The mysterious death of a family found dead along a popular wildflower trail near Yosemite last month has had authorities puzzled. A new theory being floated by authorities is that lightning might be the culprit.
The bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter Muji, and their dog were found on August 17 in the Devil's Gulch area of the Merced River.
According to reporting by the New York Times, authorities are exploring whether lightning played a role in the family's demise., as lightning strikes were reported in the area that week.
Last week the Mariposa County Sheriff's office ruled out exposure to chemicals from a mine along the trail, as well as the use of a gun or other weapon. They are still investigating whether toxic algae bloom from the Merced River may have led to their demise.
Authorities recently closed 28 miles of the Merced River, including campgrounds and recreation sites, because they found toxic algae in the waterway.
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