Summary (tl;dr)

Former NFL player Sam Beal has been missing for seven months, prompting his sister to make a public plea for information to help locate him.

Essential Background

Sam Beal, a former cornerback for the New York Giants, was drafted in the third round of the 2018 supplemental draft after playing college football for the Western Michigan Broncos. He missed his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns, and played limited games in 2019 and 2021 before being waived. Prior to his disappearance, he had also faced legal issues, pleading guilty to gun charges in 2021.

The Full Story

Sam Beal, 29, has been missing since July 2025. His sister, Essence Zhane, recently made a desperate public plea on Facebook on January 12, 2026, marking nearly seven months since anyone last heard from or saw him. According to a missing persons report, Beal was last seen on July 12, 2025, after dropping his girlfriend off at her house. He was supposed to use her car to drive to work but allegedly headed toward Virginia Beach, Virginia, instead. He contacted his girlfriend on July 13, stating he was in Virginia Beach and was going to drive home, but he never returned and has not been heard from since. His girlfriend's car was later found in Virginia Beach containing his shoes, socks, and sand, suggesting he had only the clothes he was wearing, a pair of slides, and his wallet with his banking card and driver's license when he went missing.

Why It Matters

The disappearance of Sam Beal, a former professional athlete, has generated concern among the public and his family. The family's public appeal underscores the gravity of the situation and their desperate need for answers or closure, highlighting the ongoing challenges in locating missing persons, especially when little information is available about their last known whereabouts. The trend indicates a renewed public interest and a desire to assist in the search efforts.

Geographic Location

• Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States (location where Sam Beal was last heard from and where his car was found)
• Kentwood Police Department, Kentwood, Kent County, Michigan, United States (police department involved in the investigation)
• Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States (police department involved in the investigation)