What Happened to the McStays?

What it is about

In a quiet suburb of San Diego County, a family of four seemingly vanishes into thin air. When investigators search their home, they find the family’s two beloved dogs unattended outside, rotting food left around the house and clothes strewn across the floor. Did the McStays leave of their own accord, or did something far more sinister happen? A six-part series from 20/20 and ABC Audio, hosted by Ashan Singh. New episodes Tuesdays. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from the 20/20 true crime vault. Visit apple.co/2020truecrime to subscribe now. Terms apply.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
Copyright 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Apple Podcasts

Latest episodes

Bonus: The Call

2026-09-22 · 19 min · Episode 7

Ashan Singh and Start Here host Brad Mielke reflect on the McStay murders and dive deeper into the individuals close to the case. Plus, an ABC News-exclusive interview with Chase Merritt from prison. Learn more about…
Life or Death

2026-09-15 · 37 min · Episode 6

The McStay case goes to trial, with a man's life hanging in the balance. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from the 20/20…
The Best Friend

2026-09-08 · 32 min · Episode 5

Without a smoking gun, detectives try to piece together what may have happened to the McStays after they disappeared. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus…
Questions and Answers

2026-09-01 · 29 min · Episode 4

Scouring new and old clues, police close in on one suspect. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from the 20/20 true crime…
In the Desert

2026-08-25 · 32 min · Episode 3

A motorcyclist finds something startling in the Mojave Desert. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from the 20/20 true…
Missing?

2026-08-18 · 30 min · Episode 2

Weeks into the search for the McStay family, investigators find a promising clue. Family and friends aren't convinced. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus…
11 Days

2026-08-11 · 28 min · Episode 1

The McStay family home is found frozen in time — and spurs a yearslong mystery. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from…
Introducing 'What Happened to the McStays?'

2026-07-23 · 2 min

In a quiet suburb of San Diego County, a family of four seemingly vanishes into thin air. Did the McStays leave of their own accord, or did something far more sinister happen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 07/2026
Typical length: 26 min
Format: Serial Meant to be heard in order

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