For Immediate Release by Coroner Dotti Owens
DATE AND TIME OF PRONOUNCED DEATH: 2/9/2020 @ 1140
ADA COUNTY CORONER CASE NO.: 200209-279
NAME: FREDERICK M. GILBERT
AGE: 71 YEARS
BIOLOGICAL SEX: MALE
PLACE OF PRONOUNCED DEATH: RESIDENCE
RESIDENCE: BOISE, IDAHO
CAUSE OF DEATH: PENDING
MANNER OF DEATH: PENDING
SUMMARY: ON FEBRUARY 9, 2020 THE ADA COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE WAS DISPATCHED AFTER A COMPLETED WELFARE CHECK BY THE BOISE POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF 71-YEAR-OLD FREDERICK M. GILBERT; AFTER NOT BEING SEEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. MR. GILBERT WAS IN ADVANCED STAGES OF DECOMPOSITION.
MR. GILBERT HAD RECENTLY TRAVELED OUT OF THE U.S. WITH STAYS IN INDIA AND CHINA.
MR. GILBERT FLEW FROM SHENZEN, CHINA TO SHANGHAI-PUDONG, CHINA TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND THEN BOISE, IDAHO. HE ARRIVED IN BOISE, IDAHO, SHORTLY BEFORE 1700 HOURS ON FEBRUARY 5, 2020.
DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IN COORDINATION WITH CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, SAMPLES WERE SUBMITTED FOR TESTING FOR CORONAVIRUS AND INFLUENZA. INFLUENZA TESTING RETURNED NEGATIVE RESULTS.
INITIAL SWAB SAMPLES TESTED FOR NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RETURNED NEGATIVE. HOWEVER DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE DECEDENT AND IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, ADDITIONAL TESTS ARE BEING REQUESTED THROUGH THE CDC. ADDITIONAL TESTING WILL TAKE UP TO 10 DAYS. UPDATES WILL BE RELEASED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
ALL POSSIBLE SAFETY AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES WERE TAKEN BY ALL AGENCIES RESPONDING TO THE DEATH AND NO OTHER CASES OF SUSPECTED NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE ADA COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE.