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

[Yvettea]

When the missing persons report for Ellen Chung and her husband, Jonathan Gerrish, came in at 11 p.m. Monday, a curious sheriff’s deputy had a hunch.

He drove down the single-lane red dirt Hites Cove Road until the closed U.S. Forest Service gate appeared. — the couple’s truck was parked at the popular but remote trailhead. It was 2 a.m.

When the deputy found the truck, a search-and-rescue team hiked down the steep and straight road with flashlights and found shoe and paw prints similar to what you’d expect from a family of that size with a dog, Briese said.

'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

 

[Knox]

I was really hoping there would be more factual information released by now, but it seems the same things are being discussed two months later. Hopefully the families receive answers soon. Waiting must be so painful for them.

 

[NSamuelle]

Does anyone else find it odd that LE still has not released any results re: the water they were carrying? It has been almost 9 weeks. If the water were unremarkable, they should release that information to rule out speculation along those lines, including speculation that they carried and drank tainted water from the river, which is a matter of public health.

Water is (almost) never going to be pure H2O; there will be signatures of minerals, plastic, etc., but those signatures are known. Deviations would prompt additional testing.

Commercial water is tested regularly to ensure it won’t hurt people, and results take far less time.

 

[5W's]

With all due respect everyone IMO we are back at square one as I've read some of the recent posts upto now. The reason I say this is because first of all this family knows this area. Secondly they have friends who know these trails who have hiked here. Thirdly the JG/EC have done this trail in the past so it just doesn't make sense that they would take the baby and dog out on this particular day the hottest day up to that point. Something is not right here. Even as other posts have mentioned that hikers would turn back upon realizing it was too hot it didn't happen here is the general assumption. However since they know the area they would have taken these factors into consideration IMO.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

LE was extremely vague about the tracking details.
There was not a single item that belongs from the family that was found near the river or anywhere else other than on the scene and their vehicle.

Sorry to be repetitive, but can you please link the source to this information?

 

[HannahJJJ]

'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

I haven't followed closely on where the recently purchased Gerrish-Chung property is in relation to where they were found. It's highly possible I don't know enough, and that's why I find it unusual that a curious sheriff deputy "drove down the single-lane red dirt Hites Cove Road until the closed U.S. Forest Service gate appeared. — the couple’s truck was parked at the popular but remote trailhead. It was 2 a.m." rather soon after the couple was first reported missing by RH (and I'm not clear on why it was this person who reported them missing). Did the deputy go there to check out the property...is it a rental property?

 

[Lexiintoronto]

@jonjon747 bbm sbm. Respectfully, do we know as a fact that S&R covered the entire loop "without much struggle or causing any serious health issues"???
I don't recall temps on day & time of couple's hike, compared to temps when S&R conducted searches, two days later, iirc.

Pls bear in mind, I've not read all posts here or all Sheriff's/LE/S&R releases on this, but I doubt their mission was a piece of cake. Just wondering. my2ct.

I believe it was a very challenging search, and heartbreaking, imo.

I know in an early thread we linked a source that reported that one SAR worker had to have medical treatment due to the search. (due to the heat, iirc).

As for temperatures during the search, around 2:00 am on the 17th, their vehicle was found at the trailhead and SAR was called in. The temperature was approximately 74°F and slowly dropping:
View attachment 317614

Temperatures during the search were around 70°F during the night and by 11:00 am when they were reported to be found it was 101°F (sharp increase in temperatures after 8:00 am).

View attachment 317617

Weather data from El Portal historical weather data, scroll to the bottom of the page:
EL PORTAL (EPW)

Thank you to the original posters who found the above link.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Although I haven't seen the documentary yet, there seems to be a consensus about the case in which it's more of a superstitious, cult practice.

Nope. But I didnt want to give a spoiler!

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

With all due respect everyone IMO we are back at square one as I've read some of the recent posts upto now. The reason I say this is because first of all this family knows this area. Secondly they have friends who know these trails who have hiked here. Thirdly the JG/EC have done this trail in the past so it just doesn't make sense that they would take the baby and dog out on this particular day the hottest day up to that point. Something is not right here. Even as other posts have mentioned that hikers would turn back upon realizing it was too hot it didn't happen here is the general assumption. However since they know the area they would have taken these factors into consideration IMO.

