I feel that it is important to indulge the three basic paradigms that the media and cynical America tend to thrust to the forefront of our family’s story.
1. NO – Joey & Summer are NOT part of a Cult.
2. NO – There is NOTHING unsavory about Joey’s business dealings like Geraldo implies.
3. NO – 100% they’re NOT in protective custody – per DOJ, SDSheriff, FBI.
The overwhelming response from most people following our story has been very compassionate. People can see that the missing family is a loving, everyday American couple with two young kids. The media is always looking to sensationalize and extract a scoop that may or may not even exist. Joey is a great brother, friend, business partner
I would like nothing greater than to resolve this case, prove the safety of my family, and dissolve this website and move on. Unfortunately, at this time, it is impossible to do so until our family is convinced that this case is a voluntary missing. If you were in our shoes, I’m sure you would do the same thing;
Thank You for all the love and support.
My brother went missing for a year. He chose to go missing. He had problems in his life he wanted to get away from. It is the most horrible feeling in the world to not know where a loved one is. When I was trying to find out what happened to him I sometimes thought it would be better to find him dead than to never know. It’s so confusing. There are days when u have so much hope they are alive and you don’t understand why they are putting you thru torment by not giving u some clue they are ok. Then there are days where you think something happened to them bc u know they would never put you thru that. It’s just so hard to make since of it. I didn’t give up. Every chance I got I was on the Internet typing his name in to see what came up, went thru websites of john and Jane does, and talking to everyone he knows constantly. Don’t give up even if police do!!! Good luck and I pray for your family.
You should contact Mary manhiem at LSU. She is involved with missing persons cases. She is known for facial reconstructing. They need to be aware of your story if they don’t know of it already. Her department at LSU is known by police all over the country, maybe even all over the world, for helping police. They have a missing persons website. Don’t remember what the website is but if you type in her name (Mary Manhiem) and LSU you should find it. She has even appeared on Forensic Files on Tru Tv. Just an idea to make sure anyone that could possibly at some point help you is aware of your story. Their dept at LSU has connections all over. Dont give up! Use every resource possible. I pray someday you will be at peace.
I saw the show about your family. I will keep them in my prayers and pray that they are safe. I hope that you find out soon where they are and what brought them to this point. Take care and stay strong.
I just saw the show on Nancy Grace, and there was a caller who mentioned a missing family in Oklahoma. Have the police investigated cases of other missing families around the country?
Also, there was a recent arrest of some criminals in San Marcos who were shoplifting Ross stores and using physical intimidation. On the Disappeared show it showed there were toys from Ross in the back of the abandoned car. Has anyone checked to see if they were at the Ross store in San Marcos that day? Maybe Joe confronted the criminals? These guys were not ordinary shoplifters, they had threatened the life of the loss control employees, and were caught with $300,000 dollars in stolen merchandise. Has the Sheriff department investigated any connections?
Just a thought.
This case is still absolutely perplexing to me. I heard once, probably via TV, that when all initial leads have been sought out, go back to the particular day that someone went missing and try to track their last communication activity. I hoping this has already been done, because it would seem that the answer to this mystery lies in the family’s home computer or phone. I’ve been following the case, and I’ve heard that someone in the house was inquiring about passports for children into Mexico, but what else has been found from the computer on that particular day?! Haven’t they checked specific searches and e-mails from that day? Were they meeting someone via craigslist/similar site to make a purchase for the house? Also, have they checked the neighbor’s video camera for any activity earlier that day? I also find it strange that no one ever mentioned the wife’s phone activity for that day. When was the last call received or made from the home phone and her cell phone on the day they went missing? (I heard about the text messages on Nancy Grace, but when was the LAST contact on either of those phones?) As a woman and a housewife myself , I know that women are usually on the phone several times a day to friends or family. Also, you would think that the husband would have called his wife on his way home from his business meeting. It just seems like a lot of things are so vague-like the whole aspect of the husband’s business–very strange that there hasn’t been more information on his meeting that day. I still think the answer might be found on the family’s computer/phone records. Also, I was wondering what was the last purchase on the family’s bank account/credit card made and where?! Per the toys purchased at Ross, it’s likely the family visited the same store on a routine basis. They need to go back to their bank records (it should list the particular store) and go back to that Ross store to question employees. Ross corporate can also match up the specific purchase amount to the particular store for video evidence.
