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An initial autopsy has revealed little clue as to the mystery of what happened to a California family found dead on a hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest south of Yosemite.
John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and their 1-year-old daughter Miju – along with their family dog - were found dead in the Devil’s Gulch area at the southern branch of the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. . Response agencies treated the scene as a dangerous situation due to their uncertainty as to the cause of death.
The Mariposa County Coroner’s Office could only rule out acute trauma, such as stabbing, gunshot wounds or blunt trauma. Toxicological results are expected in two to three weeks. An autopsy is also underway on the dog.
Investigators said the deaths did not appear to be intentional and found no suicide notes or any signs of premeditation.
Deputy Kristie Mitchell told media it could be a “carbon monoxide situation” or maybe gas leaking out of an old mine. The Fresno Bee also reported that “exposure to toxic algae” could have been a possibility of their death. Last month, the Forest Service warned on Facebook that people should avoid drinking or swimming in the Merced River due to the presence of toxic algae; Unhealthy algae blooms are not uncommon during warmer months in Californian bodies of water.
An isolated canyon area northeast of the town of Mariposa, seen on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, is believed to be the area where a family and their dog were found dead on Tuesday, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said.
Craig Kohlruss / Associated press“It’s just a tragic and frustrating case for us,” Mitchell told CNN. “It will probably be a long and tedious investigation.”
The family moved to Mariposa from San Francisco during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gerrish was given the opportunity to work remotely for good, the Bee reported. Gerrish was a software engineer at Snapchat; Chung was in graduate school to become a family and marriage therapist. The two wanted to raise Miju in a “quiet, slow-paced environment” surrounded by nature, in a setting different from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco.
Before moving to Mariposa, both were avid concerts and festival goers; social media posts from 2017 show Gerrish and Chung performing with large groups of friends.
The Sunday family hike was meant to be just a day hike, which caused concern to several family friends when they did not return home.
A helicopter flies over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., Wednesday, August 18, 2021. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, the area is believed to be where a family and their dog were found. dead on Tuesday.
Craig Kohlruss / Associated pressSteven Jeffe, a family friend, used the phrase “weird and strange” to describe the deaths of his friends.
“We’re all just devastated,” Jeffe told the Bee. “They were really loved by people. A super generous, sweet and loving couple who were devoted to their daughter. “
The California Department of Justice and Sheriff’s Office workers are investigating their deaths. Their deaths are treated as a hazardous materials inquest and the coroner.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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