Gottschalk was last seen at his residence in Mason. He had been an English major at Michigan State University and was within three credits of graduating, but he did not register for classes for the spring semester of 1997.

On February 2 he drove off in his brother's car, without permission, and has never been heard from again. The vehicle was found in a parking lot at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Cedar Street in Lansing. There was no sign of Gottschalk at the scene, but cyclists found two bags belonging to him on the Shiawassee Street bridge. Divers searched the water beneath the bridge but found no clues relating to Gottschalk's case. There was nothing missing from the bags except Gottschalk's black leather jacket, his Detroit Lions coat, his wallet, and a watch his mother had given him. His case remains unsolved. (Information retrieved from NamUs.gov)