At a Glance
- Former New York Giants cornerback Sam Beal, 29, vanished after a July 13, 2025 phone call from Virginia Beach.
- His sister Essence Zhane went public on January 12, 2026, posting Beal’s driver’s license, a missing-persons report, and a receipt from his last known day.
- The only trace: his girlfriend’s abandoned car found in Virginia Beach with his shoes, socks, and sand on the floorboard.
- Why it matters: A six-year NFL veteran has disappeared without explanation, and police in two states are now asking the public for tips.
Former Giants defensive back Sam Beal has not been seen or heard from since a brief phone call on the morning of July 13, 2025. His sister revealed the seven-month disappearance on Facebook, pleading for help from anyone who might know what happened after Beal left Virginia Beach.
The Last Known Moments
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) file, Beal dropped his girlfriend at her house the night of July 12. He was expected to take her car to work, but instead drove toward the coastal city.
At 8:30 a.m. on July 13, he called to say he was in Virginia Beach and would head home. He never arrived. The next day his girlfriend’s family located the empty vehicle; inside they found Beal’s shoes and socks on the passenger-side floor and grains of sand.
What He Left Behind
- The clothes on his back
- A pair of slides
- A wallet holding only his banking card and driver’s license
No phone, no bag, no additional clothing-just the sandals he had worn. Detectives note that Beal is 6’2″, 185 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, a short beard, and a muscular build.
Public Plea From Family
Essence Zhane broke the family’s silence in a January 12 Facebook post that included Beal’s license photo and official paperwork. “Tomorrow makes it seven months since we’ve last heard from or seen my brother,” she wrote. “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 added, “I’m not here to answer a bunch of why’s and how’s. 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.”
Career Recap
| Year | Team | Games Played | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Giants | 0 | Drafted in supplemental round, shoulder injury |
| 2019 | Giants | 6 | Debut season |
| 2020 | Giants | 0 | Opted out over COVID-19 concerns |
| 2021 | Giants | 3 | Released near season’s end |
All statistics come from News Of Losangeles‘s original report.
How to Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact:
- Kentwood Police Department (Michigan) at (616) 698-6580
- Virginia Beach Missing-Persons investigators at (757) 385-4101 or (757) 385-4141
Daniel J. Whitman reported that tips can be submitted anonymously.
