A popular yoga instructor in Arizona has been found dead following a month-long search after going on a blind date in February.
Marcus Freiberger, 45, was last seen alive in a parking garage as he left to go on a blind date on February 21.
Frieberger’s sister, Tina Hall, posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning ‘with a heavy heart’ that her brother ‘is no longer with us’.
‘Losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves and I know this will be just as difficult for you.
‘We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family,’ Hall wrote.
Frieberger’s body was found on the outskirts of Phoenix on March 19.
While his cause of death remains unclear, friends told 12 News that they suspect foul play was involved.
They added that the truck he was driving around the time of his disappearance is yet to be found.
Marcus Freiberger, 45, was travelling to a blind date on February 21 the last time he was seen alive before his body was found over one month later on the outskirts of Phoenix
Frieberger’s sister, Tina Hall, posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning ‘with a heavy heart’ that her brother had been found dead. ‘Losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves and I know this will be just as difficult for you. We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family,’ Hall wrote
Frieberger’s family grew concerned after a friend checked on his apartment and found his dog, Thomas, alone.
‘That’s when his friend got really worried about it and thought something’s up here because Marcus would never leave that dog,’ his father, Dutch, told KPNX-TV.
His family hadn’t heard from his since his mysterious disappearance and said he ‘loved to Facetime’ and would frequently check in with his mom.
‘Then all of a sudden the calls stopped coming in,’ Dutch said.
‘There’s no reason for him to disappear. Even if he did decide to go somewhere he would’ve at least called his friend to take Thomas.
‘That makes me really think there’s something more going on here, foul play of some sort.’
Freiberger’s father said that he was handsome, young, ambitious, and beloved by his community.
What ensued following his mysterious disappearance was a month-long search effort which came to a heartbreaking end.
Frieberger hadn’t been heard from by family or friends after he was last seen in a local parking garage before a blind date. His family grew concerned after a friend discovered his dog, Thomas, alone in Frieberger’s apartment
Freiberger’s friends and family said that he loved working as a yoga instructor and had found happiness in Phoenix
Freiberger had developed a clientele at Melrose Yoga, a popular studio in Phoenix owned by Forrest Kruger.
‘Kind of guy all of his friends were coming in here for his classes. I met lots of them. Nothing but positive things to say,’ Kruger told KSAZ.
‘He was a great guy, is a great yoga teacher, too. I took his class myself.’
The yoga instructor had amassed over 5,000 followers on Instagram and frequently advertised his classes.
His last post was on January 3, which advocated for his yoga classes. He captioned the photo, ‘This month we are setting our intentions on FOCUS!!’
‘What is you want for the New Year? How are you going to show up in 2025? Where are you putting your energy? Come figure it out on your mat!!’
Phoenix Police told Dailymail.com that Freiberger’s family reported him missing on March 14.
‘There’s no reason for him to disappear. Even if he did decide to go somewhere he would’ve at least called his friend to take Thomas,’ his father, Dutch, said during the search. ‘That makes me really think there’s something more going on here, foul play of some sort’
Freiberger was a yoga instructor at Melrose Yoga, the owner Forrest Kruger said he had a ton of friends who would frequently take his classes
‘It was a wonderful season in his life, and it’s heartbreaking to think that somebody could have taken that away from him,’ said one person who knew him.
Another friend posted that he ‘was a friend to so many and always so positive and happy.’
‘Your smile with brighten the heavens my friend… It’s sad that you are gone but I know heaven gained a truly amazing person,’ she wrote.
One pal described Freiberger as a ‘bright light’ and a ‘kind and beautiful man.’
‘His soul will be forever remembered full of love,’ they added.
‘Truly one of the kindest souls I’ve ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with. Rest in Heaven sweet boy,’ another friend wrote.
No further details have been released by Phoenix Police Department or the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
The Phoenix Police Department did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.