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UPDATE Jonathan Gerrish, wife Ellen Chung, 1yo daughter Muji & the family dog found dead

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Deaths of husband, wife and baby are being treated as a homicide: Cops refocus investigation after initially treating the scene as a 'hazmat situation'​

  • Jonathan Gerrish, wife Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji and the family dog were found dead on Tuesday a day after being reported missing
  • Police are now investigating the deaths as a homicide after initially treating the scene as a hazmat scene until Wednesday
  • Authorities are awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology reports
  • The family were discovered Tuesday in Devil's Gulch, Sierra National Forest
  • Police were exploring the possibility that they were poisoned by algae or gasses from mines but could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity
  • Forest officials last month warned about 'extremely dangerous' algae blooms
Police in Mariposa County have announced that they are treating the mysterious deaths of a British software developer, his wife, their one-year-old toddler and the family dog who were found on a remote hiking trail in California as a homicide.

County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said: 'I've been here for 20 years, and I've never seen a death-related case like this.

'There's no obvious indicators of how it occurred.'

The bodies of Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung and their daughter Muji - along with their dog Oski - were discovered by search teams on Tuesday in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch.

Briese said there was no obvious cause of death and that he had not dealt with a case like this in his 20 years in the area.

'You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area,' the sheriff explained.

'So right now, we're treating the coroner investigation as a homicide until we can establish the cause.'

Jonathan Gerrish, his partner Ellen Chung and their one-year-old daughter were found dead along with their dog Oski near an area called Devil's Gulch in a remote part of Northern California on Tuesday

Jonathan Gerrish, his partner Ellen Chung and their one-year-old daughter were found dead along with their dog Oski near an area called Devil's Gulch in a remote part of Northern California on Tuesday

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese explained that he had never seen a case like this in 20 years, 'You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area'

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese explained that he had never seen a case like this in 20 years, 'You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area'

Social media shows the couple as very active often traveling to naturally beautiful destinations and enjoying the outdoors

Social media shows the couple as very active often traveling to naturally beautiful destinations and enjoying the outdoors

The area were the family's bodies were found was initially treated like a hazmat situation because of the strange circumstances

The area were the family's bodies were found was initially treated like a hazmat situation because of the strange circumstances

Officials lifted the areas hazmat restriction on Wednesday when they did not find any old gold mine shafts in the vicinity, which they had originally believed could have been emitting toxic gases that killed the family

Officials lifted the areas hazmat restriction on Wednesday when they did not find any old gold mine shafts in the vicinity, which they had originally believed could have been emitting toxic gases that killed the family

Briese said his office is treating the investigation like a homicide 'until we establish the cause'

Briese said his office is treating the investigation like a homicide 'until we establish the cause'

Officials were originally investigating whether poisonous algae killed the family who were found dead on a remote hiking trail near Hites Cove, a popular hiking destination, but lifted the hazmat declaration on Wednesday. The bodies of the deceased were airlifted out of the area that afternoon.

They first began looking into the toxic algal bloom from the Merced river as the cause for what overcame the family, along with possible escaping gas from abandoned gold mines.

But Briese said they could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity.

'We have not found any old mine shafts near the area,' he added. 'There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet.

Police are still waiting on the results of post-mortem examinations. Further toxicology reports could take up to six weeks. Autopsies and toxicology tests are planned for Thursday in Stanislaus County.

California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County are now re-testing the river water for cyanobacterial toxins, which can form in algal blooms.

Searchers began looking for the family after they were overdue on a day hike and reported missing on Monday. They were found on the Savage-Lundy hiking trail near Hites Cove, which was once a thriving mining community after gold was discovered in 1861.

The couple were last heard from early on Sunday when they uploaded a photo of a backpack

The couple were last heard from early on Sunday when they uploaded a photo of a backpack

The family had recently celebrated their daughter Aurelia Miju's first birthday on August 8

The family had recently celebrated their daughter Aurelia Miju's first birthday on August 8

Last month, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove


Last month, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove

This map shows the remote are in Mariposa County, California, where the bodies were discovered on Tuesday

This map shows the remote are in Mariposa County, California, where the bodies were discovered on Tuesday

The family's dog was found dead along with its owners by search teams

The family's dog was found dead along with its owners by search teams

On July 13, Sierra National Forest officials posted a warning about 'high concentrations' of algae which can produce 'extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals' in the water in the Merced River at Hites Cove.

A listing on the water board's online map of harmful algal blooms warned: 'Water Boards recommends a CAUTION due to illness report. Sample results are pending.'

