Warrants for the couple's phones and social media accounts were obtained and are currently being scoured by the FBI; searches of their truck and home have turned up nothing of significance so far. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ", Dogs tend to be more susceptible to the algal toxins, in part because they get into the water and then get out and lick their fur, potentially ingesting a high dose of toxins, he said. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Deputy Mitchell told TooFab that while foul play has not been ruled out, there was nothing to indicate it: no gunshot wounds, no trauma of any kind, no suicide notes. However, temperatures reached a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the hike. At that point, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shocking news that the family died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, while their 8-year-old dog Oski also suffered a heat-related death. No additional water containers or filtration systems were found. Gerrish was 45 and Chung was 30. But was this really a possible explanation, given the distance to the mine? The mother, father and baby died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced at a press conference Thursday. The extracted information confirms our initial findings. Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time," he said. Jonathan Gerrish and his wife, Ellen Chung, knew they were in trouble. According to the New York Times, investigators "were investigating possible lightning strikes in the area", as they continue to probe the baffling case. Craig Kohlruss/AP Northern California familys mysterious deaths, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Northern California familys mysterious deaths on hiking trail: The official cause, Map: Familys route before they were found dead on California trail. There were no apparent causes of death or signs of foul play discovered at the scene, the release said. Temperatures reached as high as 109 by midafternoon. A young California family of three have been found dead in a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Last week they ruled out that possible gases from a nearby mine could've been the culprit. Following the discovery of the bodies, although there was no sign of foul play or of trauma to the bodies, but in accordance with procedure, the investigation was classified as a homicide, pending results from the coroners post-mortem examinations and toxicology tests. Ellen Chung, Jonathan Gerrish and their 1-year-old daughter and dog were found dead on Aug. 17, 2021, in a remote part of the Sierra National Forest. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The family were not killed bay a gas leak from a mine nor were they killed by any kind of weapon, police have determined. It's a rare event that may get more routine, experts warn, given rising temperatures from human-caused climate change. High levels of toxic algae were detected in new water samples taken downstream from where the family died, prompting the Bureau of Land Management to close campgrounds and recreation areas along 28 miles of the Merced River on Friday, per the AP. We have no timeline for those pending results.". Related: The 5 most poisonous substances: Polonium to mercury. John was supposed to work Monday and never showed up and that raised more concerns. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said illnesses from extreme heat are the deadliest weather-related health outcomes in the United States and kill an average of about 658 people each year. Investigators are hoping that autopsies and toxicology tests will ultimately reveal more about what happened in this tragic story. They were out in the middle of a national forest on a day hike." The sheriffs office mounted a search on August 17 and found the couples truck the next day at the Sierra National Forest gate. They had explored and ruled out a range of possibilities, including lightning strikes, potentially toxic gases from abandoned mines, suicide, weapons and foul play. The area is northeast of Mariposa and southwest of Yosemite National Park. Theres also very little shade along that portion of the trail due to the 2018 Ferguson Fire, the release said. Gerrish was found in a seated position on the trail, with his infant daughter and eight-year-old dog next to him; Chung was discovered a little bit further up the path, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The sheriffs office also had said previously that extreme heat had been ruled out, but Briese said Thursday that the investigators are now convinced that the finding of hyperthermia and dehydration is correct for the couple and their daughter, Aurelia Miju. The release said six separate laboratories helped with testing water samples from several locations of the South Fork of the Merced River and were positive for Anatoxin A, which can be deadly to animals but has never caused any recorded deaths among humans. Hyperthermia is defined by the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment.. This section of the trail makes a loop, with the halfway point the south fork of the Merced River. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Shortly before 2 a.m. the next day, a sheriffs deputy spotted the familys vehicle at the trailhead. Its south-southeast orientation exposes it to constant sunlight, and the 2018 Ferguson fire left little vegetation capable of producing shade, Briese said. Lightning strikes in Mariposa County's Hite Cove under consideration. But there are no known human deaths connected to drinking or wading in such contaminated water, according to the California Department of Public Health. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Original records are located in the Hessian State Archives in Marburg and in the Institut fr Stadtgeschichte, Frankfurt. Last week, several trails and campgrounds around the Merced River Recreation Site near where the family died were shut down "due to unknown hazards". As Ive mentioned, the Gerrish Chung family have been our top priority as we dealt with this horrible event.. Still, authorities closed several trails near the site in Mariposa County last week as a precaution "due to unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy Trail," per SFGate. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Family of 3 found dead in remote hiking area, Family of 3 found dead in remote California hiking area. Investigators were also considering whether toxic algae blooms may have contributed to their deaths. Get to know this 6.5-mile out-and-back trail near El Portal, California. Briese suggested that, as relative newcomers to the area, they may not have been aware of the steepness of the terrain and how quickly temperatures could rise. The bodies were found on Tuesday on a remote hiking trail. 05-15-51-21-18 is to provide for public safety due to unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy Trail, within the Bass Lake Ranger District. Back when these mines were in operation, their operators could just simply abandon them without removing hazards. There's no clear indication of cause of death," she said, adding that the bodies have still not been recovered. The best way to get to Hites Cove is by hiking the Hites Cove Trail starting at Savages Trading post near El Portal on HWY 140. