What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

Police can't call it anything and move on without either a conclusive COD from the autopsies or first exhausting all possibilities that might point to foul play or public risk. So now they're going through the phases of ruling out. So far it sounds like they've ruled physical trauma and environmental toxins.

[Anonymous]

Well here’s my theory:

-it was FA
-they started the hike not on the softer/easy part of the trail and looping back to the switchbacks. I think they started at the top with the switchbacks and hiked down a bit into them
-they intentionally orchestrated it to seem like it was heat stroke
-they didn’t want their families or nanny to have to be the ones to find them
-law enforcement knows it was something along these lines
-they closed the trails to avoid looky loos going into the canyon and needing rescue now that there’s been so much media coverage of the case

To answer PPs who think it’s rotten to even speculate about this. I mean, is it really? It’s not like I’m creating a billboard with this theory or going to the media as one of their relatives and spouting this. I’m on a DC based message board, speculating about what happened. If you really think this truly is hurtful or rotten, I’ll refrain from floating this theory again or commenting.

I think part of why we find this case so fascinating and want to figure it out is a lot of us are parents with young kids. We want to believe that things like this don’t just randomly happen. It’s too painful to think we are all just one or two wrong moves away from everyone we love dying. It’s much easier to think it was something that could NEVER happen to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well here’s my theory:

-it was FA
-they started the hike not on the softer/easy part of the trail and looping back to the switchbacks. I think they started at the top with the switchbacks and hiked down a bit into them
-they intentionally orchestrated it to seem like it was heat stroke
-they didn’t want their families or nanny to have to be the ones to find them
-law enforcement knows it was something along these lines
-they closed the trails to avoid looky loos going into the canyon and needing rescue now that there’s been so much media coverage of the case

To answer PPs who think it’s rotten to even speculate about this. I mean, is it really? It’s not like I’m creating a billboard with this theory or going to the media as one of their relatives and spouting this. I’m on a DC based message board, speculating about what happened. If you really think this truly is hurtful or rotten, I’ll refrain from floating this theory again or commenting.

I think part of why we find this case so fascinating and want to figure it out is a lot of us are parents with young kids. We want to believe that things like this don’t just randomly happen. It’s too painful to think we are all just one or two wrong moves away from everyone we love dying. It’s much easier to think it was something that could NEVER happen to us.

They didn't randomly die. They went on a hike in conditions that no one should be in, certainly not a dog and a baby. That's not random. It's just a poor choice that led to a series of even poorer decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well here’s my theory:

-it was FA
-they started the hike not on the softer/easy part of the trail and looping back to the switchbacks. I think they started at the top with the switchbacks and hiked down a bit into them
-they intentionally orchestrated it to seem like it was heat stroke
-they didn’t want their families or nanny to have to be the ones to find them
-law enforcement knows it was something along these lines
-they closed the trails to avoid looky loos going into the canyon and needing rescue now that there’s been so much media coverage of the case

To answer PPs who think it’s rotten to even speculate about this. I mean, is it really? It’s not like I’m creating a billboard with this theory or going to the media as one of their relatives and spouting this. I’m on a DC based message board, speculating about what happened. If you really think this truly is hurtful or rotten, I’ll refrain from floating this theory again or commenting.

I think part of why we find this case so fascinating and want to figure it out is a lot of us are parents with young kids. We want to believe that things like this don’t just randomly happen. It’s too painful to think we are all just one or two wrong moves away from everyone we love dying. It’s much easier to think it was something that could NEVER happen to us.

They didn't randomly die. They went on a hike in conditions that no one should be in, certainly not a dog and a baby. That's not random. It's just a poor choice that led to a series of even poorer decisions.

That’s sort of what I’m saying when I say it was FA. Either it was legit FA or some kind of weird suicidal ideation where they sort of didn’t care that much if they lived or died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok... New theory.
So, it's an 8 mile hike. Say around mile 5 mom starts to get heat exhaustion. Tried, dizzy, nauseous. Pretty soon she's weak and/or passes out.
It's still quickest to keep going, so, Dad has to support or carry mom along with baby.
Eventually, say around mile 6, he can't support them both, (or she fully passes out).
So, he sets down the baby in the pack, carries mom 100 yards, sets her down, goes back, carries baby to mom. Sets down baby, carries mom another hundred yards, goes back for baby. A half mile of that he's exhausted, he sets mom down, goes to get baby
Sits down next to baby to rest and succumbs to heat stroke.

That would explain placement and different times to succumb to heat stroke.

Ugghh, writing this out sounds awful.i think murder suicide. Would be a better way to go..

I’ve read all 100+ pages of this thread and I think this is the most likely scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well here’s my theory:

-it was FA
-they started the hike not on the softer/easy part of the trail and looping back to the switchbacks. I think they started at the top with the switchbacks and hiked down a bit into them
-they intentionally orchestrated it to seem like it was heat stroke
-they didn’t want their families or nanny to have to be the ones to find them
-law enforcement knows it was something along these lines
-they closed the trails to avoid looky loos going into the canyon and needing rescue now that there’s been so much media coverage of the case

To answer PPs who think it’s rotten to even speculate about this. I mean, is it really? It’s not like I’m creating a billboard with this theory or going to the media as one of their relatives and spouting this. I’m on a DC based message board, speculating about what happened. If you really think this truly is hurtful or rotten, I’ll refrain from floating this theory again or commenting.

