The McStay family went missing from their home in Falbrook, CA, in February of 2010. Joseph McStay, 40, and his wife Summer, 43, apparently left home in their Isuzu Trooper on the night of February 4 with their two children–Gianni, 4, and Joseph, Jr., 3. Aside from a call Joseph made to one of his co-workers that night, the family has never been heard from again.
There was no sign of forced entry or struggle at the home, which the family had only recently moved into. On February 8, the Trooper was towed from a strip mall parking lot within walking distance of a pedestrian crossing into Mexico. The police scoured video footage from the crossing that night, and concluded that one group of people walking across the border–a man holding the hand of a small boy, followed by a woman holding the hand of another small boy–could very well have been the McStay family. The woman is wearing boots and jackets similar to ones owned by Summer, but family members say the man is too tall and thin to be Jospeh McStay.
While detectives believe the family may have willingly traveled to Mexico–based in part upon an internet search conducted at the
home about children visiting Mexico–the fact that they did not return seems to indicate foul play. The family left $40,000 in their personal checking and savings accounts, money which has not been accessed since their disappearance. Joseph also had $65,000 in a business account, and the small withdrawals that have been made from that account are business expense withdrawals conducted by employees. The McStays maintained close relationships with Joseph’s parents, his brother, and Summer’s sister, and Joseph was also very close to his 14-year-old son by a previous marriage. Family members insist they would never abandon their loved ones intentionally. They also left behind two dogs, beloved family pets.
Their story was featured in May on Vanished with Beth Holloway. View the episode here. Joseph’s youtube channel, last updated in January of 2010, includes cute family videos of the kids experimenting in the kitchen while the parents look on encouragingly, among other ordinary family happenings. The impression one gets in the videos is of a loving, ordinary family–certainly not parents who plan to abandon their lives, bank accounts, and home for a new start South-of-the border. Visit the McStay family website here.
Is it possible for some experts possibly FBI to age the photos of the family so we can have a
Better understanding of how they may look like 2yrs later
My theories….
A. The parents were caught in some shady offer to help identify some criminals (or else be charged with a crime) who were laundering money(connections obtained through their career(s)), but, in doing so, ended up getting screwed over by the very people who promised to keep their identity quiet. Hence, why they didn’t withdraw money or contact their family before suddenly disappearing.
B. The parents were involved in some shady deals and the people they invited into their homes ended up being some very bad hombres who bumped the parents off but abducted the children to live with a new family.
C. Either one or both of the parents felt completely alienated by living in the U.S. and, rather than explain themselves and hurt the feelings of their relatives, just disappeared to live out their version of how life should be lived. Not touching the cash left in the bank account? Just in case they changed their minds.
These are some pretty damn good theories….
I know this has probably already been done or thought of but have you not considered getting a psychic or spiritualist involved in the investigation I know that the FBI have used them before
I blogged somewhat extensively on this family and articulated several theories as to what happened. I do believe they are all alive (happy to say that). The version you apparently encountered–and this is the one I encountered at first–is of an average middle class American family “mysteriously” disappearing. It’s not really the case.
A few facts of which you might not be aware: The McStays owned land in South America. They were making computer queries for passport requirements into Mexico on their computer (despite S.M.’s pronouncement she would never go there). Joseph McStay’s father, Patrick McStay, with whom both J.M. and S.M. shared a business, was extradited on federal charges from the state of Texas to Louisiana.
J.M.’s business partner alleges he could have been carrying at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash on him. And they left when the economy was seriously tanking. If nothing else, these facts gave me a much different take on what really happened to the McStays, who I am convinced left willingly. I do believe that’s J.M. on the videotape. He had shaved his head so his profile looked different. People can appear “thinner” or “taller” on cheap, grainy surveillance video because of distortions.
Those boots she was wearing are not that common. Even with the ridiculous number of people who cross that border. And the kids’ distinctive headgear.
One last mote to trouble the mind: the reward for finding the McStays has stayed at a ridiculously low figure for years. Despite the fact that the family has undoubtedly received millions of dollars at this point and continues to collect money. I’ve never heard of a “reward” that low. For a family of four. Totally suspicious or totally embarrassing. Take your pick.
And what about the wife? Her name isn’t “Summer”–she was born Lisa Aronda and has used several aliases since. I think she is the key to the mystery and I wouln’t be surprised if she were some kind of grifter. why else would you keep changing your name and moving? Either they left because she needed to run again or the two of them stole big bucks and had to leave.
They’ve been spotted several times in Mexico. They could have been robbed/killed by federalis. While it is normal for American expats to retire there, a family of four should really stand out. I agree increasing the reward money would probably flush them out, esp in a poor country.
Not to sound judgmental, but the family exuded a 1960s hippie like quality in terms of their appearance and lifestyle. (Of course, this being the 2010s decade, they nevertheless maintained the upper middle class lifestyle that was rejected by their counterparts nearly fifty years ago). With the car being abandoned near the Mexican border, I am suspecting some sort of shady drug related deal. I saw a program about this case, and they interviewed Joseph’s business partner. I read more about him, and it looked as if he was not leading the type of lavish lifestyle that Joseph had been leading. While their business was doing well enough, the stark differences in lifestyles between Joseph and his partner indicate to me that the McStays were earning extra money in some other manner. The program was also not especially flattering of Summer McStay, who was more or less depicted as an ambitious and class conscious Southern California wife who shut out Joseph’s family from his first marriage (including his son) and even his mother whom Summer dismissed as not being “one of the four”, that is, the McStays and their two sons. I hate to say this, but I think Summer persuaded her husband to engage in some murky dealings, and the family paid dearly in some way. Their bodies are probably somewhere in Mexico, where Americans are murdered almost every other week, and the authorities make no attempt to apprehend the criminals nor locate the victims.
I watched the E Invistigation Special on the McStay Family and I truly believe something happened to the family, and I believe the kids are still alive but the parents are not. I really hope this isn’t true and that the family can be brought back safe and sound with their childrem.
My Theory from seeing the show once & reading this website. Someone armed entered the house & forced the family to leave at gunpoint, later killing them in the U.S. & dumping their bodies which have yet to be found (they will be found!). Later the killer drove to the border & walked accross back to Mexico, never to be seen again! Probably the killer was able to get whatever cash they had in the house. Maybe even it was the wife with a male accomplice. the man seen crossing the border with her & the kids.
I must say that my husband and I sometimes talk about the McStay Family. Every couple of months, I say to him, “hmmm so whatever really did happen to the McStay family” It really seems that they they left willingly, but why? Hopefully some day, we’ll all find out, but until then I truly hope that they’re all alive and happy.