CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #13

[katydid23]

Well, the defense might take that lemon and squeeze some lemonade from it lol. As in, look at this guy standing in this huge hole he just dug. Clearly he knew about high desert terrain and composition, would someone with this knowledge and experience really choose such a visible, difficult spot to dig two graves to bury 4 people? Surely he knew of better, less visible places that were easier to dig.

With the rains, he couldn't go too far off the roads.

 

[katydid23]

Lots of men gamble and are irresponsible with money. And most of them never murder anyone.

True. But if one of those addicted gamblers begins stealing blank checks from his boss, and then hacks into his boba's Book account and creates checks to himself, and deletes them, then CASHES THEM, by forging the bosses signature------Would that increase the possibility that the gambler might feel cornered and agitated and possibly it could end in violence?

 

[katydid23]

Yes, and there is no smoking gun in this case, and no proof of motive (as of yet) imo as to why he would have wanted to murder not only Joey but also the entire family. Everything I have learned about this case thus far leads me to conclude that Joey was worth far more alive to Chase than disappeared/dead. All imo.

Would Joey be worth something alive and well, even if he were going to distance himself from Chase and if he confronted Chase about the missing blank checks?
Maybe in a case like that , where Joey might say that Chase already owed him thousands of dollars and he wasn't going to pay him anymore until that was paid back, Chase wouldn't feel that Joey was worth more alive than dead?

 

[mrjitty]

They argued about the call throughout the weekend, the weekend he was mostly absent.

It's funny to me now, a third witness to the call. Taylor now all of a sudden is there watching the movie with Pops, on a "normal night".

How long did the defense prep her for? Three hours?

Exactly

This is fake testimony and obvious tailoring.

Disgraceful from McGee IMO

 

[mrjitty]

@Tortoise

This sees to be a major issue for the defence?

We know he never got any cheques. He created them himself. So this is clear evidence of alibi creation by Chase

Leticia Juarez‏ @ABC7Leticia 6m6 minutes ago
She recalls Merritt’s last contact with McStay was on Feb 4th. Merritt was on his way to meet McStay for lunch and get checks.​

 

[ehenson88]

BBM: And?? lol Result of that lie detector test please, IF you know?

I don’t know but I don’t think Maline was happy that she said that. Also very telling that she said “my longest interview with them was right after I took the lie detector test.” To me this is pretty damning just in itself. If the test indicated no deception, seems reasonable that they would probably cut her loose. Instead they turned up the heat and interrogated her immediately afterwards, and I think Maline was trying to get it out of her how rough they were with her during this interview yet she maintained her story about the call from Joey. Would make for a solid argument if there was a shred of corroborating evidence - cough cough phone records - I think that was the purpose of Taylor’s testimony but unfortunately that went VERY badly for the defense todayIMO. Hope the jury caught this!

 

[Niner]

Is this case well known in the UK? Canada? Other countries? (How many countries do members on this discussion represent?)

Latvia!

OT: It's a BOY!

So... was Cathy Jarvis the last witness for the day? TIA!

 

[Funky funky]

Is this case well known in the UK? Canada? Other countries? (How many countries do members on this discussion represent?)

Ireland. The disappeared and Laura ling episodes were broadcast over here and the rest as they say is history.

 

[coastal]

OT: It's a BOY!

Congratulations!

He's perfect! Do I see socks??

 

[mrjitty]

Yes, I hav a hard time accepting that the daughter was there on movie night, and watched the call come in and be ignored. And that they would fight about it all weekend. Wouldn't he just call JOey back, no harm, no foul? Why a drawn out argument over one missed call?

We are being played

There comes a point where the defence case becomes too laughable for serious discussion

This was the point

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 14th:
*Trial continues (Day 32) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - McStay Family: Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4) & Joey Jr (3) (Feb. 4, 2010, Fallbrook; found Nov. 11, 2013) - *Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt (57/now 60) arrested (11/5/14) & indicted (11/7/14) of 4 counts of murder with special circumstance; plead not guilty. DP case.
12 jurors & 6 alternates were finalized on Tuesday (12/11/18). 8 women & 4 men, while the alternates include 4 men & 2 women. Trial started 1/7/19. Dark on Fridays.
See Trial Days 1 (1/7/19) thru 26 (2/28/18) links - reference post #541 here:
CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #12
3/4/19 Day 27: Defense arguing against a clip from CNN to be played in court. Which is "I am definitely the last person he saw"). Judge overrules, it will be played. And about photos of video surveillance allegedly showing Merritt's truck are among the issues currently being argued. State witness: Sgt. Ryan Smith (recalled). DA shows CNN clip. DA rests case. Defense asked for dismissal of all charges. Denied. There is a hearing 3/8 re OSC: Failure to comply to subpoena order (Google & Microsoft) without jurors. Jurors will be back in court on Tuesday, 3/12 to hear last State witness re FARO scan testimony by Eugene Liscio. Pros wanted the defense’s witness list, they hadn't received it.
3/8/19 Day 28: On 2/27/19 Subpoena Records Rec’d from: JP Morgan Chase Bank & Arrowhead Reg. Med. Ctr. 2/28/19 Subpoena Recrds Rec’d from: Cable News Network (CNN). 3/4/19 Subpoena Records Rec’d from: CNN & Google. OSC (Order to Show Cause) Contempt hearing scheduled for 3/11. Trial continues on 3/12 @ 9:30am.
3/11/19 Day 29: Added to court site on 3/26 Other Hearing @ 9:30 AM / 9:00 AM Status of Subpoena Duces Tecum (Microsoft).
3/12/19 Day 30: State witness: Eugene Liscio. He is a 3D forensic analyst. He used FARO SCENE software to analyze the neighbor surveillance video showing a vehicle. The prosecution's case-in-chief is over. Defense will begin their case tomorrow, 3/13. Court only in session 2 1/2 days next week. There are several other days coming up that court will not be in session due to attorney schedules, jury schedules, etc.
3/13/19 Day 31: Judge Michael A. Smith is addressing the jury about Gov. Newsom's moratorium on death penalty, "It has no effect on this phase of the trial. Also don't consider that for any purpose. I will guide you on law." Defense witnesses: Sara Taylor Jarvis, Merritt's daughter. Catherine Jarvis, ex of Merritt's. Trial continues on 3/14.
Schedule for week of 3/18: Mon. 3/18-early finish; Tues. 3/19-full trial day, Wed. 3/20-full trial day, Thurs. 3/21 & Fri. 3/22-Dark; Wed. 3/27-late start, possible whole morning off.

