of Homeland, suffers from congestive heart failure and was ordered by San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael A. Smith on Jan. 30 to obtain a doctor’s note saying he was medically able to defend himself in his own murder case.

• Photos: Charles Merritt appears in court

Merritt told Smith Thursday that the jail had since sent him to a doctor who cleared him to act as his own attorney.

“They took me to the hospital and checked me out,” Merritt said, a brown accordion file stuffed with documents sitting before him on the attorney’s table, “and the doctor said I was healthy enough to handle it, but I don’t know whether they sent you anything or not.”

Smith said he had not received the doctor’s report.

“We’ll order the jail to provide a medical report regarding the defendant’s medical condition and ability to represent himself medically,” Smith said....."

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150219/mcstay-family-slaying-suspect-asks-judge-for-better-resources

I was trying to follow the list of attys in this case. David Farrell is from Phelan, CA according to a list of attys in San Bernardino County.

People v. Merritt: Court Schedule

The next court date is June 3 , 2016

Nothing to report on the May 5 hearing other than the continuance.

https://mcstayfamilymurdersthetrial.com/people-v-merritt-court-schedule/

Trial date elusive in McStay case

Defendant’s frequent change in attorneys have led to multiple delays

By Teri Figueroa | 6:02 p.m. May 9, 2016

A year and a half after Charles “Chase” Merritt was arrested in the bludgeoning deaths of the McStay family of Fallbrook, there’s no trial date in sight — not exactly the fast pace the ailing 59-year-old defendant said he wanted in the death penalty case.

At one point, the trial had been set for this month, according to court records. One reason that’s not happening is that Merritt has parted ways with five attorneys since the case began, and twice opted to act as his own counsel. He remains jailed without bail.

On Monday, Merritt’s latest defense attorneys said their goal is to get the matter to trial by the end of the year.

“We are trying to go as fast as we can,” Riverside-based attorney Rajan Maline said. “We represent an innocent person. He has health problems and doesn’t want this to be his legacy.”

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/09/merritt-attorneys-say-trial-may-come-by-end-of/

MCSTAY SLAYINGS: Hearing delayed for murder suspect
By DOUG SAUNDERS / STAFF WRITER
Published: June 3, 2016 Updated: 6:58 p.m.

...The defense requested and was granted a continuance,” said San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Christopher Lee.

...Charles “Chase” Merritt, 58, of Homeland will return to San Bernardino County Superior Court on July 8 for the hearing, according to Lee.

(BBM)

Read more:  http://www.pe.com/articles/san-804728-hearing-lee.html

Again! Seriously, how many times is Merritt going to get away with stalling this trial?

Defense: AT&T not providing subpoenaed records in McStay family murder case

The motion, filed under seal, was discussed during a pretrial hearing for Merritt, 59, of Homeland, who faces the death penalty in connection with the February 2010 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.

Merritt’s attorney, Rajan Maline, said he and defense attorney James E. McGee II have issued three subpoenaes to AT&T since April requesting the records, but the communications company has not complied with the requests.

...During his preliminary hearing, Merritt was described as a debt-ridden gambling addict who wrote multiple checks totaling more $21,000 on Joseph McStay’s online QuickBooks account within a week of the family’s disappearance. The checks were deleted from McStay’s computer once they were printed, according to court testimony.

WHOA!

http://www.sbsun.com/government-and-politics/20160708/defense-atampt-not-providing-subpoenaed-records-in-mcstay-family-murder-case

Mylife101 wrote:Again! Seriously, how many times is Merritt going to get away with stalling this trial?

Weezie has shown us that there was another stall...surely, those records can be obtained from prosecution???

San Bernardino judge orders AT&T to produce records in McStay family murder case

A Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered AT&T to produce records requested by defense attorneys in the capital murder case of Charles Ray Merritt, accused of killing a San Diego County family of four and burying their bodies in the Mojave Desert near Victorville.

Since April, Merritt’s attorneys have attempted to subpoena the records, but AT&T has not provided the records, so, defense attorneys filed a motion with the court during Merritt’s July 8 hearing to compel AT&T to produce the records in question.

