mr. merritt was on a daily basis for the last year. >> watching him closely?more they watched, the more red flags came up. >> we know there have been many inconsistencies, not only with the interviews with the sheriff's department in our criminal investigation, but with whatever he talked to. his story is all over the place. >> including his story about that last phone call from joseph's phone. the one chase told us he didn't answer. >> i don't personally remember that phone call. >> but that's not what chase told patrick. >> patrick asked what the last conversation was about, he said -- meaning 8:28 p.m., that last phone call, he said it was a quick summing up about their conversation at lunch, about a copper fountain that needed fixing. so he told you he answered that call and talked? >> this is where one of the inconsistencies. >> would you ever expect this is how it would end in the desert like that? >> in the desert? i had no clue. >> mr. merritt was very familiar with the high desert in my county. >> i asked chase about that during our phone conversation