How sad AND strange!
I haven't mapped it and I'm not familiar with the area... anyone know the distance between location of the bodies and their vehicle?
https://www.modbee.com/news/california/article253560324.html
The bodies of the family — identified as John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, 1-year-old daughter Muji and the family dog — was found near the Devil’s Gulch area in the South Fork of the Merced River drainage. The isolated location is about 15 southwest of the El Portal entrance to Yosemite National Park on Highway 140.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office search-and-rescue operation had located the family’s vehicle near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hite Cove in the Jerseydale area.
Mitchell said the area where the bodies were found is so remote, sheriff units have to hike out to establish satellite phone connection.
“We’re processing the scene right now. There’s no clear indication of cause of death,” Mitchell said. Authorities are still working to recover the bodies.
"Mitchell said that due to mines in the area and because there is no clear indication of the cause of death, the scene is being treated as a hazmat scene for the safety of everyone responding.
“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,” Mitchell said. “That is why we’re treating it as a hazmat situation. We just don’t know.”
The California Department of Justice is assisting the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation."
