A couple of weeks ago we did a bunch of taping for a segment that will air sometime mid June on America’s Most Wanted. Lt. Brugos, Dugal, Martinez were all there representing San Diego Sheriff Department, as were both sides of the family of Joey & Summer.
Lead Detective Dugal has two huge case files on my family and showed us pictures and evidence that was previously not available to us. I will say that I’m impressed with their efforts.
While at the taping on that Thursday, they did find out from the lab that the map did NOT come up with Joey & Summer’s fingerprints. Dugal did say that they would send them back for one more re-test to be sure.
There are a few other possible sightings in Baja, but are unconfirmed and to this point nothing is substantial. Some people questioned by the Mexican police in conjunction with the FBI, gave the same testimony that they did to our friend who has been down in Baja three times now and is responsible for generating these leads. I am told a few others gave conflicting stories. I suppose that in some cases people in Mexico really don’t want to talk to the local police and will say whatever it takes to send them away because they simply don’t trust them. I was informed that one person was told by one of the officer’s in Guerrera Negro that the only reason they were there asking questions, was because the American Consulate was pressuring them. They came into town commando style, canvased about a city block, and were gone in a few hours.
My question is this:
How can a family of four simply fall of the face of the earth? Just disappear so that three government agencies are not capable of locating them?
An interesting point that one of the Detectives made was that while watching the border crossing from Mexico back into the United States was that the guards seem to ask for ID only one out of every four or five people that pass through. Is it possible for Joey & Summer to walk back over the border and the guards would just wave them through? Joey has the only passport, but both have a California Driver’s License. It kinda made it easier to focus on Mexico because of the evidence up to this point, no passports, baja peninsula is small, travel was cumbersome because of the small children, etc. This point of the crossing guards shattered that and opened up the globe again.
Hopefully the America’s Most Wanted segment will help to break this case open so we can all get some closure to this thing. It has been almost been four months.
So, when you walk accross the border the guards only ask ID’s of 1 out of 4 or 5? That seems ridiculous? You should check that out. I go to TJ about 4-6 times a year and when I cross (in the car) to come back over, they make sure all my information is in line, passport, ID, and that I’m not bringing back anything illegal. It seems like quite a difference in procedure from car to walking. It really does not add up.
Anyways, I do hope that the airing of America’s Most Wanted will bring up clues and break the case for you. When are they airing?
Continuing to pray until the truth comes out, however long it takes! So sorry Mikey, thought you would know something by now, pray that God will reveal it all soon and your family can move forward! Still KTF for good news!!
I have been waiting for knew information about your family and I’m so sorry no real solid information has come up. I will keep them in my prayers. I jut home if they are in mexico that noboday there is covering up for any
Looking at this situation, it’s amazing that Joran van der Sloot–a single guy traveling alone–was apprehended so quickly.
My thoughts and sympathies are with the McStay family and friends.
Have you considered that your family may not WANT to be found? And that finding them now might lead to their death? It’s obvious that they left their home in a huge hurry, and that there was no evidence of a struggle in their car. They may have been involved with a loan shark, or other underworld figure, perhaps unwittingly; or by chance witnessed a mob crime, then received a threatening phone call. However, were I in your shoes, I would find it difficult just to stand by and wait to hear from them.
I’ve read your web site frequently but this is the first time I am compelled to make a comment.
In the last paragraph of this post, when you mention the border guards and the ID checks, it seems like you’re leaning towards the possibility that they are traveling under their own volition (as opposed to being held hostage). Is that the case? As some others here have pointed out, I have to wonder if the McStays want to be found or are they evading these efforts?
I know that nothing you read on this web site will stop you from continuing the search, but this has taken some turns that indicate a wild goose chase.
I pray for your own peace of mind and the safe return of your family.
The anwser is that they will often accept driver licence to get back to USA from T.J. from people that look american and speak english, it also depends how busy they are with the autos sometimes they only get ID from the driver. People sometimes do not check out the new rules and trust me they do not sent them all to the consulate they let most of them through.
@ Lisa, I have a completely different experience. They always ask everyone in my car to give their passport. At this point, the ID is not sufficient. I have blond hair and hazel eyes as does my mom (brown eyes though) who usually travels with me. And they inspect our passport to make sure it’s us. This happens every single time. I’ve never had it be any different. I will say that the guards are usually pretty friendly with us, but stick to their protocol none the less.
I lived in Baja for the past two years and when I crossed the border (at Tecate) with my husband, dogs, cats, trailer, AND two additional trucks driven by friends – the Mexican authorities just waved us in – no questions, no ids, no passports, nada.
They may have their protocol but if you do not have the passport they will take the DL or DL and Birth Cert if you have it. They do not make you go back to Mexico and obtain a passport, least they did not with us. Also, when you walk over they do not even look at each persons ID and as I understand it they walked over, so they could have walked back.