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

[Pumphouse363]

Sorry

Where? I see a photo of two adults hiking with a baby in a carrier, but it is not this family... This woman (blonde, obviously not of Asian heritage) looks nothing like Ellen. As for the people in the lab, I'm pretty certain neither of them is part of this family, either -- the gentleman is black, and despite the woman appearing to be Asian, she looks nothing like Ellen...

Sorry - I should have zoomed in - thank you

 

[sfinkz]

But the order closing the area only lasted until September 17. They should have issued a statement officially ruling out toxic algae, since they opened the area back up and it is presumably safe to do so. Public safety triggers the Bureau of Land Management to issue an emergency closure of public lands in Mariposa County | Bureau of Land Management

“Today, the Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office issued an Emergency Closure Order for all BLM-managed public lands along the Merced River, between Briceburg and Bagby, in Mariposa County. The temporary closure, in response to the presence of toxic algal blooms in the Merced River, will remain in effect until Sept. 17.”

The SNF closures are a bit confusing. The order specifically mentioning “cyanotoxins”, for areas 12 miles downstream from Hites Cove apparently ended with zero fanfare on Sept. 17.

The Hites Cove/Savage Lundy trail closures were covered by a separate order citing “unknown hazards” and is effective through this weekend. I would expect an extension to this order any moment, given it is still an ‘unknown’.

 

[NSamuelle]

The SNF closures are a bit confusing. The order specifically mentioning “cyanotoxins”, for areas 12 miles downstream from Hites Cove apparently ended with zero fanfare on Sept. 17.

The Hites Cove/Savage Lundy trail closures were covered by a separate order citing “unknown hazards” and is effective through this weekend. I would expect an extension to this order any moment, given it is still an ‘unknown’.

Ah, thank you - keep us updated as to whether there’s an extension!

 

[Yvettea]

The SNF closures are a bit confusing. The order specifically mentioning “cyanotoxins”, for areas 12 miles downstream from Hites Cove apparently ended with zero fanfare on Sept. 17.

The Hites Cove/Savage Lundy trail closures were covered by a separate order citing “unknown hazards” and is effective through this weekend. I would expect an extension to this order any moment, given it is still an ‘unknown’.

Can you tell me the source of this map? If there are more maps at the site I would like to view them.

Thank you.

 

[sfinkz]

Can you tell me the source of this map? If there are more maps at the site I would like to view them.

Thank you.

It would be on the Sierra National Forest website
The closure order is: 05-15-51-21-18
(Do not click on the blue highlighted numerals. It will prompt a call to Area 51, which is actually Peru)
The map is Exhibit B

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

But the order closing the area only lasted until September 17. They should have issued a statement officially ruling out toxic algae, since they opened the area back up and it is presumably safe to do so. Public safety triggers the Bureau of Land Management to issue an emergency closure of public lands in Mariposa County | Bureau of Land Management

“Today, the Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office issued an Emergency Closure Order for all BLM-managed public lands along the Merced River, between Briceburg and Bagby, in Mariposa County. The temporary closure, in response to the presence of toxic algal blooms in the Merced River, will remain in effect until Sept. 17.”

The South Fork of the Merced River is a wild river flowing thru remote, rugged country, so there shouldn't be any fertilizer or other unnatural nutrients getting into it causing extreme toxic algae blooms. It's probably just the natural level that was always there in late summer during a drought, only now they test the water and put up signs. There are three levels of signs, it looks to me that it was just marked "Caution", not Warning or Danger, see this news article with a photo of the sign. Swimming is OK at the caution level. As Sphinx(?) and I said, the toxic algae caution could have indirectly led to these deaths, by making them avoid contact with the river water. In their situation I would have cooled off in clear water, and drunk it and filled my water bladder as this was an emergency. Until the last few years I wouldn't even have known to worry about toxic algae, we just worried about giardia.

I never heard (despite been ancient) about toxic algae locally until about 5 years ago, when a Labrador died suddenly after swimming in the Russian River, and tests confirmed it was from ingesting toxic algae. I had to educate myself about it to protect my dog. Here's a quick summary of what I know: it has now killed at least two dogs locally, but I haven't read ANY reports of humans even getting sick, even though thousands of people were swimming and playing in the river on the day that first dog died. There are different types of algae (technically cyanobacteria) that produce different toxins, and look different. If the water is warm and has a lot of nutrients from fertilizer or manure washing into it, you can get extreme blooms which are the worst case. I think dogs die because they are not particular about water, or swallowing some floating algae, where humans just don't do that. This time of year I take a close look at the water before letting my dog swim, if I have any doubts, I look for a better place.

