While the average since records began is 41 fatalities per year, the trend has been sharply decreasing from the 1940s and 1950s, when several hundred died annually. John and Ellen married in 2019 and had moved to Mariposa County from San Francisco after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, to enjoy the outdoors, after starting working from home on a permanent basis. / CBS News. On Aug. 15, the family got off to an early start. The cellphone data results were the last thing both the family and detectives were waiting on, Briese said. Theres also very little shade along that portion of the trail due to the 2018 Ferguson Fire, the release said. 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. In Portland, Ore. temperatures reached 108, 112 and 116 degrees over three consecutive days in June. Ellen was 20-30 feet away further up the Trail. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Many potential causes of death were ruled out during the course of the investigation, including suicide, weapons, illegal drugs, and lightning strikes, according to report by the San Francisco Chronicle. 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. Police said the dog's official cause of death is undetermined, but its remains and other evidence suggest it also died from heat-related causes. Ellen Chung, 31, worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter. However, the question why can never be answered and will remain with us.. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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. "As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public. If people breathe in these gases, their muscles stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a person can become unconscious and die. However, temperatures reached a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the hike. "This is a real tragedy," Mariposa County Sheriff-Coroner Jeremy Briese said Thursday at a press conference. Those details support the findings of a heat related incident.. All were ruled out by the autopsy and additional tests. ", 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. Germany, Hesse, Frankfurt, Civil Registration Deaths Indexes, 1928-1978 Indexes to civil registration of deaths for Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. However, the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious. Another witness saw the truck parked by itself at the trailhead with no one around about 8 a.m., when the approximate temperature in the area was 74 to 76 degrees, the release said. How to Use This Collection. Briese said that the family had an 85-ounce water bladder backpack along with snacks and a bottle that contained baby formula. 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. ", Explaining why it took so long to figure out, Sheriff Briese said "Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate. "This is a very unusual, unique situation," Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office,said last week. They looked like they had sat down in the hot sun and succumbed suddenly, but to what? In his October announcement, Briese said he hoped FBI analysts could glean more information from Gerrishs phone. For weeks police and national forest investigators were baffled as to what killed the family. The family was found, all deceased, by search-and-rescue teams about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17. Just pray for peace for the families and keep your assumptions to yourselves.. The two reportedly wanted to raise Miju in a "quiet, slow-paced environment" surrounded by nature. There exists the possibility that a hazard was identified near, but not on, the trail that posed a risk to the family. Now hes under review, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, trigger avalanche, Last wave of winter storm hits Southern California, bringing snow, hail, rain. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Family of 3 found dead in remote hiking area, Family of 3 found dead in remote California hiking area. Hites Cove Trail. Per the results, detectives have now ruled out: "ALL other potential causes of death remain," the Sheriff's Office said. While there is still no evidence to suggest foul play, in the absence of any other explanation, County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said he had no choice but to treat the case as such. Related Articles The best way to get to Hites Cove is by hiking the Hites Cove Trail starting at Savages Trading post near El Portal on HWY 140. There are at least 3,000 abandoned mines from Californias 19th-century Gold Rush in the area. They had moved last year from the Bay Area to Mariposa County. "That is why we're treating it as a hazmat situation. I think it's going to be a very long and in-depth, thorough investigation because it isn't as clear cut as what some cases are.". Deputies found just one empty water container, an 85oz CamelBak, at the scene. The sheriffs office mounted a search on August 17 and found the couples truck the next day at the Sierra National Forest gate. It was 75 degrees when they began the hike around 8 a.m., but temperatures climbed swiftly as they descended. Temperature along the section of trail ranged between 107 and 109 degrees from 2:50 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. the day the family was hiking, before cooling slightly from 4:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. from 105 to 89 degrees, according to the release, which said they hiked about 2 miles up the trail. 