The Sledgehammer // 005

February 4th, 2010 left one family’s lives forever mysteriously frozen in time inside of their Fallbrook, CA home. The television was left on, two bowls of popcorn remained on the couch, and the dogs were still out back barking. Joseph, Summer, Joseph Jr., and Gianni McStay had seemingly vanished into thin air. Four days later their vehicle was found abandoned near the U.S./Mexico border - but the case went cold for nearly four years until their bodies were discovered buried in a shallow grave in the harsh Mojave desertscape near Victorville, CA. Police were ultimately left wondering if Joseph McStay's partner in business eventually turned into a partner in crime. 

Written/Audio Sources: 

• Exclusive Video Inside the Missing McStay Family Home Part 1

• McStay family deaths still unsolved

• McStay suspect interviewed by CNN

• Missing McStay Family Press Conference

• CA: MCSTAY FAMILY MURDERED: SHERIFF-SUSPECT ARRESTED

• Suspect Arrested in McStay Family Murders: Press Conference

• Patrick McStay: It feels like a boulder falling on me

• McStay Family Murder Trial Prosecution Opening Statements

• Joey McStay’s Father Patrick McStay Discusses the McStay Family Murder Trial

• McStay Family Murder Trial Prosecution Closing Arguments Part 1

• Charles Merritt Used Past Tense

• McStay Trial Verdict

• McStay Family Murder Penalty Phase Prosecution Opening Statement

• Deep Information about McStay Murders

• Death Hammer Used as Prop

• Key Prosecution Evidence “Flopped”, Defense Contends

• Timeline of McStay Missing, Found, Suspect Arrest

• Defense Claims Another Business Associate Killed Family

• Prosecutor to jury: 'Greed' motivated killings of McStay family members

• Charles Merritt’s DNA Found in McStay Family Car: Search Warrants

• Timeline: McStay Family Slayings

• Jury recommends death penalty for Merritt

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ®.