Fernanda Bray spends most Mondays over the summer hiking down to the south fork of the Merced River, on the northern end of Hites Cove Trail, along Highway 140, swimming, fishing and playing. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. ", 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. "There were no signs of trauma, no obvious cause of death. Last Names. Their dedication has allowed us to close this case and answer lingering questions the family had, bringing them a little peace.. The deaths led the Bureau of Land Management to close campgrounds and recreation areas along 28 miles of the river, between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby, when water samples downstream from where the family died showed high levels of the toxic algae. 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. "This is never the outcome we want or the news we want to deliver, my heart breaks for their family," Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a news release. 11:56 a.m. Aug. 15: [Name redacted] can you help us. SFGate notes death by lightning strike is extremely rare, occurring in about 10% of cases. Residual water from the hydration bladder was also tested, and it was found to be clean, the sheriff said. Investigators combed the lower section of the trail for unreported mines, but experts said it likely would take an exposure inside a mine shaft to kill a family. The area is northeast of Mariposa and southwest of Yosemite National Park. "These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick," says BLM field manager Elizabeth Meyer-Shields. On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. The name honors John Hite, who discovered gold at the site. "The Sierra National Forest (SNF) would like to inform those visitors who like to enjoy this area of the Merced River and SNF, not to swim, wade or allow their pets to enjoy the water," due to these mats, the agency warned. None were successful because of lack of cell service in the area. In its first update on the bizarre case in a week, Mariposa County Sheriff's Office revealed it had ruled out two causes of death but still had not found any answers. Jonathan Gerrish and his wife, Ellen Chung, knew they were in trouble. The final image stored on the phone came at 12:25 p.m. a screenshot of their location from a smartphone trail application. The investigation is now being treated as a homicide. How to Use This Collection. This data analysis was not released to the media. The details found on the phone support the findings of a heat related incident, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post Thursday detailing the information obtained from Gerrishs phone. That is why we're treating it as a hazmat situation. "We do not have any evidence indicating that Jonathan, Ellen or Miju ingested any of that water," he said. On August 26, the Sheriffs Office says it had ruled out weapons or chemical hazards along the Savage-Lundy Trail, as possible causes of death, but emphasized that, ALL other potential causes of death remain.. This hike is considered one of the best hikes in the area for wildflowers in the early spring with over 60 varieties of wildflowers growing on the hillsides. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 1:53 a.m., the family's car is located down Hites Cove Road north of Jerseydale. This collection includes a set of records for . 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. The unidentified man, described as being in his mid 60s, was reported missing near the Hites Cove and Savage Lundy trails in late June while looking into the family's deaths, according to a. 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. Mariposa County Sheriff's spokeswoman, Kristie Mitchell, said "Coming across a scene where everyone involved, including the family dog that is deceased, that is not a typical thing that we have seen or other agencies have seen. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, the area is reported to be where a family and their dog were found dead. The release said he used several different trail-mapping apps and frequently took hikes, the news release stated. While algal blooms are not attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, such as on rocks. A Mariposa County sheriffs deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead Aug. 17. The mother, father and baby died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced at a press conference Thursday. "This is a real tragedy," Mariposa County Sheriff-Coroner Jeremy Briese said Thursday at a press conference. Mariposa County sheriffs investigators had already ruled out several potential causes: a gun or any other weapon, a lightning strike, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, cyanide, illegal drugs, alcohol or suicide. The announcement came as investigators continue looking into what killed John Gerrish, his wife Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Miju and their dog back in mid-August. Some questions have been answered, and we will use the information as a way of helping us come to terms with the situation, the family members statement said. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced the results of several toxicology reports on Thursday none of which revealed what killed John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji, and family dog Oski. "An unfortunate and tragic event due to the weather.". Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time," he said. On Aug. 16, the release said the familys babysitter arrived for her normal shift at their Mariposa County home and was unable to locate them. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM 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. Northern California family's mysterious deaths on hiking trail: The official cause Temperatures on Mariposa County route reached 109, sheriff said The remote canyon area northeast of the town. Investigators revealed the family had completed most of the grueling 8.5-mile loop and were on their way back to their truck when they died on a steep switchback. 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. Designated recreation sites, roads, and trails in proximity and/or leading to this location will be off-limits to the public. There was no suicide note. Some wondered whether water tainted by a toxic algae bloom in the Merced River, which runs along a portion of the trail, caused their deaths. None of the bodies had physical wounds like gunshots or signs of trauma and no suicide note was found. In this case, if this family were to be exposed to such toxins, it would likely be from toxic algal mats and not blooms, he said. People who swim, wade or participate in other aquatic activities in water laced with cyanobacterial toxins can develop health effects such as skin rashes, diarrhea and vomiting (if they ingest the toxins), or develop problems with the liver, kidneys or nervous system. 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. First published on September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM. Gerrish was carrying a phone during the hike. Lightning strikes in Mariposa County's Hite Cove under consideration. It was 75 degrees when they began the hike around 8 a.m., but temperatures climbed swiftly as they descended. Gerrish was a software engineer at Snapchat, reported the Sacramento Bee; Chung was in graduate school to become a family and marriage therapist. Police said the dog's official cause of death is undetermined, but its remains and other evidence suggest it also died from heat-related causes. A leading theory, previously, was that exposure to water contaminated with toxic algae blooms may have been a major factor. Ellen Chung, 31, worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter. The two reportedly wanted to raise Miju in a "quiet, slow-paced environment" surrounded by nature. What's more, the couple were known to be avid hikers, according to the Chronicle. The family was reported missing at about 11 pm on August 16, after their daughters nanny found that they had not returned home and friends and work colleagues could not contact them. She was earning her Masters in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies after having graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012. About a month before the family was found dead, the U.S. Forest Service warned that "a high concentration of algae bloom" had been found in the Merced River near Hites Cove, where Gerrish and. