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

[SophieRose]

Duplicate information, but a copy of the SFC map:

View attachment 309744



Map from SFC (paywalled): 'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

I never saw on other maps a trail going along the river. I wonder if because of the drought you can now walk the area.

 

[katydid23]

LE has stated that they are presently viewing this as homicide. There is surely then some basis. MOO.

I don't think they said 'viewing' it as a homicide. I think they said 'treating' it as a homicide. And that could be that they need to treat it as a crime scene, just in case, imo.

 

[Speculaytor]

Duplicate information, but a copy of the SFC map:

View attachment 309744


Map from SFC (paywalled): 'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

Ahhhh, now I see why I thought Hite Cove Trail. It is a loop and Hite Cove trail turns into the trail where the family was found, which loops up to Yosemite Highway. Thank you for the map.

 

[Speculaytor]

Mariposa residents John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their daughter, Miju, and family dog, Oski, were found dead Tuesday on the Savage-Lundy Trail in Devil’s Gulch near Hites Cove.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article253642528.html
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The family’s bodies were found on the Savage-Lundy Trail, which is popular in the spring because of its colorful wildflower blooms. Mitchell said Wednesday it is very hot at this time of year and there is little shade.

She said the family was well prepared for a day hike.

Initial autopsy fails to reveal what killed a Northern California family and their dog on a hiking trail near Yosemite

I just realized that Savage Lundy Trail is connected to Hite Cove Trail, and is part of the loop to Cedar Lodge as I thought.

 

[happyday]

It's odd the Sheriff's office mentions rattlesnakes bites, but nowhere have I seen them really mention heat exhaustion/heat stroke with temperatures of 107-109.

I was just thinking the same thing! They immediately think hazmat situation, then toxic algae or rattlesnake bites, treating as a homicide but no mention of the heat? With those temps and no obvious signs of trauma, heatstroke would be my first thought.

 

[Speculaytor]

I was just thinking the same thing! They immediately think hazmat situation, then toxic algae or rattlesnake bites, treating as a homicide but no mention of the heat? With those temps and no obvious signs of trauma, heatstroke would be my first thought.

Good point everyone! Wonder why no heatstroke discussion? And they would see puncture wounds from snake bites, wouldn't they?

 

[whitelilac]

I haven't posted, but I have been following. So very tragic.
This week, a man died while on a hike in Death Valley. Yes, Death Valley is certainly known for being dangerous, but it was 108 degrees.....similar to the temperature where this family perished.

60-year-old San Francisco hiker dies in Death Valley; heatstroke suspected | KTLA

When it is a dry heat, you don't feel it as much as a humid heat. Years ago I also hiked in Arizona, Utah, and Joshua Tree....in summer, when I didn't know any better. In hindsight, we were very lucky.

 

[CharadeYouAre]

The probability of all three people and the dog dying of heat stroke simultaneously must be astronomical. Same for some fatal toxic algae event.

But anything is possible...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Speculaytor]

The probability of all three people and the dog dying of heat stroke simultaneously must be astronomical. Same for some fatal toxic algae event.

But anything is possible...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So very puzzling, especially when what you say is correct. We now wait for toxicology reports.

 

[RainCheck]

The sheriff says they are no longer considering homicide and are confident they can rule it out as cause of death . They probably arent considering heat stroke because they still had plenty of water and the autopsies would have shown signs of hyperthermia like cerebral edema, visceral petechial hemorrhages, subendocardial hemorrhages, and hepatocyte necrosis.
California authorities relying on dog's autopsy, other forensics for answers in family's mysterious deaths

 

[Rguycali]

It's odd the Sheriff's office mentions rattlesnakes bites, but nowhere have I seen them really mention heat exhaustion/heat stroke with temperatures of 107-109.

Baby rattle snakes are deadly. Not sure how it would explain baby...unless baby died from elements.

 

[Rguycali]

Good point everyone! Wonder why no heatstroke discussion? And they would see puncture wounds from snake bites, wouldn't they?

Maybe not so much if they were baby rattle snakes.

 

[Speculaytor]

Maybe not so much if they were baby rattle snakes.

But all three adults bitten and killed, with no puncture wound evidence? I could see one adult, or the dog, but all three adults seems unlikely.

 

[Rguycali]

Last night I looked on the Sheriff"s log and found a missing person 'a report had been taken at 11 pm in the area of Hite's Cove. I didn't think it was the trail at the time and probably meant the community. Since the Sheriff was so quick to connect the trail to the family, I looked to see if there were any houses recently bought in that area. There was one bought in late July and sure enough it was to the Gerrish family. Turns out they could almost walked to the trail.

That explains why they were so remote, they were in their neighborhood, technically.

 

[Rguycali]

But all three adults bitten and killed, with no puncture wound evidence? I could see one adult, or the dog, but all three adults seems unlikely.

2 adults...a dog...and a baby. Maybe they were all sitting eating, or taking a break.

 

[Speculaytor]

The sheriff says they are no longer considering homicide and are confident they can rule it out as cause of death . They probably arent considering heat stroke because they still had plenty of water and the autopsies would have shown signs of hyperthermia like cerebral edema, visceral petechial hemorrhages, subendocardial hemorrhages, and hepatocyte necrosis.
California authorities relying on dog's autopsy, other forensics for answers in family's mysterious deaths

I was counting on heat stroke as I cannot think of one other thing that would take two adults and a child, unless toxic gas that has been discussed. If they had swam to cool off in a toxic algae bloom, wouldn't some be on their clothes and skin? I mean what else? The suicide idea doesn't seem likely as they had just moved to start a new life. Someone mentioned post partum depression and possible murder suicide, but there is nothing to suggest this at all.

 

[Speculaytor]

2 adults...a dog...and a baby. Maybe they were all sitting eating, or taking a break.

At this point, anything is possible. They easily could have been taking a break at some point, you are right. The toxicology reports would show venom correct?

 

[Andreee]

I thought they were found on Hite Cove Trail, 1.5 Mi in, after the switchbacks, not the Savage-Lundy trail? I may be confused though, and I know reports can have errors.

No, Savage-Lundy trail is the one.

 

[Speculaytor]

No, Savage-Lundy trail is the one.

Yes, I realize now that the Hites Cove Trail turns into the Savage Lundy Trail, then turns into Hites Mines Rd leading to Central Yosemite Highway.

 

[katydid23]

The sheriff says they are no longer considering homicide and are confident they can rule it out as cause of death . They probably arent considering heat stroke because they still had plenty of water and the autopsies would have shown signs of hyperthermia like cerebral edema, visceral petechial hemorrhages, subendocardial hemorrhages, and hepatocyte necrosis.
California authorities relying on dog's autopsy, other forensics for answers in family's mysterious deaths

Are you sure they had plenty of water? I thought it said they still had 'a little water' left. And the problem is that it is not just water that is needed to correct heat stroke. Once your body goes into heat stroke mode drinking some water will not prevent your death.

Your body organs begins shutting down and you go into a coma, even if you sip some more water. It is about the heat of your body temperature at that point, not simply dehydration.

I am not sure that it would have been picked up already by the initial autopsy. I dont think it was a very extensive one yet. JMO