Every statement about the GC's you make above is unproven, in my understanding. I suggest you reread past threads more carefully.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

I haven't followed closely on where the recently purchased Gerrish-Chung property is in relation to where they were found. It's highly possible I don't know enough, and that's why I find it unusual that a curious sheriff deputy "drove down the single-lane red dirt Hites Cove Road until the closed U.S. Forest Service gate appeared. — the couple’s truck was parked at the popular but remote trailhead. It was 2 a.m." rather soon after the couple was first reported missing by RH (and I'm not clear on why it was this person who reported them missing). Did the deputy go there to check out the property...is it a rental property?

A nanny found their home unexpectedly empty on Monday, and JG did not report to work as expected that day.

They were reported missing at 11:00 pm and the vehicle was found at approximately 2:00 am.

JG & EC’s property was about 2 miles from the trailhead. Sheriff Briese is reported to have had a hunch that led him to check the trailhead (possibly based on finding out the family were hikers, hiked weekends, and lived close to that trailhead).

RH, if you google, was in the G-C circle.

 

[Officer Dibble]

I was really hoping there would be more factual information released by now, but it seems the same things are being discussed two months later. Hopefully the families receive answers soon. Waiting must be so painful for them.

It really must be painful. I can't believe its taking so long either. I leave this group for weeks, come back hoping to see an update and nope same old basic info.

 

[jonjon747]

With no clues pointing to what killed the family, authorities have opened a murder probe.
“I’ve never seen a death-related case like this,” Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told The Fresno Bee. “There are no obvious indicators as to how it occurred.”

“Unfortunately we don’t have a great time frame for that yet.”
Until then the mystery remains.
“I think it’s going to be a very long and in depth, thorough investigation because it isn’t as clear cut as what some cases are,” said Mitchell.

This is from an article almost 2 months ago
I don't think this case is a heat related deaths. MOO

Mystery surrounds deaths of family found in national forest

 

[neesaki]

I have no problem believing that they all succumbed to heatstroke. I have been an avid hiker for years and have come across quite a few people who were not prepared to hike in extreme heat.

Even an experienced hiker may occasionally underestimate a trail, conditions, or ability of each member of the group.

I hiked last weekend and met a couple with a baby in a backpack. The man had the baby, the woman was carrying a large bag of supplies. I could see a roll of paper towels and baby supplies. Both were struggling, and at the time I passed them they were discussing turning back due to the heat. Good for them, they were realizing their limitations.

I was about two miles into an uphill trail when I passed another couple who had an Australian shepherd. The dog lunged and tried to get to the water bottle I had hooked to that side of my pack. The couple apologized and sheepishly admitted that they forgot to bring water and the dog bowl. Yikes! The dog recognized the water bottle and desperately wanted some.

The couple seemed embarrassed and said they were heading back to the parking lot, pulling their dog away.

Several years ago I went with a few friends on an extremely rugged hike where you had to sign a log book with the time you began the hike, and demonstrate to the ranger that
each person had at least 128 ounces of water. You were also required to wear hiking boots. We were several hours into the hike when we passed a couple of guys who had NO water and were wearing tennis shoes. This despite prominent signs in the parking lot stating hikers must check in and meet requirements before beginning the hike. Another sign stated that 8 hikers have died on that trail.

One thought keeps occurring to me, that perhaps the baby succumbed to the heat, and they didn’t try very hard to make it back at that point. Perhaps just stopped. Of course the dog would have succumbed as well. This is a heartbreaking thought, but I think a possibility.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

@neesaki - I've had the same thought, as well. ⬆︎ ⬆︎ ⬆︎ If my child were dead and I hadn't been able to save them, I imagine the last bit of energy would be sucked from me, the last bit of will left to live.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

One thought keeps occurring to me, that perhaps the baby succumbed to the heat, and they didn’t try very hard to make it back at that point. Perhaps just stopped. Of course the dog would have succumbed as well. This is a heartbreaking thought, but I think a possibility.

@neesaki - I've had the same thought, as well. ⬆︎ ⬆︎ ⬆︎ If my child were dead and I hadn't been able to save them, I imagine the last bit of energy would be sucked from me, the last bit of will left to live.

I agree in concept, but do have to wonder -- most of us, who are not medically trained, might not know for certain immediately that death has occurred, as compared to unconsciousness or even coma. And wouldn't the adrenalin reaction to get help continue if there were even the slightest doubt?

I have been present during the death of a friend's pet, and found myself unsure whether the outward perception of "no more breathing" was actually the moment of death or not.

MOO

 

[neesaki]

I agree in concept, but do have to wonder -- most of us, who are not medically trained, might not know for certain immediately that death has occurred, as compared to unconsciousness or even coma. And wouldn't the adrenalin reaction to get help continue if there were even the slightest doubt?

