CA - Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter, 1 & dog, suspicious death hiking area, Aug 2021 #5

[neesaki]

Because they are dead. That's the sad and only answer I have. I am retired. I can research maps until the cows come home. Jon had a full-time, 24/7 demanding job. He was a landlord. He had friends and family all over the world to keep in touch with. He was a new dad. He had Ellen to keep happy, as husbands must. There was Covid AND the adjustment of living in isolation in a rural, remote community.

(I really like @RedHaus and others' theories of Jon researching the mines. That seems like what you would do in your spare time. )

I will always believe, until proven otherwise, this was a spontaneous walk, ill-planned and risky, in the cloud of new parenthood and other distractions. That it was taken without fully understanding the area weather or trails. Perhaps in the way we tend to treat our own neighborhood more cavalierly than a strange place.

I can’t begin to comprehend them taking their little baby and dog on a hike in that area, when they were well aware of how hot it was. It makes no sense. Maybe that’s why LE is investigating so thoroughly rather than quickly ruling it heat stroke / accidental. A whole family and their furbaby lost all at once. It’s beyond tragically sad.

 

[ilovewings]

I can’t begin to comprehend them taking their little baby and dog on a hike in that area, when they were well aware of how hot it was. It makes no sense. Maybe that’s why LE is investigating so thoroughly rather than quickly ruling it heat stroke / accidental. A whole family and their furbaby lost all at once. It’s beyond tragically sad.

These deaths definitely deserve a full and complete investigation and I know we are all awaiting the results of that investigation. It is so tragic and sad.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

It doesn’t actually say who reported seeing the photo - just that it was seen by somebody. RH is quoted as saying very little - just that they hiked on weekends and were a nice couple. SJ says he can’t believe what’s happened and ‘guesses’ it must have been a day hike - he doesn’t actually know anything. He was on holiday in Croatia but posted a message on FB asking ‘if anyone had seen Jon and Ellen in the past couple of days’ on the same day their bodies were found. We don’t know who saw the vehicle but assume it was a reliable source. There’s actually very little information and lots of red herrings put out by the media imo. MOO

BBM
I just wrote ‘uploaded’, I haven’t read in MSM who saw it.

 

[Pumphouse363]

BBM
I just wrote ‘uploaded’, I haven’t read in MSM who saw it.

Me neither. What does BBM mean?

 

[RedHaus]

Bolded by Me.... you may also see, RSBM, which means Respectfully Snipped by Me. Essentially any edits you make to someone else's post when you reply to it or quote from it should be acknowledged below the quote to respect the integrity of the original post...

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Me neither. What does BBM mean?

bbm= bolded by me : )

 

[Seattle1]

Mariposa Sheriff’s Office Update on the Gerrish – Chung Family | Sierra News Online 8/26/21

[..]

Sequence of Events –

8/14/2021 – John Gerrish researches Hites Cove hike via phone app

8/15/2021 7:45 am – Witness sees Gerrish/Chung family traveling towards the trail head in their vehicle

8/16/2021 11 pm – Family friend reports family missing

8/17/2021 1:53 am – Family car located

8/17/2021 1:55 am – Search and Rescue Mission Initiated

8/17/2021 11 am – Family Located by Search and Rescue

8/19/2021 – Autopsies completed on Family and Dog- All currently pending toxicology

8/20/2021 – Search warrants issued for phone found with family

8/20/2021 – Search warrants issued for family home and cars- nothing significant located

8/23/2021 – Additional water samples collected from water sources along the trail area

8/24/2021 – Cell phone delivered to FBI for data extraction- Awaiting results

8/25/2021 – Search Warrants issued for possible social media access


Trail Information –

Hites Cove Rd – Savage Lundy Trail located Inside the Ferguson Fire (2018) footprint.

Entire Trail Loop is approx. 8.5 miles – 5 miles of the trail consists of a steep southern exposure path with little to no trees or shade.

Spot Weather for the area indicates temperatures during 11:50 am – 5:50 pm ranged between 103-109 degrees in certain areas of the trail.

Additional Testing / Tox- No results received as of the date of this update. Timeline for results of testing pending –

Gerrish/Chung toxicology sent to labs.

K-9 Samples sent to multiple labs.

Multiple Water samples taken in the area and of water the family had with them. Samples sent to both State Water Board and independent laps for testing.

Further assistance for additional testing is being coordinated with CDC and Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment.

Causes of Death Ruled Out: The following have been ruled out based on evidence recovered or through investigation. ALL other potential causes of death remain.

