Minnesota man Brandon Lee Buschman found dead in freezer hid inside to evade authorities: police

A Minnesota man who was found dead inside the freezer of an empty home last month was on the run from authorities and likely jumped in the icebox to hide from cops, police believe.

Brandon Lee Buschman, 34, was discovered in a chest freezer in the basement of the unoccupied home on June 26 in a bid to evade cops who were in the area, police said Friday.

The Babbitt resident had an active warrant for his arrest, and police suspect he jumped into the freezer on his own accord to hide but became trapped inside.

There is no evidence of trauma or injury to his body, according to an autopsy done by the medical examiner’s office.

A toxicology report is expected to come back in several weeks.

The chest freezer is an older model with a latching mechanism on the outside of the freezer, according to the Gilbert Police Department, which contracts with the city of Biwabik where the death happened.

“When closed, the freezer is not capable of being pushed open from inside,” police said in a news release.

The freezer wasn’t working when he went inside because no utilities have been connected to the home since April 2022.

The home has not been occupied since February 2023, police said.

Several people familiar with Buschman’s situation told investigators that he was last seen running from the upstairs part of the house due to the possible police presence, authorities said.

“The reports from the individuals were very unclear to us as to exactly when it was that Buschman had fled,” Lt. Chelsea Trucano told the News Tribune.

“We are continuing to work on some additional investigation to narrow if that means it was this year or last year and will provide that information at a later date once it is narrowed to a better timeline.”

Police did not say what crime Buschman was wanted for.