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Many remain stranded in San Bernardino Mountains as snow blocks roads, threatens roofs, Suspected shooter in attacks on Jewish men was on FBIs radar, LAPD chief says, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Theyd gone about 4.1 miles, losing roughly 2,000 feet of elevation, by the time they met the Savage Lundy Trail their route back to their vehicle. The California Department of Justice is now assisting the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office with the investigation. Many potential causes of death were ruled out during the course of the investigation, including suicide, weapons, illegal drugs, and lightning strikes, according to report by the San Francisco Chronicle. The HAZMAT declaration on was lifted Wednesday, as the bodies of the three as well as their dog, Oski were finally airlifted from the scene. "We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. The trail is open year-round and is . Per the order, anyone using or being anywhere near the listed trailheads could be subject to fines up to $5,000 or $10,000 if they are a group. Our office received an overwhelming number of tips, suggestions and investigative requests that were all reviewed and taken into consideration, the Sheriffs Office concluded in the release. The temperatures at this time were in the mid-70s. The release noted that there was only one 85-ounce a little over half of a gallon water bladder found with them, and no other water containers or filtration systems among them. John and Ellen married in 2019 and had moved to Mariposa County from San Francisco after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, to enjoy the outdoors, after starting working from home on a permanent basis. The cellphone data results were the last thing both the family and detectives were waiting on, Briese said. The trail the family was hiking, the Savage Lundy Trail, snakes along the Merced River. Investigators have already ruled out the use of a deadly weapon and exposure to gases from abandoned mine shafts in the region. The Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told The Fresno Bee that he didn't believe the deaths were connected to a nearby mine. Investigators are seeking access to the couple's cellphones and social media accounts for further clues. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest, Woman in her 70s found stabbed to death in Lake Forest home, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. The deaths have been followed by an onslaught of baseless rumors made by armchair investigators and true-crime enthusiasts following the October announcement. ", The Sheriff added that while many toxicology reports have been completed, "we are still pending a few key results. Sheriffs Office staff and a CHP helicopter searched the area around it and found no evidence they had located it or been inside, the release said. "There are reports, but they're usually kind of anecdotal reports," Wilson told Live Science. Homicide had already been crossed off the list. A cell phone was found in Johns pocket, but there is little to no cell coverage on that section of the trail where the bodies were found. CBS San Francisco reports investigators said this week they were still unsure of what killed the family. The trail was closed until September 26, or sooner "if conditions change" around the area. The nearest known mine was over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away from the bodies; still, because that area had a community of mines, there could be some that we don't know about, Briese said. How use of diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss has led to a shortage: 'Let the diabetics have their drugs', Wildcats, Bears basketball players highlight All Mother Lode League team, Warriors want Jordan Poole to ease back on the throttle amid rough stretch. Six more causes of death have been ruled out in the baffling case. "These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick," says BLM field manager Elizabeth Meyer-Shields. We've looked at storms the weather, animals. The family had hiked along the Hites Cove Trail in the Sierra National Forest near the Merced River. While temperatures were high in the area the family were hiking (37C / 98.6F) at their highs, dehydration seemed unlikely, with the dog dying and the Camelback still containing water. Theres no obvious indicators of how it occurred . Gerrishs attempted message was among several key pieces of new information released Thursday by the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office that shed further light on the familys final hours. Hite Cove itself is an abandoned mining settlement some 4.5 miles (7.2 km) down the trail. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). hide caption. Officials cited "unknown hazards" in the area as the reason for the closure. Hites Cove Trail. Wander through the South Fork Merced River valley, along the rushing waters, and through the meadowlands abundant with wildflowers. The name honors John Hite, who discovered gold at the site. Contact Alex MacLean at [email protected] or (209) 588-4541. The final image stored on the phone came at 12:25 p.m. a screenshot of their location from a smartphone trail application. None of the four victims bore any signs of obvious trauma; however according to the National Weather Service: "Lightning is primarily an injury to the nervous system, often with brain injury and nerve injury. Please enter valid email address to continue. I-5 closed. With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service then closed all 20 million acres of Californias national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday, August 31, 2021, extending through at least September 17. We use cookies. Certified copies of the Report of Death will be sent to the next-of-kin or legal representative and the original will be sent to the Department of State for permanent filing. Toxic algae and fumes from mines known to be in the area were also discussed heavily as possible causes. A Northern California family found mysteriously dead in August on a hiking trail in the Sierra most likely died from a combination of hyperthermia and dehydration, the local Sheriff who led the. Explore one of 20 easy hiking trails in Frankfurt am Main or discover kid-friendly routes for . ", Become a member of StrangeOutdoors for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read other strange stories from the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite, The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest, The bizarre disappearance of Stacey Arras from Yosemite National Park, The strange disappearance and death of Jeannie Hesselschwerdt in Yosemite National Park, The puzzling disappearance of Max Schweitzer in Yosemite National Park, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gerrish-2748376/?originalSubdomain=uk, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-mystery-autopsy-fails-to-reveal-cause-of-death-for-family-and-dog-found-dead-on-hiking-trial, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poison-algae-on-gold-trail-may-have-killed-family-59vmwjf3q, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hites-cove-trail?u=m, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hites_Cove,_California, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Not-one-clue-The-mystery-is-only-deepening-16401921.php, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914627/Deaths-husband-wife-baby-treated-homicide.html, http://merced-river.org/HitesCoveTrail.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Unknown-hazards-Yosemite-trail-Calif-family-dead-16429088.php, https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/posts/3133758160228109, https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253864053.html?fbclid=IwAR0_Sv0T7TGRIEuytyuph8M5f50VWWgo4skgRuB3YaHIUKjO6JPK31FMNYU, https://kmph.com/news/local/mariposa-county-sheriff-multiple-causes-of-death-ruled-out-in-death-of-california-family, https://people.com/human-interest/cause-of-death-revealed-for-california-family-who-died-on-hiking-trail/, Tagged: The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, john gerrish death, ellen chung death, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, John Gerrish autopsy, Savage lundy trail deaths, Sign Up now for a one-off fee for exclusive access to many articles, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. 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