Gun or any other type of weapon.

Chemical hazards along the Savage Lundy trail.

Quote/ Statements –

“We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of Detectives are working round the clock. Cases like this require us to be methodical and thorough while also reaching out to every resource we can find to help us bring those answers to them as quickly as we can.” ` Sheriff Jeremy Briese

Original Press Release –

MISSING FAMILY FOUND DECEASED

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office began a Search and Rescue operation after a family was reported missing Monday night August 16th at 11 pm.

Search teams located the family’s vehicle near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hites Cove in the Jerseydale area. A short time later the family; John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, one year old daughter Miju and the family dog, Oski were located deceased near the Devil’s Gulch area in the Southfork of the Merced River drainage.

Sheriff personnel with the assistance of the California Department of Justice are conducting the investigation and processing the area. Current scene information does not indicate a clear picture of what occurred or a clear cause of death, the scene is currently being handled as a hazmat and coroner investigation.

“This is never the outcome we want or the news we want to deliver, my heart breaks for their family. Our Sheriff’s Chaplains and staff are working with their family and will continue to support them during this heartbreaking time.” Sheriff Jeremy Briese

Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

@Seattle1 You are the best! One question: did the witness see the GerrishChungs in their vehicle driving toward the trailhead or only see the vehicle? Thanks anyone, in advance

 

[rahod1]

@Seattle1 You are the best! One question: did the witness see the GerrishChungs in their vehicle driving toward the trailhead or only see the vehicle? Thanks anyone, in advance

"8/15/2021 7:45 am – Witness sees Gerrish/Chung family traveling towards the trail head in their vehicle"

 

[Pumphouse363]

Mariposa Sheriff’s Office Update on the Gerrish – Chung Family | Sierra News Online 8/26/21

[..]

Sequence of Events –

8/14/2021 – John Gerrish researches Hites Cove hike via phone app

8/15/2021 7:45 am – Witness sees Gerrish/Chung family traveling towards the trail head in their vehicle

8/16/2021 11 pm – Family friend reports family missing

8/17/2021 1:53 am – Family car located

8/17/2021 1:55 am – Search and Rescue Mission Initiated

8/17/2021 11 am – Family Located by Search and Rescue

8/19/2021 – Autopsies completed on Family and Dog- All currently pending toxicology

8/20/2021 – Search warrants issued for phone found with family

8/20/2021 – Search warrants issued for family home and cars- nothing significant located

8/23/2021 – Additional water samples collected from water sources along the trail area

8/24/2021 – Cell phone delivered to FBI for data extraction- Awaiting results

8/25/2021 – Search Warrants issued for possible social media access


Trail Information –

Hites Cove Rd – Savage Lundy Trail located Inside the Ferguson Fire (2018) footprint.

Entire Trail Loop is approx. 8.5 miles – 5 miles of the trail consists of a steep southern exposure path with little to no trees or shade.

Spot Weather for the area indicates temperatures during 11:50 am – 5:50 pm ranged between 103-109 degrees in certain areas of the trail.

Additional Testing / Tox- No results received as of the date of this update. Timeline for results of testing pending –

Gerrish/Chung toxicology sent to labs.

K-9 Samples sent to multiple labs.

Multiple Water samples taken in the area and of water the family had with them. Samples sent to both State Water Board and independent laps for testing.

Further assistance for additional testing is being coordinated with CDC and Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment.

Causes of Death Ruled Out: The following have been ruled out based on evidence recovered or through investigation. ALL other potential causes of death remain.

Gun or any other type of weapon.

Chemical hazards along the Savage Lundy trail.

Quote/ Statements –

“We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of Detectives are working round the clock. Cases like this require us to be methodical and thorough while also reaching out to every resource we can find to help us bring those answers to them as quickly as we can.” ` Sheriff Jeremy Briese

Original Press Release –

MISSING FAMILY FOUND DECEASED

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office began a Search and Rescue operation after a family was reported missing Monday night August 16th at 11 pm.

Search teams located the family’s vehicle near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hites Cove in the Jerseydale area. A short time later the family; John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, one year old daughter Miju and the family dog, Oski were located deceased near the Devil’s Gulch area in the Southfork of the Merced River drainage.

Sheriff personnel with the assistance of the California Department of Justice are conducting the investigation and processing the area. Current scene information does not indicate a clear picture of what occurred or a clear cause of death, the scene is currently being handled as a hazmat and coroner investigation.

