08/20/2021 5:44 PM
Clarín.com
Dresses
Updated 08/20/2021 5:44 PM
"
This is a very unusual, unique situation
," said the police of
Mariposa
County
, California. They refer to the mysterious case of a
family
and their dog: they went for a walk in nature and two days later they were
found dead in all
in the area,
with no clear indication
of what happened Investigators determine
possible causes
.
British
John Gerrish
-residía in the country-, his wife
Ellen Chung
, his daughter
Miju
of
one year
and his pet were found dead Tuesday August 17 at a hiking trail near Hite Cove in the Sierra National Forest
.
"
There is
no evidence
of trauma,
no obvious cause
of death.
Neither a suicide note
, '' said the spokesman for the Department of native police,
Kristie Mitchell.
On site, known for its spectacular views of wildflowers,
there was mobile phone service
.
Mascot.
The dog was also found dead.
Photo: Capture / Via CBS.
At first, it was speculated that the deaths were related to
potentially toxic gases
from
nearby
old mines
.
Therefore, the authorities decided to declare this area a "hazardous materials zone".
However, on August 18, that statement was
dropped
.
For his part, Police Chief
Jeremy Briese
told the
Fresno Bee
newspaper
that he
did not believe
that the mines
were a factor
that caused the deaths.
Toxic algae, a possibility
Zone.
A local police officer near the place where the bodies of the family and the dog were found.
Photo: Craig Kohlruss / The Fresno Bee via AP.
Researchers are examining whether
toxic algal blooms
or other hazards could have led to everyone's deaths.
However, Briese said in this regard: "
We are not sure
."
On July 13, the United States Forest Service warned on its Facebook account about the
presence of these algae
in the
Merced River
, at the height of the trail where the bodies were located.
"The Sierra National Forest (SNF) wishes to inform visitors who like to enjoy this area of the Merced River and the SNF, that
they should not go in, swim or allow their pets to enjoy the water
. This is due to algae toxic that have been formed and are present ", they indicated at that time.
It is unknown if the family entered the river.
Warning.
The publication made by the Forest Service.
Photo: US Forest Service - Sierra National Forest.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on its website that exposure to these algae can cause "stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea general symptoms, such as headache, irritation of the skin, eyes, nose or throat neurological symptoms (eg, muscle weakness, dizziness) ".
The bodies were taken to the Mariposa coroner's office for
autopsies
and
toxicology
tests
, Mitchell said.
"They loved each other very much"
According to local media reports, the family went for a walk on Sunday, August 15 and planned to return home that same day.
A friend of theirs reported her missing on Monday afternoon.
Gerrish was a software designer.
He and his wife Chung "fell in love with the Mariposa region," said their friend
Sidney Radanovich
, and bought several houses there: a residence for themselves and other properties to rent.
Marriage.
Gerrish and Chung were fascinated by hiking.
Photo: Steven Jeffe / Via People Magazine.
Radanovich proclaimed that the couple were
fascinated
by hiking. "
They were so loving. They loved each other very much
," the woman told the
San Francisco Chronicle
. "He loved showing his baby all kinds of things and explaining them to her."
"I've been here for 20 years and
I've never seen a death case like this,
" Police Chief Briese said in conversation with
Fresno Bee
.
On the other hand, he reported that they are providing psychological assistance to relatives.
With information from AP