A Minnesota man was discovered dead inside a freezer in an empty home last month, leading authorities to believe that he was attempting to hide from the police. Brandon Lee Buschman, a 34-year-old resident of Babbitt, was found in the basement of the unoccupied house on June 26th. Police suspect that Buschman, who had an active warrant for his arrest, voluntarily entered the freezer to evade capture but became trapped inside.
The autopsy conducted by the medical examiner’s office revealed no signs of trauma or injury, and a toxicology report is pending. The freezer, an older model, had a latching mechanism on the outside, making it impossible to open from the inside.
The Gilbert Police Department, which contracts with the city of Biwabik where the incident occurred, stated that the freezer was not operational at the time of Buschman’s entry, as the utilities had been disconnected since April 2022. The house had been unoccupied since February 2023, according to the police.
Individuals familiar with Buschman’s situation informed investigators that he was last seen fleeing from the upstairs area of the house, presumably to avoid encountering the police. However, the exact timeline of his escape remains unclear, and further investigation is underway to determine whether it occurred this year or the previous year.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific crime for which Buschman was wanted. The police are awaiting the results of the toxicology report, which is expected to be available in the coming weeks. Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to gather more information and shed light on the circumstances surrounding Buschman’s death.