CA - Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter, 1 & dog, suspicious death remote hiking area, Aug 2021

[reb]

Does anyone know the situation in which they were found? On or by the trail? Sprawled all over the ground erratically, huddled together, all lined up in a row, etc...?? All clothes on or off, and what were they wearing? by the river, by a tree, using shelter, by a road, etc. etc...? Did they look like they were in distress, or doing any activity when they expired? Did they have food & water with them, and was it consumed? Any details at all? I'm also trying to figure out why a couple would be hiking with a baby in the 109 degree heat... that doesn't make sense. Anyone think maybe they were lost.. or had some other reason to be on that trail in that type of extremely dangerous heat?

 

[annpats]

Does anyone know the situation in which they were found? On or by the trail? Sprawled all over the ground erratically, huddled together, all lined up in a row, etc...?? All clothes on or off, and what were they wearing? by the river, by a tree, using shelter, by a road, etc. etc...? Did they look like they were in distress, or doing any activity when they expired? Did they have food & water with them, and was it consumed? Any details at all? I'm also trying to figure out why a couple would be hiking with a baby in the 109 degree heat... that doesn't make sense. Anyone think maybe they were lost.. or had some other reason to be on that trail in that type of extremely dangerous heat?

I think these questions can be answered by reading the posts in pages 1-4. You'll be able to get all the info you need, and more.

It's very difficult when we're on page 29 to keep going over old ground.

I always advise anyone who has just come to a thread to do a bit of background reading on the previous pages to bring them up to speed. I know that's what I do when I look at a thread that's been going for a while.

Hope that helps.

 

[Knox]

I think these questions can be answered by reading the posts in pages 1-4. You'll be able to get all the info you need, and more.

It's very difficult when we're on page 29 to keep going over old ground.

I always advise anyone who has just come to a thread to do a bit of background reading on the previous pages to bring them up to speed. I know that's what I do when I look at a thread that's been going for a while.

Hope that helps.

Or Google search for news articles, I find that's helpful too when looking for background information.

 

[Seni]

I'm going with lightning strike.

Several years ago while staying at a finca that was mostly cattle ranching we discovered aprox 40 heads of cattle deceased. No signs of anything. They were found under a big tree and the previous night we had huge thunder and lightning.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Does anyone know the situation in which they were found? On or by the trail? Sprawled all over the ground erratically, huddled together, all lined up in a row, etc...?? All clothes on or off, and what were they wearing? by the river, by a tree, using shelter, by a road, etc. etc...? Did they look like they were in distress, or doing any activity when they expired? Did they have food & water with them, and was it consumed? Any details at all? I'm also trying to figure out why a couple would be hiking with a baby in the 109 degree heat... that doesn't make sense. Anyone think maybe they were lost.. or had some other reason to be on that trail in that type of extremely dangerous heat?

They were found on the trail approximately 1 1/2 miles from their truck. LE believe they were returning to where it was parked. The father was found in a sitting position wth his child and dog next to him. His wife was found close by, further up the trail. LE mentioned their clothing, but nothing specific.

LE said they were ‘well prepared’ for the hike, but the SFC reported that they had little water left in their container. I haven’t heard any mention about food.

Why they were hiking in the heat is a mystery, IMO.

ETA: A rough timeline:

• The last contact was a photo they uploaded Sunday at 6:45 a.m. of the baby backpack they took with them. Many articles refer to the hike as a ‘day trip’.

From the SF article:

• 11:00 pm Monday a missing persons report was made for the family
• A curious sheriff’s deputy had a hunch: he knew the family recently purchased a property near the trailhead for Hites Cove Trail. He drove out to search.
• He found their truck at the trailhead at 2:00 am (early Tuesday). A SAR team was called in.
• At 3:20 a.m., the sheriff’s office reserved a search helicopter for daybreak.
  
• He called for backup & additional SAR, and they found the family 9 hours later at 11:00 am, Tuesday. (I’m not sure if this is an indication of the challenging terrain, scope of search, and/or time needed to call in SAR).
• They were located 1.5 miles down the switchbacks in the middle of the trail. “the child beside him along with the dog, and the wife just a little farther up the hill. Briese said they believe the family was returning to their truck.
  A cell phone was in Gerrish’s pocket. There is little to no cell coverage on that section of trail.”
  
