Investigations do not stop to determine what caused the death of a family found on a hiking trail in California.
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office provided more information on Thursday, noting the cause of deaths that have been ruled out by detectives.
According to officials, the death of the family was not caused either by lightning strike, gun or any weapon, illegal drugs or alcohol, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or cyanide exposure. Suicide has also been ruled out.
To move closer to the solution of the case, detectives are doing the work with an environmental specialist, toxicologist, as well as the FBI.
Investigators have gathered water samples last month in the place where Jonathan Gerrish, 45; his wife, Ellen Chung, 30; their kid, Aurelia Miju, 1; and their family dog were found dead.
While the outcome of the tests has not been released yet, officials are still considering the probability of poisonous toxins in water as well as toxic algae bloom.
Several toxicology reports were already returned, the sheriff’s office said, but it is not time yet to reveal its contents.
A number of “key results” are yet to be received, officials added, while no timeline is given on the reports’ availability, ABC7 reported.
“We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish/Chung family during this tragic time. As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public,” said Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese in a press release.