McGee would not disclose the information he and colleague Rajan Maline have requested from AT&T.

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20160719/san-bernardino-judge-orders-atampt-to-produce-records-in-mcstay-family-murder-case

^^^^
I have to wonder why ATT is dragging its feet.
Since Fast and Furious, the FBI has access to everything.

Chase Merritt is going to die of old age or his purported heart problems before the McStay family receives some semblance of justice for beautiful lives they were not allowed to live. Geez!!!!

McStay family murder trial conflicts with Colonies corruption trial

BY JOE NELSON  / STAFF WRITER  
Published: Sept. 23, 2016 6:10 p.m.

The attorney for McStay family murder suspect Charles "Chase" Merritt told a San Bernardino Superior Court judge Friday he cannot begin trial until he finishes defending another client in a public corruption case, scheduled to begin Oct. 17 that could last seven months.

Merritt’s attorney, Rajan Maline, is defending former San Bernardino County Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin in the far-reaching Colonies corruption case. In that case, prosecutors allege Erwin and two former top county officials conspired with a Rancho Cucamonga developer to fix a $102 million settlement between the county and Rancho Cucamonga investor group Colonies Partners LP in November 2006 in exchange for bribes.

Also charged in the Colonies case are former county Supervisor Paul Biane, Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for erstwhile county Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

Read more:

http://www.pe.com/articles/merritt-814087-case-mcstay.html

Alessandra_Deux wrote:McStay family murder trial conflicts with Colonies corruption trial

BY JOE NELSON  / STAFF WRITER  
Published: Sept. 23, 2016 6:10 p.m.

The attorney for McStay family murder suspect Charles "Chase" Merritt told a San Bernardino Superior Court judge Friday he cannot begin trial until he finishes defending another client in a public corruption case, scheduled to begin Oct. 17 that could last seven months.

Merritt’s attorney, Rajan Maline, is defending former San Bernardino County Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin in the far-reaching Colonies corruption case. In that case, prosecutors allege Erwin and two former top county officials conspired with a Rancho Cucamonga developer to fix a $102 million settlement between the county and Rancho Cucamonga investor group Colonies Partners LP in November 2006 in exchange for bribes.

Also charged in the Colonies case are former county Supervisor Paul Biane, Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for erstwhile county Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

Read more:

http://www.pe.com/articles/merritt-814087-case-mcstay.html

From this article:
""I think it is progressing very rapidly," Maline said."

Seriously??? Really??? You don't say???

No one else at the law firm is capable of defending him
?
IIRC, he wanted to defend himself at one time...

Make sure he is locked up, first, and agree to the trial delay..
Charge him each day for room and board.... and see how fast that atty changes his mind!

People v. Merritt: Court Schedule

FVI1404194

Upcoming Hearing October 21, 2016

Trial Readiness Conference

https://mcstayfamilymurdersthetrial.com/people-v-merritt-court-schedule/

Postponement pushes trial in McStay slayings again; testimony not set until January

By Teri Figueroa

July 22, 2018, 6:00 AM

Just as trial for a man accused of killing a Fallbrook family of four was about to start, it’s been postponed again.

Jury selection was supposed to begin at the end of July in the quadruple-homicide trial facing Charles “Chase” Merritt, who is accused in the beating deaths of business associate Joseph McStay, McStay’s wife and their two preschool-aged sons.

Read more:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-mcstay-postponed-20180718-story.html

California Man on Trial for Alleged Murder of Family of 4
January 7, 2019

"....Opening statements are expected Jan. 07 in San Bernardino County, where the family’s remains were found. ...."

"....Merritt, who was a business associate of McStay, has pleaded not guilty. Merritt could face the death penalty if convicted

Authorities have said Merritt’s cellphone was traced to the remote gravesites and to a call days later seeking to close out his then-missing business partner’s online bookkeeping account. ...."

