CA - Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter, 1 & dog, suspicious death hiking area, Aug 2021 #4

[LifeIsAMystery]

I’m sure you are competent and

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. Let’s suppose that Jon and Ellen have similar expertise. Would they have gone on the hike that’s been suggested, in that heat, with a 12 month old child and a dog? Would they attempt the SL trail without telling friends or relatives where they were going and when they expected to be back?

They did go on the hike and they do not seem to have had a practice of notifying people about their hikes, so there is no "would

Awesome! Similarly, it's possible the Gerrish-Chungs got lulled into a comfort zone thinking their new back-riding baby pack would be cooler than the front-riding kangaroo pack, make the load seam lighter, easier to hike in, safer, etc., but they overestimated what it could do for them, resulting in catastrophe.

Agree this seems possible. MOO.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

DBM

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

LE has said that toxicology can take as long as 6 weeks but was expedited in this case, and it has been 5 weeks. Does anyone have any (speculative) insight into why they still haven’t released a COD? Surely they have tested the camelback water by now. I wish they would let us know if additional causes have been ruled out (as when they ruled out CO poisoning), even if they don’t have a COD yet.

I know I’m repeating myself, but deadly algae that kills healthy adults would be a matter of public health and safety, so they should give the public a yea or nay at least w/r/t that concern.

They bought time by closing the area along the river as a precaution.

 

[Newsjunkiejen]

OK, so this is an odd piece of information I share only because it appears to be a similar death mystery on a Mariposa County trail in the Hite's Cove area, in 2007.

My sleuthing skills are too limited to find the final autopsy / toxicology reports / investigation results, including where exactly Mr. LJ was found.

Can anyone else?

2007
"...two hikers in the Hite’s Cove area came upon the body of a naked man in the trail.... The cause of death has not been determined, and toxicology tests are pending, “There was no obvious trauma to the body,” Undersheriff Brian Muller told the Mariposa Gazette.... [The man] stayed at the Mariposa Lodge and had rented a car in the area.... His rental car was recovered in Oakhurst, about 25 miles from Mariposa."
https://www.marinij.com/2007/11/16/body-near-yosemite-identified-as-missing-greenbrae-man

BBM

ETA: LJ's obituary. He had a PhD in plasma physics and was a professor of Physics at Dominican University of California in San Rafael.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/marinij/name/leslie-jerde-obituary?pid=97643688

Wow! Good find! That is strikingly similar and you'd have thought that there would've been some reference to this case, either in MSM, or perhaps local press (or even LE), when reporting on the Gerrish-Chung tragedy.

As an aside.. "Undersheriff" I've never, ever heard that term before! Forgive me, I am a Brit (for my sins), but that's a new word I've learnt. I always thought it was Deputy Sheriff but I'm guessing maybe it varies by State!?

 

[Newsjunkiejen]

@Newsjunkiejen I stand respectfully corrected re: UK weather. I was once in Manchester on a business trip. Went to a beautiful area one Saturday -- great rolling hills-- for a good walk and a wind storm came up suddenly. I had to fall to the ground and hug the earth to not be blown off the hill. Meanwhile, the locals were striding into the wind. I felt like a fool, but I truly couldn't stand up. Once the wind let up, I hurried down the hill and back to Manchester.

Us Northerners are hard as nails when it comes to the weather haha. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

 

[Curious_in_NC]

They could have gone down 2 days in a row, once down Hites Cove for a little bit, the other down the S-L trail for a bit. Provided there's no rain, the footsteps might not indicate a whole lot UNLESS they went in a certain direction down by the river.

BlackKettle posted some meteorological info a couple of days ago suggesting there may have been late afternoon rain on the S-L trail. So it's possible any footprints heading down were washed away. That said, while the 2 day / 2 hike scenario is an interesting suggestion, I would expect there to have been some sighting of the truck or Instagram posts before the 2nd day.

 

[Pumphouse363]

BlackKettle posted some meteorological info a couple of days ago suggesting there may have been late afternoon rain on the S-L trail. So it's possible any footprints heading down were washed away. That said, while the 2 day / 2 hike scenario is an interesting suggestion, I would expect there to have been some sighting of the truck or Instagram posts before the 2nd day.

I’m not sure there would be any IG or sightings because there appears to have been only one sighting on Sunday and I still haven’t seen the IG pic that appears to be so important. I understand it may have been a ‘story’ post and therefore transient but I’m surprised anyone recalls seeing it when many people on social media say they barely take notice of friends’ posts anyway.

