Park Predators – "The Councilman"

Host: Delia D’Ambra
Release Date: September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In "The Councilman," host Delia D’Ambra investigates the decades-old disappearance of Fred Gist, a respected former city councilman and real estate figure, who vanished without a trace in California's remote Kings Canyon National Park in August 1975. The episode unpacks the circumstances of his vanishing, the conflicting accounts from his companions, questions of foul play, and the legacy of unanswered questions that haunt both his family and the wider community. Through detailed archival research and interviews, Delia weaves together a story of intrigue set against the beautiful but unforgiving Sierra Nevada wilderness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance in Kings Canyon ([02:19]–[13:43])

• Setting & Background:
  • Delia describes the ruggedness and breathtaking beauty of Kings Canyon, emphasizing its remoteness and the dangers it poses, such as unpredictable terrain and wildlife.
  • The location’s “seclusion” is a critical factor in the case’s enduring mystery.

    “It might be the very aspect of the park that prevented law enforcement from finding a prominent Central California man who vanished there, seemingly into thin air.” ([02:19])

• Timeline of Events:
  • August 19, 1975: Fred Gist, age 66, and three companions (Bob Osborne, Bud Coiner, and Abe Brazil), leave Cedar Grove for Simpson Meadow—a route known for its difficulty and isolation ([04:30]).
  • The group overshoots their destination; a hired supply man advises them to backtrack for legal grazing.
  • Fred, tired and frustrated, decides to camp alone, sending the others ahead with his horse.
  • The next morning, Fred is missing. His friends find only remnants of his campfire, empty juice cans, a cheese wrapper, and, later, a beer can.
• Search & Rescue Efforts:
  • Initial optimism shifts to concern after no trace is found.
  • Rangers, dogs, helicopters, and volunteers scour the area with little result; no signs of a struggle, injury, or animal attack are discovered ([04:30]).
  • A coincidental discovery of unrelated human remains nearby adds tension but ultimately proves unconnected ([08:25]).
• Theories and Early Suspicions:
  • While Fred’s friends tell rangers he was a diabetic, wife Lolita disputes this, asserting he was healthy and experienced ([13:43]).
  • Questions arise about why the most knowledgeable member would lead the team astray, and why he would stay behind without adequate supplies.

2. Conflicting Accounts & New Questions ([13:43]–[20:39])

• Contradictory Stories:
  • Lolita expresses skepticism about the companions’ claim that Fred was diabetic and unwell, pointing to inconsistencies:

    “The information investigators had been told by his friends about him being a diabetic was completely untrue.” ([13:43])

  • She notes Fred’s extensive experience in the park and his role as trip leader.
• Companions' Perspective:
  • Bud Coiner recalls Fred’s frustration and his decision to stay behind:

    “Fred got down off his horse and said, ‘I’ll be damned if I’ll go back,’ and he started walking down the trail.” ([13:43])

  • Bud regrets allowing Fred to remain alone:

    “He should have known better than to stay in that wilderness by himself without proper supplies.” ([13:43])

• Physical Evidence (or Lack Thereof):
  • Discovery of a beer can (not Fred’s usual brand) a quarter mile from camp prompts fresh questions. Lolita and searchers puzzle over whether it belonged to Fred or an unknown other.
  • Despite ground and aerial searches, no personal effects or remains surface.

3. Aftermath and Hidden Connections ([20:39]–[25:00])

• Fred’s Background:
  • Successful real estate appraiser, former city councilman in San Luis Obispo, and head of the city’s master zoning plan.
  • Previously married to Winnie, with two daughters; involved in a high-profile medical malpractice case in the 1950s, which made the family well-known and financially prominent.
• Possible Connection with Abe Brazil:
  • Delia raises the intriguing coincidence that a lawyer named A.H. Brazil, who opposed Fred and Winnie in a major lawsuit, shares a name with Fred’s hiking companion, speculating on their relationship:

    “But by similarities in their names, I suspect it could be.” ([20:39])

  • Considers whether the two would have maintained contact, let alone hiked together, after being on opposing sides in court.
• Estate Proceedings & Complicated Legacy:
  • After an official search is disbanded and Fred is presumed dead, estate hearings reveal another woman petitioning alongside Lolita, indicating previously unknown relationships.
  • By 1982, Fred is officially declared deceased, and his case recedes from public attention.

4. Theories & Unresolved Mysteries ([25:00]–[29:50])

• Theories Debated:
  • Accident/Exposure: Possible but confounding due to lack of remains or evidence.
  • Animal Attack: Deemed unlikely by experts and due to no supporting physical evidence.
  • Voluntary Disappearance: Considered implausible; Fred appeared settled, successful, and had no apparent motive.
  • Foul Play: Never ruled out. Delia wonders about potential enemies from Fred’s past professional dealings, but finds no direct evidence.

    “Even if, hypothetically, one of those guys had done something to Fred, in my mind it would have been pretty challenging to get away with the crime without someone else noticing.” ([28:46])

• Family’s Ongoing Search:
  • Fred’s daughter Judy reportedly filed a FOIA request in 2008 to learn more—outcome unknown.
• New Developments:
  • In 2024, NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) creates a case number for Fred, hoping future discoveries may resolve the case.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the area’s beauty and danger:

  “Two words I kept seeing used to describe the route to this location were beautiful but secluded. And it's that last description...seclusion...that I think is most vital to this case...”
  — Delia D’Ambra ([02:19])

• On Fred’s last known attitude:

  “Fred got down off his horse and said, ‘I’ll be damned if I’ll go back,’ and he started walking down the trail.”
  — Bud Coiner ([13:43])

• On possible mistakes:

  “Because he was familiar with the area and as an experienced camper, should have known better than to stay in that wilderness by himself without proper supplies.”
  — Bud Coiner ([13:43])

• On the confounding lack of evidence:

  “It was extremely puzzling, maybe even suspicious, that searchers had found no sign of the 66-year-old at all.”
  — Delia D’Ambra ([11:40])

• Reflecting on unanswered questions:

  “So why did he just drop off the face of the earth and why have his remains never been found?”
  — Delia D’Ambra ([28:20])

Timed Segment Highlights

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:19 | Delia introduces Kings Canyon and the mystery of Fred Gist’s disappearance | | 04:30 | Detailed recounting of Fred’s last trip with friends and timeline leading up to the disappearance| | 08:25 | Discovery of unrelated remains in nearby Sequoia National Park | | 13:43 | Discrepancies in accounts, Lolita’s skepticism, companions' testimonies, and new questions | | 20:39 | Fred’s background, legal history, and unusual links to his hiking companions | | 25:00 | Theories about Fred’s fate; discussion of animal attack, voluntary disappearance, and foul play | | 28:46 | Delia’s reflections on possible foul play and unresolved mysteries | | 29:50 | Efforts by Fred’s family for closure and NAMUS’s ongoing efforts |

Conclusion

"The Councilman" is a quintessential Park Predators episode: a collision of untamed wilderness and unsolved mystery, brimming with ambiguity and unanswered questions. Delia D’Ambra’s investigative rigor brings empathy and fresh angles to a chilling case where every new fact leads only to more uncertainty. The fate of Fred Gist remains as shrouded as the misty valleys of Kings Canyon, a reminder that sometimes nature’s beauty is matched only by the depth of its secrets.

Contact: If you have any information regarding Fred Gist, contact the National Park Service in Sequoia and Kings Canyon: 559-565-4228