The mysterious death of a couple, their baby and their dog in a California forest has a suspect: toxic algae

Researchers are considering whether

toxic algal blooms or other unknown hazards may have led to the mysterious deaths

of a Northern California couple, their baby and their dog while hiking in a remote area.

The lifeless bodies were found Tuesday in the Sierra National Forest, an area that 

had been treated as a hazardous materials site

after concerns were raised about deaths related to potentially toxic gases from nearby old mines.

But the hazardous materials declaration was lifted Wednesday, and Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said he

didn't think mines were a factor

, the Fresno Bee reported Thursday.

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"This is a unique and very unusual situation,"

said Kristie Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

“There were no signs of trauma, no obvious cause of death.

There was no suicide note, "he added.

John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were found dead on a hiking trail near

Hite's Cove in the Sierra National Forest.

A family friend had reported her missing on Monday night.

Hard rock gold mining operations were carried out in the area around Hite's Cove in the mid-19th century.

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The bodies were transported to the Mariposa coroner's office for

autopsies and toxicology tests,

Mitchell said.

The State Water Resources Control Board said Thursday they were testing waterways in the area for possible toxic algal blooms.

A Mariposa County sheriff patrols a remote area northeast of the city of Mariposa, California, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, near the area where a family was found dead.

The pair were known to be avid hikers.

A friend, real estate agent Sidney Radanovich, said that Gerrish was a

San Francisco-based

software

designer

who, with his wife, “fell in love with the Mariposa area” and bought several houses there, a residence for themselves, and rental investments. .

“They were such a loving couple.

They loved each other very much,

”Radanovich told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"They loved showing the baby all kinds of things and explaining them to him."

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The remote area where the bodies were found

had no cell phone signal,

according to authorities. The hiking trail went through an area of ​​forest known particularly in spring for having spectacular displays of wild flowers.