A father and his two sons died while hiking in the Ozark Mountains over the weekend. On Jan. 14, Reuters reported that David Decareaux, 36, and sons Dominic, 10, and Grant, 8, were located by rescue crews on a rocky bluff Sunday morning. It is believed that the freezing temperatures caused their untimely deaths.
"The father was pronounced dead at the scene and the boys later died at a hospital. Decareaux, his wife and five children of Millstadt, Illinois, were staying at an Ozarks lodge [in Southeast Missouri]. They were experienced hikers," said Reynolds County Sheriff Tom Volner.
The father and sons who died while hiking may have not been prepared for the weather change. The temperature was in the 50's when they embarked on their journey but then rain set in and temps plummeted in the night time hours. Authorities assumed that the three did not have heavy clothes that would have kept them warm in such conditions and that they did not plan accordingly in that respect.
It was reported that the family "missed a turn that would have returned them to the lodge." It is unknown how long they had been traveling and if their conditions led them to miss the turn. There was a dog hiking along with the family who survived the long night and cold temps.
The father and sons that were hiking did die of hypothermia according to the coroner.
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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