None of the four victims bore any signs of obvious trauma; however according to the National Weather Service: "Lightning is primarily an injury to the nervous system, often with brain injury and nerve injury. Six more causes of death have been ruled out in the baffling case. With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service then closed all 20 million acres of Californias national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday, August 31, 2021, extending through at least September 17. Sheriff Jeremy Briese said, There are those different options that are out there, mineshafts and off-gassing potential and were learning more with our partners in the Forest Service and public health on the toxicity of the algae blooms that theyre posting about. But Briese said they could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity, We have not found any old mine shafts near the area. Authorities found eight photos of the river and of the couple taken from 9:35 to 9:39 a.m. At 10 a.m. and 10:16 a.m., they took two selfie-style family photos. We just don't know. For those with nothing nice to say, go screw yourselves, said one family friend in response to the sheriffs office post. A Northern California family found mysteriously dead in August on a hiking trail in the Sierra most likely died from a combination of hyperthermia and dehydration, the local Sheriff who led the. It was 75 degrees when they began the hike around 8 a.m., but temperatures climbed swiftly as they descended. Waiting for your permission to load the Facebook Video. A fast and unbiased roundup of whats happening in the world today. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18. In the mid-19th century, an area around Hites Cove held a hard-rock gold mine, where certain techniques are used to extract "hard" minerals holding metals like gold, according to The Associated Press. Law enforcement are "investigating possible lightning strikes" in the Hite Cove area of the Sierra National Forest, along the South Fork of the Merced River, where Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and the family dog, Oski, were found dead, with no visible signs of trauma, on Aug. 17, the New York Times reports. Fatal lightning strikes are rare, but do occur; 17 Americans were killed by lightning last year alone. Indeed, Alan Wilson, a professor at the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University in Alabama, said that it's unusual for people to die from algal blooms. The couple were described by friends as experienced hikers. I-5 closed. Jonathan Gerrish, 45, Ellen Chung, 30, and their 1-year-old daughter Aurelia, also known as Miju as well as their family dog Oski were found dead Aug. 17 in the Devil's Gulch area of the south fork of the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said at the time. This trail is therefore very popular from February to April. However, temperatures reached a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the hike. Data extracted from the phone allowed investigators to re-create the familys path and timeline based on GPS locations, the Sheriffs Office said. "We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. That is why we're treating it as a hazmat situation. The family was found dead on the Savage Lundy Trail at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 with no cause of death immediately apparent. The photos corroborated the sheriffs office investigation. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. As Ive mentioned, the Gerrish Chung family have been our top priority as we dealt with this horrible event.. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, the area is reported to be where a family and their dog were found dead. Designated recreation sites, roads, and trails in proximity and/or leading to this location will be off-limits to the public. "These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick," says BLM field manager Elizabeth Meyer-Shields. The two reportedly wanted to raise Miju in a "quiet, slow-paced environment" surrounded by nature. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Investigations continued into late October 2021 as to what happened to the Gerrish family that day near Devils Gulch. Their baby sitter had found them gone when she showed up at their house that morning a Monday and had started contacting their friends to see if anybody knew their whereabouts. Gerrish was carrying a phone during the hike. Winds light and variable. The last stretch, on the Savage-Lundy Trail, is on a steep incline, rising from about 1,800 feet elevation to 3,900 feet in 3 miles. The trail begins off of Hwy 140 near Savages Trading Post in El Portal, and ends at Hite Cove. We've looked at storms the weather, animals. Water not far from the trail later tested positive for toxic algae including anatoxin-a, also known as Very Fast Death Factor (VFDF). Low 24F. A witness saw the family on theHites Cove trail on Aug. 15, where they embarked on a 2.2-mile walk to a U.S. Forest Service trail parallel to the south fork of the Merced River with an elevation of 1,930 feet. SFGate notes death by lightning strike is extremely rare, occurring in about 10% of cases. The family was three miles from a disused mine, where toxins including carbon monoxide can accumulate from decaying organic materials such as timber and the process of mineral oxidation. