Down to the Bone

A Missing Family's Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice

De: Caitlin Rother

Narrado por: Christina Delaine

On February 15, 2010, Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons were reported missing from their new home in San Diego County. Their truck sat in the driveway. Their dogs were outside without food. But investigators found no blood, signs of a struggle, or clues to their whereabouts. Did the family take an unannounced vacation? Were they running away from personal problems? Or were they victims of foul play?

Nearly four years later, a motorcyclist found the McStays' remains in and around two shallow graves, one hundred miles away in the Mojave Desert. Their skulls showed signs of blunt-force trauma, likely due to the sledgehammer buried with them. Authorities focused on Charles Merritt, a close friend and subcontractor for Joseph's company. Despite a lack of physical evidence, scenarios that defied logic, and numerous unanswered questions, prosecutors convinced a jury of Merritt's guilt. After an emotional sentencing hearing, the judge imposed the death penalty. But did another possible suspect, who was ignored by investigators and ducked a subpoena to testify, get away with murder?

In this twisting, deeply researched true-crime mystery, New York Times bestselling investigative journalist Caitlin Rother hunts for answers to reveal the truth behind a heinous crime that became a nation's obsession.

©2025 Caitlin Rother (P)2025 Tantor Media

Cliff hanger

I did not realize the book would feel like a cliff hanger. It got a little in the weeds for me with the dna evidence, I tuned a bit of that out, but overall its an interesting book. I am so sorry for the McStay family.

WORST BOOK

I LISTEN TO ABOUT 3 BOOKS EVERY WEEK, AND I FINALLY HAD TO DELETE THIS BEFORE IT WAS DONE. IT BOUNCED AROUND SO MUCH AND THE CHARACTERS WERE HARD TO IDENTIFY. ONE TIME THEY WERE REFERRED TO BY LAST NAME AND THE NEXT BY FIRST NAME. IT MEVER HELD MY INTEREST AT ALL.