It is believed that two parents died "trying to save their child" after the three family members and their pet dog succumbs to extreme heat while on a hiking trip.
As reported by the New York Post, Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, were found dead back in august alongside their one-year-old daughter, Miji, and 8-year-old dog, Oski, after venturing out for a hike on a Northern California hiking trail in the remote Sierra National Forest.
An investigation into their deaths found that the family succumbed to extreme 109-degree heat, leading to them to be struck down with hyperthermia and dehydration.
And in an update to the tragic story, investigators now believe the couple was attempting to seek medical attention for baby Miju.
In a 77-page report obtained by The San Francisco Chronicle, officials ruled out many other causes of death - including murder, poisoning, illegal substances, suicide, and lightning strikes.
The Chronicle details how a survivalist expert explained in an email to detectives that the parents most likely panicked after brutal temperatures led to their child developing symptoms first.
The trainer stated that they believed the family was "caught off guard" and after realizing the gravity of their situation, the parents "died trying to save their child and each other."
He went on to describe the heat, terrain, and elevation as a "deadly trifecta" for the family.
"It is likely the child began to succumb first, which hurried the parents’ efforts up the hill," he wrote in his email to detectives. "When one could no longer continue, they stayed behind to care for the child and pet, while the other tried to forge on and get help for their loved ones.
"It is a tragedy of the highest order."
The three family members and their dog were found dead on August 17 - two days after they ventured out on their trek and roughly 1.6 miles from the trailhead of the Savage Lundy Trail.
The report also stated that despite a US Forest Service volunteer recommending they carry 160 ounces of water with them each - as well as 16 ounces for a baby and a dog - the parents only took about 85 ounces of water with them on their trek.
Per The Post, a statement from family members said: "Our hearts will never forget the beautiful lives of Jonathan, Ellen, Miju, and, of course, Oski [...] They will remain with us wherever we go."
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