Briese told The Times: 'There are those different options that are out there - mineshafts and offgassing potential and we're learning more with our partners in the Forest Service and public health on the toxicity of the algae blooms that they're posting about.'

'It's frustrating and we're not going to rest... it's devastating to everyone,' he told the Modesto Bee paper.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF ALGAE BLOOMS?​

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are an ancient class of organisms that create the blooms are present nearly everywhere water is found, but thrive in warm, still bodies like lakes and ponds.

It includes species which produce some of the most powerful toxins known to man, and their impact on humans is only partially understood.

The incidence of freshwater harmful algal blooms (FHABs) has surged in recent years, with some scientists attributing the increase to climate change.


What are the health risks?

Algae is capable of producing several different toxins. People may be exposed to these toxins through contact with the skin (e.g. when swimming), through inhalation (e.g. when motor boating or water skiing), or by swallowing contaminated water.

These toxins can cause skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, fever and headaches.

Occasionally, the toxins can cause more serious illness such as liver and brain damage.

Children are at greater risk than adults of developing problems because of their comparative lower body weight.

The California Department of Public Health says it does not know of any human deaths from 'recreational or drinking water exposure to cyanobacterial toxin' although some animals have been killed by algae.

How can the health risks be minimised?

Not all blue-green algae blooms and scums are toxic but it is not possible to tell from appearance and so it's best to assume they are harmful and take the following precautions:
  • Do not swim in the water
  • Do not swallow the water
  • Avoid contact with the algae
  • Do not eat fish caught from the water
  • Observe and abide by any warning notices positioned around the water
Anyone who has come into contact with water containing algae should shower with fresh water immediately.

Anyone who has come into contact with affected water and has become ill should obtain medical attention.



The state map listing for the location north of Jerseydale, around where the family was found dead this week, warns people to 'stay away from algae and scum in the water.'

'Do NOT let pets go in the water, drink the water, or eat scum on the shore,' the warning continues. 'Keep children away from algae. Do not eat shellfish from this waterbody.'

The California Department of Public Health said it did not know of any human deaths from 'recreational or drinking water exposure to cyanobacterial toxin' although some animals have been killed by algae.

State waterboard spokesman Blair Robertson said officials hoped to have the results of the water tests by the weekend.

He added: 'Our staff is conducting testing of the waterways near where the bodies were located and will make the lab results available to the public as soon as we get them.

'Autopsies were to be conducted earlier today and we await those findings. Our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.'

Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat, had previously worked for Google. He is originally from Lancashire, England and graduated from Newcastle University.

Speaking from his home in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, his father Peter, 70, said: 'The family are just in shock - heartbroken.'

When asked whether he had received any further updates or was in contact with US authorities, the grandfather added: 'We haven't heard anything more.'

Chung is originally from Orange, California. She was earning her Masters in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies after having graduated from University of California, Berkley in 2012. She was a sister of Alpha Chi Omega. Chung practiced yoga and taught Hatha and Prenatal yoga classes, according to her Instagram.

The couple were very active and often spent time outdoors or traveling.

Kristie Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office has said investigators are still working to determine the cause of their deaths and 'looking at all possibilities.'

'It could be a carbon monoxide situation,' which is why the department had been treating the scene as a hazmat situation she explained.

'There are several abandoned mines up in the area and in an abundance of caution or recovery team is taking precautions for any poisonous gases, particles in the area,' Mitchell added. 'So far, there has been no measurable poisons registered.'

Mitchell also did not rule out possible exposure to toxic algae. She noted that the bodies of the deceased showed no signs of trauma, and no suicide note was found.

'It is a very bizarre situation,' she said.

According to a Reuters article published in 2013, two gold and silver miners died in Colorado after being exposed to fatal levels of carbon monoxide, and 19 others fell ill.

Dr Mike Nelson, professor of mining engineering at University of Utah, had cast doubt on the theory that carbon monoxide emissions from an old gold mine were possibly to blame for the deaths from the beginning.

Gerrish, a native of England, had worked as a software engineer at Google

Chung was from Orange, California, but was of Korean descent

Gerrish, a native of England, had worked as a software engineer at Google. Chung was from Orange, California, but was of Korean descent


During a phone interview with the DailyMail.com on Wednesday, Nelson explained that gold mines are not known to produce carbon monoxide, and even if the gas were present, it would have gone up into the air.

He also noted that the family were found outdoors and not in an enclosed space where exposure to carbon monoxide could be lethal.

A friend reported the family missing at 11pm on Monday evening after Gerrish and Chung failed to show up for work that day, reported Fox 26 News.