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Gregory Yee was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Mariposa County sheriffs investigators had already ruled out several potential causes: a gun or any other weapon, a lightning strike, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, cyanide, illegal drugs, alcohol or suicide. But algal mats, because they're clinging onto the rocks, wouldn't flow down the stream. "The Sierra National Forest (SNF) would like to inform those visitors who like to enjoy this area of the Merced River and SNF, not to swim, wade or allow their pets to enjoy the water," due to these mats, the agency warned. 05-15-51-21-18 is to provide for public safety due to unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy Trail, within the Bass Lake Ranger District. In its first update on the bizarre case in a week, Mariposa County Sheriff's Office revealed it had ruled out two causes of death but still had not found any answers. CBS San Francisco reports investigators said this week they were still unsure of what killed the family. The family also had a backpack with a Camelback bladder that held a small amount of water and this was sent for testing in case it was in some way contaminated. The news sheds light on a case that has confounded investigators and the public and raised new questions about outdoor recreational activities in an era of rising temperatures and climate fueled extreme weather. https://t.co/ynABqNFJCQ. Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced the results of several toxicology reports on Thursday none of which revealed what killed John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji, and family dog Oski. The sheriffs office mounted a search on August 17 and found the couples truck the next day at the Sierra National Forest gate. The Hite Cove trail is 3.6 miles long (7.2 miles roundtrip). The nearest known mine was over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away from the bodies; still, because that area had a community of mines, there could be some that we don't know about, Briese said. But there are no known human deaths connected to drinking or wading in such contaminated water, according to the California Department of Public Health. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Many remain stranded in San Bernardino Mountains as snow blocks roads, threatens roofs, Suspected shooter in attacks on Jewish men was on FBIs radar, LAPD chief says, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Despite being experienced hikers, the family had taken to the trail on a day where temperatures reached as high as 109 degrees; the route had little-to-no shade, having been stripped bare of foliage from a 2018 fire. Courtesy photo / Mariposa County Sheriff's Office . When their bodies were found Aug. 17, the only water supply with them was an 85-ounce water bladder. Speculation swirled around the case, both during the investigation and after their cause of death was revealed. While temperatures were high in the area the family were hiking (37C / 98.6F) at their highs, dehydration seemed unlikely, with the dog dying and the Camelback still containing water. The trail the family was hiking, the Savage Lundy Trail, snakes along the Merced River. On July 13, the Sierra National Forest posted a warning on their Facebook page about toxic algal mats in the Merced River near Hites Cove. If additional copies are needed in the . Gab Song, 73, of Torrance was found Thursday by a private citizen in the Lockwood Valley community in northeast Ventura County, officials said. Two deputies slept near the family that night to ensure that no one tampered with the scene and the bodies were airlifted off the trail the next morning by a CHP helicopter. Our office received an overwhelming number of tips, suggestions and investigative requests that were all reviewed and taken into consideration, the Sheriffs Office concluded in the release. We use cookies. Briese said that his deputies were working to support the victims devastated families. "I get more people calling me this time of year normally for pet or livestock deaths. The final image stored on the phone came at 12:25 p.m. a screenshot of their location from a smartphone trail application. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, California on August 18, 2021. The bodies were found on the Savage Lundy Trail near Hites Cove, an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. Certified copies of the Report of Death will be sent to the next-of-kin or legal representative and the original will be sent to the Department of State for permanent filing. Officials cited "unknown hazards" in the area as the reason for the closure. Plenty of sunshine. Craig Kohlruss/AP California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County said they were continuing to test waterways in the area for any toxic algae and cyanobacterial toxins. HITES COVE, Mariposa County Authorities are considering whether a dangerous algae bloom may have killed a young family whose bodies were found here on a hiking trail this week, and friends and . New York, At 8:40 a.m., additional teams began down the Savage Lundy Trail. Trail at Hite Cove - Discover Yosemite National Park Trail at Hite Cove Distance: 2-4 miles (3.2-6.4) roundtrip for wildflower viewing, 9 