The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department then became the lead investigative agency on the case and in November 2014, Merritt – a sub-contractor who worked for Joseph McStay’s fountain manufacturing business – was arrested and charged with the killings.
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Merritt stands charged with four counts of kill for the deaths of Joseph McStay, 40, his wife, Summer, 43, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, on or around February 4, 2010.
The death penalty will be sought against the suspect accused of killing all four members of the McStay family and disposing their bodies in a shallow desert grave in San Bernardino County.
Authorities found the victims’ remains along with a rusty 3-pound sledgehammer and a child’s trousers and diaper in San Bernardino County.
District Attorney Mike Ramos filed notice Monday in San Bernardino County Superior Court in the case against Charles Ray Merritt, who is being held without bail.
According to the documents, Merritt was the only person in the investigation with knowledge of the high desert where the McStay family remains were discovered and his sister lives a few miles from the grave sites. Also, McStay was going to fire Merritt.
He pleaded not guilty to charges in the murders of the McStay family.
Investigators say a third business associate, Daniel Kavanaugh, also told them that McStay was planning to fire Merritt from his water features business. Merritt also owed more than $20,000 in back taxes.
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Financial records showed checks from Joseph’s McStay’s business account written to the defendant the day after the family disappeared, according to the testimony. Mr. Merritt is innocent and the evidence will eventually prove that.