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 1:55 a.m., a search and rescue mission is initiated. "There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet.". The trail is open year-round and is . While the exact cause of the dog's death was not determined, Sheriff Jeremy Briese said the condition of his remains and other evidence also pointed to "heat related issues. There were no apparent causes of death or signs of foul play discovered at the scene, the release said. Their baby sitter had found them gone when she showed up at their house that morning a Monday and had started contacting their friends to see if anybody knew their whereabouts. Fatal lightning strikes are rare, but do occur; 17 Americans were killed by lightning last year alone. Investigators were also considering whether toxic algae blooms may have contributed to their deaths. Gregory Yee was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. "We have not found any old mine shafts near the area," the Sheriff said. 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. A sheriffs deputy searching the area found the familys vehicle at the trailhead about 1:50 a.m. Aug. 17 and requested a search-and-rescue mission to be activated, the release said. . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. A photo of the trail followed at 8 a.m., and investigators found a photo of the Merced River taken at 9:05 a.m. [name redacted] can you help us, the text message, sent at 11:56 a.m., read. Briese said that his deputies were working to support the victims devastated families. It was high summer, and temperatures were climbing swiftly on a remote trail in the Sierra Nevada near the small community of Mariposa. The searchers believed the family was returning to their truck and in the final stages of their hike back to the Sierra National Forest gate. Lightning may have been what killed the family of three and their dog. Get Toofab breaking news sent right to your browser! A young California family of three have been found dead in a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Explore the most popular trails in my list YNP. 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. 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. A family reported missing in Mariposa County late Monday was found dead, according to the Sheriff's Office. Fatal lightning strikes are rare, but do occur; 17 Americans were killed by lightning last year alone. The trail had posted warnings about toxic algae blooms. 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. In a press conference on Thursday, October 21, 2021, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the Gerrish family died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, while their 8-year-old dog Oski also suffered a heat-related death. The trail the family was hiking, the Savage Lundy Trail, snakes along the Merced River. When the deputies found the truck, a search-and-rescue team hiked down the steep and straight road with flashlights and found shoe and paw prints similar to what would be expected from a family of that size with a dog. In the future, when we sit beneath the trees listening to the wind soaring through the branches, we will hear them and we will remember. 05-15-51-21-18 ) from August 29. At 3.20 am, the sheriffs office reserved a search helicopter for daybreak. Yee died Jan. 4, 2023. 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. On Aug. 15, the family got off to an early start. hide caption. Out of water, exposed and overheating, they had to ascend the rugged and steep Savage Lundy Trail to return to their vehicle at the Hite Cove trailhead. 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. The water bladder was empty when the bodies were found, he said. Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese give an update on the investigation into the deaths of three family members and their dog in the Hite Cove area of the Sierra National Forest in Mariposa. Really? Autopsies on the bodies were completed on Thursday, August 19. Friends say the couple, recent transplants from San Francisco to the former Gold Rush town of Mariposa in the western Sierra foothills, were relatively experienced hikers out on a day trip with their infant and dog. All were ruled out by the autopsy and additional tests. Theres also very little shade along that portion of the trail due to the 2018 Ferguson Fire, the release said. Hyperthermia is abnormally high body temperature caused by the failure of heat-regulating mechanisms. Physical force and violence were quickly ruled out, as was toxic gas from an abandoned mine shaft. Its tragic, its emotionalwere going to do everything we can to ensure closure and the safety of our community., Kristie Mitchell said, "Investigators have considered whether toxic gasses, toxic algae and carbon monoxide from abandoned mines near in area may have contributed to the deaths. A news release put out by the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office following a press conference Thursday afternoon provided more details on the two-month investigation into the mysterious deaths of a young family and their dog found Aug. 17 on a trail in the Sierra National Forest, which led to the agencys conclusion that they died from hyperthermia due to extreme heat and probable dehydration.. 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. Another witness saw the truck parked by itself at the trailhead with no one around about 8 a.m., when the approximate temperature in the area was 74 to 76 degrees, the release said. Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese speaks in August about the investigation into the deaths of a husband and wife, their 1-year-old daughter and their dog on a trail in the Hites Cove area of . Gerrish was a British expat-turned-San Francisco software designer who, with his wife, "fell in love with the Mariposa area" and bought several homes there, a residence for themselves and rental investments over the last few years. Low 24F. The body is unable to regulate its temperature and cool down. Samples of bacteria bloom along the south fork of the Merced River and Snyder Creek, which run adjacent to the trail were also taken to test for any other possible contamination in the water in the area. While the average since records began is 41 fatalities per year, the trend has been sharply decreasing from the 1940s and 1950s, when several hundred died annually. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 51 min to complete. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. They continued walking along the 20E01.4 trail that parallels the South Fork of the Merced River for about 1.9 miles toward the intersection with the Savage Lundy Trail, where the elevation is about 1,800 feet and approximate temperature at the time was 99 to 103 degrees, the release said. Related Articles Heres how it works. First Names. The family also had a backpack with a Camelback bladder that held a small amount of water and this was sent for testing in case it was in some way contaminated. As Ive mentioned, the Gerrish Chung family have been our top priority as we dealt with this horrible event.. There's no clear indication of cause of death," she said, adding that the bodies have still not been recovered. To this location will be off-limits to the Mariposa County 's Hite under... Jeremy Briese said Thursday at a press conference the Name honors John Hite, who discovered gold the... Knew they were in trouble residual water from the hydration bladder was also tested, it. 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