Two Shallow Graves- The Mcstay Family Murders Fix Jun 2026

In the weeks before the murder, Merritt was hemorrhaging money. He had written $21,000 in bad checks. He was desperate. Investigators discovered that Merritt had access to Joseph’s QuickBooks account. In the 48 hours after the family vanished, Merritt logged into Joseph’s accounting software and wrote himself three checks totaling $14,500. He also tried to wire money but was foiled by bank security.

The docuseries focuses heavily on the 2019 trial of , Joseph’s business partner. While the prosecution secured a conviction and a death sentence based on cell phone pings and DNA evidence found in the family's abandoned car, Two Shallow Graves challenges the "open and shut" nature of the verdict. Key Evidence Debated in the Series:

Joseph McStay was a successful businessman in his 40s, running a custom water-fountain manufacturing company out of his home in Fallbrook, California. He had a beautiful wife, Summer (43), and two vibrant little boys: Gianni (4) and Joseph Jr. (3). Two Shallow Graves- The McStay Family Murders

Cell tower pings placed Merritt’s phone in the high desert—near the grave site—on the night of the murders. More damningly, his phone pinged near the McStay home in Fallbrook. Merritt lived in Corona, California. There was no innocent reason for him to be in either location.

When Joseph missed a business meeting and a friend went to check on the house, they found the family’s two dogs in the backyard, desperate for food. Inside, the television was on. The family’s favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz , was still in the DVD player. A bag of popcorn sat half-eaten on the couch. The last transaction on the computer was a search for "How to make a money transfer." In the weeks before the murder, Merritt was

The McStay family murders are a tragic reminder of the darker aspects of human nature. The case, which began with a report of a missing family, ultimately led to the discovery of two shallow graves and the conviction of the prime suspect, Michael McStay. The investigation and subsequent trial highlighted the complexities of human behavior and the devastating consequences of violent crime.

Joseph McStay was a successful businessman. He ran a thriving custom water fountain and decorative ironwork business called “Eco Caters” out of his home. To friends and family, the McStays were the picture of the American Dream: a beautiful home, two active sons (4-year-old Gianni and 3-year-old Joseph Jr.), and a future full of promise. The docuseries focuses heavily on the 2019 trial

The only things missing were the family’s 1996 Isuzu Trooper and Joseph’s work laptop.

In 2019, Merritt was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder. The prosecution argued he killed the family in a fit of rage over a $21,000 dispute. He beat Joseph and Summer to death with a sledgehammer. The boys, likely woken by the noise, were then killed to eliminate witnesses.

For nearly four years, the world looked for the McStays in Mexico, in Canada, in hiding. They were never lost. They were just two and a half miles from home, waiting in the dirt to be found.

: The family’s dogs were found in the backyard without food or water.