“This is never the outcome we want or the news we want to deliver, my heart breaks for their family. Our Sheriff’s Chaplains and staff are working with their family and will continue to support them during this heartbreaking time.” Sheriff Jeremy Briese

I give up!

 

[HannahJJJ]

I can’t begin to comprehend them taking their little baby and dog on a hike in that area, when they were well aware of how hot it was. It makes no sense. Maybe that’s why LE is investigating so thoroughly rather than quickly ruling it heat stroke / accidental. A whole family and their furbaby lost all at once. It’s beyond tragically sad.

I'm with you. I've considered accidental HS but not seriously. Moo, the fact that the baby and dog were found dead there, too...that stops me right there, and Imo/Moo the answer lies somewhere in that fact.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

"8/15/2021 7:45 am – Witness sees Gerrish/Chung family traveling towards the trail head in their vehicle"

Thanks, @rahod1. I feel like an idiot. Didnt realize that the timeline was a direct quote from MM source.

 

[everybodhi]

I'm with you. I've considered accidental HS but not seriously. Moo, the fact that the baby and dog were found dead there, too...that stops me right there, and Imo/Moo the answer lies somewhere in that fact.

I don't understand how the baby and dog being found dead there stops you from considering accidental heat stroke.
It's been established repeatedly that babies and dogs are even more susceptible to heat stroke than adults.
And certainly any adult in such a hot, full sun environment is suseptable to heat stroke, even with no exertion.
What am I missing?

 

[rahod1]

I'm with you. I've considered accidental HS but not seriously. Moo, the fact that the baby and dog were found dead there, too...that stops me right there, and Imo/Moo the answer lies somewhere in that fact.

If parents die so do the dependents.....baby and dog. If the dependents perish first, the adults would not abandon them...certainly not the infant. Oppressive heat doesn't discriminate...the entire family was basically trapped in the same situation...isolated on a hot steep trail....ALL SUBJECT TO THE SAME FATE.

 

[Recidivist]

Their property is on Hites Cove Road - the information is available online and the date Jon closed the deal is July 2021. It is very near to the place where the vehicle was parked just a couple of miles.

I just realized the air bnb that I stayed in April, and will stay again for Christmas is next door to the Gerrish home.

 

[Yvettea]

In the final analysis, the questions of why
bad things happen to good people
transmutes itself into some very different
questions, no longer asking
why something happened,
but asking how we will respond,
what we intend to do now that it
happened.—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin​

 

[katydid23]

I'm with you. I've considered accidental HS but not seriously. Moo, the fact that the baby and dog were found dead there, too...that stops me right there, and Imo/Moo the answer lies somewhere in that fact.

Why does that stop you? I am curious why that seems improbable to some here.

 

[katydid23]

I don't understand how the baby and dog being found dead there stops you from considering accidental heat stroke.
It's been established repeatedly that babies and dogs are even more susceptible to heat stroke than adults.
And certainly any adult in such a hot, full sun environment is suseptable to heat stroke, even with no exertion.
What am I missing?

Exactly. And that^^^ info is what makes HS a more likely cause of the tragic deaths.

Heat stroke symptoms would have hit the baby and the doggie early on. That would have been a big crisis, and the parents would have spent their energy, their time and all their fresh water, trying to cool down the baby and loyal pup.

But Heat Stroke demands medical treatment to really turn things around. They would be wasting time and resources, which would put them under the burning sun for even more hours than they planned for. As the day wore on and their water supply dwindled, the parents would eventually suffer the same fate.

 

[HannahJJJ]

I don't understand how the baby and dog being found dead there stops you from considering accidental heat stroke.
It's been established repeatedly that babies and dogs are even more susceptible to heat stroke than adults.
And certainly any adult in such a hot, full sun environment is suseptable to heat stroke, even with no exertion.
What am I missing?

Moo.
I meant accidental HS in the sense of what many here believe...that accidental HS occurred because the parents simply made an error in human judgement when deciding to take the baby and dog on this hike. All Moo.

 

[5W's]

Another thing I find puzzling is that why would experienced hikers take only one water bladder for the entire family. Like I stated before more questions than answers. Yes it is ambiguous that we don't know what they carried with them. However, if they had for example small boxed juice drinks or energy drinks that would say that perhaps they intended to hike some ways. But, one water bladder doesn't make sense to me unless they only intended to be hiking a short distance or at a slow pace. They would also want to keep it light even if they intended a short hike. So I can't see them taking the juices if it was short and sweet. Maybe if they were distributed between them. But even then the amount of juice drinks plus one water bladder wouldn't be enough for a longer hike. MOO.