A Nevada veterinarian who sparked national outrage after a disturbing video showed him kicking a horse was found dead in Lake Mead, authorities confirmed. Dr Shawn Frehner , 56, had been missing since April 6, following intense online backlash and harassment over the incident. His body was recovered after investigators located his truck and personal belongings near the reservoir’s edge. The cause of death is under investigation, and authorities have not confirmed whether it was a suicide.
Frehner was facing felony animal abuse charges after footage emerged of him physically assaulting a horse he was supposed to be treating. The horse, named Big Red, sustained abrasions to the skull and required medical attention.
The video, which quickly went viral, was recorded by Shawna Gonzalez, the horse’s owner, who had hired Frehner to care for her animals.
“It’s horrible, I never, ever wished this upon him, I never wished this upon anybody,” Gonzalez told 8NewsNow. “This is not what I wanted in the end at all.”
Before disappearing, Frehner posted a public apology and attempted explanation on Facebook. “I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video… It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize,” he wrote. “But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened.”
Lake Mead, where Frehner was found, spans the Nevada-Arizona border and is the largest reservoir in the US. His body was recovered after a week-long search following the discovery of his vehicle and belongings nearby.
Frehner was facing felony animal abuse charges after footage emerged of him physically assaulting a horse he was supposed to be treating. The horse, named Big Red, sustained abrasions to the skull and required medical attention.
The video, which quickly went viral, was recorded by Shawna Gonzalez, the horse’s owner, who had hired Frehner to care for her animals.
NEW: Nevada veterinarian Shawn Frehner found deceased in Lake Mead, Nevada, after footage of him kicking a horse went viral.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 21, 2025
Frehner went missing about two weeks ago following online harassment over the incident.
Right before he disappeared, Frehner released a post on… pic.twitter.com/5bHsYH6pLe
“It’s horrible, I never, ever wished this upon him, I never wished this upon anybody,” Gonzalez told 8NewsNow. “This is not what I wanted in the end at all.”
Before disappearing, Frehner posted a public apology and attempted explanation on Facebook. “I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video… It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize,” he wrote. “But yes I did kick him right in the chin and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened.”
Lake Mead, where Frehner was found, spans the Nevada-Arizona border and is the largest reservoir in the US. His body was recovered after a week-long search following the discovery of his vehicle and belongings nearby.
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