A two-week search for Kale Gonick-Hallows, a 29-year-old California man, has ended in tragedy after authorities confirmed he was found dead inside his submerged Tesla near Schoolhouse Beach.
The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS) confirmed Tuesday that divers located the vehicle underwater during a coordinated recovery operation. Inside the car, investigators found the body of Gonick-Hallows, who had been reported missing roughly two weeks earlier. His disappearance had prompted growing concern among family members and friends, as well as public appeals for information across Northern California.
According to RPDPS, the Tesla was discovered submerged near the shoreline of Schoolhouse Beach after search efforts expanded to nearby waterways. Authorities did not immediately release details about how the vehicle entered the water or the exact date and time of Gonick-Hallows’ death. Officials said the investigation remains active as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to a report on People website, Police noted that, at this stage, there is no indication of a threat to the public. The case is being handled as a death investigation, with detectives examining vehicle data, environmental factors, and any available surveillance or witness information that may help establish a timeline of events.
Gonick-Hallows’ death has brought an outpouring of grief from those who knew him, with many expressing heartbreak that the search ended this way. His family had previously asked for privacy while hoping for his safe return, and authorities said notifications have now been made to next of kin.
RPDPS stated that additional information, including the official cause and manner of death, will be released pending the results of the investigation and any findings from the medical examiner. For now, officials are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the department as the community mourns the loss of a young man whose disappearance had drawn widespread attention.