Gerrish and Chung were last heard from early Sunday, when they uploaded a photo of a backpack. Rosanna Heaslett, the family friend, said they hiked on weekends.

The family's gray Ford Raptor was located near the Sierra National Forest gate early Tuesday. The bodies of the couple, their daughter and pet dog were found 1.5 miles away from the vehicle between 9.30am and 10am.

Briese described the family as 'very family oriented' and said that 'They're smart, they know hiking and what type of gear you need or don't need for the amount of time you're out there, and it appears it was a day hike.'

'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,' said Briese.

The sheriff's office is investigating the deaths along with the California Department of Justice.

The remote area where the bodies were found had no cellphone service, Mitchell said. It was close to the Hite Cove trail, known particularly in springtime to have spectacular wildflower displays.

The area is normally populated by pines, many of which were destroyed by the 2018 Ferguson Fire.

 

Champagne44

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Very sad to hear. Hope it was just a tragic accident and nothing sinister

Never trust a man who likes the Great Outdoors. There is a reason we all live inside.
 

hopeful1

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I'll be interested to hear the autopsy and toxicology results. When they were talking about the algae, that didn't make sense to me. It appears that they were into the outdoors, so it seemed like they would be aware and wary of that. Have a safe weekend, everyone.
 

PrettyBoyFlizzy

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So they're calling it homicide just until they can figure it out, not because they have any suspects or motive.

I would like to see how the bodies were lying - not the actual bodies but maybe a diagram because that would help too. If it was a murder then one or both would have been in flight mode, maybe running away (so a distance away) or crawling away after being hurt. Where was the baby lying, was the mom/dad holding? Where was the dog? So many questions.

It's like something out of The X Files. If it was fumes or gas seems like it would have been present when the rescuers arrived. They would have taken their own water so I doubt they all drank lake water.

And I feel like a hitman or murderer would not have killed the dog/baby, they would have made it look like an accident or fall and left the dog alive.
 

Moschino 123

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So the toxicology and autopsy reports are not done yet? I think it might be a murder-suicide, and the dog and baby were mercy killings.
 

wrenbaker

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This is so sad and bizarre!

I consider myself somewhat of an urban explorer, and I love to wander and inspect all kinds of places like abandoned and old buildings and sites, bridges, railroad tracks, woods, streams, etc. This has really made me think about all of the hidden dangers, especially carbon monoxide.
 

Freja

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Deaths of Brit Google engineer, wife, baby and dog during California hike are now NOT being treated as murder: Mystery as police say autopsy failed to reveal answers and it will be WEEKS until they get toxicology results​

  • Jonathan Gerrish, wife Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji and the family dog were found dead on Tuesday a day after being reported missing
  • Authorities are awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology reports
  • The family were discovered Tuesday in Devil's Gulch, Sierra National Forest
  • Police were exploring the possibility that they were poisoned by algae or gasses from mines but could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity
  • Forest officials last month warned about 'extremely dangerous' algae blooms
The mysterious deaths of a British Google engineer and his family on a hiking trail were not a case of homicide, police say.

The bodies of Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung and their daughter Muji - along with their dog Oski - were found by search teams on Tuesday in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch.

Officials had been looking into whether poisonous algae killed the family but lifted the hazmat declaration on Wednesday. The bodies of the family were airlifted out of the area that afternoon.

The Marisopa County Sheriff's Office is now ruling out homicide in the hiking trail deaths, Fox News reports. Spokeswoman Kristie Mitchell said: 'Initially, yes, when we come across a family with no apparent cause of death, there's no smoking gun, there's no suicide note, there's nothing like that, we have to consider all options.

'Now that we're five days in, no, we're no longer considering homicide as a cause of death.'
Mr Gerrish, originally from Lancashire, had been a software developer for Snapchat and previously worked for Google.

Police had earlier announced that they were treating the mysterious deaths of the British software developer, his wife, their one-year-old toddler and the family dog as a homicide.

County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said: 'I've been here for 20 years, and I've never seen a death-related case like this.

'There's no obvious indicators of how it occurred.'

Briese said there was no obvious cause of death and that he had not dealt with a case like this in his 20 years in the area.

'You have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appears to be a healthy canine all within a general same area,' the sheriff explained.

'So right now, we're treating the coroner investigation as a homicide until we can establish the cause.'

Officials first began looking into the toxic algal bloom from the Merced river as the cause for what overcame the family, along with possible escaping gas from abandoned gold mines.

But Briese said they could not find any disused shafts in the vicinity.

'We have not found any old mine shafts near the area,' he added. 'There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet.

Police are still waiting on the results of post-mortem examinations. Further toxicology reports could take up to six weeks. Autopsies and toxicology tests are planned for Thursday in Stanislaus County.