I am writing your family to say I am praying for you each and every day, my family all pray for you and your loved ones, I have seen everything on this case I have followed it so very closely and as some of the previous comments I am also wandering why Ross employees have not been questioned, and why the video from that parking lot has not been looked at, someone walking by or parking or leaving had to see their trooper pull up someone in that vicinity has to know something about how it got there. I know about this video, I stared as hard as I could and something was said about Summer’s uggs and certain details like the hats the boys wear, I missed part of disappeared where Mike says it could have been Summer and possibly the boys but is it my understanding that Mike states he knows for sure it wasent Joey? I saw Nancy Grace and she stated that Summer was working on her real estate liscence, and on disappeared it said she and joey both held liscences. I just try and try to figure out how an entire family went missing and noone saw ANYTHING. The vehicle parking, follow up info on what the search was about on the family computer and does anyone really believe this beautiful family walked away from their lives and family as scared as Summer was about going to mexico? I hope that this is solved and I pray that they do come home to you safe and sound. Has authorities looked into possible links between the missing Oklahoma family and The McStays? Mike, God Bless you and your family and the Aranda’s I pray for their safe return and that you may find the answers you so desperatly need. Stacey in Georgia
I saw the Nancy Grace and Dissapered show on this story. I just can’t get it out of my mind. I did think the inhanced verison of the mexican boarder pictures looked like the family..esp due to the fact that the suv was parked a few blocks away and the group was on foot kinda points to them (plus kids had on hat’s that they always wore, mother had on same jacket and boots she always wore). I did see the little boy (holding his dad’s hand) kept looking at a man walking next to the family..I didn’t see the husbands hair sticking out like his brother said it would, but I couldn’t see the son’s hair either and it is also curly and long, so maybe they cut there hair during the 4 missing day’s to hide their idenity..the mom’s hair did seem long and dark against her light coat. I do think they left the house in some sort of panic or intent to look like a crisis..no one leaves there cell phones (both of them) ..the eggs out and popcorn on the sofa…but..they did leave the dogs outside with food bowl (SO THE DOGS DID EAT) and water (intention was so that someone would be able to hear the dog’s and help them.and they locked the doors (if yr kidnapped i wonder if you would take the time to put the dogs out with there bowl and lock the house or dress for winter like they did)..that might be the largest clue that they just wanted to run away, preasure from renovation..business etc. maybe they just had enough. From the last text and the car leaving the house..there were 4 day’s till the viedo of the ‘family’ entering Mexico. Maybe they were in a hotel and got false id’s..Summer had changed her name several times so she knew how to do this..I think that is also a little strange. I’ve never known anyone to do that esp. more than once or twice. Maybe she had a former boyfriend that stalked her or she had something she was getting away from and she and her husband were afraid. I think it is something to do with her..just my feeling.
I think one or both of them had a break down…they had been thinking about going to mexico because a search was made several day’s before 2/4 (i think it was 1/27)and life had been normal(at least from all accounts on the husbands part with business etc) from the search time till the last day being the 4th or 8th. Why make a search on the internet if you don’t plan on going and taking the kids. I don”t think they cared weather or not they had current passports because they weren’t going to use their names anyhow. I know it is hard for family to understand but if your upset and feel like your loosing yr relationship to ‘life’ then maybe they just felt like they wanted to ditch it all and take off. Maybe they figured that if they left now the kids would learn spanish and not remember there family back in the usa? They might of had money no one knew about. I think they will turn up. It is hard to hide 4 people…they seem to be in control of what they are doing..
My heart breaks for y’all. May you find answers and resolve soon. God bless your hearts and ease your minds. This story touched my heart in a profound way. It will remain in my prayers until it is solved.
I heard about the disappearance on Investigative Discovery. Apparently money was not a motive since the family’s money is untouched. Has investigators thought of the possibility that the children were the motive? Maybe the family was abducted in Mexico, the adults killed and buried somewhere in Mexico and the young children abducted, and sold? I’ve read about young children being kidnapped and sold on the black market. Very young children would probably not know how to contact family and if they become part of a new family, memories of their former family may fade away. Just a thought.
