Former New York Giants defensive back Sam Beal has been missing since July. Photo by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
Former New York Giants defensive back Sam Beal has been missing for six months, according to the national missing persons database.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) reported Beal’s girlfriend last saw him July 12 after he dropped her off at a family member’s house.
“He borrowed her vehicle that day and was supposed to head to work; however, he headed to Virginia Beach,” Beal’s NamUs page says. “His girlfriend last had contact with him via phone on July 13 when he told her he was in Virginia Beach, and was going to head back home. Samuel did not return home the next day.
“Samuel has not been heard from or seen since the phone call on July 13.”
Beal’s missing person’s report says he did not bring anything with him other than his clothes, shoes and wallet. The report also says his girlfriend’s car was recovered in Virginia Beach by one of her family members, with his shoes, socks and sand on the floor.
Beal’s family first contacted the Virginia Beach Police Department, who directed them to the Kentwood Police Department (Kentwood, Mich.), which became the lead investigative agency.
Beal’s sister, Essence Zhane, also posted about his disappearance Monday on Facebook. She urged anyone with information to reach out to the Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580.
“We’ve done everything we could on our end to piece things together and at this point we’re in desperate need of support on all ends,” she wrote. “I’m not here to answer a bunch of whys and hows, I just need this to land in the right direction to gain some form of answers or closure.
“I’m a big sister and I need my brother to know that we love you and miss you and this has been a heavy feeling for months to carry around.”
Beal, listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, played at Western Michigan from 2015 through 2017. The Michigan native was a third-round pick by the Giants in the 2018 supplemental draft. Beal missed his rookie campaign due to a shoulder injury. He appeared in sic games in 2019 and sat out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beal appeared in three games in 2021, but was waived that November. He was later signed to the Giants practice squad before being released. Beal also was arrested in 2020 in Ohio and faced charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and marijuana possession-less than bulk.
He was later indicted on the gun-related charges and pleaded guilty, resulting in his entrance into a pretrial division program and two years of probation.
Beal totaled 27 combined tackles, a pass defensed and a safety over nine career appearances in the NFL.
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