A California Family Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances. Toxic Algae May Be To Blame

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A helicopter hovers over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday. According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, the area is reported to be where a family and their dog were found dead on a hiking trail on Tuesday. Investigators are considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to their deaths.

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Craig Kohlruss/AP

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Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese gives an update on the investigation into the deaths of three family members, a Northern California couple and their baby, and the family dog in California’s Sierra National Forest.

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Craig Kohlruss/AP

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese gives an update on the investigation into the deaths of three family members, a Northern California couple and their baby, and the family dog in California’s Sierra National Forest.

Craig Kohlruss/AP

John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were all found dead on a hiking trail near Hite’s Cove in the Sierra National Forest. A family friend had reported them missing Monday evening.

The area around Hite’s Cove was the site of a hard rock gold mining operation in the mid-19th century.

The bodies were transported to the coroner’s office in Mariposa for autopsies and toxicology exams, Mitchell said.

The State Water Resources Control Board said Thursday it was testing waterways in the area for any toxic algae blooms.

The couple were known to be avid hikers. Their friend, Mariposa real estate agent Sidney Radanovich, said Gerrish was a San Francisco-based 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.

«They were such a loving couple. They loved each other quite a bit,» Radanovich told the San Francisco Chronicle. «He loved showing the baby all sorts of things and explaining them to her.»

The sheriff’s office was investigating the deaths along with the California Department of Justice.

Sheriff Jeremy Briese said chaplains and staff were counseling family members.

«My heart breaks for their family,» he said.

The remote area where the bodies were found had no cellphone service, Mitchell said. The hiking trail ran through an area of forest known particularly in springtime to have spectacular wildflower displays.