What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Or if he collapsed and the mom went to seek help/car/phone signal, she croaks a stone's throw away? No way it was mere heat exhaustion.

+1 how does that explain the dog? Two adults, a baby and a dog in the same spot? I think even an incredibly loyal dog would be driven away from its family in search for water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

+1. Just because they were found in close proximity does not mean they dropped dead simultaneously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Software engineer, not weight lifter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

+1. Just because they were found in close proximity does not mean they dropped dead simultaneously.

Yes. Imagine if your spouse started feeling ill. Would your first thought be "I have to immediately leave him/here to go get help or else we'll all die?" No, you'd stay and try to help him/her. I think they stayed together, and by doing so, neither of them had a chance. The wife was found 90 yards away either in a last-ditch attempt to get help, though she was near death, or in a state of delirium and wandering, also near death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Software engineer, not weight lifter.

LOL what strong man? He was a string bean who was already carrying 30 pounds in the form of the baby, water, and hiking backpack in 103F weather over 8 miles.

Even a Navy Seal could not do what you're asking - at least 150 pounds (mom plus baby) over 8 miles of rough terrain in the arid desert.

This guy picked up these 150-185 pound guys with ease but he's breathing hard in a clearly cool temperate environment and he hasn't even walked anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Or if he collapsed and the mom went to seek help/car/phone signal, she croaks a stone's throw away? No way it was mere heat exhaustion.

+1 how does that explain the dog? Two adults, a baby and a dog in the same spot? I think even an incredibly loyal dog would be driven away from its family in search for water

This has been discussed on almost every other page of this thread so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

Just for accuracy, it's an east facing slope.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this has already been discussed (this thread is long) but an algae bloom wouldn’t necessarily affect them through water. I lived and worked right on the water in Baltimore’s inner harbor for 10+ year, and when there was a sudden algae bloom, you’d have a headache for days because of the smell it caused. Maybe there were circumstances (esp with heat) that led to them being overcome by it. Or a “perfect storm” of that with the heat and ehydration.

If it were poisoning, there’d be more apparent signs. Usually intentional poisoning that’s not done over time isn’t pretty and would be apparent to investigators that a physical reaction to a substance had occurred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Or if he collapsed and the mom went to seek help/car/phone signal, she croaks a stone's throw away? No way it was mere heat exhaustion.

+1 how does that explain the dog? Two adults, a baby and a dog in the same spot? I think even an incredibly loyal dog would be driven away from its family in search for water

This has been discussed on almost every other page of this thread so far.

The dog was certainly the first to go down. If it was heat stroke.

[Anonymous]

And imagine with decided to leave to get help. Husband patiently waits, not realizing she collapsed few feet away.

[Anonymous]

wife not with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

+1. Just because they were found in close proximity does not mean they dropped dead simultaneously.

Yes. Imagine if your spouse started feeling ill. Would your first thought be "I have to immediately leave him/here to go get help or else we'll all die?" No, you'd stay and try to help him/her. I think they stayed together, and by doing so, neither of them had a chance. The wife was found 90 yards away either in a last-ditch attempt to get help, though she was near death, or in a state of delirium and wandering, also near death.

Yes I was thinking this! I think the first grown adult who started to have trouble (my guess is dad) probably had heat exhaustion initially like dizziness, vomiting, muscle clamps etc. not yet heatstroke. So the family took a rest while he tried to recover. Mom tended the sick husband, giving water, cold compress on his neck and probably gave more water to the baby and dog too because she thought she was doing better than them… She just couldn’t leave her baby and dog with the distressed husband to go get help until he became severely ill and fell unconscious. I just can’t stop thinking about how helpless and panicked she must have felt right before she decided to leave them and started toward their car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

+1. Just because they were found in close proximity does not mean they dropped dead simultaneously.

Yes. Imagine if your spouse started feeling ill. Would your first thought be "I have to immediately leave him/here to go get help or else we'll all die?" No, you'd stay and try to help him/her. I think they stayed together, and by doing so, neither of them had a chance. The wife was found 90 yards away either in a last-ditch attempt to get help, though she was near death, or in a state of delirium and wandering, also near death.

