The widow of a cave explorer whose body remains trapped inside Utah's Nutty Putty Cave has been targeted by trolls on social media for remarrying.
In 2009, tragedy struck when John Edward Jones - a 26-year-old medical student and avid adventurer - embarked on an ill-fated expedition into Utah's Nutty Putty Cave.
His wife, Emily Jones Sanchez, was left widowed with their daughter Lizzie and an unborn son, John. While she has moved forward with her life, she continues to face online torment from internet trolls who question her actions after her husband's untimely death.
John's cave exploration on November 24, 2009, was intended to be an exciting adventure with his brother, but it turned into a nightmare. He chose to explore a tight passage in the Nutty Putty Cave known as the Birth Canal. Despite his many years experience as a cave explorer, John tragically became stuck - upsidedown - in the cave.
Over 25 hours into his ordeal, he started to lose consciousness. A doctor finally reached him but pronounced him dead of cardiac arrest and suffocation on November 25.
The cave was eventually sealed off, leaving his body entombed within. Nutty Putty Cave later became a memorial to honor the memory of the medical student and young father. This harrowing incident - which has been described by media as "the worst death imaginable" - has left John's body entombed in the cave for over a decade.
Emily, faced with the immense loss of her husband, continued with her life, giving birth to their second child, John, and eventually remarrying and having another child. However, the grief process has been complicated by online abuse from strangers who question her choices.
According to the Daily Mail, negative comments on her Facebook posts have included statements like, "John was better!" and unwelcome intrusions into her personal life, such as: "RIP John if I was your wife I would have never moved on so soon and would be sharing your story and life, and posting about you."
Another user intrusively wrote: 'Just wondering, when you die and go to heaven, who will you be with? It breaks my heart how easily people focus on happiness in this earthly life instead of holding on and wait to be re-united."
Despite the hurtful comments, many Facebook users have defended Emily and empathized with her loss. One user noted that John might have "sent someone" to help her through her grief and highlighted the importance of empathy and support during difficult times.
In an interview with Deseret News, Emily emphasized that John remains a cherished part of their family's life, even after her remarriage to Donovan Sanchez. She explained that Donovan has always been comfortable discussing John and is committed to helping their children remember their father.
"It's never been hard to talk about John," she said, adding: "It’s never been hard to remember John. Ever since the very beginning, ever since I first met Donovan, he's been really comfortable with John continuing to be a part of our family and our lives, especially because of our kids."
She went on to say that Donovan was keen to stay in touch with the Jones family, saying: "He just knows that the kids need to remember their dad so he's good about wanting to stay in touch with the Joneses and he loves the Joneses."
Back in 2016, Emily also spoke out about the movie The Last Descent, which tells the story of John's heartbreaking final days. She wrote: "It feels like years since I've updated my Facebook status, but I feel the need to say something. I was going to avoid posting anything about the movie coming out in September because I feel a little sheepish about all the attention. But I do want to express my gratitude to Isaac Halasima, Alexis Johnson, Chadwick Hopson, and many others for dedicating so much of themselves to making a beautiful tribute to John.
"While the movie is a hard one to watch, I hope those of you who choose to see it come away inspired to live and love better. I also want to thank all those who were involved in the rescue effort. You are all heroes to our family.
"And finally, I am forever grateful for my amazing, supportive husband, Donovan, who makes me grateful for life every single day."
