The man accused of killing the McStay family pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a California court to murder charges . Charles `` Chase '' Merritt , 57 , was a close friend and business partner of Joseph McStay , whose body -- along with those of his wife Summer and their two young sons , Gianni and Joseph Jr. -- was found November 2013 . The family disappeared in February 2010 . In an exclusive interview , San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos told CNN that authorities had been watching Merritt , closely for some time before arresting him last week . `` There was no doubt in our mind this was the person that committed the murders , '' Ramos said . `` His story is all over the place . '' Merritt did not speak during Wednesday 's hearing in San Bernardino County Superior Court . His next appearance is set for November 20 . His lawyer spoke to reporters outside . `` I 'm going to do everything that I can for Mr. Merritt , everything in my power , to be able to represent him -- do everything that I can to be able to help him in this case -- to specifically see if there is n't a way that with the tragedy that 's taken place , that that tragedy not extend to him and not extend to his family also , '' said attorney Robert Ponce . Prosecutors have not yet said whether they will pursue the death penalty . Police say they believe the family died of `` blunt force trauma '' inside their home north of San Diego , but they declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive . Suspect no stranger to family . Earlier this year , CNN interviewed Merritt , who said at the time he had `` absolutely no clue '' what happened to the McStays . Merritt and McStay met for a business lunch in Rancho Cucamonga on February 4 , 2010 , the day the family disappeared . `` I am definitely the last person he saw , '' Merritt said during the January interview . Merritt also told CNN he and Joseph McStay were also on the phone constantly , perhaps 12 to 13 times that day . There was another call from McStay 's phone to Merritt the night of the family 's disappearance . It came about 40 minutes after a neighbor 's security camera captured the family 's Isuzu pulling out of their cul-de-sac . Merritt did n't answer . Merritt told CNN he was watching television with his then-girlfriend , and he picked up the phone , looked at it and set it back down . He was tired . He called back the next day , he said . `` There are hundreds of scenarios . I have gone over all of them in my head , '' he said . `` Of course , I regret not picking up the phone . '' Merritt was questioned by police after the disappearance . They just asked him the `` standard questions , '' he said . He also claimed to have taken a polygraph test . Police had never named Merritt as a suspect before his arrest last Wednesday .
Charles `` Chase '' Merritt is charged with murder in McStay family deaths . The investigation into the murders of two women and a man at their home on May 5, 2007, has been handed over to the state police for further investigation. CNN spoke to Merritt before his arrest this year .