 

[Pumphouse363]

BlackKettle posted some meteorological info a couple of days ago suggesting there may have been late afternoon rain on the S-L trail. So it's possible any footprints heading down were washed away. That said, while the 2 day / 2 hike scenario is an interesting suggestion, I would expect there to have been some sighting of the truck or Instagram posts before the 2nd day.

Wasn’t there a post that said Jon/Ellen/Miju were seen in the museum on Saturday?

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

I certainly don't have any evidence to dispute the early route map or LE assumptions about the family finishing "the loop" when they perished, but I still question whether the family - including the dog and baby - were CAPABLE of executing the nearly full loop in those conditions. I still contend, based on your and @Runswithdogs scientific knowledge about the effects of extreme heat on the most vulnerable in that group, namely the dog and baby, that they only went as far as where they were found, 1.5miles. And like @RickshawFan speculated last night, it is possible the family, and only the family, had used other segments of the "the loop" prior weekends or even Saturday.

The other thought I have regarding why LE might not update the public on any new insights they glean about the route the family took - or how they got to where they were found - is if in the course of their investigation they have decided to withhold any further details about the case, perhaps due to the nature of what they are finding.
IMO

It is puzzling, I initially assumed they went down the Savage Lundy Trail, since the bodies were found on it. Simplest explanation. I would rule out the idea that they only made it 1.5 miles, to where they were found. Going downhill, assuming a typical trail, I would expect them to be going 2 to 3 mph. Going downhill in the coolest part of the hike, I don't think they would drink almost all of their water and succumb after 30-45 minutes of hiking. More likely is they went a lot farther and turned around, but their footprints would show that. The sheriff thinks they did the loop, he has access to a lot more evidence than we do, I have to accept that until I hear otherwise. So how did they end up where they were found? 8.5 miles is not a long hike. If you walked steadily at 3 mph, it's less than 3 hrs. I'm not a fast hiker, I like to enjoy the scenery and take photos, but a substantial percentage of hikers like to go as fast as they can. I once led a group hike billed as a waterfall hike. We got to the waterfall and people were enjoying it and taking photos when two people came up to me and asked "Why are we stopping?" So it's possible this was planned as a morning hike at a fast pace. They could have hiked the 3 miles down the HCT to the river in an hour, and then the 2.5 miles along the river to the bottom of the SLT in another hour. At 10 am they could have started up the last 3 mile climb to the truck. That would have gone slower and slower as they overheated, they would already be hot from the fast pace and ambient temperature, but there is some shade along the river. The bottom part of the SLT appears to have some trees too, but once they were climbing the steep slope in the blazing sun, whew, I'm sweating just thinking about it. Maybe they lasted an hour, going 1.5 miles and climbing 1000' to the point where they were found. It's only 11 am, not fully as hot as it's going to get that day, but the combination of heat, sun, and a steep climb was lethal. If you add some more time to stop and give everyone water and attend to the baby, it just gets hotter, and they succumb at 11:30 or noon. So there's a hypothetical scenario of what might have happened, if they were fast-pace style hikers. MOO.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Here is a column from 2007 describing a Hites Cove Trail hike in May down to the Merced River. High temp, in May, of 94 degrees. I'm not sure this is the same trail, but I know others here will know. If nothing more, it gives a good feeling of what the Gerrish-Chung hike was like, minus the Aug temperatures.

 

[Pumphouse363]

Sip

OK, so this is an odd piece of information I share only because it appears to be a similar death mystery on a Mariposa County trail in the Hite's Cove area, in 2007.

My sleuthing skills are too limited to find the final autopsy / toxicology reports / investigation results, including where exactly Mr. LJ was found.

Can anyone else?

2007
"...two hikers in the Hite’s Cove area came upon the body of a naked man in the trail.... The cause of death has not been determined, and toxicology tests are pending, “There was no obvious trauma to the body,” Undersheriff Brian Muller told the Mariposa Gazette.... [The man] stayed at the Mariposa Lodge and had rented a car in the area.... His rental car was recovered in Oakhurst, about 25 miles from Mariposa."
https://www.marinij.com/2007/11/16/body-near-yosemite-identified-as-missing-greenbrae-man

BBM

ETA: LJ's obituary. He had a PhD in plasma physics and was a professor of Physics at Dominican University of California in San Rafael.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/marinij/name/leslie-jerde-obituary?pid=97643688[/QUOTE)
You have to get ‘super sleuth of the week’ award!

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

Wow! Good find! That is strikingly similar and you'd have thought that there would've been some reference to this case, either in MSM, or perhaps local press (or even LE), when reporting on the Gerrish-Chung tragedy.

As an aside.. "Undersheriff" I've never, ever heard that term before! Forgive me, I am a Brit (for my sins), but that's a new word I've learnt. I always thought it was Deputy Sheriff but I'm guessing maybe it varies by State!?

