Chase Merritt GUILTY

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

I can't believe it.....Chase Merritt has been found guilty in the killing of the entire McStay Family. This was special circumstance trial. He might get the death penalty. I listened to all 4 of the verdicts. They did not include the rape of Summer McStay. I guess they could not prove it. The prosecution theories Merritt had been discovered to stealing from his business partner, Joseph McStay. Merritt went to their house. And killed them.

I was so sure he would walk. It was a tough trial. Merritt was arrested in 2014. It took 5 years just to bring him to trial. He kept firing his defence lawyers. At one point, he decided to represent himself. When he found his team of lawyers, they successfully stalled the trail for over 2 years.

Love my grandkids · ‎11-24-2013

@songbird I CAN believe it. The verdict is the right one.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

Interesting, considering there was no physical evidence; right.

If so, I think that that should exclude the death penalty and that he should get life in prison w/o parole.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

The only physical evidence was DNA of Merritt in the McStay family car (on the wheel, etc). And some of the hairs of the children were found among his clothes, transferred to his car, etc.. Fibers from a rug. Most of the evidence was circumstantial. He made a 100 mile drive to their house to kill them. The drove to the desert to bury them. Then he drove their car to the border to make it look like they crossed over to Mexico. His called his girlfriend to come and pick him up. Bulk of the evidence was circumstantial. The police did not release the evidence to the public. So there might have been more shown during the trial. It was hard to keep up with the trial. No cameras were allowed.

He already pleased guilty to stealing money from the business. Merritt was McStay's partner in the business.

Montana · ‎03-09-2010

If interested, you can watch the verdict reading here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yYDa2F6qrRc

”McStay Family Murder Trial Verdict 06/10/19”

SeaGal · ‎03-09-2010

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Interesting, considering there was no physical evidence; right.

If so, I think that that should exclude the death penalty and that he should get life in prison w/o parole.

@suzyQ3 According with the penal code he was charged under says more than 1 murder qualifies you for a special circumstances case. Special circumstance cases are a qualifier for the death penalty.

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Interesting, considering there was no physical evidence; right.

If so, I think that that should exclude the death penalty and that he should get life in prison w/o parole.

If a jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, he killed four people including two young children and IMO deserves the death penalty. Circumstantial evidence, esp. a lot of compelling circumstantial evidence, is as good as physical evidence and oftentimes more reliable than witnesses (who can be very unreliable).

RetRN · ‎10-01-2013

Murder four innocent people, no punishment is adequate. I sure hope he gets the death penalty.

songbird · ‎03-21-2010

@RetRN wrote:
Murder four innocent people, no punishment is adequate. I sure hope he gets the death penalty.

He did more then that. After he strangled the husband (he was found with cord around his neck) I'm almost sure he raped Summer. (the police believe he did) I think she was protecting her children. He took them by surprise, suddenly showing up like that while they were preparing lunch. The murder weapon was a sledgehammer (which was buried with them) used on Summer and the children. After they were discovered missing, the house was a mess. Eggs and cereal left on the table. Evidence of something suddenly happening. The two beloved dogs left behind in the yard with no food.

Merritt had spent time in prison before he became a business partner with Joseph McStay.

Pearlee · ‎06-11-2011

@songbird wrote:
@RetRN wrote:
Murder four innocent people, no punishment is adequate. I sure hope he gets the death penalty.
He did more then that. After he strangled the husband (he was found with cord around his neck) I'm almost sure he raped Summer. (the police believe he did) I think she was protecting her children. He took them by surprise, suddenly showing up like that while they were preparing lunch. The murder weapon was a sledgehammer (which was buried with them) used on Summer and the children. After they were discovered missing, the house was a mess. Eggs and cereal left on the table. Evidence of something suddenly happening. The two beloved dogs left behind in the yard with no food.

Merritt had spent time in prison before he became a business partner with Joseph McStay.

There is this too, according to People. (By the way, he was not convicted of rape).

"Merritt’s cellphone was also traced to the burial site area [which was out in the desert] in the days following the McStays’ disappearance." I don't think Merritt was just in the area taking a joy ride!