It's been a year since the family and friends of 29-year-old John Greenwaldt Jr. last saw him.
Greenwaldt was reportedly seen getting into a vehicle in downtown Brainerd on the Fourth of July in 2017. His family reported him missing July 14. Six weeks later, his body was discovered Aug. 17 during an organized search by volunteers and law enforcement in a wooded area near a trail close to the 300 block of Hattie Street in Brainerd, just north of Linden Lane and Little Buffalo Creek. Greenwaldt's missing bicycle was also discovered in the area.
Following an autopsy, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's office was unable to determine a cause of death for the Brainerd man. Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston reported in an email the manner and cause of Greenwaldt's death remains undetermined a year later. McQuiston said police do not know what happened to the Brainerd man and the case remains open.
According to his obituary, Greenwaldt was born March 12, 1988, in Staples to John Greenwaldt and Renay Greenwaldt. He grew up enjoying the outdoors and family. He attended Brainerd High School.
Greenwaldt enjoyed fishing, hunting, football, wrestling, golf with his grandpa Del and being involved in jiujitsu and cage fighting, the obituary stated, and his greatest joy was his four children. Greenwaldt was a great friend to all who knew him, it went on, and he was outgoing and loved to make people smile.