California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County are now re-testing the river water for cyanobacterial toxins, which can form in algal blooms.

 

PrettyBoyFlizzy

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This is truly some X-files alien kinda ish. Not even kidding. Thinking, if it was some kind of fumes or gas, they would have been throwing up (most likely); poisons make the body lose control so there might have been evidence of that around them or in their clothing. Unlikely that they'd all succumb at the same time, one of them might have been unconscious, remember this was only about 24 hours. What are the odds of all 3 of them, plus the dog, all inhaling the same amount of toxin and dying within that short block of time? It had to be some kind of BLANKET of chemical that literally smothered them until death; OR a vacuum of some sort that literally sucked all of the oxygen out of the area, until death.

I'm curious about other life around them - insects? Small animals? Did they find like rabbits and squirrels dead too?
 

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Investigators are probing phones belonging to a family found dead during a California hike in the hopes of finding a final recording that could solve the riddle of their deaths.

Jeremy Briese, sheriff of Mariposa County, told The Times of London he was hoping the phones would reveal whether Jonathan Gerrish, 45, or his wife, Ellen Chung, 31, made any phone calls or recorded any messages before their deaths.

'We've searched from the air and foot and all over looking for anything that may give us a clue to what occurred,' Briese said. 'Basically it's baffling and we've got to work through the different scenarios looking for answers.'

There were no signs of foul play and no traumatic injuries indicated at the scene, where Briese said, Miju was 'in a backpack carrier near the dad, but not on the dad,' and Chung was found about 30 yards away.

Their dog, Oksi, lay close to the baby.

The Marisopa County Sheriff's Office is now ruling out homicide in the hiking trail deaths, Fox News reports. Spokeswoman Kristie Mitchell said: 'Initially, yes, when we come across a family with no apparent cause of death, there's no smoking gun, there's no suicide note, there's nothing like that, we have to consider all options.

'Now that we're five days in, no, we're no longer considering homicide as a cause of death.'

They are now looking into other possible causes, including carbon monoxide poisoning, rattlesnake bites - although there would likely have been evidence on their bodies, and heat strokes.

National Park authorities said on Saturday that heat stroke caused the death of a hiker in Death Valley on Wednesday when it was 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit.


 

Freja

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California hiking trails and campgrounds close to where British software developer, wife, baby and dog were mysteriously found dead are closed due to 'unknown hazards'​

  • Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards'
  • Closures are in and around area where Jonathan Gerrish, wife Ellen Chung, their baby daughter, Muji, and their dog were found dead in August
  • Investigators still do not know have the family died and are awaiting toxicology results
  • Signs warning public of toxic algae blooms have been in the area since July
Federal officials closed trails and campgrounds in Sierra National Forest, citing the presence of 'unknown hazards', near the area where a British software developer and his family, including a dog, were found dead under mysterious circumstances last month.

'As a precaution and to protect the public from unknown hazards in the area, The SNF decided to close several recreation sites, roads, and trails along the Merced River and its South Fork, until deemed safe for public use,' the Sierra National Forest (SNF) announced in a press release on Saturday.

Officials revealed that the closures of more than a dozen picnic areas, campgrounds and forest trails, effective from August 29 through September 29, are due to 'unknown hazards found in and around the Savage Lundy Trail.'

The Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards'

The Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards'



47371465-9947059-image-m-11_1630501318813.jpg


Forest officials closed recreational areas effective August 29 through September 26

Forest officials closed recreational areas effective August 29 through September 26



The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.5 miles from their parked truck

The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.5 miles from their parked truck

47373049-9947059-image-a-22_1630501921971.jpg

There have been signs posted in the area since mid-July warning the public of toxic algae blooms

 

Freja

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High levels of toxic algae are discovered downstream from where bodies of Snapchat engineer, his wife, baby and dog were found dead: Wildlife officials close 28-mile stretch of California river after tests found toxins​

  • A 28-mile stretch of the River Merced in California was closed Friday after water samples revealed the presence of the algae
  • The closure will affect campgrounds and hiking trails between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby
  • Has raised speculation British engineer Jonathan Gerrish, his wife Ellen Chung their dog and one year-old daughter Muji may have been killed by the bloom
  • They were discovered dead along the trial in August. Investigators say they weren't killed with a weapon or by mine gas, with toxicology reports pending
  • Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards' on Tuesday
Toxic algae that can cause 'extreme sickness' has been found in a California river downstream from where a family were mysteriously discovered dead.

A 28 mile stretch of the Merced River, between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby, was closed Friday after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received the results of water sample tests.