 

[Lucy Locket]

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

I think @Pumphouse363 that they may have been in the museum the previous weekend to when they set off on their hike. I have scrolled back and found @annpats referring to their museum visit in Thread 2.

You mentioned the backpack/baby carrier as well and two major American newspapers refer to it at the very beginning when the story broke.

I think those papers were/are the Washington Post and the SF Chronicle. These articles are referred to in the earlier threads. From what I saw, in the articles, they linked to Ellen's IG a/c but her IG account has been down now I believe. All you see (within the article) is a broken IG link.

I am guessing that you are very close to their families and friends. I am incredibly sorry for your loss. You must be grieving them greatly. I can understand that you must be seeing them everywhere hence your reference to 'seeing them' in the FT wealth article.

This link may have been posted already: Did algae bloom kill family hiking in Mariposa County? Authorities checking all possibilities in mysterious deaths

It gives more detail about Jonathan and Ellen. It shows how well regarded they were as a family. It also emphasizes how generous Jonathan was to everyone. He wanted to share his good luck in life with those he encountered.

I am sure that the local LE/police will do everything that they can to solve what happened to this lovely family.

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

But if you look at Jabchick’s map, the road forking right: isn’t that the same as Savage Lundy? Do you see what I mean?

These are very old trails (for California). I think the Savage-Lundy is oldest, James D. Savage died in 1852. It would have been used by pack trains of mules and horses. Later they needed to get heavy mining equipment to the Hite Cove Mine, so they built the Hites Cove Rd/Trail. That would have been used by horse-drawn wagons. So the Hites Cove Road used to extend all the way to the mine, now the lower part is called the Hites Cove Trail to distinguish it from the maintained part. That spur going to the to the right from the closed gate may be labeled Hites Cove Rd on some maps now, but really it's part of the old Savage Lundy route and becomes the SLT.

 

[RedHaus]

Post #679, T#3, by @EndoraXplorer is a story I am not sure we all caught.

But I think it is important enough to repeat for possible context of:

a) the serious and recent criminal activity in Mariposa County, and
b) how full the Mariposa County Sheriff Office's plates may be and why there may be a delay in findings for the JG/EC case.​

This is a story about a major crime bust in Mariposa County less than one week before the JG/EC family disappeared.

The story is reported by Sheriff Briese in his 9/2/2021 monthly "Inside the Office" video, at the 9:53 mark (see below). I have found no MSM coverage to date.

Here are the facts Sheriff Briese stated:

• This operation occurred August 9-10/2021 by the Sheriff's Office and allied resources and individuals
• It was one of the largest marijuana operations in Mariposa that the Sheriff's office has ever conducted
• They confiscated 38,272 marijuana plants
• They arrested 14 people and took 12 guns
• They found meth and cocaine
• They found child endangerment and animal cruelty...
• and more, including "environmental crimes."

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Video link credit in original post: @Lexiintoronto

ETA: date of video in post text

 

[Yvettea]

With all the confusion about the trail name, the road name, the lack of online maps/directions, is anyone concerned the couple was mixing their information about the two trails? Could they have misunderstood the Savage-Lundy trail was the last leg of their hike, miscalculating the length of the hike and not allowing for enough water?

Seems something more is going on as if they were confused not simply incautious.

 

[sfinkz]

With all the confusion about the trail name, the road name, the lack of online maps/directions, is anyone concerned the couple was mixing their information about the two trails? Could they have misunderstood the Savage-Lundy trail was the last leg of their hike, miscalculating the length of the hike and not allowing for enough water?

Seems something more is going on as if they were confused not simply incautious.

Though the trail names may be confusing, where they go and how far is not.

 

[Parsnip]

With all the confusion about the trail name, the road name, the lack of online maps/directions, is anyone concerned the couple was mixing their information about the two trails? Could they have misunderstood the Savage-Lundy trail was the last leg of their hike, miscalculating the length of the hike and not allowing for enough water?

Seems something more is going on as if they were confused not simply incautious.

Yes. The information about the trail is certainly hazy. I think our discussions here demonstrate that confusion about the trail could happen. MOO.

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

Though the trail names may be confusing, where they go and how far is not.

Yeah, the HCT is the most used, the SLT is less used, and the trail connecting them along the river is the least used. The fact they successfully made the connection between the HCT and SLT makes me think they intended to do the loop. Doesn't seem likely they would blunder several miles along the river and miraculously find the SLT and know to take it back toward their truck. MOO.

 

[Recidivist]

With all the confusion about the trail name, the road name, the lack of online maps/directions, is anyone concerned the couple was mixing their information about the two trails? Could they have misunderstood the Savage-Lundy trail was the last leg of their hike, miscalculating the length of the hike and not allowing for enough water?

Seems something more is going on as if they were confused not simply incautious.

