CA - Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter, 1 & dog, suspicious death hiking area, Aug 2021 #2

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  • #521
This the actual sign posted in plain sight at the trail head. It's more than a *cautionary*
Image Link:
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/08/20/12/46900537-0-image-a-15_1629458704736.jpg

46900537-0-image-a-15_1629458704736.jpg

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If one is not reading the fine print, they may believe that as long as they do not touch, eat, or swallow an algal mat they will be ok. Maybe they didn't read anymore? I still think heat stroke, but if they did the loop going Hites Cove Trail first, and were coming Up Savage Lundy, then they would have passed the South Fork of Merced River (very contaminated). Maybe they were getting desperate by then, felt they had to at least get a little wet?
 
  • #522
Would autopsy results show if one of the adults--specifically JG--had incurred any types of injury to his lower extremities, a la a twisted or sprained ankle? I could imagine if he injured himself, he might've tried to power through the pain in the hopes of being able to make it back to the car, but may have had to sit down and take the weight off the injured leg/foot, in which case I could see him saying he'd mind the baby and dog so his wife could make a quicker return to their car (or, just as likely, she might've been looking for any spot where they would have had cellular signal to call for assistance)? I don't know how sprains/strains present in an autopsy, particularly on a body that's been exposed to the extreme heat for a significant amount of time prior to recovery--are they the kind of injury that would show up in a post-mortem exam, or could this type of minor injury resolve itself before a body was examined by a coroner/medical examiner?

I just don't find myself convinced that the algae is the culprit in the deaths of all four members of the party, and I'm trying to consider possible explanations for why JG was found seated, with baby Miju in her carrier and the loyal Oski laying next to him (description is per the MSM reports that've previously been posted on this thread and Thread #1 for this case) while EC was found some distance away.

All of the above is conjecture and MOO!
 
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  • #523
"Last month, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove"

Did toxic algae bloom kill British software developer, his wife and one-year-old toddler? | Daily Mail Online

On Thursday, a sign appeared to be newly installed at the start of the trail used by the family warned: “Harmful algae may be present in this water.” It alerts hikers to not drink the water or eat shellfish, and to keep children and pets out of the water. Residents in the area said the sign was only recently posted after the family was found dead.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle


Again, Hites Cove Trail and Hite Cove Road are not the same place.
 
  • #524
On Thursday, a sign appeared to be newly installed at the start of the trail used by the family warned: “Harmful algae may be present in this water.” It alerts hikers to not drink the water or eat shellfish, and to keep children and pets out of the water. Residents in the area said the sign was only recently posted after the family was found dead.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle


Again, Hites Cove Trail and Hite Cove Road are not the same place.

Now that we see that there was not a warning sign before they were found dead, I believe they may have tried to cool off in the water...or at least the dog did and possibly they put their feet in or something...
 
  • #525
On Thursday, a sign appeared to be newly installed at the start of the trail used by the family warned: “Harmful algae may be present in this water.” It alerts hikers to not drink the water or eat shellfish, and to keep children and pets out of the water. Residents in the area said the sign was only recently posted after the family was found dead.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle


Again, Hites Cove Trail and Hite Cove Road are not the same place.

WAIT, was the sign posted AFTER the family was found? Did they not even see it?? This changes everything. Why WOULDN'T they have been in the river that day? No warnings!!
 
  • #526
If JG was found in a seated position, what was his back resting on? I've looked on Google Earth and there are no trees. Also it seems if you're really feeling bad, from heat stroke or something else, you're going to lay all the way down.
 
  • #527
WAIT, was the sign posted AFTER the family was found? Did they not even see it??

There were 2 different signs.

1 sign about the water was posted in July on the community board at the park entrance. Someone commented previously perhaps they didn’t stop to read the sign.

Then days after they were found another sign was posted (I’m not sure it’s location) as a response to their deaths.
 
  • #528
WAIT, was the sign posted AFTER the family was found? Did they not even see it?? This changes everything. Why WOULDN'T they have been in the river that day? No warnings!!

I am completely on the same page. The water would have been so welcome on such a hot day. Not to drink but to cool off in, especially the dog. They may have even put baby's feet and their feet in it. Baby and dog could have perished early on and dad and mom tried to hike them all out but then they also perished from the toxins and/or heat.
 
  • #529
I was thinking a sign might have been posted at Savage Lundy, but not at Hite Cove OHV trail since the gate was down per local, road closed to OHVs because of fire season.
 
  • #530
If JG was found in a seated position, what was his back resting on? I've looked on Google Earth and there are no trees. Also it seems if you're really feeling bad, from heat stroke or something else, you're going to lay all the way down.
But he had the baby, all of his instinct would have been to stay alive and save the baby.
 
  • #531
If JG was found in a seated position, what was his back resting on? I've looked on Google Earth and it seems there are no trees. Also it seems if you're really feeling bad, from heat stroke or something else, you're going to lay all the way down.

Yes, I did think about this earlier. To die sitting on the ground with nothing for back support would be extremely unusual.....
 
  • #532
But he had the baby, all of his instinct would have been to stay alive and save the baby.

With heatstroke, you have no instinct. You cannot think clearly, if at all, and your body is shutting down. You can barely form a coherent thought. You can't even save yourself. It's too late.
 
  • #533
If JG was found in a seated position, what was his back resting on? I've looked on Google Earth and there are no trees. Also it seems if you're really feeling bad, from heat stroke or something else, you're going to lay all the way down.

The trail itself had to be pretty hot and radiating heat up so seated is less points of contact would be one theory.
 
  • #534
With heatstroke, you have no instinct. You cannot think clearly, if at all, and your body is shutting down. You can barely form a coherent thought.
Yes, you are absolutely right. I wasn't thinking.
 
  • #535
But he had the baby, all of his instinct would have been to stay alive and save the baby.
Reportedly, JG had both the baby and dog beside him and EC was about 30 feet away from them. It's a tragedy and a mystery.
 
  • #536
  • #537
Yes, I did think about this earlier. To die sitting on the ground with nothing for back support would be extremely unusual.....

The only thing I can think of would be the trail cut at the switch bend. Given the steepness of the trail the outside of the bend might create a short "wall."
 
  • #538
I'd be interested to know if any human has actually died from toxic algae bloom in the US. I did a little searching on this and found one article about one instance of it happening in the early 90s in South America.
 
  • #539
I'd be interested to know if any human has actually died from toxic algae bloom in the US. I did a little searching on this and found one article about one instance of it happening in the early 90s in South America.

The only thing that seems likely to me is the possibility that algae toxins caused enough physical harm to slow them down, and keep them in the sun long enough for the heat to do its damage.
 
  • #540
The only thing that seems likely to me is the possibility that algae toxins caused enough physical harm to slow them down, and keep them in the sun long enough for the heat to do its damage.

A new thought, heat/toxic algae, could it have developed into some sort of toxic gaseous substance? Potentially because of other substances in the environment, from the fire suppression? That occurred with the right circumstances and dissipated as quickly?

I know, the theory is "out there"...but a complete lung examination might be interesting.

Family of 3 Found Dead While Hiking in California—and Officials Think Toxic Algae Bloom May Be Blame
 
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