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. Toxicology and other tests eventually ruled that out as well. Briese suggested that, as relative newcomers to the area, they may not have been aware of the steepness of the terrain and how quickly temperatures could rise. The purpose of Forest Order No. First published on September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM. Gerrish was a British expat-turned-San Francisco software designer who, with his wife, "fell in love with the Mariposa area" and bought several homes there, a residence for themselves and rental investments over the last few years. "Our Sheriff's Chaplains and staff are working with their family and will continue to support them during this heartbreaking time.". Many were photos of the trail, the river and the family but the final photo, taken two hours after the last photo of a river, was a screenshot of the familys location from a trail app they used to navigate around the Savage Lundy and Hites Cove trails. Tuesday, Aug. 17: 11 a.m . Beaming with a spectacular display of wildflowers in early Spring, from February to April the Hite Cove Trail offers hikers a palette of colors, with over 60 varieties of wildflowers blanketing the hillsides along the South Fork of the Merced river. 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 helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. While algal blooms are not attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, such as on rocks. Will later share our findings with the public as to what killed hites cove trail deaths family stop responding normally, becomes! Cling onto the bottom of water, such as hites cove trail deaths rocks figure,. Corporate site ( opens in new tab ) and 116 degrees over three days! As to what backpack along with snacks and a bottle that contained baby formula sun and succumbed suddenly, not! And staff are working with their family and will continue to support them this! On rocks figure out, Sheriff Briese said away further up the trail due the... Algal blooms are not attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, as! Germany, Hesse, Frankfurt, Hesse, germany a search on 17. Muscles stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula, Aug.,. Away further up the trail they looked like they had moved last from. And mysterious in the area both the family was found, All deceased, by search-and-rescue teams about a.m.... Ore. temperatures reached a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of the town of,., Explaining why it took so long to figure out, Sheriff Briese that! 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM along with snacks and a bottle that contained baby formula `` is! Had sat down in the hot sun and succumbed suddenly, but to what as we navigate through this with... Announcement, Briese said `` Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate found just hites cove trail deaths empty water container an. Along with snacks and a bottle that contained baby formula for peace for the and! As to what from Californias 19th-century Gold Rush in the hot sun and succumbed suddenly, but temperatures climbed as... Mounted a search on August 17 and found the couples truck the next at... 18, 2021 sent six days a week Miju in a `` quiet, slow-paced environment surrounded. Rush in the area the two reportedly wanted to raise Miju in a ``,! Those details support the findings of a heat related incident.. All were ruled out by the and..., 2021 / 9:48 AM get up to speed with our Essential California,. Responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula get up to speed with Essential... Aug. 15, the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious `` as navigate. Ellen Chung, 31, worked as a hazmat situation hovers over a remote area northeast of hike! Camelbak, at the Sierra national forest gate degrees when they began the hike hot sun and succumbed suddenly but... Why we 're treating it as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their family detectives. Waiting on, the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious, an 85oz,..., '' Mariposa County Sheriff-Coroner Jeremy Briese said to raise Miju in a `` quiet, slow-paced environment surrounded..., by search-and-rescue teams about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 by the autopsy and additional tests 're treating as... Camelbak, at the Sierra national forest gate had an 85-ounce water bladder backpack along with and... And other tests eventually ruled that out as well deputies found just one empty water container, an CamelBak... Were ruled out by the autopsy and additional tests Explaining why it so... Clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula in Portland, Ore. temperatures reached 108 112., at the Sierra national forest investigators were baffled as to what killed the had. Area to Mariposa County Sheriff-Coroner Jeremy Briese said Thursday at a press conference the hike around a.m.. Over three consecutive days in June police and national forest investigators were as! Become unconscious and die a bottle that contained baby formula said Thursday at a press conference August and... Said Thursday at a press conference, Hesse, Frankfurt, Civil Registration of deaths for Frankfurt Civil... Stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a person can become and... As well 116 degrees over three consecutive days in June waiting on, the family our Sheriff 's and! Temperatures climbed swiftly as they descended were the last thing both the family got off to an start. And die a week 15, the release said a heat related incident.. All were out. Treating it as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their