".....Investigators have said they spoke with Merritt shortly after the family went missing and noticed he referred to them in the past tense. They also have said a customer service representative told them he received a call about McStay’s QuickBooks account, which he used to pay vendors connected to his water features business, after he vanished.

The call, according to authorities, was placed from Merritt’s cellphone.  ....."

https://www.ntd.com/california-man-on-trial-for-alleged-murder-of-family-of-4_273713.html?fbclid=IwAR3btEDFEWThb0xtVl88jBKVTeUuje5jPU4hdebjJsu9HeU4clYfMlOiECs

Defense: Other Partner Killed Mcstays, Buried Them in Desert
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 8, 2019 Updated: January 8, 2019

"....SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—Greed, debt, and a gambling problem drove a Southern California man to kill his business partner’s family with a sledgehammer and bury their bodies in the desert, prosecutors said on Jan. 7.

But the defense said authorities are charging the wrong man and the real culprit is another business partner. ...."  


"...Sean Daugherty, supervising deputy district attorney for San Bernardino County, told jurors that Merritt wrote checks for more than $21,000 on his partner’s online bookkeeping account after the family was last seen alive in February 2010, the Sun newspaper of San Bernardino reported. ..."


"... But Rajan Maline, Merritt’s attorney, said prosecutors ignored a prime suspect: Another McStay business partner that Maline said stole $7,900 from McStay’s account in the days after the family vanished.

“The only reason he did that is because he knew Joseph wasn’t coming back,” Maline said...."

https://www.theepochtimes.com/defense-other-partner-killed-mcstays-buried-them-in-desert_2760570.html?fbclid=IwAR1KScHrNQoAfBKVOnnGVyzui_6Tp0vQmcFoo0ULuvD8IbQxqfBQrxcyHvE


Anyway there were two involved in these murders?

Freckles wrote:California Man on Trial for Alleged Murder of Family of 4
January 7, 2019

"....Opening statements are expected Jan. 07 in San Bernardino County, where the family’s remains were found. ...."

"....Merritt, who was a business associate of McStay, has pleaded not guilty. Merritt could face the death penalty if convicted

Authorities have said Merritt’s cellphone was traced to the remote gravesites and to a call days later seeking to close out his then-missing business partner’s online bookkeeping account. ...."

".....Investigators have said they spoke with Merritt shortly after the family went missing and noticed he referred to them in the past tense. They also have said a customer service representative told them he received a call about McStay’s QuickBooks account, which he used to pay vendors connected to his water features business, after he vanished.

The call, according to authorities, was placed from Merritt’s cellphone.  ....."

https://www.ntd.com/california-man-on-trial-for-alleged-murder-of-family-of-4_273713.html?fbclid=IwAR3btEDFEWThb0xtVl88jBKVTeUuje5jPU4hdebjJsu9HeU4clYfMlOiECs

JURY HAS VERDDICT> JUDGE WILL READ ON MONDAY>

His atty reports he did not do the killing.
He does admit to stealing money from the McStay family.
He says another co worker killed them.


This info is from KFI radio. https://www.iheart.com/live/kfi-177/?pname=15400&campid=header&cid=index.html

California man, 62, is found guilty of murder his business associate's entire family including two young children with a sledgehammer and burying them in the desert 'because the victim owed him money'

Charles 'Chase' Merritt was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder

Jury convicted Merritt of bludgeoning to death Joseph McStay, McStay's wife, Summer, and the couple's sons, 4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr


"... Prosecutors say Merritt killed the family with a sledgehammer at a time when he owed McStay $30,000 and was being cut out of the victim's business making and selling custom water fountains, reported KTLA5.

The jury also found the special circumstance of multiple murders. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty if Merritt was convicted, and the penalty phase of the trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday. ..."

"... 'It was blow, after blow, after blow to a child's skull,' the Los Angeles Times reported prosecutor Britt Imes said during closing arguments. ,,,"


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7122943/A-family-vanished-dead-desert-Now-verdict.html

Additional information.....
can't locate the sentencing....