The blooms were discovered around 12 miles downstream from where Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, their one year-old daughter Muji and the family's dog were discovered dead on August 17.

That means hiking trails and campgrounds along the stretch are no longer open to the public, three weeks after the British Snapchat engineer and his family died.

Mystery continues to surround what caused the family's deaths, although investigators have so-far confirmed that they weren't killed by gases from a nearby mine, or with weapons such as a gun.

Friday's closure has further raised suspicions that the family have been fatally-poisoned from drinking water, although officials are still waiting to receive toxicology reports.

BLM spokesperson Elizabeth Meyer-Shields said of the algae discovery: 'These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick.

'We will continue to monitor for the algae’s presence and look forward to when the public can safely recreate in the Merced River.'

She spoke three days after federal officials closed trails and campgrounds in California's Sierra National Forest, citing the presence of 'unknown hazards', near the area where the family died.

'As a precaution and to protect the public from unknown hazards in the area, The SNF decided to close several recreation sites, roads, and trails along the Merced River and its South Fork, until deemed safe for public use,' the Sierra National Forest (SNF) announced in a press release on Saturday.

Officials revealed that the closures of more than a dozen picnic areas, campgrounds and forest trails, effective from August 29 through September 29, are due to 'unknown hazards found in and around the Savage Lundy Trail.'

Authorities are still awaiting toxicology reports and cell phone data before making any determination on how the family died.

Additional testing is also being performed by the CDC and Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment on water samples taken from the area and the drinking water the family had with them at the time of their deaths.

'We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of Detectives are working round the clock,' Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement last week. '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.'

Investigators revealed for the first time that Gerrish was researching the Hites Cove hike on a phone app the day before the family set off.

 

TDOT20

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It's weird they would drink that water, anf give it to their baby , didn't they have their own,?
 

Freja

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A lightning strike is now being investigated as a possible culprit in the deaths of a California family and their dog, whose bodies were found on a remote hiking trail last month.

Snapchat engineer Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife, Ellen Chung, their one year-old daughter, Muji and the family's dog, Oski, were discovered dead in Sierra National Forest on August 17.

Based on autopsy results, investigators have confirmed that they were not killed by gases from a nearby mine, or with weapons such as a gun or a knife, giving rise to a theory that the family died after coming in contact with toxic algae.

After water samples from the nearby Merced River tested positive for toxic algae, authorities on Friday closed 28 miles of the waterway between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby.

While awaiting the family's toxicology results, officials have now turned their attention to a lightening strike as a possible cause of death, according to a recent New York Times article.

According to the National Weather Service, 'lightning is primarily an injury to the nervous system, often with brain injury and nerve injury. Serious burns seldom occur.'

The bodies of the deceased showed no visible signs of trauma, as authorities previously reported.

Only about 10 per cent of lightning strikes result in death, often due to cardiac arrest.

Lightning kills an average of 49 people each year in the US and hundreds more are injured.

Mystery continues to surround what caused the California family's deaths.

 

gagirl01

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A lightning strike is now being investigated as a possible culprit in the deaths of a California family and their dog, whose bodies were found on a remote hiking trail last month.

Snapchat engineer Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife, Ellen Chung, their one year-old daughter, Muji and the family's dog, Oski, were discovered dead in Sierra National Forest on August 17.

Based on autopsy results, investigators have confirmed that they were not killed by gases from a nearby mine, or with weapons such as a gun or a knife, giving rise to a theory that the family died after coming in contact with toxic algae.

After water samples from the nearby Merced River tested positive for toxic algae, authorities on Friday closed 28 miles of the waterway between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby.

While awaiting the family's toxicology results, officials have now turned their attention to a lightening strike as a possible cause of death, according to a recent New York Times article.

According to the National Weather Service, 'lightning is primarily an injury to the nervous system, often with brain injury and nerve injury. Serious burns seldom occur.'

The bodies of the deceased showed no visible signs of trauma, as authorities previously reported.

Only about 10 per cent of lightning strikes result in death, often due to cardiac arrest.

Lightning kills an average of 49 people each year in the US and hundreds more are injured.

Mystery continues to surround what caused the California family's deaths.

This is plausible. It makes more sense than the toxic algae theory.
 

EchoLake

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To the people saying the algae stuff is weird, no it's not if you know outdoors people like this. Mushroom foraging is big right now and generally just picking stuff off the ground in the wilderness and eating it. A lot of people who do it don't have a formal knowledge, just books and stuff off the internet.

I can definitely see how they came into contact with something toxic already known in the area without knowing, touched it and then touched the baby and dog in the course of traveling. Seems like a freak accident but I wonder if climate change is making these areas more potent, along with the fires on the west coast, etc.
 

