Missing 22-Year-Old Tanner Prentiss Found Dead in Big Bear Lake

A weekend trip to the mountains ended in tragedy when the search for a missing college student came to a heartbreaking conclusion.

Authorities located the body of Tanner Prentiss, a 22-year-old University of California, Santa Barbara student, in Big Bear Lake during the morning of May 19. He had vanished two days earlier during a visit with friends, prompting a search effort that culminated with deputies locating his body near Pine Knot Marina.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office reported that Prentiss was last seen on Village Drive around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. He had been staying at a cabin with friends, enjoying a weekend getaway, but he never returned that night.

He was reported missing immediately. Afterward, deputies began searching the area. By Monday morning, around 10:20 a.m., his body was found in the lake.

Officials have indicated that they currently have no evidence of foul play. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the investigation has been turned over to the county coroner's office.

Later on Monday, his grandmother, Marilyn Taylor, shared a sorrowful message on Facebook. She announced, with immense sadness, that Tanner had been located and was deceased.

She described him as "the funny guy, always smiling, tons of friends, charismatic, responsible and a really good person." She added that the family was having a hard time coping with this news.

Support has poured in for the Prentiss family as they navigate the painful days ahead. A GoFundMe campaign launched by his roommate, Arjun Malaviya, had raised over $20,000 toward its $25,000 goal as of this writing.

In the campaign description, Malaviya honored his late friend as "kind, compassionate, and deeply selfless," someone who "never hesitated to lift others up."

The fundraiser aims to help Prentiss's family with memorial costs and other unexpected expenses. Malaviya, who has partnered with the Santa Barbara Snow Club for this campaign, wrote, "While no amount of money can bring Tanner back, I hope this can help ease some of the financial burden."

This tragedy has left a deep void in the hearts of many who knew Prentiss. However, his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the memories shared by those closest to him.

Unfortunately, other missing persons' cases have also concluded in such a sorrowful way. As previously reported, authorities confirmed that the body of 45-year-old yoga instructor Marcus Freiberger was discovered at a rock quarry on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona.

His remains were found on March 19, 2025, five days after police began investigating his disappearance. According to a press release from the Phoenix Police Department on March 25, officers initially launched their search on March 14 after receiving a missing person report.

"The investigation was led by the Missing Persons Detail, who completed thorough investigative checks," the department stated. "No additional leads or evidence were discovered to determine if Freiberger left town or fell victim to any particular crime. Investigators continued to work with family and friends but were unable to determine Freiberger's whereabouts."

Freiberger, who had moved to Phoenix from Prescott three years ago, was pursuing a new career as a yoga instructor at Melrose Yoga. He had recently graduated from his program and was excited about his future.

"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," his childhood friend Amber Cranford shared with People. "He felt that he had finally found what he was supposed to be doing."

The 45-year-old was last heard from on February 21, 2025, when he contacted his father and a friend. "Freiberger's last correspondence with his father and a friend 'seemed normal, nothing out of the ordinary," Cranford revealed. "And then that same night, his phone was disconnected. When you called it, it went to Verizon, basically. And then we called his phone after that, and it's dead now."

Concerns grew when friends discovered that his beloved dog had been left alone in his apartment for several days.

"He just did everything with his dog," Cranford told People. "He was constantly at the dog park or taking him hiking, and any time he left, he would call somebody to watch the dog. He was just so into his dog, and the dog ended up being by itself for at least six to eight days."

Freiberger had planned to meet a blind date at a parking garage near 2nd Avenue and Van Buren Street on February 21, but it remains unclear whether that meeting took place.

He was driving a white 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck, with an Arizona license plate reading 3MA66L. "I really want to get the word out that his truck is still missing," Cranford said.

Freiberger's death has left friends and loved ones devastated. Tina Hall, a close friend, shared her grief in a social media post: "It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus 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."

The yoga teacher was known for his outgoing personality and ability to connect with people.

"He was really enigmatic, big smile," said friend Nicole Keir, who had previously worked with him in Austin. "We used to all go dancing after work. And there was always fun, like work outings, and he would participate. We just got along very well and just always were supportive of each other."

The investigation into his death remains open. Authorities have stated that the case is "being handled as a death investigation and is pending results from the Office of the Medical Examiner."

"It is devastating, and we are in shock," Cranford expressed. "We are obviously heartbroken. It's going to take a while to process this. There will be a huge void left for all of us. It is a huge loss for every single person who knew him, especially his parents and sister."

She also reflected on their lifelong friendship. "Our parents were best friends," she said. "Our parents were in the military. They worked together, and we lived across the street from each other, so we've known each other since then."

Authorities are urging anyone with information about Freiberger's disappearance or the whereabouts of his missing vehicle to contact the Phoenix Police Department at (602) 534-2121.

Our sincere condolences go to both Freiberger and Prentiss' families and loved ones.