Strange case. I've been following, curious what they come up with.
Any chance a meth cook or similar letting off toxic fumes?
I've followed Paulides a long time. While I'm not sure this is one of those cases, IMO the answer to your question is "no". While the fumes thing is possible, it sure isn't plausible.
More likely they stopped along the way at what they thought was a "spring", never knowing it was polluted runoff from some "grow" up the hill in the chaparral. Filled water bottles, let the dog drink, gave the kiddo some water, and oops, not good.
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
