One step nearer to closure… and but it looks like we’re much more at midnight.

The Mariposa County Sheriff has formally dominated out two extra causes of dying within the mysterious case of the Gerrish household. But it surely’s clear that is as a lot a thriller as ever.

In case you haven’t been maintaining with the case, John Gerrish, his spouse Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter Aurelia Miju, and even their golden retriever Oski had been all discovered lifeless — and to date nobody has the faintest clue why.

The household of three, who had just lately moved to Mariposa County from San Francisco in the course of the pandemic, had been reported lacking the Monday earlier than final after not displaying as much as work. It grew to become clear the final time anybody had heard from them was earlier than they went on a household hike, a daily enterprise for the outdoor-loving couple.

Associated: Florida Man Who Survived Most cancers Killed In Surprising Freak Kitesurfing Accident

A search led to their automobile on the gate of the Sierra Nationwide Forest. Finally they had been discovered on a path to Hite Cove, close to Satan’s Gulch. They had been all lifeless. No markings, no violence. Simply lifeless.

Numerous theories have been thrown out, together with carbon monoxide from deserted gold mines, however to this point every little thing has been debunked.

On Friday, the Sheriff’s workplace launched an announcement to Individuals with the most recent replace. Whereas no explanation for dying has been decided, two had been conclusively crossed off the listing.

First, they’ve formally dominated out use of a gun or different lethal weapon. That, sadly, was fairly apparent from the preliminary examination by first responders. In reality, it was the whole lack of bodily trauma that initially induced investigators to declare the world a hazmat scene for the primary few days.

Second, and this can be a large one, they’ve dominated out any publicity to chemical compounds they might have come into contact with on the path. That doesn’t appear to use to the potential presence of poisonous algae, nonetheless a risk contemplating warnings in areas north of the place the our bodies had been found. We do know the state water board is investigating, however beforehand a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned full toxicology studies might take as much as six weeks.

Sheriff Jeremy Briese assured the outlet that not at all are they shrugging their shoulders and giving up right here:

“We all know the household and associates of John and Ellen are determined for solutions, our workforce of detectives are working around the clock.”

He defined:

“Instances like this require us to be methodical and thorough whereas additionally reaching out to each useful resource we are able to discover to assist us convey these solutions to them as rapidly as we are able to.”

He confirmed toxicology labs had been testing the our bodies of each the people and their canine. He concluded:

“As of the date of this replace explanation for dying stays a query. Detectives proceed conducting interviews and investigating all potential attainable explanations for the dying of the Gerrish/Chung household.”

In the meantime the household’s family members in addition to those that recurrently hike within the space are left scared and confused.

We’ll hold you updated on this disturbing case because it progresses.

[Image via Ellen Chung/Instagram.]