As a ret Sheriffs detective, and going along with that type of thought proscess, i have read and digested everything i could find re this missing family, i at first thought kidnapping, car jacking, could have been done and the car dumped where it was found, as well as them just leaving the US…..i kept returning to the kidnap thought, and dwelled on that for some time, i woke up one night last week and thought how stupid can i be, mr had enough money to buy himself out of almost anything, if he had the ammount in the bank indicated, the thought i am left with is they are in the Fed whit protection program, depending on the case the feds will not give up info re the program to local police no matter what…..let me say that you have some of the best Police and Sheriffs inversigators in the world working on your case, their, both depts, solve rates are some of the best i have ever seen, taken on a case by case basis…. i [pray no harm has come to this family, and it may be they are safe and in good hands but are unable to communicate with you…..
My heart goes out to you and your family. From what I read I don’t believe Joey and his family left voluntarily. Maybe they took a chance and went to Mexico intending to come right back, maybe something to do with the business. Still doesn’t explain the eggs being left out, seems like they left in a big hurry or were forced to leave.
I will be praying for closure. God bless you all.
Was the house a short sale or foreclosure? The old owners might have had some anger about losing their home. When you’re redoing floors and remodeling you don’t want to
leave the dogs in the house when you go out for a bit. Eggs on the counter aren’t a big deal either. Check out the previous owners!
I read the article in People magazine and had to look online for other information. It is so unbelievably baffling and I am so sorry that your family has to be the ones dealing with it. It has to be hard dealing with all the theories and sometimes insensitive people on the web. Stay strong with the knowledge that so many people are touched by your story. There are some interesting suggestions by commentators on this site. I agree with someone who (not-so-eloquently) brought up the gas in the car. I’m sure this has been looked into, but I agree that if it hasn’t been fully exhausted it could hold valuable clues. Some people have set habits when it comes to getting gas. Some always fill up their tank, some like me always reset their tripometer. The gas & mileage of the car plus the date of the last known gas station trip could tell approximately where the car had been gassed up since, which could lead to surveillance footage. It also could give an idea of how much movement was put on the car during those missing 4 days. It seems like the car would also yield clues to who was driving it by how far back the seats are, what music or radio station was on or not, if the trip was not reset, & other ways people can just tell who drove their car last. I read here that there were new toys from Ross in the car which had been covered. I read in People that Summer was planning one of the boy’s birthday parties, so the toys in the car certainly indicate that they were planning on coming back. I agree that there had to be some way to trace which Ross they were from, and if they were from the Ross the car was parked by it would at least lend some validity to the idea that it is the McStay’s going into Mexico. 60 miles is a long way to drive just to save some money on toys (which would’ve easily gone right into the gas tank). Someone else mentioned that Ross carries overflow, so the toys you find at each are not likely to be the same elsewhere. I know from experience that toys purchased from Ross are more likely impulse buys because of the good price rather than a pre-determined purchase. If they were purchased at that mall there was probably another reason why they would’ve chosen to go there. And there should be surveillance footage that could again confirm or deny if the family was there, together and safe. Maybe one took the kids somewhere while the other bought & hid the toys, not that this explains much. Another weird thing is how the car is referred to as “abandoned”., which considering the gifts and the car seats is not conclusive. The reports make it sound like it was towed the same day it was parked. Since it is so close to the border I’m sure there are strict towing rules in that lot. I’ve driven down and paid to leave my car on the US side of the border, and then taken a bus into Tijuana. Can’t imagine why anyone else wouldn’t do the same, especially with not one but two young children (crazy difficult as any parent of even one just past potty training aged kid knows, because of “accidents”, whining, exhaustion, thirst & hunger, hot or cold, you name it!) It seems like if it was them this would NOT be a chosen way to cross the border, so verifying if its them or not is the key to this investigation. There are so few clues that the best answers at this point may be determining what did NOT happen. Again, I pray for the family. It is hard not to speculate, and I only hope that someone on this site either provides information or at least can point the investigation in the right direction. One final thought I have is that I notice Mike responded to a commentor who questioned why it said Joseph has 3 kids on his YouTube page. Well as much as it would be a huge relief if it turned out they were in the Witness Protection Program, I highly doubt that his son from another marriage would be left out of the loop. And I also don’t think the Program would place them in such a way to cause all this pain to their families and to attract such an expensive, continent-wide manhunt. It be kinda hard to turn up in some random city out of nowhere at the same time that the coverage of this family’s dissappearance is all over the news. Especially since the family is so distinct looking, 2 goodlooking parents, 1 with wild, curly hair and the mother an almost asian-looking columbian, and 2 adorable, unique looking boys. I hope to soon hear that this tragedy has at least been solved, so everyone can finally have some closure.
