Sounds like short/quick death vs. long heat related suffering death, murder suicide. At least from the article. While the outcome sucks, I'd probably take getting shot over sitting in a desert with no water for a couple days. Obviously you hold out hope of rescue, but a heat related death would be pretty awful I'd imagine.
Was just in Joshua Tree for a full day back in late January. Obviously not hot. But we did do a lot of driving and a couple quick 1-2 hour hikes and I looked at the map extensively. It seems like a really hard park to get lost in if you have any idea of direction. You have so many points of reference. It's not like you're in a forest and can't see around you. So maybe the families excuse of a die a quicker death is a bit tricky to believe.
PNDrLoR said. I'll never understand the attraction.
Just curious why do you assume day planned to overnight at their versus just a day trip and going back to their nearby hotel or motel? You know that they were only reported missing after they failed to check out of their hotel motel room the next day right?
In other words, like so often is the case on Patnet did you just not read the story and make up the missing parts, or do you have some reason to believe they were planning to stay overnight in the park?
Hikers found in Joshua Tree: Man shot woman before killing himself, Sheriff’s Department says.
http://www.pe.com/2017/10/20/hikers-found-in-joshua-tree-man-shot-woman-before-killing-himself-sheriff-says/