John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and daughter Muji.Photo: Rosanna Heaslett
A Michigan man has been rescued from the same trail where the Gerrish family died last year after he visited the area to investigate the family’s death, according to officials.
The unidentified man, described as being in his mid 60s, was reported missing near the Hites Cove and Savage Lundy trails in late June while looking into the family’s deaths, according to anews releasefrom the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.
John Gerrish, Ellen Chung and their 1-year-old daughter Miju were mysteriouslyfound deadwith their dog along the hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest in August 2021. The MSCO previously said the family died ofhyperthermia and probable dehydration.
However, Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in Saturday’s release that the Michigan man believed the Gerrish’s deaths were “odd” and was attempting to research the case on his own.
The missing man was eventually found on the Hites Cove Road portion of the trail, and was treated for dehydration and blisters to his feet, said a frustrated Briese.
“To have someone purposely put themselves in danger, using vital resources and potentially putting the safety of our staff in danger all to try and prove us wrong is maddening and quite frankly sickening,” the sheriff explained in the release.
John Gerrish, Ellen Chung.Courtesy Steven Jeffe
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The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center was alerted to the Michigan man’s disappearance on June 29, according to Saturday’s release.
Rescuers located two one-gallon water containers with the man, who claimed he was forced to drink water from the river area and had to stay overnight at the base of Hites Cove trail, authorities said.
The man, who ventured out during “some of the hottest days” the area has seen this year, was “wearing sweatpants” when he was found, the release stated.
While the man “was happy to be rescued,” Briese said “he immediately started to complain that he was forced to spend the night at the bottom of Hites Cove trail because he was unable to find the trail that leads to the Savage Lundy portion.”
The man was also concerned about the water he drank and “wanted to know if there had been updated algae testing,” authorities said.
After being treated for his blisters and dehydration, the man “left the area in his rental car against medical advice,” Briese said.
The sheriff said he is “proud of my team for their professionalism and for bringing this man back to [a] safe location,” but criticized the man for his actions.
“The forest is the forest. It can be beautiful, dangerous, awe inspiring and treacherous all at the same time,” Briese said, per Saturday’s release. “The wonders of Mother Nature must be respected, it isn’t Disneyland.”
source: people.com