I think Undersheriff is the second in command, after the sheriff. Sheriff in my county is elected, there also used to be an undersheriff, now they have two assistant sheriffs instead.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

I’m not sure there would be any IG or sightings because there appears to have been only one sighting on Sunday and I still haven’t seen the IG pic that appears to be so important. I understand it may have been a ‘story’ post and therefore transient but I’m surprised anyone recalls seeing it when many people on social media say they barely take notice of friends’ posts anyway.

BBM
LE has acknowledged it exists. I haven’t read anything about where Ellen uploaded the image.

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

Here is a column from 2007 describing a Hites Cove Trail hike in May down to the Merced River. High temp, in May, of 94 degrees. I'm not sure this is the same trail, but I know others here will know. If nothing more, it gives a good feeling of what the Gerrish-Chung hike was like, minus the Aug temperatures.

Good find. Yes, he says they went down the HCT to Marble Point, so same trail. From there he went NW to Hite Cove, where the mine is. The trail to SLT splits off below Marble Point and follows the river east past Sims Cove to Devil Gulch. He mentions the Sims Cove Trail, sounds like that is the name of the trail beside the river between HCT and SLT. Makes sense as it passes Sims Cove. If you want to look this over using Google Earth, Marble Point, Sims Cove, and Devil Gulch are all labeled.

 

[fred&edna]

OK, so this is an odd piece of information I share only because it appears to be a similar death mystery on a Mariposa County trail in the Hite's Cove area, in 2007.

My sleuthing skills are too limited to find the final autopsy / toxicology reports / investigation results, including where exactly Mr. LJ was found.

Can anyone else?

2007
"...two hikers in the Hite’s Cove area came upon the body of a naked man in the trail.... The cause of death has not been determined, and toxicology tests are pending, “There was no obvious trauma to the body,” Undersheriff Brian Muller told the Mariposa Gazette.... [The man] stayed at the Mariposa Lodge and had rented a car in the area.... His rental car was recovered in Oakhurst, about 25 miles from Mariposa."
https://www.marinij.com/2007/11/16/body-near-yosemite-identified-as-missing-greenbrae-man

BBM

ETA: LJ's obituary. He had a PhD in plasma physics and was a professor of Physics at Dominican University of California in San Rafael.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/marinij/name/leslie-jerde-obituary?pid=97643688

Curiously odd.

I suppose at age 65 there could have been health conditions and/or mental health problems (found nude in October). 'It might require a FOIA request to find out more.

 

[Pumphouse363]

Thank yo

@Pumphouse363 I responded in blue to your post below:

Thank you for that detailed response. I’d just like to say I didn’t suggest they had been ‘placed’ on the trail. (You’re right—I’m sorry I made that inference!) In regard to your points:

There has been no confirmation that LE has accessed their phones or computers except to say the phone found on Jon was sent to the FBI (They’ve publicly confirmed little, we don’t know if they have accessed them or not. We know from the last LE updates that they are working on that.)

Yes they were active hikers - so some credence should be afforded their ability to determine what would be required for the hike that’s been suggested they took on Sunday. (Yes, I agree.)

Just because Jon allegedly researched part of the HC trail does not indicate they had any intention of accessing the SL trail. (He researched it, had previously hiked part of the trail according to his AllTrails account, were seen close to the trail that morning, and ultimately were found there. I think the intention is clear, imo.)

He also has researched and investigated the HC trail on more than one occasion on his Alltrails account. One was a year ago and one four years ago.

The trail is close to one of their properties - they own four properties in Mariposa so are familiar with the area and landscape. There has to be a motive for a murder so you can’t really determine what lengths someone will go to unless you know the reason. (I think first you have to have proof a murder has been committed. In this case we haven’t had any indication from LE that this is the case.

I mentioned that it’s unusual for murderers to go to such great lengths to kill a family in this manner, if these were targeted murders. It would mean the killers would be proficient in hiking during very high temperatures. Why not kill them in their home?

If it’s a crime of opportunity, that makes even less sense. LE made it sound as if they were relatively undisturbed. I’d expect the dog would have died defending them, and there would be unmistakable signs of that.)

Ellen’s photo and message at 6.45 has not been printed in any media reports except that ‘some people’ have seen it. So no evidence of that. (We’ve linked several media reports where LE has stated that Ellen sent or posted this photo at 6:45 am. This is a fact.

What is in dispute is that some of us, including me, saw the photo and caption early on but now we cannot find it. Maybe it has been removed from online articles that first posted it. But the description of what we saw is consistent with what LE and MSM stated.)

