Authorities determined the cause of death for a yoga teacher whose body was discovered just over two months ago in a rock quarry on the outskirts of Phoenix.
Marcus Freiberger, 45, died of “undetermined causes,” according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office website.
According to the medical examiner’s annual report for 2023, “undetermined” means that a clear manner of death cannot be determined, “typically due to a lack of available information or where competing manners [of death] are equally likely.”
Freiberger was last heard from on February 21, just before going on a blind date, according to the Arizona Central.
According to police, they began investigating his disappearance on March 14 after receiving a missing person report.
“The investigation was led by the Missing Persons Detail, who completed thorough investigative checks,” the Phoenix Police Department stated in a press release on March 25. “No additional leads or evidence were discovered to determine whether Freiberger left town or was the victim of a specific crime.
Investigators continued to work with family and friends but were unable to locate Freiberger.
Police said human remains were discovered on March 19 at the rock quarry near 15th Avenue and Broadway Road, and the medical examiner’s office later identified them as Freiberger’s.
Freiberger’s sister, Tina Hall, confirmed her brother’s death in a March 25 Facebook post.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus is no longer with us,” Hall wrote in an email. “Losing him feels like losing a piece of ourselves, and I know it will be equally difficult for you. We are grateful to everyone for the love and support they have shown Marcus and our family.”
Friends suspected something was wrong when they discovered Freiberger’s beloved dog was left alone in the apartment.
“He just did everything with his dog,” Freiberger’s childhood friend Amber Cranford told People. “He was always at the dog park or taking him hiking, and whenever he left, he called someone to watch the dog. He was so into his dog that the dog ended up being alone for at least six to eight days.”
Freiberger’s last correspondence with his father and a friend “seemed normal, nothing out of the ordinary,” according to Cranford. “The same night, his phone was disconnected. When you called, it went to Verizon. We then called his phone, which is now dead.
Freiberger, who had moved to Phoenix from Prescott, Arizona, three years prior, had begun a new career as a yoga instructor.
“He had just graduated a couple months ago, and he was working at a place and had a huge following, and he was just very, very happy about that,” Cranford told me. “He was very excited because he had so many ideas for classes and what he was going to do. It was a spiritual thing, but also a stress-free job doing what he enjoyed. He felt he had finally discovered what he was meant to be doing.”
Nicole Keir, a friend of Freiberger who worked with him at a hotel in Austin, described the former roofer as “very lively and friendly.”
“He was really enigmatic, with a big smile,” she told People. “We’d all go dancing after work. He would always participate in fun activities, such as work outings. We just got along really well and were always supportive of one another.”
When Cranford learned of Freiberger’s death, she said, “It is devastating, and we are in shock. We’re obviously heartbroken. This will take a while to process. There will be a significant void left for all of us. It is a tremendous loss for everyone who knew him, particularly his parents and sister.”
“Our parents were best friends,” Cranford explained. “Our parents served in the military. They worked together, and we lived across the street, so we’ve known each other ever since.”