I have been present during the death of a friend's pet, and found myself unsure whether the outward perception of "no more breathing" was actually the moment of death or not.

MOO

You make a very relevant point. I do know that when my little dog died in an accident 12 years ago, I felt his spirit leave his body. Whether that’s something that is a common occurrence I have no idea.
Also as another poster mentioned, it seems odd the baby was still in the carrier. Unless, they put her back in at some point, planning to continue the hike out.
Seems everything leads to more questions doesn’t it?

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I agree in concept, but do have to wonder -- most of us, who are not medically trained, might not know for certain immediately that death has occurred, as compared to unconsciousness or even coma. And wouldn't the adrenalin reaction to get help continue if there were even the slightest doubt?

I have been present during the death of a friend's pet, and found myself unsure whether the outward perception of "no more breathing" was actually the moment of death or not.

MOO

I've been present, alone at two deaths. I knew they were gone. Just felt it. Also present at several pets' deaths. Same feeling. It's an immense event, but you could be right.

 

[Pumphouse363]

BBM
I'm in the other camp because I'm taking what LE found as valid. They stated that prints compatible with a family AND DOG were found at the upper section of HC road heading down. Also, I don't think that hiking DOWN SL for 30 min or 1.5 miles (where they were found) starting at 8AM, would be sufficient time to incapacitate the two adults at that point. In addition, they were facing UPHILL, although that could be interpreted as a *turnaround*. Again, it if they went DOWN SL there *should* be prints indicating this. MOO

No I think you’re right. Hiking down SL for 30 minutes may not incapacitate the adults but what about Miju and Oski? Wouldn’t they have shown signs of distress and necessitate going back to their vehicle? The temperatures on Sunday were increasing rapidly and way above that recommended for either of those trails. MOO

 

[rahod1]

No I think you’re right. Hiking down SL for 30 minutes may not incapacitate the adults but what about Miju and Oski? Wouldn’t they have shown signs of distress and necessitate going back to their vehicle? The temperatures on Sunday were increasing rapidly and way above that recommended for either of those trails. MOO

BBM
Yes, the dog and infant could have shown signs by then, but not the adults (MOO) ...it was *only* 1.5 Mi DOWN and about 30 min into this assumed hike down SL. If they left at 8AM, it would have been hot on the trail by 8:30, but nowhere near as hot as it would be in that area 2-3 hrs LATER had they taken the loop from HC Road. Also, even if the child and dog were VERY ILL at 30 min, why would the adults be found dead at that location if they weren't in serious trouble at that point?
There are some here who think they hiked down to the river (another 1.5 Mi) and then turned back up. In that scenario, it's possible the entire family succumbed to the heat at the point 1.5 Mi UP hill.
That would have added another 3 miles to the hike you propose with a significant UPHILL hike back in hotter conditions. I don't subscribe to that theory because of the aforementioned prints found going down HC.

 

[Pumphouse363]

BBM
Yes, the dog and infant could have shown signs by then, but not the adults (MOO) ...it was *only* 1.5 Mi DOWN and about 30 min into this assumed hike down SL. If they left at 8AM, it would have been hot on the trail by 8:30, but nowhere near as hot as it would be in that area 2-3 hrs LATER had they taken the loop from HC Road. Also, even if the child and dog were VERY ILL at 30 min, why would the adults be found dead at that location if they weren't in serious trouble at that point?
There are some here who think they hiked down to the river (another 1.5 Mi) and then turned back up. In that scenario, it's possible the entire family succumbed to the heat at the point 1.5 Mi UP hill.
That would have added another 3 miles to the hike you propose with a significant UPHILL hike back in hotter conditions. I don't subscribe to that theory because of the aforementioned prints found going down HC.

You misunderstand me - I’m not proposing any trail. I’m saying that whichever one they elected to do, the baby and the dog would have shown signs of distress within the first half hour (according to some comments on here by people more expert than me).
My difficulty is accepting the fact that Jon and Ellen would continue on either trail if either/both Miju and Oski showed signs of discomfort - even if they both felt relatively ok.
Unfortunately, I do not have an alternative explanation as to why they were found in that location on the SL trail - I don’t see how they could have managed to traverse that far without the most vulnerable succumbing to the heat before they even reached the river.
There have been a lot of very good theories on WS of what may have taken place given the limited information so far - it’s just a case of waiting for the reports from LE and other experts involved.