PrettyBoyFlizzy

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I don't buy the lightening story at ALL.
Me either. It said the baby was in the backpack but not attached to either the mother or father. Did the lightning strike all 4 at once? How would the lightning kill each of them? Seems like only one might take the brunt of the strike and the others might be injured.
To the people saying the algae stuff is weird, no it's not if you know outdoors people like this. Mushroom foraging is big right now and generally just picking stuff off the ground in the wilderness and eating it. A lot of people who do it don't have a formal knowledge, just books and stuff off the internet.

I can definitely see how they came into contact with something toxic already known in the area without knowing, touched it and then touched the baby and dog in the course of traveling. Seems like a freak accident but I wonder if climate change is making these areas more potent, along with the fires on the west coast, etc.
It's just weird that if it's algae then how would they all die at the same time? They would each ingest or touch it at presumably different times, so wouldn't they have died at different times? I would think the dog would have been wandering around or the baby still alive but weak and sick. If it's that toxic that you can't breathe or touch it, then that area should have been closed off to the public!
 

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I think murder-suicide, especially with the dog being dead. If this is the case, I find it particularly cruel that he didn't hold the baby in her final moments.

You never know what's really going on with people. Looking at the couple, they seemed into adventure, I bet the baby changed things for them, additionally was she him with just for the money, 15 year age difference is quite interesting. Did she want to leave and he didn't want her getting his money? I agree with the font that said there was probably some cultural differences at play too.

If it's not then it has to be something ingested or they breathed in something toxic.
 
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Freja

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Snapchat engineer, his wife, baby and dog were NOT killed by lightning on California hiking trail, say cops as they await 'key' toxicology results in mystery deaths​

  • More than six weeks later, authorities still don't know what killed Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter Muji and their dog on hiking trail
  • Sheriff's office has ruled out gun or any other type of weapon; lightning strike; carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; cyanide; drugs/alcohol, and suicide
  • Few 'key' toxicology results are still pending, but there is no timeline for them
  • Family of three and pet were found dead in Sierra National Forest on August 17
  • A 28-mile stretch of the River Merced in California was closed in early September after water samples revealed the presence of toxic algae
Authorities in California have ruled out a freak lightning strike and cyanide exposure as possible causes of death of a British Snapchat engineer and his family, but more than six weeks later they appear to be no closer to finding out what killed the young parents, their baby daughter and pet dog on a remote hiking trail.

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in an emailed statement on Thursday that many toxicology reports have been completed as part of the ongoing investigation into the August 17 deaths of Jonathan Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, daughter Muji and their family dog, but a few 'key' results were still pending.

Briese did not specify the exact nature of the outstanding toxicology results and said he does not know when they would come in.

Based on evidence recovered at the scene in Sierra National Forest, or through the investigation, the sheriff's office so far has ruled out more than a half-dozen potential causes of death, including gun or any other type of weapon; lightning strike; carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; cyanide; illegal drugs or alcohol, and suicide.

RULED OUT CAUSES OF DEATH:​

  • Gun or any other type of weapon
  • Lightning Strike
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Cyanide Exposure
  • Illegal Drugs / Alcohol
  • Suicide

'We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case,' Briese stated. 'Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time. As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public.'

Sheriff's detectives are said to be working closely with a toxicologist, an environmental specialist and the FBI to determine what happened to the family.

Toxic algae blooms were discovered around 12 miles downstream from where Gerrish and his family were discovered dead, prompting the Bureau of Land Management earlier this month to close hiking trails and campgrounds along a stretch of the Merced River to the public.

After water samples from the river tested positive for toxic algae, authorities closed 28 miles of the waterway between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby.

 

Writerdie18

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Looks like they all died of heat exposure...the fuh?

Article​

"A family of three found dead on a Northern California hiking trail in August died of heat exposure and possible dehydration, the local sheriff’s office revealed Thursday.

“Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate,” Mariposa County sheriff Jeremy Briese said at a press conference, citing an official cause of death of hyperthermia.

The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, and their 1-year-old daughter Muji were found mid-August on the Savage Lundy Trail, a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Their dog Oksi was lying next to them, also dead.

The family had been hiking on a trail where temperatures were sky-high, between 107 and 109 degrees, Briese said Thursday. There was little shade due to an earlier fire in the area. Sheriff’s deputies only found one empty water container with the family.

Initially, officials were unable to discern a cause of death and approached the family’s bodies wearing Hazmat suits. Speculation ran rampant, and the sheriff’s office ruled out multiple possible causes of death in the intervening months.