I have posted before. Just on the obvious, look, a family of four doesn’t just vanish without a trace unless something extraordinary has occurred. Either they were abducted or else they chose, for some reason, to leave without a trace, which given the circumstances seems highly unlikely. Your average person doesn’t just abandon a home that they own. They probably put 60-80K down on that house and your average person would never abandon that investment.
In any investigation, without a rationale explanation, you have to look at the unobvious. There is a clue or clues that are being overlooked. No situation like this unfolds without some token evidence of the outcome.
I’m not so sure law enforcement is turning over every rock here……….
I think there are many details that are not being released to the public. For example, what was the content of the last call made by Joseph to his business partner? What was discussed at lunch that day with his business partner? They must hold clues to their disappearance or they would divulge them to the media. I believe there is more to this story than we are being told. I get the impression that Summer was not a happy person, not was she mentally stable. She kept the house a mess and she was a compulsive shopper, sounds like she didn’t want the responsibility of a house. Sounds like she wanted to live like a gypsy. Maybe she finally drove her husband nuts enough to leave and live a life of leisure on some small beach town in Mexico or Costa Rico.
I remember a while back that I saw a story on the news about a large police bust in San Diego. Apparantly there were tunnels coming across the Mexico/U.S. boarder into warehouses on the San Diego side. I think that story had to do with a large drug bust. But who knows how many other tunnels are being utilized by illegal aliens entering our country. If they could tunnel up into a warehouse, why not a house. Did the authorities check any of the nearby homes? The McStay family might have noticed unusal activity at one of their neighbors homes. If they were seen noticing illegal activity they might have become a target. It might be worth checking the neighbors homes…
It sure seems like there are some characters in this one. Summer? Who can be heard on the video when they arrive at their beautiful new home in the suburbs, “oo I just cant do this”. She has changed her name/identity how many times? With how many men? Her true identity is a puzzle to me. And the man walking to the border with her and the kids looks thinner, slighter of build than Joe. Maybe an old flame, A Colombian contact? She is a Colombiana correct? She is the key to unravelling this thing if it is ever to be solved. I think joe was the chump in this one and is probably scattered outin the San Diego hills, sorry to say.
Hi there the family, all my sympathy goes out to you all, my husband and I watched the program about the missing family just this morning and I could not get them out of my mind and thoughts, I hope and pray they are all well. I feel that the family are a genuinely good family and they have left for all the right intentions. I’m sure when the time is right they may show up and until then, may god be with you all.
For a voluntary disappearance like this, I agree that Summer would have to be the primary link. Joey seems like a loving and dedicated father, but after moving from the beach perhaps Summer was no-so-thrilled with Joey anymore. Her ties to the children are most-likely close and loving, but it is not beyond reason to assume she brought harm to Joey after her dream life at the beach came to an end. Moving inland, she was forced to confront reality, and perhaps could no longer deny the problems within the marriage. The money in the bank was most-likely Joeys, and she had no ties, certainly not emotional ones, to the new house. Whereas Joey would not abandon the house and the money, perhaps she would, especially if she had worked out a plan to leave (another man in the picture?). She could well blend-in in Mexico or further south (Guatemala, Honduras, etc.) without really ever being detected by law enforcement. The fact that no other prints were lifted on the car tells me that perhaps no one else was involved, which makes this an inside job. Either they all are voultarily missing, or one parent took the kids and left the other parent killed. This theory is more reasonable for Summer being the perp than Joey, for reasons stated above.
