After disappearing for two weeks, 56-year-old Nevada veterinarian Dr. Shawn Frehner was just discovered dead.
His kidnapping coincided with a disturbing event that drew major internet disapproval when a video showed him almost kicking a horse in the face.
On April 3, Frehner was invited to a property in Pahrump, approximately 60 miles west of Las Vegas, to provide anaesthesia to horses being cared for at a rescue centre. Shawna Gonzalez, the property owner, expressed her surprise at what happened that day. She never expected such conduct from Frehner; she has been employing his services since August 2024.
Gonzalez claims she heard her mother say suspiciously, “Oh my God.” He only kicked him. Startled by this, she hurried to look out the window and saw the horse struggling to breathe. By saying, “Oh my god, Mom, he’s choking,” she asserted that Frehner had repeatedly knotted the horse’s lead around its neck before kicking it in the head. She claimed that Frehner had done this multiple times.
For Gonzalez, this alarming scenario set off a serious anxiety attack, which led her daughter to start filming the incident. Later, she said Frehner left the scene before the horse could get its footing and that the animal needed treatment for head scratching and other injuries.
Following the incident, Gonzalez charged Frehner, which started an ongoing criminal investigation verified by Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill. Frehner said in the popular video before vanishing that he never intended to hurt the animal. To enable him to deliver the anaesthesia properly, he said, his efforts were aimed at positioning the animal so it could breathe easier.
Frehner’s body was found by authorities on April 18, two weeks after his disappearance, in the vicinity of Boulder Islands at Lake Mead.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police began a missing person inquiry after discovering his wallet, keys, and cell phone left behind in an abandoned truck. Searching for him was exhaustive, including local volunteers and the National Park Service.
The father of Rex Frehner, Dr. Frehner, said his son had never shown any intention to hurt anybody else or himself and had no known medical or mental health issues. Authorities have not yet revealed details on the reason for his death.
Gonzalez expressed her sympathies about Frehner’s death in a statement to 8 News Now. She said, “I had no idea this would happen”. Still, I was not the one harassing others. I am not sorry for advocating my horse. I remain their voice and will always be.
These sad circumstances highlight the need for animal welfare and responsibility in veterinary care. Abuse of animals has grown to be a serious issue in recent years; according to polls, about 71% of Americans think animal cruelty laws should be tougher.
Stories like this act as reminders of the continuous fight for the humane treatment of all living entities as supporters of animal rights keep increasing awareness of their cause.