"The case has since been "cleared" by police. They believe that Matt's killer was a gang member named David "Bear" Meza. Ironically, he was killed just two days after Matt vanished. When interviewed by police, Meza's girlfriend identified him as the man seen in the surveillance photographs. Other circumstantial evidence also linked him to the crime. However, the possibility still exists that there were accomplices involved."
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Matthew_Chase

"The case has since been "cleared" by police. They believe that Matt's killer was a gang member named David "Bear" Meza. Ironically, he was killed just two days after Matt vanished. When interviewed by police, Meza's girlfriend identified him as the man seen in the surveillance photographs. Other circumstantial evidence also linked him to the crime. However, the possibility still exists that there were accomplices involved."
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Matthew_Chase

Is this new information? I feel like I have NOT heard this before...

Welcome, by the way! :wave:

Whoa.

Cheers,
Matt

This is based on an update to the Justice for Matthew Chase fb group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/375856862809034/permalink/490995837961802/

Interesting update, I wonder if they could get DNA from the bandana that was left behind.

Seems really odd he died the next day, makes you wonder if he tried it with somebody who was armed. Cannot find any details about how he died or if anybody was caught for his murder.

Whoa.


Indeed.

This is amazing, frankly.

In the last couple years, we've seen cases like Wendy Camp, Lisa Ziegert, Joyce McLain and now Matthew Chase solved. All of them cases I had very little hope would ever have conclusions.

Mind = Blown

I wish we could hear a statement from Teresa Dahl. She must be thrilled.

[QUOTE=RaidenKhan]Whoa.
Plus 1

Just find Brad Bishop and find the proof that Tom Johnson was Tom Steeples

I wish we could hear a statement from Teresa Dahl. She must be thrilled.

I wrote her earlier today, actually. Will report if I hear back.

Cheers,
Matt

I can't believe this case might be solved shortly before the 30 year mark!

"The case has since been "cleared" by police. They believe that Matt's killer was a gang member named David "Bear" Meza. Ironically, he was killed just two days after Matt vanished. When interviewed by police, Meza's girlfriend identified him as the man seen in the surveillance photographs. Other circumstantial evidence also linked him to the crime. However, the possibility still exists that there were accomplices involved."
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Matthew_Chase

Whoa! I haven't heard about any of this!

Just find Brad Bishop and find the proof that Tom Johnson was Tom Steeples


This

I've searched for pictures of Steeples to see if it's comparable to Johnson. No luck finding any.

Seems really odd he died the next day, makes you wonder if he tried it with somebody who was armed. Cannot find any details about how he died or if anybody was caught for his murder.

I wonder if he was killed by his own gang? Perhaps leaving the bandana behind is what got him killed?

Since Matthew was killed it could've been a gang initiation that went sour.

I wonder if he was killed by his own gang? Perhaps leaving the bandana behind is what got him killed?

Since Matthew was killed it could've been a gang initiation that went sour.

Possibly, or maybe he did this on his own, bragged about it & the gang weren't into killing innocent people so killed him, or didn't think he was a guy they could trust to keep quiet about their criminal activities. Sounds like he was already part of this gang rather than a prospect having to prove himself.

Possibly, or maybe he did this on his own, bragged about it & the gang weren't into killing innocent people so killed him, or didn't think he was a guy they could trust to keep quiet about their criminal activities. Sounds like he was already part of this gang rather than a prospect having to prove himself.

Yeah, maybe you're right. Perhaps he bragged, or was too trigger happy and the gang thought he was too reckless, and we're afraid he gave them too much attention with the authorities, especially with the bandana being found in the car

Sounds like you’re on the right track. Let’s hope he died afraid and in pain for what he did to Matthew.

http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-12/local/me-7045_1_gang-members

Sounds like you’re on the right track. Let’s hope he died afraid and in pain for what he did to Matthew.

http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-12/local/me-7045_1_gang-members

Ah, I guess it was a rival gang then? It just said he was shot in a drive-by shooting which was thought to have been gang members. I'm suspecting rival gang, but it could've been his gang as well.

Karma sure got him fast

I know I'm harping on a mundane detail, but something about this is really odd. I know gangs kill people, but it's a bit weird for Hispanic gangbangers to kill a clean cut white kid who more than likely complied.

I wonder if Meza had to re-initiate himself in the gang, or prove that he was "ride or die"? I wonder if he did something that made the gang question his loyalty and killed Matthew to prove that, but he was shot anyway?

I know gangs kill people, but it's a bit weird for Hispanic gangbangers to kill a clean cut white kid who more than likely complied.


They get what they want from them and then kill them they dont usually leave witnesses. Not weird at all.

Such a sick senseless killing. These guys are pure scum.

Glad that someone has been identified in Matthew's murder. I joined a group that is in honor of Matthew Chase and it was said that he dated a brother of a friend of his for 4 years. I also listened to a podcast with Teresa Dahl being interviewed and she said Matthew and her were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time of his disappearance and subsequent murder. Never knew that. You can listen to Teresa Dahl talk about Matthew and the search for him here: http://tedlyde.libsyn.com/teresa-dahl-episode-59

This is amazing, frankly.

In the last couple years, we've seen cases like Wendy Camp, Lisa Ziegert, Joyce McLain and now Matthew Chase solved. All of them cases I had very little hope would ever have conclusions.

Mind = Blown

I wish we could hear a statement from Teresa Dahl. She must be thrilled.

Whoa. I missed the update on the Lisa Ziegert case. That's great news!

