The McStay Family Disappearance and Murder
A Decade Long Story that Continues to Unfold
February 4, 2010, was the last day anyone could contact a member of the McStay family. In Fallbrook, CA, their home was fifty miles north of San Diego and twenty miles inland from the Pacific coast. The family consisted of Joseph McStay, 40, the father and co-owner of a company that built custom, high-end water features and structures for businesses worldwide. His stay-at-home wife, Summer, and their two sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3.
Authorities Original Theory
According to authorities, the family left voluntarily and traveled to Mexico based on two facts. First, the family’s vehicle was found two blocks from the Mexico border in a parking lot. Security guards said the SUV was parked in the lot between 5:30 and 7 pm on February 8. At 7 pm, authorities believe border tape shows a family closely resembling the McStays crossing into Mexico. Second, internet searches on Summer McStay’s home computer related to getting a passport for a child and travel information about Mexico were turned up by a police investigation. The voluntary part of their disappearance was questionable. When their home was finally searched, authorities found bowls of popcorn that had not been eaten. The family dogs were home alone, without sufficient food or water. Although relatives of the McStay’s…
