Rheeder said a female friend had contacted the farm owner‚ asking about Minnie's whereabouts around 9pm.
"The friend then went home and went to the deceased's room and noticed he was not in the room. He looked for the deceased and found him lying near a bush with a gunshot wound to his head. A firearm was found next to him‚" Rheeder added.
"At this stage no foul play is expected."
The book details the trips allegedly made to Bird Island by Malan‚ environment minister John Wiley‚ an unnamed government minister who is still alive‚ and Bay businessman Dave Allen.
Minnie and Steyn claim in the book that investigations into the alleged paedophile ring were halted by the police at the time. The National Prosecuting Authority has said that if a docket with evidence is brought to them‚ they could prosecute the case.
Minnie‚ who is from Port Elizabeth‚ resided in China but was in the city on vacation.
This is a developing story.