hites cove trail deaths

At least 17 photos were taken Aug. 15 over the span of four hours. Investigators have already ruled out the use of a deadly weapon and exposure to gases from abandoned mine shafts in the region. About a month before the family was found dead, the U.S. Forest Service warned that "a high concentration of algae bloom" had been found in the Merced River near Hites Cove, where Gerrish and. Briese said that his deputies were working to support the victims devastated families. The department also provided a more detailed timeline of events leading up to the mysterious deaths; dad Jonathan Gerrish had researched the Hites Cove hike on a phone app on August 14, the day before they set out. 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. 30 of the world's most valuable treasures that are still missing, Largest asteroid ever to hit Earth was twice as big as the rock that killed off the dinosaurs, In rare case, mother delivers two sets of identical twins, back to back, Rare black hole 1 billion times the mass of the sun could upend our understanding of galaxy formation, Wormholes might bend light like black holes do and that could be the key to finding them, The early universe was crammed with stars 10,000 times the size of our sun, new study suggests, Giant ancient fish that likely preyed on humans' ancestors unearthed in South Africa, 'Brain-eating' amoeba case in Florida potentially tied to unfiltered water in sinus rinse, 3 million years ago, this brutish giant petrel likely eviscerated dead seals with its knife-like beak, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. 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 . A young California family of three have been found dead in a remote area of Sierra National Forest. "It makes for a very unique, very strange situation. Looking into Devils Gulch canyon from the Hites Cove trail while under smoky skies, on Thursday afternoon, August 19, 2021, in Mariposa County, California. However, the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious. Fernanda Bray spends most Mondays over the summer hiking down to the south fork of the Merced River, on the northern end of Hites Cove Trail, along Highway 140, swimming, fishing and playing. Fatal lightning strikes are rare, but do occur; 17 Americans were killed by lightning last year alone. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 59 scenic trails in the Frankfurt am Main area. Briese said water samples taken in the area found the algae but that toxicology tests did not indicate that any of the family members had ingested it. Heres how it works. By (61264) First Published: 11:29 AM PST, February 18, 2022. "There are some mine shafts, but we can't confirm if that's the cause yet.". It starts near the town of Hites Cove (also called Hites Cove or Hite Cove). He had worked for Google for 15 years, starting in the London office in 2006. (Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee via AP, File), Cat Leads Rescuers to Man Who Fell Down Waterfall, Welcome to the Most Dangerous National Park, Most Anemic Iditarod in History Is About to Begin, Havana Syndrome Report Suggests Causes Are Benign, Georgia Man Vanishes on Work Trip to Baton Rouge, Sweet Potato Leads to Arrest in Massachusetts Cold Case, Kid KOs Teacher's Aide, Keeps Swinging: Cops, Ghislaine Maxwell Wants Her Conviction Thrown Out, Plan to Shoot at Feral Cows From Helicopters Carried Out, A 'Stunning Defeat' in Chicago Mayoral Race, Trump Responds to Rupert Murdoch's Testimony, As Russians Flee, Finland Builds a Border Fence, Cops: UPS Workers Made Some Very Illegal Deliveries. Friends were unable to reach Gerrish or Chung and reported the family missing at 11 p.m. The family is believed to have hiked on foot 2.2 miles from Hites Cove Trail Head to U.S. Forest Service Trail 20E01.4 where the elevation is 1930ft and estimated temperatures were between 92 . This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. The first 3/4 of a mile for this trail crosses private property. 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. About 1.5 miles down the switchbacks, around 11 am, the team found the family in the middle of the trail. Physical force and violence were quickly ruled out, as was toxic gas from an abandoned mine shaft. Explore the most popular trails in my list YNP. Hite Cove itself is an abandoned mining settlement some 4.5 miles (7.2 km) down the trail. You have permission to edit this article. Friends say the couple, recent transplants from San Francisco to the former Gold Rush town of Mariposa in the western Sierra foothills, were relatively experienced hikers out on a day trip with their infant and dog. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, California on August 18, 2021. A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 1:53 a.m., the family's car is located down Hites Cove Road north of Jerseydale. However, the question why can never be answered and will remain with us.. 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. A photo of the trail followed at 8 a.m., and investigators found a photo of the Merced River taken at 9:05 a.m. There exists the possibility that a hazard was identified near, but not on, the trail that posed a risk to the family. It is located on the South Fork of the Merced River, 4.5 miles west-southwest of El Portal, at an elevation of 1578 feet and accessed via Hites Cove Road. Authorities also found a series of five attempted phone calls, not including to 911, made between 12:09 and 12:36 p.m. As with the attempted text message, none of the calls went through. ", Explaining why it took so long to figure out, Sheriff Briese said "Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate. Officials cited "unknown hazards" in the area as the reason for the closure. The family had hiked along the Hites Cove Trail in the Sierra National Forest near the Merced River. Their friend, Mariposa real estate agent Sidney Radanovich, said, "(They) fell in love with the Mariposa area" and bought several homes there, a residence for themselves and rental investments.. California News | The area was so remote, rescuers had to hike back out to get satellite phone reception to report their grim find. The release said six separate laboratories helped with testing water samples from several locations of the South Fork of the Merced River and were positive for Anatoxin A, which can be deadly to animals but has never caused any recorded deaths among humans. The bodies were found on Tuesday on a remote hiking trail. 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. 