miles (14.5km) to Hite Cove Elevation: 1,500 ft (457m) Difficulty: Easy Time: 2-5 hours Begin at: Savage's Trading Post on Hwy 140 Get Directions overview amenities Hite Cove Trail In his October announcement, Briese said he hoped FBI analysts could glean more information from Gerrishs phone. A Mariposa County sheriffs deputy walks in a remote area near where a family and their dog were found dead Aug. 17. Jonathan Gerrish and his wife, Ellen Chung, knew they were in trouble. The deaths led the Bureau of Land Management to close campgrounds and recreation areas along 28 miles of the river, between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby, when water samples downstream from where the family died showed high levels of the toxic algae. This was once a mining community after the discovery of gold there in 1861, but it burnt down in 1924. On Thursday, Sheriff Jeremy Briese announced the results of an FBI analysis of the fathers cellphone that painted a clearer picture of the familys final hours. Hyperthermia is defined by the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment.. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. A few clouds. The release noted that there was only one 85-ounce a little over half of a gallon water bladder found with them, and no other water containers or filtration systems among them. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. At that point, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office confirmed the shocking news that the family died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration, while their 8-year-old dog Oski also suffered a heat-related death. We are confident in our findings, and our investigation supports the findings from the Pathologist / Coroners Office.. Investigators are hoping that autopsies and toxicology tests will ultimately reveal more about what happened in this tragic story. A Northern California family found mysteriously dead in August on a hiking trail in the Sierra most likely died from a combination of hyperthermia and dehydration, the local Sheriff who led the investigation said Thursday. Investigators believe they have finally determined what killed John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji, and their 8-year-old Akita mix, Oski. While algal blooms are not attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, such as on rocks. Family members of Gerrish and Chung released a statement included in the news release thanking the Sheriffs Office for the time and resources dedicated to the investigation into the deaths. A Northern California family who were found dead in a remote hiking area are believed to have been killed by hyperthermia and probable dehydration, the Mariposa County sheriff said Thursday. Courtesy photo / Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, Mariposa County Sheriffs Office provides details of probe into familys heat-related deaths while hiking, U.s. Department Of Health And Human Services, U.s. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Columbia will soon get an additional staffed fire engine, IRS extends federal tax deadline to Oct. 16 in Tuolumne, Calaveras counties, Consumer Health: 8 heart-healthy diet strategies. On savage lundy trail heading back to Hites cove trail. ", "You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area," he added. But by 10 AM, the search was over: all four bodies were discovered in the open on a trail near the Devil's Gulch area in the South Fork of the Merced River drainage. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Northern California family's mysterious deaths on hiking trail: The official cause Temperatures on Mariposa County route reached 109, sheriff said The remote canyon area northeast of the town. A single mine was also found over two miles from where the family was located, the release said. The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, and their one-year-old daughter Muji, as well as their pet golden retriever, were discovered on Tuesday morning near a hiking trail miles into the park. John and Ellen, together with their baby and dog, drove to the start of the trail in their Ford Raptor truck on the afternoon of Sunday, August 15. Some questions have been answered, and we will use the information as a way of helping us come to terms with the situation, the family members statement said. Gerrish and his wife, with their daughter in a backpack-style carrier, and the family dog all left on foot from the Hites Cove Trailhead and walked 2.2 miles down to the U.S. Forest Service Tail 20E01.4, where the elevation dipped to 1,930 feet and approximate temperature at the time they were walking was between 92 and 99 degrees, the release said. Please use trail ethic, and respect for this property. A leading theory, previously, was that exposure to water contaminated with toxic algae blooms may have been a major factor. There was no suicide note. In the statement read by a sheriff's deputy, family and friends said the deaths have caused "indescribable pain. In the future, when we sit beneath the trees listening to the wind soaring through the branches, we will hear them and we will remember. The trail is open year-round and is . The body of Oski the dog was also examined by veterinary experts at the University of California, Davis. 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