What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I don't think 107 degrees dry heat is that hot for young, fit, outdoorsy, experienced desert hikers. Baby and dog definitely would have had a problem with that level of heat. But all four? Also, wouldn't heat stroke show up in an autopsy?

If they were hiking in high heat that would have showed really poor consideration for the baby and the dog. For that reason my guess is they were hiking in the cool morning weather--plus they were seen at ~7:30am. What - they'd go on an hours-long hike with nothing more than one camelback of water? No granola bars for energy, no extra water for the dog, no juice boxes for the baby? Doesn't make sense. These were experienced hikers.

Something other than high heat killed all four. My guess still stands at a freak natural incident of some variety, such as a toxic gas cloud.

I continue to weep for the logic skills of America.

You honestly think a “freak natural incident” is more likely than heat stroke? smh.

DP. If this was clearly heat stroke there never would have been a news article about it. It would have been 'family dies of heat stroke' just like all the other people who die of heat stroke.

I think the most likely reason someone would die on a trail in 109 degree heat is heat stroke, but I think it doesn't look like heat stroke to the investigators, because if it looked even a little bit like heat stroke, that is what they would assume it was.

It is not **clearly** anything at this point.

[Anonymous]

Not looking good for Boulder theory.

An autopsy done on the family gave no conclusive cause as to how the family died, but it did rule out blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds as no physical evidence was found.

Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kristie Mitchell said the investigation would be treated as a hazmat situation.

"We aren't specifically saying this is carbon monoxide, we aren't saying it's toxic algae, we aren't saying that it couldn't be something else. What we wanted to do was just take extra precautions because there are additional hazards in the area," Mitchell told USA TODAY. "That's a hard question to answer. We aren't ruling anything out at this point."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did dog have feet protectors on? If it was that hot, dog might have burned paws which could explain the dog being the first to falter. Dog autopsy would show that.

Any guesses on how much the dog weighed? 60 lbs maybe?

If dad had to carry the dog that might explain him being in really rough shape and unable to go for help because carrying a dog that size takes a lot out of you not just bc of their weight but their frame. We had 50 lb dogs and carrying them was rough. So mom had more energy left and went for help.

[Anonymous]

We were just on vacation in Burlington VT, and in the main harbor there, they had warnings to keep kids and dogs away from the water, due to cyanobacteria.

https://www.healthvermont.gov/health-environment/recreational-water/cyanobacteria-blue-green-algae

https://www.healthvermont.gov/tracking/cyanobacteria-tracker

Interesting, other parts of the same lake are fine. But Lake Champlain is HUGE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I don't think 107 degrees dry heat is that hot for young, fit, outdoorsy, experienced desert hikers. Baby and dog definitely would have had a problem with that level of heat. But all four? Also, wouldn't heat stroke show up in an autopsy?

Is this a troll post? In what world is 107 degrees not "that" hot... even if it's a DRY HEAT.

Agreed. You are clueless prior poster. Even for fit, outdoorsy hikers. Fit, outdoorsy hikers die in these conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I don't think 107 degrees dry heat is that hot for young, fit, outdoorsy, experienced desert hikers. Baby and dog definitely would have had a problem with that level of heat. But all four? Also, wouldn't heat stroke show up in an autopsy?

If they were hiking in high heat that would have showed really poor consideration for the baby and the dog. For that reason my guess is they were hiking in the cool morning weather--plus they were seen at ~7:30am. What - they'd go on an hours-long hike with nothing more than one camelback of water? No granola bars for energy, no extra water for the dog, no juice boxes for the baby? Doesn't make sense. These were experienced hikers.

Something other than high heat killed all four. My guess still stands at a freak natural incident of some variety, such as a toxic gas cloud.

I continue to weep for the logic skills of America.

You honestly think a “freak natural incident” is more likely than heat stroke? smh.

It's about as likely as 4 beings simultaneously dying of heat stroke.

You have made this stupid statement several times. All it took was for the adults to succumb. Go and google other cases and see how similar they are to this.

[Anonymous]

I think they were descended upon by a wild gang of poisonous snakes and all succumbed quickly to the venom.

[Anonymous]

I think it was aliens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like they've ruled out the mine-gas and murder theories: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Chemical-hazards-on-trail-gunshots-ruled-out-as-16414619.php

It's behind a subscription wall. Can you cut/paste or summarize what it says? Thank you!

Investigators said Thursday they have ruled out exposure to chemicals from a mine along the trail and use of a gun or other weapon in the mysterious case of a former San Francisco family who died along with their dog on a remote Mariposa County hiking route.

In its first update on the case in nearly a week, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office provided more details about the timeline of events, indicating the family was spotted heading to the trailhead on the morning of Aug. 15 by a witness.

Investigators believe the family hiked most of a grueling 8.5-mile loop — including 5 miles of steep southern exposure trail with little to no trees or shade in 103 to 109 degree heat — before succumbing on the return to their truck on a steep switchback.

The cause of death of Jonathan Gerrish, 45, Ellen Chung, 30, their 1-year-old daughter Aurelia Miju Chung-Gerrish and 8-year-old Aussie-Akita mix Oski remains a mystery, as authorities are waiting for toxicology reports and cell phone data. The baffling case has received international attention.

A Northern California family was found dead while hiking on a remote trail. What caused their mysterious deaths? pic.twitter.com/NjngcEAET0


“We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of detectives are working round the clock,” Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement. “Cases like this require us to be methodical and thorough while also reaching out to every resource we can find to help us bring those answers to them as quickly as we can.”

