What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

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

The infamous Devil’s Gulch Gang of snakes. Possessed by the devil. 😈

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If dad was carrying the dog then the baby would have been on mom's back

[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?

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 ...

That's the one thing I assume they'd know about if they've hiked much, but making the choice to do this hike on this day with baby and dog shows a lack of judgment on their part. I'd bet they didn't have enough water for the conditions. The papers mentioned a camelback. I'd assume mom and dad each had one and that was likely not enough water for this day and hike.

[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.

It rules out anything with causing obvious mechanical damage, like a motorcycle, gun, branch, boulder, knife. The chloroform killer is still viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Cut the guy a break, he has been waiting in the sun for you for a couple hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

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 ...

That's the one thing I assume they'd know about if they've hiked much, but making the choice to do this hike on this day with baby and dog shows a lack of judgment on their part. I'd bet they didn't have enough water for the conditions. The papers mentioned a camelback. I'd assume mom and dad each had one and that was likely not enough water for this day and hike.

So the Dad had a camelback and was carrying the kid on his back? Seems unlikely.

[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.

It rules out anything with causing obvious mechanical damage, like a motorcycle, gun, branch, boulder, knife. The chloroform killer is still viable.

And energy drinks. And psychotropic drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

The infamous Devil’s Gulch Gang of snakes. Possessed by the devil. 😈

"Why does it always have to be snakes?"

[Anonymous]

A few posters have mentioned that the investigators must think it’s something other than a case of heatstroke given that they are pursuing all these other theories. I don’t think that follows at all. They absolutely need to do the investigation necessary ro rule out the disturbing possibilities that it could be a health or safety hazard to anyone else who uses those trails—murderer on the loose, toxic algae (known to be in the river in some quantities), toxic gas (not crazy given the old mines all around there), etc.

They also need to rule out murder/suicide to help the grieving family members. If they rule all those things out, presumably what’s left is heatstroke, which is clearly the most likely explanation given what we know (and anyone who thinks the fact they were found near each other a couple days after death means they all died “simultaneously” is a complete moron).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few posters have mentioned that the investigators must think it’s something other than a case of heatstroke given that they are pursuing all these other theories. I don’t think that follows at all. They absolutely need to do the investigation necessary ro rule out the disturbing possibilities that it could be a health or safety hazard to anyone else who uses those trails—murderer on the loose, toxic algae (known to be in the river in some quantities), toxic gas (not crazy given the old mines all around there), etc.

They also need to rule out murder/suicide to help the grieving family members. If they rule all those things out, presumably what’s left is heatstroke, which is clearly the most likely explanation given what we know (and anyone who thinks the fact they were found near each other a couple days after death means they all died “simultaneously” is a complete moron).

The police are probably finding hard to believe these experienced hikers made such a big mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few posters have mentioned that the investigators must think it’s something other than a case of heatstroke given that they are pursuing all these other theories. I don’t think that follows at all. They absolutely need to do the investigation necessary ro rule out the disturbing possibilities that it could be a health or safety hazard to anyone else who uses those trails—murderer on the loose, toxic algae (known to be in the river in some quantities), toxic gas (not crazy given the old mines all around there), etc.

They also need to rule out murder/suicide to help the grieving family members. If they rule all those things out, presumably what’s left is heatstroke, which is clearly the most likely explanation given what we know (and anyone who thinks the fact they were found near each other a couple days after death means they all died “simultaneously” is a complete moron).

People die in this way all the time and while yes, they do investigate to ensure the due diligence is done, there is not all this confusion and drama. They always do the ruling out, they don't always do the ruling out and close the site down as a hazmat suit and talk about it like its a giant mysterious mystery.

[Anonymous]

I was one of the murder suicide posters. Now I’m thinking heat stroke and stupidity if it’s true they really tried to hike 8 miles and started after 8 am. So sad. I am pretty outdoorsy and have three kids and I never would take them on a hike that long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few posters have mentioned that the investigators must think it’s something other than a case of heatstroke given that they are pursuing all these other theories. I don’t think that follows at all. They absolutely need to do the investigation necessary ro rule out the disturbing possibilities that it could be a health or safety hazard to anyone else who uses those trails—murderer on the loose, toxic algae (known to be in the river in some quantities), toxic gas (not crazy given the old mines all around there), etc.

They also need to rule out murder/suicide to help the grieving family members. If they rule all those things out, presumably what’s left is heatstroke, which is clearly the most likely explanation given what we know (and anyone who thinks the fact they were found near each other a couple days after death means they all died “simultaneously” is a complete moron).

People die in this way all the time and while yes, they do investigate to ensure the due diligence is done, there is not all this confusion and drama. They always do the ruling out, they don't always do the ruling out and close the site down as a hazmat suit and talk about it like its a giant mysterious mystery.

+1

There is a reason that they are treating this family's death differently. There is something about the position or state of the bodies when they were found, or the location, or some other reason that is unusual and points towards an unusual cause of death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was one of the murder suicide posters. Now I’m thinking heat stroke and stupidity if it’s true they really tried to hike 8 miles and started after 8 am. So sad. I am pretty outdoorsy and have three kids and I never would take them on a hike that long.

If they were killed by toxic fumes or some other unusual natural occurrence, will you still think the hike was a stupid idea?

Remember, the baby was at the best age for a hike, short or long. Old enough to look around but no old enough to be trouble. It only gets harder as the baby gets older and with more children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

The infamous Devil’s Gulch Gang of snakes. Possessed by the devil. 😈

They live underneath the boulder and feed off of the toxic algae.