California Man on Trial for Alleged Murder of Family of 4

Charles "Chase" Merritt, who is charged in the deaths of a family of four whose bodies were found three years after their disappearance, waits for his preliminary hearing in San Bernardino, Calif. Opening statements are expected Monday, Jan. 7, 2018, in the trial of Merritt for the murders of Joseph McStay, McStay’s wife Summer and their 3- and 4-year-old sons. The family disappeared from their San Diego County home in 2010. Three years later, their bodies were found in a remote desert location. John Gibbins/The San Diego Union-Tribune/AP

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—For years, the disappearance of the McStay family from their San Diego County home puzzled investigators, with no signs of forced entry and the couple’s credit cards untouched.

After their remains were found years later in a remote desert location more than 100 miles away, authorities charged a Southern California man with the killings, alleging he bludgeoned his business partner, partner’s wife and two young sons with a sledgehammer before burying them.

Now, 61-year-old Charles “Chase” Merritt is facing trial in the murder of Joseph McStay, McStay’s wife Summer, and their 3- and 4-year-old boys. 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.

Michael McStay, brother of the victims, and Susan Blake, their mother, arrive at court for the preliminary hearing for accused killer Chase Merritt in San Bernardino, Calif. Opening statements are expected Monday, Jan. 7, 2018. John Gibbins/The San Diego Union-Tribune/AP

They also have said Merritt’s DNA was discovered on the steering wheel and gearshift of McStay’s SUV, which was impounded near the Mexican border a few days after the family vanished.

Defense attorney James McGee said that DNA could have been transferred to the vehicle by McStay after he met with Merritt shortly before the family vanished. McGee also said none of Merritt’s DNA was found at the gravesites but DNA belonging to other unidentified individuals had turned up there.

“From the evidence the government is going to present, our argument is going to be: You had the wrong guy,” McGee said.

People place crosses near the graves where the McStay family was found in Victorville, Calif. John Gibbins/The San Diego Union-Tribune/AP

Britt Imes, supervising deputy district attorney for San Bernardino County, said he could not comment on ongoing cases.

The McStay family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, which is about 50 miles north of San Diego, in 2010. Their remains were found in San Bernardino County in 2013 along with a 3-pound sledgehammer and a child’s pants and diaper. Authorities have said all four victims were believed to have been killed by blunt force trauma to the head.

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.