A family of four vanished from Fallbrook, California, and an abandoned SUV near the Mexican border sent investigators in the wrong direction. The McStay case changed when their remains were found in the Mojave Desert nearly three years later. Financial records and a troubled business relationship placed Charles Merritt under scrutiny. This episode follows the border clue, the financial trail, and the evidence that led to Merritt's conviction in 2019. The case shows how a disappearance can hide a carefully staged illusion. If you enjoy under-covered investigations built around betrayal and evidence, this case is for you.

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