The bodies of a couple, their baby girl, and their dog, who went on a hike in central California, were discovered dead by mountain scouts. Officials are still investigating the cause of their deaths.
On Tuesday, John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and their 1-year old daughter, Miju, as well as the dog of the family, were found dead in an area known as the Devil's Gulch. Their car was also found by search teams near the Sierra National Forest gate.
Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese stated that "This is not the outcome we want or news we want to deliver. My heart breaks for their families." "Our Sheriffs Chaplains, staff and volunteers are supporting their family during this difficult time.
According to the sheriff, officials are treating the scene like a hazmat investigation and coroner investigation since they don't know the cause of the death.
It could be a situation involving carbon monoxide. Kristie Mitchell, spokesperson for the sheriff's department, stated that this is one reason why we considered it a hazmat case.
Mitchell stated that there were no injuries or trauma on the bodies.
She said, "We don't rule anything out at the moment."
The sheriff's office didn't immediately respond to emails or calls.