 

[ehenson88]

Would Joey be worth something alive and well, even if he were going to distance himself from Chase and if he confronted Chase about the missing blank checks?
Maybe in a case like that , where Joey might say that Chase already owed him thousands of dollars and he wasn't going to pay him anymore until that was paid back, Chase wouldn't feel that Joey was worth more alive than dead?

I think it’s been established that Chase was very impulsive and didn’t act in a way that shows he had any kind of self control/responsibility/was planning for the future. He lived check to check, constantly overdrew his bank account, no savings, gambled thousands when his family was struggling to make rent, burned bridges - many failed business Relationships, theft, felonies, etc. My point is this is not a rational person who would see the value of keeping a good working relationship with Joey for his own future benefit. This was a guy who did just about anything for quick cash (payday loans, gambling, manipulating Joey, Susan Blake, Geist Construction, failing to complete jobs, lying that jobs were completed to receive payment, using cheaper materials, shoddy work that was charged back Joey) and didn’t care who he screwed over in the process. He looked at people and saw dollar signs, nothing more. I think he was very jealous of Joseph, probably thought the guy had so much money he wouldn’t even notice a grand or two missing. He got brave/desperate and cashed that fraudulent check.

Soo to say Joey was worth more alive than dead to Chase doesn’t hold much water IMO. To most rational people - yes that would be the case. But I’ve witnessed manic people/addicts and seen how they destroy everything and anything important around them to get that next high, or fix, etc.

I believe it all came crashing down for Chase when Joseph confronted him. I don’t think he killed Joey FOR the money necessarily, rather most likely flew into a sudden fit of rage when he realized Joseph was going to report him to the authorities and cut ties with him completely. At that point he had absolutely nothing to lose and to gain he had only his freedom and his pride.

I think the backdated checks to himself were probably like an afterthought or bonus for him. Again, no self control...he just couldn’t help himself. And that was his downfall and biggest mistake, without the Quickbooks evidence he likely never would have been arrested.

 

[mrjitty]

We already know chase wasn't at home watching a movie because he missed all the Jarvis calls and finally called her back at 9.30 pm

His daughter has been obviously coached to lie

This tells you everything you need to know

 

[Force Ten]

Maybe he didn't gamble it away. Maybe he won, but just not enough to cover the overwhelming medical bills he had incurred, along with loss of work. This was before ACA went into effect. I can't tell you how many go-fund-mes I got from folks, like Merritt, who had no health insurance.

Well let them produce the paid medical bills.

 

[katydid23]

We are being played

There comes a point where the defence case becomes too laughable for serious discussion

This was the point

Well, apparently, the tweet the reporter sent, was worded poorly. Upon listening to the audio, the daughter did not say she saw the call come in. She says she remembers her parents arguing about the call that weekend.

I still think there is more to the story than a missed phone call though.

 

[Force Ten]

Well, the defense might take that lemon and squeeze some lemonade from it lol. As in, look at this guy standing in this huge hole he just dug. Clearly he knew about high desert terrain and composition, would someone with this knowledge and experience really choose such a visible, difficult spot to dig two graves to bury 4 people? Surely he knew of better, less visible places that were easier to dig.

BBM. He did. He probably underestimated the difficulty digging where he did. Just because it was a poor choice means nothing really. Because he was experienced at mining doesn't mean he was any good at it. Even the guy he went prospecting with suspected he did knowing how to look for placer. Also the place he chose was pretty well hidden from view. He could have been there all day without anyone seeing him.

 

[Tortoise]

We are being played

There comes a point where the defence case becomes too laughable for serious discussion

This was the point

Absolutely.

 

[InspectorGadget]

Excellent point! If it was ignored, it should have gone to VM

Surely if the caller doesn't want to leave a voicemail, it wouldnt go to voicemail?

 

[asyousay]

Is this case well known in the UK? Canada? Other countries? (How many countries do members on this discussion represent?)

I would not say the case is well known in the UK. I signed up for the Dylan Redwine case on here and then got posting on this case as it was intriguing- how does a family of 4 just vanish into thin air.

 

[asyousay]

Surely if the caller doesn't want to leave a voicemail, it wouldnt go to voicemail?

Why wouldn’t Joey want to leave a voicemail though that makes no sense as he called him for a purpose so then if you don’t answer then you leave a message?

People tend to behave logically and so many things have to be suspended to make Chase’s story fit. Do you have proof that Joey never left voicemails messages for people he rung and who didn’t pick up?

He was running a business so leaving voicemail messages is the norm!!