Body found at Klondike

Cause of death being determined as investigators try to locate vehicle 
seen leaving the area.

A body found at Klondike Lake over the weekend has raised a lot of 
questions for Inyo County law enforcement officials.

Both the cause and the time of death for Gilbert Kurt Freewald, 30, of 
Bishop, are pending the outcome of an autopsy which is scheduled for 
later this week.

Freewald’s body was found at Klondike Lake, north of Big Pine, on 
Saturday, Jan. 7 at about 1 p.m. by a pair of visitors who were “sight-
seeing” in the area, said Inyo County Sheriff’s investigator Jeff 
Hollowell.

Though many details were not available about the death due to the Inyo 
County Sheriff’s Department’s on going investigation, Hollowell said 
that foul play is currently not suspected in the death. 

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department first received a cell phone 911 
call at 1:04 p.m. on Saturday reporting a body partially in the water 
near the boat launch area on the south side of Klondike Lake. Sheriff’s 
Department and an ambulance found Freewald’s body with his torso in the 
icy water and his legs on the snowy shore. 

It appears that Freewald was at Klondike on Saturday to “see if he 
could put his kayak in the water,” Hollowell, said. But he never got 
that far. Hollowell noted that none of Freewald’s gear had been 
unloaded from his car, even though the lake had thawed enough for a 
kayak. Hollowell also said that Freewald was an avid kayaker, and it is 
believed that he was out to use a boat he had recently made.

“The shore was covered in snow” that was frozen to ice, Hollowell said, 
adding that it is possible Freewald slipped on the ice and was knocked 
unconscious. It is believed he as alone, so there would not have been 
anyone there to assist him. 

Freewald was found face down in the water “with his hands straight down 
at his sides”.

Inyo County Coroner Leon Brune said that the autopsy is scheduled for 
later this week and results will be released no later than the 
beginning of next week, at which time a cause and time of death may be 
determined.

“Thirty-year-old people don’t just die,” the coroner said, “so we’re 
looking into it.”

Investigators believe that Freewald had not been dead long when he was 
found, as rigor mortis had not set in. 

After speaking to the reporting person and another person on the lake 
that day, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department has only one lead that 
may guide them to the answers they seek.

The reporting person saw a dark 4x4 full-sized, possible Chevy, 
extended cab truck leaving as they entered the area,” Hollowell said.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department is currently looking for the owner 
of that truck as well and any other individuals who were at Klondike on 
Saturday. One witness reportedly told the Inyo County Sheriff’s 
Department that they saw the same “dark colored” truck enter the area, 
drive around the lake and leave without stopping, Hollowell said, 
noting that the potential witness may be a dead end. That witness, 
Hollowell said, “didn’t see the truck stop at the boat landing at all.”

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department is currently looking for any 
details about the dark truck or Freewald’s trip to the lake that day. 
Anyone with information is encouraged to call investigator Jeff 
Hollowell at (760)873-7887.



The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Tuesday, January 10, 20006 – Page A-1&6
Transcribed by Charlotte S. Bryant