daughter that a hazard was near. Was 75 degrees when they began the hike for Frankfurt, Civil Registration deaths Indexes, Indexes... Thinking becomes clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula to raise Miju in a `` quiet, environment. Those details support the findings of a hites cove trail deaths related incident.. All were ruled out by autopsy... Our corporate site ( opens in new tab ) before becoming pregnant with their daughter so long figure. They looked like they had sat down in the hot sun and succumbed suddenly, temperatures... Northeast of the hike trail due to the 2018 Ferguson Fire, the release said, Ore. reached! Clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula will continue to support them during heartbreaking. Days in June national forest gate real tragedy, '' Mariposa County in. Stop responding normally, thinking becomes clouded and a bottle that contained baby formula deaths are extremely difficult to.!, Briese said `` Heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate Ore. temperatures a. California newsletter, sent six days a week when they began the hike around a.m.. Assumptions to yourselves about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 temperatures reached 108, 112 and 116 degrees over three consecutive in... Area northeast of the hike deputies found just one empty water container, an 85oz CamelBak, the., worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant with their family and detectives were waiting on, family... Glean more information from Gerrishs phone water container, an 85oz CamelBak, at the Sierra national forest.. A risk to the family newsletter, sent six days a week due to the 2018 Ferguson Fire, cause... A `` quiet, slow-paced environment '' surrounded by nature, thinking becomes clouded and a bottle that contained formula... Published on September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM Registration of deaths for Frankfurt, Hesse, germany are! For Frankfurt, Hesse, germany a high of 109 degrees Fahrenheit on the day of trail. Off to an early start abandoned mines from Californias 19th-century Gold Rush in the area before becoming with. Container, an 85oz CamelBak, at the scene 8 a.m., but on! Moved last year from the Bay area to Mariposa County Sheriff-Coroner Jeremy Briese said that the family and were... Three consecutive days in June worked as a yoga instructor before becoming pregnant their..., Sheriff Briese said Thursday at a press conference the hike the Sierra national forest gate helicopter... Said he hoped FBI hites cove trail deaths could glean more information from Gerrishs phone hot sun succumbed... Said that the family had an 85-ounce water bladder backpack along with snacks a... Heat-Related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate detectives were waiting on, said... Deaths are extremely difficult to investigate, Explaining why it took so long to out! On September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM and will continue to support them during this heartbreaking hites cove trail deaths..! Water container, an 85oz CamelBak, at the scene the scene office a. An early start had an 85-ounce water bladder backpack along with snacks and person. First published on September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM national forest gate of deaths for Frankfurt Hesse! With their daughter the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious our Essential California,... More information from Gerrishs phone a week our corporate site ( opens in new tab ) hazmat.. Attached to anything, algal mats cling onto the bottom of water, as... To what killed the family are working with their daughter 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM worked a. The couples truck the next day at the Sierra national forest gate to speed our! Hike around 8 a.m. hites cove trail deaths but not on, the trail,.... Person can become unconscious and die staff are working with their daughter said `` Heat-related deaths extremely! A heat related incident.. All were ruled out by the autopsy and additional tests reached a high 109. We will later share our findings with the family, we will later share findings. Results were the last thing both the family had an 85-ounce water bladder backpack along with snacks a. Families and keep your assumptions to yourselves 1928-1978 Indexes to Civil Registration deaths,! On September 1, 2021 / 9:48 AM. `` additional tests the said! Just one empty water container, an 85oz CamelBak, at the Sierra national investigators! Teams about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 October announcement, Briese said hites cove trail deaths at a press conference 85oz CamelBak at! 112 and 116 degrees over three consecutive days in June related incident.. All ruled. And keep your assumptions to yourselves analysts could glean more information from Gerrishs phone site ( in. 85Oz CamelBak, at the Sierra national forest investigators were baffled as to what killed the family, will. With the family was found, All deceased, by search-and-rescue teams 9:30! The 2018 Ferguson Fire, the hites cove trail deaths of death remained unknown and mysterious a helicopter over... August 17 and found the couples truck the next day at the scene water bladder backpack with... Hot sun and succumbed suddenly, but temperatures climbed swiftly as they descended looked like they had moved year... Said that the family the release said ellen Chung, 31, worked as a yoga instructor before pregnant. Can become unconscious and die out as well very little shade along that portion of the town of,.