Wow. Glad this one has finally been cracked. Sounds like it didn't take long for justice to catch up to the perp either.

Whoa. I missed the update on the Lisa Ziegert case. That's great news!

Yes it is. Here's some articles from this past Fall....

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/09/police_make_arrest_in_lisa_zie.html

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/09/who_is_gary_schara_accused_in_lisa_ziegert_case.html

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/gary_schara_denied_murder_in_1.html

How old was this guy? If he was a teenager, I'd believe the gang initiation theory, but by the looks of the composite, he looked to be about 30.

How old was this guy? If he was a teenager, I'd believe the gang initiation theory, but by the looks of the composite, he looked to be about 30.

Matt's killer? He was 20, according to his death record.

Glad that someone has been identified in Matthew's murder. I joined a group that is in honor of Matthew Chase and it was said that he dated a brother of a friend of his for 4 years. I also listened to a podcast with Teresa Dahl being interviewed and she said Matthew and her were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time of his disappearance and subsequent murder. Never knew that. You can listen to Teresa Dahl talk about Matthew and the search for him here: http://tedlyde.libsyn.com/teresa-dahl-episode-59

Listened to that today and really enjoyed it. She’s so awesome—just one of my favorite people ever interviewed on UM. Her persistence and saavy in using the media to give Matthew the attention that the useless LAPD would not is the only reason this case was ever solved. Pretty amazing for someone so young. The podcast also revealed that she has a very balanced, healthy and reasoned outlook on life and society, which I’m not sure would be the case for most of us had we gone through what she did. Huge amount of respect for that lady.

Cheers,
Matt

I hope FilmRise will add an update to this segment soon.

Matt's killer? He was 20, according to his death record.

20? He doesn't look that young from the picture. Though, maybe if we had a clearer shot...

https://unsolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/matt-chase-300x229.jpg

20? He doesn't look that young from the picture. Though, maybe if we had a clearer shot...

https://unsolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/matt-chase-300x229.jpg

That is still one of the creepiest photos I have ever seen.

They get what they want from them and then kill them they dont usually leave witnesses. Not weird at all.

This. It was just a brutal and senseless robbery/homicide by a gang member, it wasn't necessarily a gang motivated crime. I guessed that the guy was an older gang member but he had a rough appearance for a 20 year old.

20? He doesn't look that young from the picture. Though, maybe if we had a clearer shot...

https://unsolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/matt-chase-300x229.jpg


The above image is one the most haunting things I saw on UM as a child after the Polaroid of those Kids bound and gagged.

As I mentioned in the other ATM murder thread I'd be interested in seeing a proper photograph of this "Bear" creature.

That's incredible, one case I never thought would be solved but probably should have been sooner.

One thing I never really caught until the last time I watched this segment is that there were at least five more ATM attempts using Matt's card *after* the one that produced the infamous security image. I know security cameras weren't as ubiquitous in the late 80s like they are today, but I thought ATM cameras were pretty standard...I'm surprised there weren't additional images of Meza from any of these attempted transactions.

Cheers,
Matt

I thought it could of been a gang initiation or he was trying to rank up into the gang. Either way he got his karma quick, and I am glad it was finally solved.

Wow! I was rewatching some old segments tonight and saw the update so I knew I had to immediately come here. Great news that they caught him but I’m curious what else caused police to believe it was him? Surely they didn’t just go off of a girlfriend saying he did it.

Well, I gotta be honest, I never thought we'd get an answer to this one, so its good to get some closure.

Just saw this episode (S01, EP12). Sad & creepy. I've always known it was a bad idea to go to an ATM late at night anywhere; too bad MC made this mistake.

The scenes showing the footage of the guy standing next to MC at the ATM were very disturbing. Though I know this was actual/real, they reminded me of "found" horror movie footage.

Glad they finally figured out who did this (maybe?!), but it would be nice to know more details about what led to this alleged criminal (who coincidentally died right after the crime) & why/how they think he was responsible for this. It's especially notable given that the crime happened so long ago. Though, I know they can't go into further detailed explanations in these old episodes (other than provide a brief update).

Another comment about the case: In the episode, it was mentioned that - in the days when the family/friends were searching for MC (before his body was found) - that he was seen at a local homeless shelter by some of the residents there. IMHO, this was yet another false lead (as many seem to be in these cases) and MC did actually die soon after the criminal was trying to get his $ out of the ATM.

It wasn't him. Eyewitness reports are almost always wrong.

I wonder the same about what made them pin it on David Meza. The cynic in me wonders if they even have anything, or if it was just a convenient way to close the case by attaching it to a dead guy.

Cheers,
Matt

It wasn't him. Eyewitness reports are almost always wrong.

I wonder the same about what made them pin it on David Meza. The cynic in me wonders if they even have anything, or if it was just a convenient way to close the case by attaching it to a dead guy.

Cheers,
Matt

This wasn't a typical eyewitness report, this was someone who knew the killer, his own girlfriend identifying him in a photo. He was also in proximity to the killing as well. And if I'm not mistaken the bandana found was thought to be his as well.

Ah, I should have been more clear. My "eyewitness" comment was in reference to the bogus homeless shelter sighting. Good info; thanks!

Matt

In a lot of updates for UM as well as other true crime shows, the usually tell you why someone was thought to be the perpetrator. They didn't in this case and I wonder why? I know we have an eyewitness account of his girlfriend saying it but I'm curious exactly what she said that made LE believe it as well as what evidence they have to ensure that he did. I also wonder if said statement and evidence would have been enough to convict him if he were still alive?