Yes I was thinking this! I think the first grown adult who started to have trouble (my guess is dad) probably had heat exhaustion initially like dizziness, vomiting, muscle clamps etc. not yet heatstroke. So the family took a rest while he tried to recover. Mom tended the sick husband, giving water, cold compress on his neck and probably gave more water to the baby and dog too because she thought she was doing better than them… She just couldn’t leave her baby and dog with the distressed husband to go get help until he became severely ill and fell unconscious. I just can’t stop thinking about how helpless and panicked she must have felt right before she decided to leave them and started toward their car.

It may help you not think about it when you realize what you write is just wild speculation or fiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just read this entire thread, start-to-finish. At the beginning, I was in the mass asphyxiation camp, like a gas or carbon monoxide, because I assumed the hikers were on an easy hike, close to their car and were overcome with a freak environmental toxin.

Then, as a few more facts were released, I moved firmly into the heat stroke camp. The fact that the sheriff thought they were near the end of an 8 mile hike. The extremely difficult terrain and elevation, combined with the heat of the day. Learning more about heart stroke and how it can come on suddenly and lead to delirium. I think that a number of plausible scenarios could lead to all 4 of them succumbing close to each other.

I wonder how many pictures they'll find on their phones (assuming they used the dad's phone to take some). I wonder if it will reveal more clues.

I think it's likely that a series of mistakes and bad judgment calls all resulted in a tragic situation. I'm not victim-blaming here. We are only human.

The most reasonable post in this entire thread.

Certainly the most plausible. But both dying so close to each other is quite odd. What are the odds you both have heat stroke / collapse at the same time? What does the healthier of the two do after the first has a heat stroke? That play-by-play is what fascinates me.

Think "domino effect", not coincidence. It probably wasn't random that they died so close together. When one started to have trouble, the other may have tried to help them instead of immediately leaving to go for help. The extra exertion of helping another grown adult (while also carrying a baby, minding a dog, and hiking up a steep, rocky, southern-facing incline on a 100-degree day) is probably what did the second one in.

+1. Just because they were found in close proximity does not mean they dropped dead simultaneously.

Yes. Imagine if your spouse started feeling ill. Would your first thought be "I have to immediately leave him/here to go get help or else we'll all die?" No, you'd stay and try to help him/her. I think they stayed together, and by doing so, neither of them had a chance. The wife was found 90 yards away either in a last-ditch attempt to get help, though she was near death, or in a state of delirium and wandering, also near death.

Yes I was thinking this! I think the first grown adult who started to have trouble (my guess is dad) probably had heat exhaustion initially like dizziness, vomiting, muscle clamps etc. not yet heatstroke. So the family took a rest while he tried to recover. Mom tended the sick husband, giving water, cold compress on his neck and probably gave more water to the baby and dog too because she thought she was doing better than them… She just couldn’t leave her baby and dog with the distressed husband to go get help until he became severely ill and fell unconscious. I just can’t stop thinking about how helpless and panicked she must have felt right before she decided to leave them and started toward their car.

She could have been shouting and cursing him for all we know. Maybe she was mad he got them rink this predicament. That’s just as plausible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two adults dying so close together is really strange. Even if the wife collapsed from the heat and they were lost, wouldn't a strong man like him carry her over his shoulder?

But really, the mere act of "hiking" in 100 degree heat with a toddler and dog teases out some mental issues.

Software engineer, not weight lifter.

LOL what strong man? He was a string bean who was already carrying 30 pounds in the form of the baby, water, and hiking backpack in 103F weather over 8 miles.

Even a Navy Seal could not do what you're asking - at least 150 pounds (mom plus baby) over 8 miles of rough terrain in the arid desert.

This guy picked up these 150-185 pound guys with ease but he's breathing hard in a clearly cool temperate environment and he hasn't even walked anywhere.

That video is awesome. 🔥🔥