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/charles-chase-merritt-california-man-guilty-of-killing-family-of-4-found-in-desert-graves-verdict-today-2019-06-10/

The Jury recommended the death penalty, Chase Merritt will be formally setenced on the 27th of September.

Read more here:

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/06/24/jury-recommends-death-for-charles-chase-merritt-in-mcstay-family-slaying/amp/

Alessandra_Deux wrote:The Jury recommended the death penalty, Chase Merritt will be formally setenced on the 27th of September.

Read more here:

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/06/24/jury-recommends-death-for-charles-chase-merritt-in-mcstay-family-slaying/amp/

Thank you! I had been waiting and looking for the outcome of the sentencing...
Not like a death penalty means anything in California...

Alessandra_Deux wrote:The Jury recommended the death penalty, Chase Merritt will be formally setenced on the 27th of September.

Read more here:

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/06/24/jury-recommends-death-for-charles-chase-merritt-in-mcstay-family-slaying/amp/

Any news ?
Even if he got the death penalty, the current gov Gavin Newcomb, has suspended all executions.
There are over a thousand waiting on death row currently.....

Wiki info on the case....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McStay_family_murder

In June, Chase Merritt was found guilty of killing the McStay family of Fallbrook in 2010. On Friday, his sentencing was pushed back to December
By TERI FIGUEROA

SEP. 27, 2019 1:18 PM
" SAN BERNARDINO —  Sentencing for a 62-year-old man found guilty of killing a Fallbrook family was postponed Friday, after a dispute led one of his defense lawyers to seek permission to be taken off the case.
Charles “Chase” Merritt — who the jury recommended be put to death — was scheduled to be sentenced Friday for the beating deaths of his business associate, 40-year-old Joseph McStay, and McStay’s wife and two preschool-age sons. ...."

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2019-09-27/dispute-involving-attorney-delays-sentencing-for-man-convicted-of-killing-mcstay-family

https://www.sbsun.com/2019/09/27/merritt-murder-sentencing-postponed-as-2-of-his-3-attorneys-attempt-to-pull-out-of-case/

" ....San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Smith agreed to postpone Merritt’s sentencing until Dec. 13 — less than two months shy of 10 years since the family vanished from their Fallbrook home. ...."

"....The panel said Merritt should receive life in prison without parole for Joseph McStay’s death.

But they recommended he be executed for also killing McStay’s 43-year-old wife Summer Mcstay, and the couple’s two sons. Gianni, 4, and Joey Jr., 3......"

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2019-09-27/dispute-involving-attorney-delays-sentencing-for-man-convicted-of-killing-mcstay-family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0JuFAAjjR0

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2019/09/27/merritt-murder-sentencing-postponed-as-2-of-his-3-attorneys-attempt-to-pull-out-of-case/

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2019/09/25/mcstay-family-slaying-lead-defense-attorney-seeks-withdrawal-from-case-delaying-merritt-sentencing/

2014

Man is sentenced to death for murdering family of four, including boys aged 3 and 4, with a sledgehammer before burying them in the Mojave Desert in 2010

"... Investigators have said they spoke with Joseph's business partner, Merritt, shortly after the family went missing and noticed he referred to them in the past tense.

They also have said a customer service representative told them he received a call about McStay's QuickBooks account, which he used to pay vendors connected to his water features business, after he vanished.

The call, according to authorities, was placed from Merritt's cellphone on February 6, 2010, near the location in the desert where the family's skeletal remains would later be found.

Merritt served time in prison for burglary and receiving stolen property in the 1970s and 80, reported the Los Angeles Times.

In 2001, he pleaded no contest to burglary and grand theft, earning him a six-month stint in jail followed by probation.

Eventually, he was hired by Joseph McStay's company, Earth Inspired Products, to design decorative water fountains, but his troubles continued as he racked up gambling debts and more than $20,000 in unpaid taxes, according to court documents.

McStay's other business partner, Daniel Kavanaugh, told investigators that Joseph had planned to fire Merritt before he went missing with his family....."



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7913499/California-man-sentenced-death-killing-family-4.html