I don’t think the Ross lead was looked into enough. Through employee interviews, contacting others who had receipts timed near the McStay purchase and by canvassing other mall outlets, an exact location and time of the purchase could be made.
If Summer wnated out clean, she would have made this look like the case that it is, and to gain as much time as possible to disappear. This would mean no bank withdrawals, no contact with relatives, and distancing herself from the car. Joey had nothing to gain by disappearing. The question is-did Summer????
I just saw the newest show and could not sleep last night. I run all the possibilities thru my head. The show mentioned Joey was ill. Maybe they left to get treatment for him. Maybe one of the workers used their computer. How can u kidnap a kid with a birthmark? Maybe Summer had a crazy ex? Maybe the previous owner? Maybe someone on Crags list? Maybe when and if Joey signed Bryan Joseph at motel, he was leaving a clue! I pray for safe return! xx
I agree! People can be cruel and come up with all kinds of weird answers. I am going to help try to figure this out. I love detective work. I found that its really a strange case. Like they vanished or something. I think the guy from ling interview on E might know more. The guy he went to high school with. Also could they have gotten bad news after the headaches. The lady that claimed to see them said he had a shaved head. I know its got to be hard with your family just vanishing. I could not imagine it. Things like this happen with the bumuda triagle. This happens to many people but not whole families. There has to be some clues somewhere. I will continue to look for some clues. I dont know if you believe in psychics but its worth a try. John edwards is a good medium. He would love to help I am sure. or sylvia browne. Good luck. Tell walmart to get better cameras, they can afford them. If they are alive they will go back. Check videos of other places too. Good luck and God bless.
I had the same feeling as “T” as I just watched the special on E! about the McStays tonight. Unfortunately, it was my gut feeling from the first clip of their home video where you can hear Summer’s distaste for leaving the beach and how she “can’t do this.” It breaks my heart to think she could do this to her children, but I immediately thought she could be the reason behind Joey’s health problems. Perhaps she was doing something to him that just wasn’t taking long enough or wasn’t working and she calculated this back up plan to get rid of him quickly. She sought out info for the kids in MX, she purchased beach items, her phone was pinging for days afterwards. It would seem she called him from home, coaxed him there via that call and text messages, convinced him to go somewhere where he met his demise and she spent the next few days disposing of his body. Family knows family. The family believes that’s the kids in the border video, but not Joey. The kids were seen in Walmart w/ a shaved headed man. Did Summer have another life? Later in the show when they revealed that her age and name had both been a lie, I felt solidified in my opinion that Summer is behind all of this. Women are smart and calculating. I feel like she pulled off the crime of the century. The only good news is that I do believe she kept her children safe and they are somewhere in Mexico healthy, safe, and very confused about where their daddy is. I pray for the best possible outcome.
It would be interesting to know what the bank account setup was. Did they both have ATM or debit cards? COuld they both individually draw on this account? Perhaps it was a checking account that required one or both signatures? It sounds like it was a business acoount, so perhaps only Joey had access to it. In this case, it becomes even more damning for Summer, since it would no longer be about “her” abandoning the money, but rather Joey. If she had no access to the money, then she had nothing to lose by disappearing. I don;t know about you, but as a man and breadwinner, no way no how I would 100k in the bank before going on the lam. Voluntary disappearances are usually preceded by a partial or total withdrawal of assets.
If SUmmer told lies about her age and name, what other lies lie in the lurch. Perhaps Joey uncovered a truth that left him no choice to divorce, and fearing her financial demise and custody battle Summer felt no choice but to do away with Joey.
Again, people don’t just diappear. And people with 100k in the bank REALLY do not just disappear. Either this is the most clever breach of protocol in disappearance history, or we have a murderer on our hands.
All of the info i have rad about this case and not once has it been mentioned that after the border video what happens? Isnt there some kind of check or sign in or can anybody just trot thru the gates into mexico? I dont get it there has to be some accounting for people going into tat border crossing.
I also believe the wife is the cause of this disappearance. It may well be that she lured him by making him believe something that she concocted and which may have caused his demise. If this woman had alias, not a good sign.