Episode 165

full
Published on:

9th Mar 2025

[TRUE CRIME] The McStay Family - A Twisted Tale of Secrets

On February 4, 2010, Joey and Summer McStay, along with their two young sons, disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California. For four years, theories ran wild—had they left voluntarily? Were they living in Mexico? But in 2013, the truth surfaced in the most horrific way: the remains of the entire McStay family were found in shallow graves in the desert.

 

Who was responsible for this terrible crime? Who was responsible?

 

In this episode of Beach House 34, we break down the timeline, the financial red flags, and the eerie clues that make this one of the most perplexing true crime cases in recent history.

 

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📌 Next week: A paranormal mystery centered around a single, cursed item. You won’t want to miss it!

 

Sources for the Episode:

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

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005025/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Nov/15/timeline-mcstay-disappearance-case/

 

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/timeline-mcstay-family-mystery-fallbrook-disappearance/1936736/

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20141230083421/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mcstay-family-new-details-20141107-story.html

 

http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/45499/

 

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-victorville-bodies-mcstay-families-20131114%2C0%2C5975246.story

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20151107040416/http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/11/20/mcstay-memorial-erected-in-victorville/

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20141109032316/http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/08/us/mcstay-suspect-chase-merritt/

 

Additional Sources:

ID Network Documentary: Two Shallow Graves

CNN Documentary: Buried Secrets: Who Murdered the McStay Family?

Court Trial Transcripts: The People v. Charles Merritt

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Press Releases

Statements and Interviews from Family Members

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Kristine W

Lover of true crime, scary stories, horror films, and ghost hunting. Kristine is a down-to-earth, opinionated, smart-mouthed Gen X'er who enjoys sharing these stories with you.