The bodies showed no wounds or trauma, and even autopsies did not give immediate clues as to the cause. Officials expressed public frustration in the weeks after the discovery. In September, officials closed the trail where the family was found for “unknown hazards” but reopened it soon after."

How bizarre!
 

TDOT20

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Looks like they all died of heat exposure...the fuh?

Article​

"A family of three found dead on a Northern California hiking trail in August died of heat exposure and possible dehydration, the local sheriff’s office revealed Thursday.

“Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate,” Mariposa County sheriff Jeremy Briese said at a press conference, citing an official cause of death of hyperthermia.

The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, and their 1-year-old daughter Muji were found mid-August on the Savage Lundy Trail, a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Their dog Oksi was lying next to them, also dead.

The family had been hiking on a trail where temperatures were sky-high, between 107 and 109 degrees, Briese said Thursday. There was little shade due to an earlier fire in the area. Sheriff’s deputies only found one empty water container with the family.

Initially, officials were unable to discern a cause of death and approached the family’s bodies wearing Hazmat suits. Speculation ran rampant, and the sheriff’s office ruled out multiple possible causes of death in the intervening months.

The bodies showed no wounds or trauma, and even autopsies did not give immediate clues as to the cause. Officials expressed public frustration in the weeks after the discovery. In September, officials closed the trail where the family was found for “unknown hazards” but reopened it soon after."

How bizarre!
The dog too? Very bizarre
 

violette1984

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Looks like they all died of heat exposure...the fuh?

Article​

"A family of three found dead on a Northern California hiking trail in August died of heat exposure and possible dehydration, the local sheriff’s office revealed Thursday.

“Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate,” Mariposa County sheriff Jeremy Briese said at a press conference, citing an official cause of death of hyperthermia.

The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, and their 1-year-old daughter Muji were found mid-August on the Savage Lundy Trail, a remote area of Sierra National Forest. Their dog Oksi was lying next to them, also dead.

The family had been hiking on a trail where temperatures were sky-high, between 107 and 109 degrees, Briese said Thursday. There was little shade due to an earlier fire in the area. Sheriff’s deputies only found one empty water container with the family.

Initially, officials were unable to discern a cause of death and approached the family’s bodies wearing Hazmat suits. Speculation ran rampant, and the sheriff’s office ruled out multiple possible causes of death in the intervening months.

The bodies showed no wounds or trauma, and even autopsies did not give immediate clues as to the cause. Officials expressed public frustration in the weeks after the discovery. In September, officials closed the trail where the family was found for “unknown hazards” but reopened it soon after."

How bizarre!
Hiking with a baby and a dog in almost 110 degree heat with no water?

Make it make sense.
 

Incokneegrow

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This conclusion is crazy af. Did they die at the same time? Were they sleep? Were they delirious?

I didnt realize the wife was 30 yards away. I wonder if she was trying to get help but was too late
 

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Snapchat engineer, his wife and baby found dead on a remote California hiking trail were killed by hyperthermia and dehydration due to 100 degree heat​

  • John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were found dead on a remote hiking trail in California
  • On Thursday their cause of death was given as hyperthermia and probable dehydration
  • The temperatures were 99-103 degrees on August 17, when they were found dead
  • They were found with one empty 85oz bladder for water with them, and no other water containers or filtration systems
  • Water nearby was confirmed to contain the naturally occurring toxin Anatoxin-A, which can be fatal to animals - but there was no evidence the family ingested it
  • Their death had mystified police who quickly ruled out a number of causes of death including extreme heat, a lightning strike, and carbon monoxide
A California sheriff has revealed a British Snapchat engineer, his wife and daughter died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration while on a hike - ending a mystery that had puzzled people for months.

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese held a news conference on Thursday to discuss the mysterious deaths of John Gerrish, 45; his wife, Ellen Chung, 30; their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog.

The Northern California family went hiking on a remote trail close to the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, where they were found dead August 17 after a family friend reported them missing.

The family were found 1.6 miles from their vehicle in temperatures of up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

There was one 85 ounce Camelbak bladder for water with them, which was empty. There were no other water containers with them, Briese said.
'The loss of the family is pain beyond words,' said the family in a statement.

'When that pain is compacted by lack of knowledge about their death, the questions of where, why, when and how fill the void, day and night.'

They thanked the sheriff's office for having 'truly gone the extra mile' in trying to find answers.

'Some questions have been answered, and we will use this to help us come to terms with this.

'They will remain with us wherever we go, or whatever we do.

'In the future when we sit beneath the trees, hearing the wind soar beneath the branches, we will think of them and we will remember.'