I do think the were confused as to which trail they would be hiking. I think they were expecting the easier trail with flowers. So when people wonder why would they take the child and dog to such a punishing area, I really don't think they intended to end up where they did. imo...

 

[sfinkz]

Post #679, T#3, by @EndoraXplorer is a story I am not sure we all caught.

But I think it is important enough to repeat for possible context of:

a) the serious and recent criminal activity in Mariposa County, and
b) how full the Mariposa County Sheriff Office's plates may be and why there may be a delay in findings for the JG/EC case.​

This is a story about a major crime bust in Mariposa County less than one week before the JG/EC family disappeared.

The story is reported by Sheriff Briese in his 9/2/2021 monthly "Inside the Office" video, at the 9:53 mark (see below). I have found no MSM coverage to date.

Here are the facts Sheriff Briese stated:

• This operation occurred August 9-10/2021 by the Sheriff's Office and allied resources and individuals
• It was one of the largest marijuana operations in Mariposa that the Sheriff's office has ever conducted
• They confiscated 38,272 marijuana plants
• They arrested 14 people and took 12 guns
• They found meth and cocaine
• They found child endangerment and animal cruelty...
• and more, including "environmental crimes."

BBM

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

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Video link credit in original post: @Lexiintoronto

ETA: date of video in post text

38,272 plants and 12 guns, yes, but 0 murders and, hence, no MSM coverage.
The murder woulda been five Sundays before the family took their walk, in the vicinity of their primary residence, in what the SO spokie described as a ‘cartel-type hit and major trafficking operation’.

 

[Seattle1]

38,272 plants and 12 guns, yes, but 0 murders and, hence, no MSM coverage.
The murder woulda been five Sundays before the family took their walk, in the vicinity of their primary residence, in what the SO spokie described as a ‘cartel-type hit and major trafficking operation’.

Wow -- thanks for link to this Sept 2, 2021 "Inside the Office w/ Sheriff Jeremy Briese.

Here's the relevant portion of the YT transcription:

09:54
is august 9th august 10th you may have
09:57
seen a lot of activity in and around
10:01
your areas but
10:03
probably to this date this would be one
10:05
of the largest uh marijuana
10:08
operations that the sheriff's office
10:10
conducted it was a two-day operation
10:13
we utilized many allied resources and
10:16
and individuals um to
10:19
combat this as you know we've talked
10:21
about this from
10:23
you know just the mass quantities are
10:26
you know trying to keep up keep up with
10:27
everything so
10:29
for your uh viewing pleasure the the
10:32
total for both days we issued 23 search
10:36
warrants eradicated 38
10:39
272 plants confiscated 2 550 pounds of
10:43
processed we arrested 14 individuals
10:47
we took off 12 guns
10:49
in addition to that we had
10:51
methamphetamine sales cocaine sales
10:54
child endangerment animal cruelty
10:57
using a juvenile for the purpose of
10:59
cultivation
11:01
and then your other marijuana licensing
11:03
violations county code violations and
11:06
environmental crimes so hats off to the
11:08
marijuana enforcement team and sergeant
11:10
mike charman for coordinating all that
11:12
that was a lot of work
11:14
by everybody
11:15
and it was done safely and we got the
11:18
job done so thank you guys for that

11:21
and do we have any winners on shannon
11:24
clark
11:25
clark all right so our next winner is
11:28
shannon myers clark
11:32
the answer
11:33
was amigo del oro
11:37
or otherwise known as our golden friend
11:40
so your tickets are here thank you
11:44
and we will get into a couple other
11:46
i know uh highly looked at cases first
11:49
we will talk about the shooting at the
11:51
fifth street parking lot um the suspect
11:54
was a kenneth patterson
11:56
shot an another adult male in the back
11:58
fled the scene
12:00
after hours um detectives and
12:03
investigators worked through the evening
12:06
and safely kenneth turned himself in and
12:09
he remains in custody as the victim is
12:11
in the hospital

