Issues 3/29/10 McStay Family - Part 1

The McStay Family, Joseph McStay, Summer McStay

E-mails link McStays to Mexico, authorities say

FALLBROOK — Sheriffs investigators say a missing Fallbrook familys computer records indicate they had been looking into passport rules for children traveling to Mexico shortly before they disappeared.

Homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos said Monday that investigators found e-mails sent to unspecified recipients in late January that indicated Joseph and Summer McStay were asking about entry into Mexico.

The couple and their two small children, who lived in Fallbrook, were last seen Feb. 4. Their sport utility vehicle was found parked near the U.S.-Mexico border four days later.

It appears they went into Mexico of their own volition, said Brugos, who would not say to whom the e-mails were sent. There is nothing to suggest any coercion or anything like that, at least that we have uncovered this still isnt a criminal investigation.

Relatives, however, say they are baffled by the McStays disappearance and are skeptical that the family is in Mexico. They said the couple had not given any indication to relatives that they were going anywhere.

Joseph McStay, 40, runs an indoor water fountain business.

The whole thing does not make any sense to me at all, said Josephs brother, Mike McStay, who lives in Orange County.

Friends and relatives have also said that Summer McStay, 43, had expressed concerns about safety in Mexico in the past. While her husband had traveled there, she wasnt interested in going with the children, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3.

Their home showed no signs of a planned trip: Perishable food had been left out in the kitchen, their two dogs were left uncared for, and Summer McStays passport was expired. Investigators confirmed that Joseph McStay had a valid passport, though the children did not.

Sherriffs investigators have been working with Baja California state police, which has followed up on tips and checked hotels, transportation centers, hospitals, the Tijuana morgue and other places without success.

The McStays white Isuzu Trooper was found in a parking lot by the border in San Ysidro Feb. 8, the same night a Border Patrol video recorded two adults and two small children walking toward the border turnstile into Mexico. However, investigators have not been able to enhance the video enough to identify the people.

Investigators have also viewed a surveillance video taken by a neighbors security camera Feb 4. that shows a vehicle backing out of the McStays driveway at 7:47 p.m. The tape ended at about midnight, said Mike McStay, who has also seen it, and there is no sign of the car returning before then.

Brugos said because of the angle, the tape does not show people getting into the car, and that it is also difficult to identify the vehicle.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• The McStay Family
• Joseph McStay
• Summer McStay

[sooouuuuper]

have they found them yet - how can ppl just disappear ? -

[Sierra1947]

@sooouuuuper Nope, they haven't been found yet.

[trav022007]

im not suggesting anything but why is Joseph the only one responding to the media, this whole story is puzzling.

[Sierra1947]

@trav022007 Joseph is the one missing; it is Michael who is responding to the media. It's not unusual to only have one member in the family to be the spokesperson. I agree, this story is puzzling for sure.

[barry27able]

that must be the most awfull thing ever not knowing were family members are....

my head couldn't cope with that!! fuck no....

[xltoday]

@RandiSierra thxs for hanging out with me!!!!!!!!!

[RandiSierra]

@xltoday Plus it's hard to put in all kinds of furniture, unload the pods, etc. just to have to move the stuff in order to put in the new floor.

[RandiSierra]

@xltoday Maybe she wanted to make a playroom for her little guys when all the remodeling was done. The next Top Chefs, unisex toys like dollhouses or each their own little playhouse. And knew Joey would lag with the upgrades important to her if she furnished the whole house, and there was nothing to motivate him without living and sleeping on temporary furniture.

[RandiSierra]

@tquinlan5 Who?

[tquinlan5]

Why do these women look skinny in the face but are fat as fuck

[1Gavinsmommy]

I think they were murdered. Or she killed the husband and left with the kids. Everyone says that looks just like summer in the video but not the husband? Hmmmm

[1Gavinsmommy]

Is there any news on this family? How do 4 people just disappear? Sooo sad

[cal8dy]

it's been 1yr since they disappeared and yet there's nothing....

[twins100803]

Alive? We can only hope. The brother has all

Of the answers. Just listen to his answers. He makes them

Sound like the Brady bunch. Mom has changed her name like 6 times, wonder why? Then the bro claims that his bro prob went to mx for economic reason and when asked why would he go to mx for money he said "people do stupid things for money" hmmm . The only ones I feel bad for are the kids.