  
• It was 107°-109°F (about 42°C) during their hike

'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Many of these questions have not been answered in any of the posts here

I think these questions can be answered by reading the posts in pages 1-4. You'll be able to get all the info you need, and more.

 

[Speculaytor]

For those of you that think heatstroke is the cause -- what do you think the reason is that law enforcement hasn't said something to the effect of, "Due to lack of other obvious causes, these are likely a heat-related fatalities, but we aren't ruling it as such until we complete our investigation," rather than saying, "We've never seen anything like this..."

editing to add specific quotes:

Mitchell said:

"We've never seen anything like this, and I don't think this is a typical case that any agency throughout the nation has seen.

"When you come across, like I said at the beginning, a family, seemingly healthy family, and you come across mom, dad, dog, and baby all deceased, that's not normal."​

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said:

"I've been here for 20 years, and I've never seen a death-related case like this.

"There's no obvious indicators of how it occurred.

"You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child, and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area. None of the bodies had physical wounds such as gunshots or signs of trauma, and no suicide note was found," Mitchell said. "It makes for a very unique, very strange situation," she said. "I think it's going to be a very long and in depth, thorough investigation because it isn't as clear cut as what some cases are."
​

So, again I ask, for those of you who think heatstroke -- you think that local law enforcement with more than 20 years of service has never seen people succumb to heat related death before?

I absolutely agree you make good points. I am one that keeps thinking heatstroke or poisoning, some drug? I think LE are saying this due to the lack of vomit and other obvious signs of heatstroke that are not/ were not present. I am baffled.

 

[Noelscat]

This is my time-saving attempt to answer your questions by simply re-posting an earlier post I made in this thread.

Just my list of facts that answer some of the questions posed, and contribute to my dark theory: (murder/suicide or suicide pact)

1. Their home is very near the trailhead for Hites Cove Trail (which is what made searchers check the gate where their truck was found parked)
2. Their bodies were only 1.5 miles below the their truck on a series of switchbacks, and appeared to be near the end of their hike heading back to their truck.
3. This section of the Hites Cove Trail makes a loop, with the halfway point the south fork of the Merced River. It is only about 2.5 miles long and is not considered to be a strenuous hike.
4. This family hiked nearly every weekend. This wasn't a new activity.
5. The family was found in the middle of the trail.
6. Their bodies show no signs of trauma: no bites, punctures, signs of burns, trauma, bruising, scratches, gunshots, or obvious foul play. There were no medications or notes found. (This makes snake bites, lightening, and even CO2 rather unlikely)
7. Hazmat has cleared the area -- and while Algae Blooms were questioned in the area, no other wildlife including insects were found dead near the bodies. Additionally, no members of the search parties, other hikers in the days/weeks previous, nor the two deputies who stayed overnight to protect the scene until the bodies could be removed were sickened being in the area.
8. It is highly unlikely that this family drank green/blue water. First, they had a backpack with a bladder that was still holding some water when found. Second, they were very experienced hikers.
9. There are/were no mines found within 3 miles of the area. (poisoning from mines unlikely)
10. The husband was found in a seated position, their child beside him along with the dog.
11. The wife was found just a very short distance away from them, slightly up the hill. All of them on the SAME PATH.
12. A cell phone was in Gerrish’s pocket.
13. Wife has overcome a traumatic brain injury.
14. Wife has also worked as Pharmaceutical assistant in the past.
15. They have traveled extensively -- including to the Gobi Desert.
16. They are avid hikers and are not novices. They are familiar with climates, were well-prepared and had adequate supplies.

Admin Note: Noelscat has provided all the following links to support above information stated as fact. All else is member opinion:

(facts 1-12) 'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

(fact 1, 4, 8, 9, 16) Did algae bloom kill family hiking in Mariposa County? Authorities checking all possibilities in mysterious deaths

(fact 13) Satori Yoga Studio

(fact 13, 15, 16) Login • Instagram

(fact 14) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-chung-b0647324/

 

[Noelscat]

Many of these questions have not been answered in any of the posts here

I disagree -- my post with links specifically answered most if not all of these questions. I have reposted again as well.