I think part of why we find this case so fascinating and want to figure it out is a lot of us are parents with young kids. We want to believe that things like this don’t just randomly happen. It’s too painful to think we are all just one or two wrong moves away from everyone we love dying. It’s much easier to think it was something that could NEVER happen to us.

They didn't randomly die. They went on a hike in conditions that no one should be in, certainly not a dog and a baby. That's not random. It's just a poor choice that led to a series of even poorer decisions.

That’s sort of what I’m saying when I say it was FA. Either it was legit FA or some kind of weird suicidal ideation where they sort of didn’t care that much if they lived or died.

So if it was FA how do you think they did it? Did they use a method that has so far not been detected? Or did they just plan to die by heatstroke? That must be up there among the most horrific and painful ways to die.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone sleuthed her debilitating health condition? I mean was it something like Huntington’s disease, and maybe they discovered the baby also had the gene? Knowing you are dying, and that your daughter will likely not live past 30, it might seem reasonable to end your life and your daughters life before they are old enough to fear death. As for DH, I mean if my wife and daughter are looking at death sentences and are going to exit, I could opt to go with them.

Hiking in the beautiful mountains they love, empty of other hikers because of heat, dissolve a ton of ambian in the water might do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But here’s my thought on heatstroke - wouldn’t it take severity per person at different rates? Both adults probably wouldn’t get it and pass away at the exact same time or at the same severity, no? So maybe one succumbed 3-5hours after the other or the baby sooner than the adults. I can’t see heatstroke killing everyone at the exact same time - exact moment, hour, etc without there being some spacing between each based on body mass, fitness, hydration/dehydration levels, etc…

That is what I got stuck on but then realized they did not have to die at the same time. They likely stopped to try to rest. The husband died and it coukd have taken awhile before the wife fully realized or pulled herself together enough to try to go for help. The baby and the dog were both attached to the husband, so they could have died hours later.

Dogs are much more susceptible to heatstroke than humans. Humans evolved with elaborate cooling mechanisms that dogs just don't have. With Oski having to be carried and the adults taking turns, it was hard on them both and made them both more susceptible to heatstroke themselves due to the additional exertion. If they were load sharing carrying the baby and dog and refusing to separate to allow the healthier person to go for help, they were trapped in the same spiral.

Yes. This is the best guess I’ve seen so far.

I agree with this too. I wonder then if the baby was the last one to pass away… It’s heartbreaking to think about it but she was found strapped in the carrier next to dad.

According to most people in this thread the baby died in the first 100 yards of the hike due to 120 degree heat.

Baby must have been really hot in the carrier, wearing diaper, and dad's body heat up against baby.

[Anonymous]

I feel like the discussion has gone off the rails. Why would they move to that area, buy rental properties and then just oof themselves in such a brutal way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone sleuthed her debilitating health condition? I mean was it something like Huntington’s disease, and maybe they discovered the baby also had the gene? Knowing you are dying, and that your daughter will likely not live past 30, it might seem reasonable to end your life and your daughters life before they are old enough to fear death. As for DH, I mean if my wife and daughter are looking at death sentences and are going to exit, I could opt to go with them.

Hiking in the beautiful mountains they love, empty of other hikers because of heat, dissolve a ton of ambian in the water might do it.

I only read it on her May 18, 2018 entry in insta saying she was leaving her tech job due to it. She graduated from UC Berkeley so must have had a good job in the tech industry. Must have been really sick to leave a good job in a lucrative field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the discussion has gone off the rails. Why would they move to that area, buy rental properties and then just oof themselves in such a brutal way?

1) downshift to simpler life with nature if you are sick

2) if you think you will die young, passive income for child to inherit

3) maybe finally succumbed to worry and has baby tested for same disease and came back positive.

[Anonymous]

I feel like FA suicide pact is unlikely. FA is usually one parent or the other, usually the dad, deciding to off everyone else, without cooperation. Abuse is usually there. So, I have known some unlikely abusers, so I don't know? I just don't think this family really fits that. Unhappy people don't hike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the discussion has gone off the rails. Why would they move to that area, buy rental properties and then just oof themselves in such a brutal way?

1) downshift to simpler life with nature if you are sick

2) if you think you will die young, passive income for child to inherit

3) maybe finally succumbed to worry and has baby tested for same disease and came back positive.

... And somehow get the Park Rangers in on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like FA suicide pact is unlikely. FA is usually one parent or the other, usually the dad, deciding to off everyone else, without cooperation. Abuse is usually there. So, I have known some unlikely abusers, so I don't know? I just don't think this family really fits that. Unhappy people don't hike.

I agree that the FA theory is unlikely. And in the past I would have agreed that unhappy people don’t hike. But I have learned differently from personal experience. My brother in law took leave from his job for depression last year. He was going to lots of daily therapy and on the weekends he would take our GSD for hikes. He said it was therapeutic for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like FA suicide pact is unlikely. FA is usually one parent or the other, usually the dad, deciding to off everyone else, without cooperation. Abuse is usually there. So, I have known some unlikely abusers, so I don't know? I just don't think this family really fits that. Unhappy people don't hike.

I agree that the FA theory is unlikely. And in the past I would have agreed that unhappy people don’t hike. But I have learned differently from personal experience. My brother in law took leave from his job for depression last year. He was going to lots of daily therapy and on the weekends he would take our GSD for hikes. He said it was therapeutic for him.

One of my classmates committed suicide by going on a hike in a deserted area and shooting herself. Wasn’t found for days because the place was so isolated.