The McStay Mystery - A Missing Family Found Dead

A timeline of what happened before and after their disappearance.

In November of 2009, the McStay family had purchased a home in Fallbrook, California.

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The McStay couple moved in with their two sons and their dogs. They were in the middle of remodeling and settling in.

During the first week of February, the home was found as if the family had disappeared into thin air.

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Family members started to realize there was something wrong when they weren't able to contact the family of four. They realized the McStays had been missing since February 4th. Their dogs had been left in their yard for a few days, and food was left out in the kitchen counter, as if they left in a rush or intended on returning. No forced entry was found.

Joseph and Summer McStay

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Joseph owned a company that designed interior decorative fountains. Reports later showed that in the past, Summer had changed her name twice. The media blew up the information which lead many to believe she was behind the mystery, but there was no evidence to prove that was relevant to the case.

Joseph McStay Jr. (Age 3)

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Friends and family described the McStays as happy and free spirited people.

Gianni McStay

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Officials released fliers and asked Mexican authorities to search airports, bus stations and other major transportation areas.

February 8th, 2010 -Their car was found, abandoned.

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Their 1996 Isuzu Trooper was towed from a parking lot near San Ysidro, CA. This location was only two blocks away from the Mexican border.

March 5th, 2010 - a video was released.

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It was a video of a family of four crossing the mexican border. San Diego deputies suggested it was possibly the missing family. The video was dated February 8th.

April 9th, 2013- Investigators announce that the McStays left to Mexico voluntarily.

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After three years of an intense search with hundreds of tips, the case was now closed. Investigators announced that they believed the family in the surveillance video crossing the border were the McStays. Many argued that it was too unclear to tell, so they continued their search, but it was ended on April 9th, 2013.

November 11, 2013 - Human bones are discovered in the Mojave Desert.

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A motorcycle rider discovered bones, but wasn't sure if they were animal or human remains. He reported it to the authorities. Investigators found two shallow graves with two human remains in each. Four days later, it is verified that they are the remains of Joseph, Summer, Joseph Jr., and Gianni McStay.

RIP McStay family

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The statements above are a combination of reports I've read while following the story the last 3 years. There we're many assumptions and accusations, but all theories aside, whoever did this had the unforgivable ability to harm children. The McStay family says they don't have much faith in law enforcement, but they hope justice will be served.