 

[Quiet Time]

Thank you Noelscat...

 

[woods]

This is my time-saving attempt to answer your questions by simply re-posting an earlier post I made in this thread.

Someone who knows the people working the case was told they may have swam in the water, and that it was a popular swimming place.

 

[Speculaytor]

Someone who knows the people working the case was told they may have swam in the water, and that it was a popular swimming place.

Maybe a swim in water with toxic substance/algae, coupled with the heat? That trail is in the sun, at 104 plus degrees shade wouldn't cool the body down. The water they had with them is being checked.

 

[tarabull]

Homicide ruled out in mysterious deaths of family of three, dog | Canoe.Com

 

[Pizzalvr2003]

I've seen this trail twice described as nothing like it's name. For example:

(By the way, don't let the Devil's Gulch name scare you. For years, every time I passed this sign, I envisioned a harsh, steep climb through dry, hellish terrain. After all, they got Mount Diablo's name right. Instead, Devil's Gulch is a gentle, relaxing saunter through grasslands and alongside a peaceful creek. I would love to know the origin of the name.) In the summer, and on weekends, expect a lot of horse traffic. In the winter when the weather is chilly, you may have the trails to yourself, especially on weekday mornings.

This 3.9 mile out and back hike is easy, with about 880 feet in elevation change (mostly in small increments).


Exposure:
Mostly shaded.
https://bahiker.com/northbayhikes/sptdevil.html

Personally... I've never visited so I don't know.[/QUOTE]


This actually describes a different Devils Gulch area. The one described above as shady is in Marin County north of San Francisco. The one where the bodies were found is a few hours east of the San Francisco area. It’s super confusing.

 

[SunSun]

I'm guessing that it got much hotter than they were thinking it would be, and more than hot enough to cause heatstroke. Some of the people who have died from the heat at White Sands National Monument have passed with high temps of 97 to 99 degrees.

Looking at the aerial photos, the trail area looks like like it burned in the last few years, so there was little to no shade on half of the trail. If the black-masked golden dog seen with them in their online accounts was was walking off leash as shown in some photos, the dog could have gotten ahead of them and consumed algae contaminated water, quickly becoming distressed and possibly incapacitated. It was hot enough to be a problem already, and if they were trying to carry a good sized dog back up a steep trail, both adults could have succumbed to the heat. Their poor baby wouldn't have outlasted them very long in the sun and heat.

 

[Speculaytor]

I was just thinking, if it were heat stroke, or toxic water wouldn't the dog perish first? They wouldn't carry the dog in that heat if it had passed, would they? I love my dog, so I might try to, but their pup looks like a pretty big dog.

 

[woods]

More specific details released: Investigators to search through the phones of couple who died on trail

 

[mickey2942]

I don't think that they realized that the heat index was as high as it was. There have been a lot of issues with this season. I agree that the dog probably drank the water, got sick, and they were trying to help the dog, then, not realizing they were also getting over heated.

I still have a question about the air quality in the area. This year, fire season has been particularly vicious. When the smoke level may not even be evident, with the heat, it is very dangerous to do any physical activity. Looks like 132 that day...unhealthy.

Context:
I went biking last month, the morning the air was good, by 10:00 it was "unhealthy", normally, I have no problem riding the hill by my house, that day, I felt like I was at 10,000 feet, it was impossible. It was crazy.

Live Data - Air (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[Auntie Cipation]

More things I wonder:

How recently did they move from the Bay Area?

At what elevation is their new house?

And at what elevation were they hiking?

I'm thinking the smoky air, like @mickey2942 is referring to, as well as not being fully acclimated to the elevation, may have accelerated the effects of the heat on their bodies. MOO

 

[SophieRose]

Someone who knows the people working the case was told they may have swam in the water, and that it was a popular swimming place.

That reminds me that Cary Stayner used to hang out at a nude beach along the Merced River, not far from Cedar Lodge. In fact that's where LE first found him before he escaped the area and ran to that nudest colony near Sacramento.

Just some true crime trivia.