Investigators say gas and weapons weren't used to kill family found dead on California hiking trail
Investigators have ruled out exposure to mine shaft gasses and use of weapons in the mysterious deaths of a British software developer and his family on a remote California hiking trail.
Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji and their dog Oski, were found by search teams on August 17 in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil’s Gulch.
Cops said the bodies showed no sign of trauma and no suicide note was found.
Toxic algae has not yet been ruled out and samples have been taken for testing from the Merced River and Snyder Creek, as well as containers the family were carrying.
Authorities are still awaiting toxicology reports and cell phone data before making any determination on how the family died.
In its first update for almost a week, Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office gave new details about the timeline, indicating that they family were spotted by a witness heading to the trail on the morning of August 15.
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 soared over 100f, before they succumbed on their return to their truck.
Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Muji (pictured) and their dog Oski, were found by search teams on August 17 in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil’s Gulch
The couple were last heard from early on Sunday when they uploaded a photo of a backpack. Pictured: Jonathan with baby Muji
‘We know the family and friends of John and Ellen are desperate for answers, our team of detectives are working round the clock,’ Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
‘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.’
The family’s dog Oski was found dead along with its owners by search teams
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.
At around 7.45am on August 15, a witness saw the family heading to the trail in their truck.
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.
There were few clues for detectives at the scene and no signs of foul play, the police said.
Samples of water from the river, creek and from a bladder-line backpack remain in the lab pending results.
Further tests were being carried out with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
No significant evidence was found in searches of the family home and vehicles, the sheriff’s office said.
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.
Gerrish was a software developer for Snapchat, 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.
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 area in Mariposa County, California, where the bodies were discovered on Tuesday
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.’
Officials had previously considered the possibility of gas escaping from abandoned gold mines.
But the sheriff 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.’
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.
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.
Searchers began looking for the family on Monday after they were reported missing by friends when they did not report to work
The area were the family’s bodies were found was initially treated like a hazmat situation because of the strange circumstances
Signs were posted on the trail warning hikers 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
The bodies were located near the Hite Cove trail, known particularly in springtime to have spectacular wildflower displays
However 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.
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 investigations remain ongoing and toxicology reports could take up to five weeks to come back.
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.
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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