12:12
you know this incident was
12:15
in our downtown very scary but everybody
12:18
responded quickly and everything was
12:20
handled appropriately
12:21
and we had a quick conclusion for that
12:25
and
12:26
the big case probably everybody's
12:28
wanting to know about is our garrish
12:31
chung case and that is um
12:33
the family that was found deceased at
12:35
the
12:36
outside the heights cove area
12:38
and you know this case obviously got
12:41
national or international media
12:42
attention so
12:44
you know first our hearts are out like i
12:46
said from the beginning the family and
12:48
the friends um
12:50
you know our detectives are working when
12:52
i say working around the clock they are
12:54
working around the clock
12:55
uh working with so many different
12:57
agencies to try to you know find answers
13:01
establish timelines um
13:04
we have
13:06
i would say
13:08
lab testing lab facilities for all
13:10
different things
13:12
all across the nation there everybody's
13:14
helping us out including the fbi they're
13:16
helping us out a lot
13:18
um
13:19
and so
13:20
as we move through this case we are
13:22
going to continue to always be there for
13:24
the family first and then we're always
13:26
going to continue to update you the
13:28
public
13:29
um what's going on what what is
13:31
happening i know there was a lot of talk
13:33
with the
13:35
poisonous algae blooms in the river
13:38
those
13:41
tests some of those tests have came back
13:43
and
13:44
we have reported that as well to their
13:46
state water boards um there was
13:49
there was a um what would you call that
13:52
a positive test for
13:53
the um
13:56
what's that called ana
13:57
anatoxin a
13:59
and it was a high level so we have
14:01
definitely pushed that information out
14:03
as well for others in the area and your
14:06
animals um not saying that that is a
14:09
cause but
14:10
through investigation we have identified
14:13
that that is present in the in the river
14:16
so
14:17
you know for the public safety side we
14:19
wanted to get that message out at least
14:21
we do know it is present working with
14:24
you know our all our state and federal
14:26
partners and make sure everybody has
14:28
that information as quickly as we can
14:30
and
14:31
so with that case um everybody is
14:34
working very hard um and we'll continue
14:36
to update on that
14:39
and i think we are going to go into
14:42
our
14:48
rodeo tickets

 

[RedHaus]

38,272 plants and 12 guns, yes, but 0 murders and, hence, no MSM coverage.
The murder woulda been five Sundays before the family took their walk, in the vicinity of their primary residence, in what the SO spokie described as a ‘cartel-type hit and major trafficking operation’.

Yes, @sfinkz, the major grow bust was about 5 days before the JG/EC family disappeared... the murder in town - the "cartel-type" hit as you say - was 7/11/2021. I posted the article about that in a previous thread. Here it is again: Men identified in illegal marijuana grow shooting in Mariposa County. And yes, that got MSM attention!

Wow -- thanks for link to this Sept 2, 2021 "Inside the Office w/ Sheriff Jeremy Briese. Here's the relevant portion of the YT transcription:

Thanks for the transcript bout the major drug bust in Mariposa county, 8/9-10/2021, @Seattle1.

Who says there is no marijuana illegally grown in Mariposa county? They found 37,000+ plants!

I just makes me wonder about the "tensions" in that community.

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

I do think the were confused as to which trail they would be hiking. I think they were expecting the easier trail with flowers. So when people wonder why would they take the child and dog to such a punishing area, I really don't think they intended to end up where they did. imo...

I don't think they realized the danger of what they were trying to do in that season, but they did some pretty good navigation. Hikers who get into trouble often go right past intersections where they need to turn, JG and EC must have correctly identified and taken two new trails to get where they were found. Here's an image of the first one, the intersection is not visible, but you can make out the two trails thru the trees. I think it was the combination of extreme heat, no shade, and a steep trail. Take away one of those, and they would have had a chance. I absolutely agree that they did not intend to end up where they did, but it happened.

 

[Lex Parsimoniae]

Yes, @sfinkz, the major grow bust was about 5 days before the JG/EC family disappeared... the murder in town - the "cartel-type" hit as you say - was 7/11/2021. I posted the article about that in a previous thread. Here it is again: Men identified in illegal marijuana grow shooting in Mariposa County. And yes, that got MSM attention!


Thanks for the transcript bout the major drug bust in Mariposa county, 8/9-10/2021, @Seattle1.

Who says there is no marijuana illegally grown in Mariposa county? They found 37,000+ plants!

I just makes me wonder about the "tensions" in that community.

This (photo) is a legal dope grow which I'm not happy about because it's next to property I own. Growing dope in California is not a big deal anymore, as long as you comply with the regulations. It is associated with crime, but not with bodies that have no signs of violence. But do entertain yourselves, I'm only interested in the truth, which is often admittedly prosaic and not entertaining.

 

[jonjon747]

I don't think they realized the danger of what they were trying to do in that season, but they did some pretty good navigation. Hikers who get into trouble often go right past intersections where they need to turn, JG and EC must have correctly identified and taken two new trails to get where they were found. Here's an image of the first one, the intersection is not visible, but you can make out the two trails thru the trees. I think it was the combination of extreme heat, no shade, and a steep trail. Take away one of those, and they would have had a chance. I absolutely agree that they did not intend to end up where they did, but it happened.

Pardon me, but do you really believe they intended to do the loop?
There's not a single hiking app popular or not, that covers the SL trail.
How did they learn about this trail and felt confident enough to try with their baby and dog?