Found Deceased MO - David Koenig, 25, msg'd friends "might be in trouble, need help", Branson, 8 Feb 2020 *reward*

[PommyMommy]

DEC 27, 2021
Police identify skeletal remains found in Branson, Mo. as missing MMA fighter
Police identified skeletal remains found in Branson on December 22 as those of David Koenig.

Remains identified as David Koenig, missing Branson MMA fighter
"The examination of the remains conducted by a forensic pathologist determined that there was no trauma and that the death did not appear to be the result of foul play," the police department stated in a news release.

Rest in peace, David.

 

[GeorgiaRai]

I guess any resolution is better than no resolution, but I'd really hoped for a better ending.
Fly high, David.

 

[Zella]

I'm very sorry this is how it ended, but I am glad they were able to find him and bring some closure to the family.

 

[evilwise]

Sounds like overdose. We've seen other cases where the deceased was able to get off an unclear text or two along for unspecified help before losing that ability. I expected as much since there didn't seem to be anyone with a murder motive. This guy was built about like me at my fighting weight and you don't get targeted for random crime unless you're really really deep among people with something to prove but it seemed like his social circle was mostly gym rats.

It's sad. The same tools that can gain a person a charmed life if he holds it together can just as easily clear the path right over the edge.

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, David.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Sincere condolences to his family.

 

[cvaldez1975]

Another link in case it was missed.
A man was looking for deer antlers in Missouri. He found human remains of a missing MMA fighter. - NewsBreak

 

[?!?]

Another link in case it was missed.
A man was looking for deer antlers in Missouri. He found human remains of a missing MMA fighter. - NewsBreak

"Nobody killed Dave. Nobody!" Tracy Koenig wrote. "He left the Peachtree on foot and never made it home. Why he was in distress, and why he walked through the deep woods…..we most likely will never know. But he is GONE. So PLEASE…..NO MORE RUMORS…..NO CONSPIRACY THEORIES…..NO BLAMING BRANSON PD."

 

[branmuffin]

I just read about this online today.

People have mentioned he was staying at the Peachtree because he broke up with his girlfriend. I don't know if the information regarding seeing him in Merriam Woods was ever verified. If he was in Merriam Woods he may have decided to walk back to the hotel in Branson instead of taking a cab or Uber; it's really only a couple of miles away. But walking in woods can be deceiving, even if you walked most of the way on a road. Thinking you'd cut some time off by taking a short cut through the bush could end up being extremely dangerous, thinking you're going one way and end up in another. A poster upthread said the woods are confusing and dangerous, even close to built up areas.

Perhaps he needed his hands to walk through the bush, moving aside branches and tall grasses, nothing more. He knew he needed to keep moving, stopping wasn't an option. Maybe he called for help because he didn't know where he was and was aware he wasn't dressed for the temperatures in February. He was probably wet and cold.

I don't think he was suicidal, or was involved in anything criminal, he wasn't having a mental breakdown. If anything, he was using everything he had, his size, his strength, to get to safety. He tried to find his way back and succumbed to exposure.

In some ways that seems even more tragic to me.

Condolences to his family, especially his mother. RIP

 

[evilwise]

I just read about this online today.

People have mentioned he was staying at the Peachtree because he broke up with his girlfriend. I don't know if the information regarding seeing him in Merriam Woods was ever verified. If he was in Merriam Woods he may have decided to walk back to the hotel in Branson instead of taking a cab or Uber; it's really only a couple of miles away. But walking in woods can be deceiving, even if you walked most of the way on a road. Thinking you'd cut some time off by taking a short cut through the bush could end up being extremely dangerous, thinking you're going one way and end up in another. A poster upthread said the woods are confusing and dangerous, even close to built up areas.

Perhaps he needed his hands to walk through the bush, moving aside branches and tall grasses, nothing more. He knew he needed to keep moving, stopping wasn't an option. Maybe he called for help because he didn't know where he was and was aware he wasn't dressed for the temperatures in February. He was probably wet and cold.

I don't think he was suicidal, or was involved in anything criminal, he wasn't having a mental breakdown. If anything, he was using everything he had, his size, his strength, to get to safety. He tried to find his way back and succumbed to exposure.

In some ways that seems even more tragic to me.

Condolences to his family, especially his mother. RIP

I agree that there is some chance that he was just in some kind of mood and decided to travel through the woods alone at night. I could see myself doing the same thing at a certain time in my life but I didn't have a cell phone then, just a pager. If I did have a cell phone with service, I think I probably would have sent out more information.

I can however imagine, especially after a recent breakup, being in a mood though that might not be what you would call "suicidal" exactly but rather indifferent and prone to risky behavior. Under such circumstances it's not unbelievable that someone, especially a "tough guy" might send out a message to the effect of "might die lol see you later maybe".

 

[MadMcGoo]

His poor family.

Rest peacefully now David.

 

[mlhenn]

Dozens gather to celebrate the life of missing Branson man

Jan 15 2022
Dozens of people gather to remember a Branson amateur mixed martial arts fighter.

David Koenig was last seen nearly 2 years ago.

His remains were found a few weeks ago in the woods just off Fall Creek Road.

For family and friends Saturday wasn’t a funeral but a celebration of his life.


…


Investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of Koenig’s death.

Toxicology reports are pending.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

David’s mom, Tracy Koenig, tells OzarksFirst their family was heartbroken getting the news.

“My son was an incredible person,” Tracy said. “Literally larger than life. Not just physically, but in everything about him. He was a big, beautiful, gentle giant with a heart of gold.”
Remains of man missing since March 2020 found in Branson

 

[kimmo]

Sad to hear David was found deceased. I'm glad his family has him home now though.

 

[NerdPower]

Not meaning to dig this up, but I can't shake the thought in my head something really strange happened here. In the dateline article, the Mo Highway Patrol was investigating as a suspicious death and I just can't get it out of my head. Updates as I go if I find anything worth talking about.

 

[evilwise]

Not meaning to dig this up, but I can't shake the thought in my head something really strange happened here. In the dateline article, the Mo Highway Patrol was investigating as a suspicious death and I just can't get it out of my head. Updates as I go if I find anything worth talking about.

As someone it wouldn't surprise people if I wandered into the woods and died, this guy also seems like that type of person.