Jeremy Briese of Mariposa County Sheriff's Office held a press conference on Thursday to reveal the cause of death of the family, after months of speculation

Jeremy Briese of Mariposa County Sheriff's Office held a press conference on Thursday to reveal the cause of death of the family, after months of speculation


Briese showed footage (right) of the 'rugged terrain' where the family were found

Briese showed footage (right) of the 'rugged terrain' where the family were found

The Northern California family went hiking on a remote trail close to the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, where they were found dead August 17

The Northern California family went hiking on a remote trail close to the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, where they were found dead August 17

The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.6 miles from their parked truck

The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.6 miles from their parked truck


Briese said that dehydration can cause dizziness and ultimately death.

Hyperthermia is abnormally high body temperature caused by the failure of heat-regulating mechanisms.

The cause of death of the family's dog was undetermined, but i is believed the dog was also suffering from heat-related issues.

'Our message to the hiking community is please take into account aquifers as well as geographics,' he said.

Gerrish and Chung's death has mystified investigators for months

Gerrish and Chung's death has mystified investigators for months

He said they did not have water filtration equipment with them.

'Prepare appropriately. The community is resilient, the community is safe, but this is an unfortunate and tragic event due to the weather.'

The couple were described by friends as experienced hikers, but as relative newcomers to the area.

Briese suggested they may not have been aware how quickly temperatures could rise in the terrain.

When they began hiking, he said, the temperature was in the mid-70s; when they had gone barely two miles, it was already above 90.

Mariposa County Sheriff's investigators have worked with toxicologists, environmental specialists, the FBI and other experts.

They had already already ruled out the causes being related to a gun or any other weapon, a lightning strike, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, cyanide exposure, illegal drugs, alcohol or suicide.

Briese said there were 'no apparent causes of death' when the family was found.

He said the area was known to have mines, and police were concerned about possible environmental hazards.

An initial theory was that they could have been poisoned by toxic material in the water.

Toxic algae blooms were discovered around 12 miles downstream from where Gerrish and his family were discovered dead, prompting the Bureau of Land Management earlier this month to close hiking trails and campgrounds along a stretch of the Merced River to the public.

After water samples from the river tested positive for toxic algae, authorities closed 28 miles of the waterway between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby.

Briese said on Thursday that they used six separate laboratories to test the water.

'The water was confirmed positive for Anatoxin-A', said Briese.

Anatoxin-A isa naturally occurring toxin from blue-green algae, also known as Very Fast Death Factor (VFDF).

'There was no evidence that the family ingested the toxin,' he said.

John Gerrish, 45, and his wife, Ellen Chung, 30, were said to be experienced hikers, but new to the area

John Gerrish, 45, and his wife, Ellen Chung, 30, were said to be experienced hikers, but new to the area

The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.6 miles from their parked truck

The bodies of the family of three and their pet were found on the Savage Lundy Trail, 1.6 miles from their parked truck


The Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards'

The Sierra National Forest in California closed more than a dozen trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, citing 'unknown hazards'

At around 7.45am on August 15, a witness saw Gerrish and Chung heading to the Savage Lundy Trail in their truck.

Two days later, the parents, their one-year-old daughter and their dog, Oski, were discovered by on the trail by search and rescue teams.

Investigators previously revealed that Gerrish was researching the Hites Cove hike on a phone app the day before the family set off on their doomed journey.

Detectives believe they managed most of a challenging 8.5-mile loop, which included five miles along a steep slope with little shade as temperatures reached 109 degrees, before they died on the hiking trail, about 1.6 miles away from their truck, which was parked at the Hites Cove trailhead.

A missing person's report was made at 11pm on August 16 and a Mariposa County sheriff's deputy discovered their truck at the end of Hites Cove Road at the trailhead around three hours later.

Search teams were deployed on the steep trails and the family were found along the switchbacks leading back to their trucks at 11am on August 17.

Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat and had previously worked for Google. He graduated from Newcastle University

His American wife, Ellen Chung, was studying psychology and the couple were very active


Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat and had previously worked for Google. He graduated from Newcastle University. His American wife, Ellen Chung, was studying psychology and the couple were very active
There were few clues for detectives at the scene and no signs of foul play, such as trauma, the police said.

No significant evidence was found in searches of the family home and vehicles, the sheriff's office said.

Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat and had previously worked for Google. He graduated from Newcastle University.

His American wife was studying psychology and the couple were very active and often spent time outdoors or traveling.
 

Femmepetal

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I've always been afraid of taking remote hiking trails, I stick to the popular ones. Poor baby, shouldn't have even been there.
 

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