The witness sighting at 7.45 was of the vehicle heading in the direction of the trail - not actually at the trailhead. (You’re right: witnesses saw them travelling down Hites Cove Road towards the trailhead.)

Yes you’re right in saying it is a very remote area where they were discovered. It is very challenging terrain so why would two intelligent, caring, loving parents take their daughter and beloved dog on a hike to Devil's Gulch and the Savage Lundy Trail?(I don’t know.
An accomplished SAR tracker here has said that at times we’re all one bad decision away from ending up featured in one of these cases found in these threads.

Posters in these threads have told their own stories about heatstroke/heat exhaustion. They’re worth reading.)

It is a very distressing situation and all seems to point to a tragic miscalculation on their behalf - perhaps heat exhaustion or lightning strike or toxic algae. It’s just so difficult to comprehend why they would make those decisions. (I can’t begin to understand how distressing it must be to suffer this loss. For that I’m very sorry.

Miscalculation is possibly a good term. I think we all have at times, I certainly have.

There are inherent risks in these types of hikes, but the challenges are part of what makes it great. I think they believed they could protect their daughter, dog and each other. Maybe it was algae or something unforeseen that led to this tragedy.)

Thank you for taking the time to respond - much appreciated

 

[Parsnip]

Here is a column from 2007 describing a Hites Cove Trail hike in May down to the Merced River. High temp, in May, of 94 degrees. I'm not sure this is the same trail, but I know others here will know. If nothing more, it gives a good feeling of what the Gerrish-Chung hike was like, minus the Aug temperatures.

@MrsEmmaPeel, you are my hero. I found the same article a few days ago and never made a note of it. I was pulling my hair out trying to find it again. My dh was unsympathetic, lol! FWIW, I believe the author has written a book that you can find on Amazon. He sounds like quite a character. Off to tell dh…vindicated!

 

[Pumphouse363]

Here is a column from 2007 describing a Hites Cove Trail hike in May down to the Merced River. High temp, in May, of 94 degrees. I'm not sure this is the same trail, but I know others here will know. If nothing more, it gives a good feeling of what the Gerrish-Chung hike was like, minus the Aug temperatures.

Wow! How did you find this? It goes some way to highlight the difficulties that the family may have encountered but I don’t think this is the same trail. It sounds as though the writer was coming from the direction of the main road along the trail to Hites Cove. It’s my understanding that Jon, Ellen and Miju drove along Hites Cove Road (which is in the opposite direction to the main entrance to Hites Cove on highway 140) parking their car at the fork where one track leads to the SL trail and the other up towards Marble Point. If their intention was to take the Hites Cove Trail they chose a very strange and difficult way to do it.
The sheriff said that footprints led them to believe they had taken the trail in the direction of Hites Cove but they then reached Marble Point and went down to the river which they followed past Sims Cove and around to the base of the SL trail around Devils Gulch. That was the loop that was suggested by LE that they didn’t quite make and still had a mile and a half to go before they reached their vehicle. Following that trail on Google Earth is truly astounding but I’m sure that members of the family will see that for themselves when they arrive in Mariposa. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to think of what they must have endured.

 

[Pumphouse363]

Good find. Yes, he says they went down the HCT to Marble Point, so same trail. From there he went NW to Hite Cove, where the mine is. The trail to SLT splits off below Marble Point and follows the river east past Sims Cove to Devil Gulch. He mentions the Sims Cove Trail, sounds like that is the name of the trail beside the river between HCT and SLT. Makes sense as it passes Sims Cove. If you want to look this over using Google Earth, Marble Point, Sims Cove, and Devil Gulch are all labeled.

Sorry but this is not my understanding. They didn’t take the HCT - they drove along Hites Cove Road which is not the same as the HCT. They parked their vehicle at the point where Hites Cove Road forks to continue towards the SL Trail or towards Marble Point. They don’t actually ever touch the popular HCT but continue down from Marble Point to the South Fork of the Merced River past Sims Cove and on to the base of the steep incline towards Devils Gulch on the SL trail. I think this is why a lot of people are confused about the route that was taken and why I have so much difficulty understanding why anyone would take the route they allegedly did. MOO

 

[Pumphouse363]

All the people on here have spent a great deal of their time and effort to find explanations for the terrible tragedy that has befallen Jon, Ellen, Miju and Oski. I’m sure that all your hard work has been useful to LE whom I suspect take interest in amateur sleuthing. I feel sure the outcome will be based on many of the ideas I have read on this thread ie accidental death through heat exhaustion and the files will be closed. Your ideas and theories have certainly helped me to try and understand what has happened. Good luck with future sleuthing!