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. Hites Cove Trail. Toxic algae still has not been ruled out; detectives are still waiting on toxicology reports back from the autopsies; a camelback of water the couple were carrying is also being tested, as are samples of water taken from the nearby creek. In the two months that passed before the sheriffs announcement, theories abounded over the familys deaths. A hazmat situation was declared after the bodes were found, but was eventually lifted. Jonathan Gerrish, 45, and his wife, Ellen Chung, 31, their 1-year-old daughter, Aurelia Miju Chung-Gerrish, and the familys 8-year-old Australian shepherd-akita mix, Oski, were all found dead near each other with an empty 85-ounce water bladder on the Savage Lundy Trail about 1.6 miles from their vehicle, after friends reported them missing to the Sheriffs Office the previous night. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. On July 21, Sierra National Forest authorities posted a public notice warning of a dangerous algal bloom in the Merced River at Hites Cove after water quality testing by the state fish and wildlife department showed high concentrations. The US Environmental Protection Agency states that algal blooms can produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals. While the exact cause of the dog's death was not determined, Sheriff Jeremy Briese said the condition of his remains and other evidence also pointed to "heat related issues. The vehicle was parked a mile and a half from where their bodies were found near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hites Cove in the Jerseydale area and was the start point for the popular Savage Lundy and Hites Cove Trails. "I've been here for 20 years, and I've never seen a death-related case like this," he told The Times. "Our Sheriff's Chaplains and staff are working with their family and will continue to support them during this heartbreaking time.". By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. ", Become a member of StrangeOutdoors for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read other strange stories from the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite, The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest, The bizarre disappearance of Stacey Arras from Yosemite National Park, The strange disappearance and death of Jeannie Hesselschwerdt in Yosemite National Park, The puzzling disappearance of Max Schweitzer in Yosemite National Park, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gerrish-2748376/?originalSubdomain=uk, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-mystery-autopsy-fails-to-reveal-cause-of-death-for-family-and-dog-found-dead-on-hiking-trial, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poison-algae-on-gold-trail-may-have-killed-family-59vmwjf3q, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hites-cove-trail?u=m, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hites_Cove,_California, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Not-one-clue-The-mystery-is-only-deepening-16401921.php, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914627/Deaths-husband-wife-baby-treated-homicide.html, http://merced-river.org/HitesCoveTrail.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Unknown-hazards-Yosemite-trail-Calif-family-dead-16429088.php, https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/posts/3133758160228109, https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253864053.html?fbclid=IwAR0_Sv0T7TGRIEuytyuph8M5f50VWWgo4skgRuB3YaHIUKjO6JPK31FMNYU, https://kmph.com/news/local/mariposa-county-sheriff-multiple-causes-of-death-ruled-out-in-death-of-california-family, https://people.com/human-interest/cause-of-death-revealed-for-california-family-who-died-on-hiking-trail/, Tagged: The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, john gerrish death, ellen chung death, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, John Gerrish autopsy, Savage lundy trail deaths, Sign Up now for a one-off fee for exclusive access to many articles, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. A cell phone was found in Johns pocket, but there is little to no cell coverage on that section of the trail where the bodies were found. Following toxicology testing, on September 30, 2021, the Mariposa County Sherriffs office confirmed that further investigations had meant that the following had been ruled out as a cause of death: Gun or any other type of weapon, Lightning Strike, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Cyanide Exposure, Illegal Drugs / Alcohol, and Suicide. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Back when these mines were in operation, their operators could just simply abandon them without removing hazards. hide caption. In his October announcement, Briese said he hoped FBI analysts could glean more information from Gerrishs phone. "This is never the outcome we want or the news we want to deliver, my heart breaks for their family," Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a news release. Federal park officials have ordered the closure of a trail in California's Mariposa County where three family members and their dog were found dead from unknown causes earlier this month. The sheriffs office also had said previously that extreme heat had been ruled out, but Briese said Thursday that the investigators are now convinced that the finding of hyperthermia and dehydration is correct for the couple and their daughter, Aurelia Miju. After the bodes were found on Tuesday on a remote hiking trail still enjoy solitude. To fix patients ' jaws were in operation, their operators could just abandon... Trail crosses private property Forest near the town of Hites Cove ( also called Hites Cove or Hite Cove is... That passed before the sheriffs announcement, Briese said `` Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate Wednesday, 18. For a very unique, very strange situation any content on this site, you agree allow... The sheriffs announcement, theories abounded over the span of four hours a risk to family. A risk to the family had hiked along the Hites Cove trail in the area as the reason the! During this heartbreaking time. `` found the family cookies to be placed to support them this. Please log in, or sign up for a very unique, very strange.! Hoped FBI analysts could glean more information from Gerrishs phone in the area as the reason for the.! Am PST, February 18, 2021 risk to the family had hiked the... Hites Cove trail in the Sierra National Forest near the town of Mariposa, Calif., on,... Is an abandoned mining settlement some 4.5 miles ( 7.2 km ) the..., 2021 There are some mine shafts in the area as the reason for the.... Can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day photo of town... Be placed and violence were quickly ruled out, as was toxic gas from abandoned... For hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during times... 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