Law enforcement initially treated the scene as a hazardous materials site out of fears the family inhaled toxic fumes, possibly from an abandoned mine in the area. They also investigated toxic bacteria plumes along the south fork of the Merced River and Snyder Creek, which follow the hike at the bottom of the valley, as well as other possible contamination.

Water toxicity has not been ruled out, and authorities are testing water samples from the area and from what the hikers were carrying.

The family was from San Francisco but moved to Mariposa County during the pandemic and bought properties around the Sierra foothills community, a popular tourist stop for travelers driving to Yosemite National Park. They bought one property near the trailhead on Hites Cove Road.

Investigators said for the first time Thursday that Gerrish had been researching the Hites Cove hike on a phone app on Aug. 14, the day before the trek. Around 7:45 a.m. on Aug. 15, a witness spotted the family traveling toward the trailhead in their truck, the sheriff said.

The missing person report for the family came in at 11 p.m. on Aug. 16, and a Mariposa County sheriff’s deputy found the couple’s truck at the end of Hites Cove Road at the trailhead about three hours later. Search crews scoured the rugged trails, and around 11 a.m., the family was found along the switchbacks leading back to their truck.

Investigators believe the family traveled most of the loop before succumbing on a steep section about 1.5 miles below where they parked their car. Searchers found Gerrish in a seated position on the trail with his daughter and dog next to him, and Chung was a little bit farther up the path.

There were few clues at the scene and no indications of foul play. Investigators sent samples of water from the river, creek and the couple’s bladder-lined backpack to labs and are still awaiting results. Further testing is being coordinated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. They also searched the area for unknown mines.

Search warrants were issued for the phone found on Gerrish and social media accounts. The phone was sent to the FBI two days ago to extract data, according to investigators. Nothing significant was found during searches of the family home and vehicles, the sheriff’s office said.

The Hites Cove and Savage/Lundy trails, which make up the loop, lie within the 2018 Ferguson Fire burn scar, which burned off most of any shade along the route.

Detectives continue conducting interviews as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is who the hell brings a baby along for this nightmare hike from hell? Their judgment seems so off as to be indicative of a plan. That’s a long time without a proper nap, cooling off, etc.

Stupid parents.

It's their first kid, and they like to do these "adventures", so they might not realize the accommodations they need to make for a baby.

Really? Or were they not willing to slow down once the baby came into the picture.

[Anonymous]

So for this language from the article, do we interpret this as meaning no FA? Or does it just rule out 3rd party murderers?


Investigators said Thursday they have ruled out exposure to chemicals from a mine along the trail and use of a gun or other weapon in the mysterious case of a former San Francisco family who died along with their dog on a remote Mariposa County hiking route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a pp who thought this was probably intended as a short morning hike (like an hour or two and then back home in time for lunch and nap), but 1 of the 4 suffered illness or injury mid-hike and they made the unfortunate decision to stick together which may have made sense in the moment but ultimately killed them all. But now hearing that they may have deliberately set out for a grueling 8+ mile hike, in August, with an infant, makes me think maybe they were just plain stupid. The adults were experienced hikers, but the baby was only one, so they were new to hiking with a baby.

Agree with this.
I think they just underestimated their mortality.

People never think they're going to be the ones to die. It's human nature. People with bad cancer are sure they'll be in the 5% who will respond to treatment. People in the ICU think they'll pull through (I'm an ICU nurse). Heck, most of America is sure that Covid could never harm them personally (even as they watch friends and family members die).
I'm sure this family never thought: "If we go out there in the heat, we could die". I don't have half their level of fitness and my gut reaction is "Oh, I'd be okay, I'll just turn around if I feel bad". I would never think "I may die on the trail, I better not go".

Then why aren't the police saying, this is simple heatstroke and the family messed up? Why all this drama and uncertainty? There must be something that is causing them to rule out this most simple and obvious explanation.

Why are you saying they've ruled it out? They haven't said that ... they've only said they've ruled out murder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I don't think 107 degrees dry heat is that hot for young, fit, outdoorsy, experienced desert hikers. Baby and dog definitely would have had a problem with that level of heat. But all four? Also, wouldn't heat stroke show up in an autopsy?

Is this a troll post? In what world is 107 degrees not "that" hot... even if it's a DRY HEAT.

Back in my younger years, I was a lifeguard in that area and on days like that I would drink a gallon of cool water while sitting in the shade. It literally hurts your skin if you stand in the sun when it gets above 105. When it's that hot, you either stay in the shade or wear a hat and long sleeves and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (and eat salty snacks to avoid hyponatremia).

Speaking of which ... no one has mentioned hyponatremia ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for this language from the article, do we interpret this as meaning no FA? Or does it just rule out 3rd party murderers?


Investigators said Thursday they have ruled out exposure to chemicals from a mine along the trail and use of a gun or other weapon in the mysterious case of a former San Francisco family who died along with their dog on a remote Mariposa County hiking route.

I think that's jut saying they weren't shot, stabbed, or beaten (things that would leave obvious injuries on the bodies), but not ruling out FA by poison (I don't think it was FA but it seems that can't be ruled out until results of toxicology).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for this language from the article, do we interpret this as meaning no FA? Or does it just rule out 3rd party murderers?


Investigators said Thursday they have ruled out exposure to chemicals from a mine along the trail and use of a gun or other weapon in the mysterious case of a former San Francisco family who died along with their dog on a remote Mariposa County hiking route.

I think that's jut saying they weren't shot, stabbed, or beaten (things that would leave obvious injuries on the bodies), but not ruling out FA by poison (I don't think it was FA but it seems that can't be ruled out until results of toxicology).

I'm with the PP who says if someone wants to kill me, please do it before I've hiked 3+ miles uphill in 100+ degree heat with no shade. Kthnxbye.