Cause of death revealed for Vegas veterinarian Shawn Frehner who went missing after being caught on camera kicking horse in face

New York Post

15-05-2025

The Las Vegas veterinarian who was found dead in a lake last month after he disappeared when video of him brutally kicking a horse in the face died from suicide.
Dr. Shawn Frehner injected himself with the euthanasia drug Pentobarbital and died from drowning in Lake Mead, a reservoir spanning from Nevada to Arizona, according to KTNV, which cited the Clark County Coroner and Medical Examiner on Wednesday.
His body was identified using dental records, the coroner's office revealed.
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3 Dr. Shawn Frehner's death was ruled a suicide, according to the Clark County Coroner and Medical Examiner.
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Frehner, 56, had disappeared on April 6 after he was caught on video physically abusing a horse he was supposed to be treating.
He later apologized on Facebook after the video went viral, and defended his actions before vanishing.
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'I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video,' Frehner wrote, according to News8Now.
'That was not my intention at all. 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. But yes, I did kick him right in the chin, and I very much do apologize and wish this never happened.'
The wounded horse received treatment for abrasions to the skull.
3 Frehner, 56, had disappeared on April 6 after he was caught on video physically abusing a horse he was supposed to be treating.
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At the time of disappearance, the longtime veterinarian was set to face felony charges for animal abuse.
Frehner's father told investigators he was worried for his son's safety when he disappeared because of the backlash he had received from the viral video, KTNV reported.
The owner of the horse, Shawna Gonzalez, called his disappearance 'horrible' and was hoping he'd be found safe.
'It's horrible, I never, ever wished this upon him, I never wished this upon anybody,' Gonzalez told 8NewsNow during the search. 'This is not what I wanted in the end at all.'
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3 Authorities searching for Frehner at Lake Mead.
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After nearly two weeks of being missing, authorities began combing Hemenway Harbor at Lake Mead after finding his truck abandoned with his wallet, keys and phone inside near the water's edge.
His father told investigators he didn't know why his son would go to Lake Mead since he didn't have a boat.
The National Park Service — the lead agency in the search — pulled Frehner's body from the water near Boulder Islands on April 18.
It remains to be seen when Frehner took his own life.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.