It was supposed to be a nice excursion into nature, but John G. * († 45), his wife Ellen C. * († 31) and their daughter Miju († 1) never returned from their hike.
The family was killed while touring the Sierra National Forest, California, in August. The Akita mix Oski († 8), the family dog, did not survive either. Their bodies were found after the family’s nanny reported the couple missing.
John G. was discovered lifeless in a sitting position with the one-year-old, next to the Akita mix. His wife was a little further away on a hill. No visible wounds, no evidence of crime. The sudden death puzzled investigators. An autopsy did not produce a clear result.
Now the investigators are certain: The family died of heat death. Specifically: hyperthermia and dehydration. The police announced on Thursday, as reported by several US media. The area where the family was traveling had temperatures of up to 42 degrees at the time of the hike.
“We are all devastated”
Such a death is extremely rare. “This is the first time in my 20 years with the police,” said the police spokesman at the press conference.
The family had only recently moved. John G. had previously worked as a software engineer at Google. The couple decided to leave the big city after the birth of their daughter in order to spend more time in nature. And John G. found a new job.
Now the family was torn from life. The grief is great. «We are all devastated. They were a very generous and loving couple, ”a friend is quoted as saying in the US media.
Area around the river has been closed
For a long time, the investigators had puzzled over the sudden death of the family. Initially, blue-green algae were suspected. There is a river near where the family’s lifeless bodies were found. In September, a section of the river was closed because of the poisonous algae. Blue-green algae form in stagnant water when there is enough phosphorus and the sun warms the water.
The heat forms bacteria that contain the poison anatoxin. And in the worst case, this can lead to respiratory failure. In the course of the investigation, the area around the river was therefore closed for almost a month.
Suspected gases from abandoned mines
But the poison-algae theory was rejected again. The authorities examined the family’s water bottles. No toxins were found, only clean drinking water. Further possibilities were then examined. Gas escapes from old, abandoned mines were also suspected. So far, however, no such poisons have been found.
John G.’s cell phone was also examined. He had it with him, but apparently couldn’t get any help. There is hardly any reception in the area. Investigators searched the phone for any clues or calls that might shed light on the death. Without success. (Jmh)