Sheriff says family on California hike died of extreme heat

A Northern California sheriff says a family and their dog died of hyperthermia, or extreme heat exhaustion, while hiking in a remote area in August.

Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said Thursday that John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were walking in extreme heat before they were found dead. Briese says their water container was empty.

The family went hiking on a trail close to the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, where they were found dead Aug. 17 after a family friend reported them missing.

The case had baffled authorities.

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