I was just watching the Phillip Breen segment. For those of you who don't remember he was a mortgage broker who embezzled about ten million dollars by giving loans to fictitious companies. He later chose to disappear leaving his wife (who later got a divorce), with all his debts forcing her to sell her house, their cars etc, leaving her both financially and emotionally ruined.

Was there ever an update to this case? Was Phillip Breen ever caught?

I don't think there ever was an update. I looked on Google but couldn't find anything.

not sure how old my copy is, but there was not an update on it.

Found two articles from around that time about the team (Orlando Juice) and his company (Group One Mortgage Corp. in Southfield, Mich.). The company is still running but under different leadership. I guess they would be the ones who would know if he was ever found.

My guess from Google and no articles in Newspaper archives is that he is eluding, perhaps like Stack said in the Carribean.

How on earth is he still able to hide?????

How on earth is he still able to hide?????

1.Phillip escaped once before in his previous identity to become Phillip Breen. If he did it once, he could probably do it again. He may be trying the exact same fraud scheme under a new identity

2. Phillip proabably had his exit strategy planned from the moment he ment he met his wife. Probably had tons of cash in safe places and a hideout all set once the

3. Phil may have commited suicide or being killed by a swindle victim. For all we know his body is a John Doe, waiting to be revealed.

1.Phillip escaped once before in his previous identity to become Phillip Breen. If he did it once, he could probably do it again. He may be trying the exact same fraud scheme under a new identity

2. Phillip proabably had his exit strategy planned from the moment he ment he met his wife. Probably had tons of cash in safe places and a hideout all set once the

3. Phil may have commited suicide or being killed by a swindle victim. For all we know his body is a John Doe, waiting to be revealed.

I agree with 1 and 2. He made his living as a con man.
I don't think he committed suicide. Pete Ballard's quote about Dan Tondevold fits here too. Breen wouldn't have gone through the trouble of getting the money just to kill himself.

I've always been dying to know if he was ever caught. I haven't been able to find out a thing about him online. Not sure if Spike ever aired this, but they've been good about updating the cases. Thats probably our best bet to find out if he was ever captured.

Was "Phillip Breen" an alias? Maybe he had a different birth name and he's been arrested under that name. One can always hope!

Was "Phillip Breen" an alias? Maybe he had a different birth name and he's been arrested under that name. One can always hope!

I never quite undertood if it was. The segment does mention that he was arrested under a different name previously for another fraud scame. Phillip "something"

I was always under the impression that "Phillip Breen" was an alias. Anyone can verify that?

JUICE OWNER SOUGHT FBI, IRS SEEKING MISSING BREEN
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL - Wednesday, January 24, 1990

Phillip Breen , owner of the Orlando Juice of the Senior Professional Baseball Association, is being sought by the FBI and the IRS, both of whom sent investigators by the Juice's office Tuesday morning.

Faced with an FBI investigation for criminal activity, a $10 million lawsuit and a divorce from his wife, Kathleen, Breen left his home in Beverly Hills, Mich., several weeks ago and hasn't been seen since.

Orlando Juice General Manager Wynn Dillard said Tuesday that he last talked to Breen, 43, on Jan. 7.

''I called to tell him I had traded Bill Madlock and Roy Branch for Vida Blue,'' Dillard said Tuesday. ''He said he didn't like the deal. We didn't talk much longer. And I haven't heard from him since.''

Dillard and others in the Juice's front office said Breen made a 10-minute visit to the Juice's office in December, his only appearance all season in Orlando. ''Some of us might not know him if he walked in here today,'' one employee said.

The Juice, who have averaged only 351 paying customers per home date, will play six of their final seven regular-season games at Tinker Field as they seek to make the league playoffs.

''Everyone has been paid and will be paid another check on Feb. 1,'' Dillard said.

Breen's problems surfaced Jan. 9 when he was sued by Douglas Hardy, chairman of Group One Mortgage Corp. in Southfield, Mich. Breen was the president. It was about that time that his wife reported him missing to police in Beverly Hills, Mich. There is no warrant for Breen's arrest.

According to Group One attorney Thomas Hardy, Breen allegedly siphoned money from Group One into two dummy corporations under the pretense of reselling home loans.

While living in Lauderhill in 1978, Breen was sentenced to nine months in jail for ''embezzlement by bank employee - created a ficticious mortgage,'' according to federal court records. Details of the case were not available because the court file is in archives in Atlanta.

Dillard said he went to Port St. Lucie and talked to the players about Breen after a game on Jan. 14.

''I told them about Phil Breen, and I gave them their paychecks two days ahead of time,'' Dillard said. ''We pay them twice a month - on the 1st and 16th.''

League President Rick Horrow said Tuesday he is confident the Juice will be able to meet their last payroll.

''The players will be paid,'' he said. ''I understand the money is there. And even if there was a problem, we have a league reserve fund that would pay them. We took that measure before the season began - before we had any notion one of our owners might vanish.''

League founder Jim Morley told the Fort Lauderdale News & Sun-Sentinel, ''We have too much money invested in this thing to let one guy sink the ship.''

John Christison, director of Orlando's Centroplex, which includes Tinker Field, said the team pays $500 per game, and its account with the city is current. ''It was pre-paid,'' Dillard said.

Juice officials said the status of the team for the 1990-91 season is unclear and will depend largely on what happens to Breen.

Morley was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but he told The St. Petersburg Times that Breen was an attractive owner because most of his net worth of $5 million was liquid.

''If we had started this league next year, like we wanted, maybe Phil wouldn't have been a part of it,'' Morley said. ''But we needed to get started, and he looked good.''

The Juice, beaten, 8-4, Tuesday in Bradenton by the Bradenton Explorers, play there again today at 1:05.

Off Thursday, the Juice begin a weekend home series with the St. Petersburg Pelicans at 7:05 Friday night at Tinker Field.

Don't believe everything you hear on television. Unsolved Mysteries pays people so they have something to air, so you only get partial information.

1) Phillip Breen was NOT an alias. I should know, I am his daughter. The reason I am not mentioned in the program is because my stepmother didn't like me (or the rest of his family) much, so she did not include me, my mother, his 7 brothers, or his parents in the story.

2) No, he was never caught. However, because he has been missing more than 7 years, he is legally declared dead. I doubt anyone is still looking for him.

3) He did not have his exit strategy planned from the beginning. The only reason he did any of it was because he thought he could get away with it.

4) He is not a physical threat to anyone, he was never violent, ever, in his life.

5) Chances are that he is dead, but not from suicide, probably from cirrhosis of the liver (he was a BIG drinker, but very alert while drunk - very weird)

Don't believe everything you hear on television. Unsolved Mysteries pays people so they have something to air, so you only get partial information.

1) Phillip Breen was NOT an alias. I should know, I am his daughter. The reason I am not mentioned in the program is because my stepmother didn't like me (or the rest of his family) much, so she did not include me, my mother, his 7 brothers, or his parents in the story.

2) No, he was never caught. However, because he has been missing more than 7 years, he is legally declared dead. I doubt anyone is still looking for him.

3) He did not have his exit strategy planned from the beginning. The only reason he did any of it was because he thought he could get away with it.

4) He is not a physical threat to anyone, he was never violent, ever, in his life.

5) Chances are that he is dead, but not from suicide, probably from cirrhosis of the liver (he was a BIG drinker, but very alert while drunk - very weird)

Thanks so much for posting and setting some things straight. I'm sorry for you that he was never found. Is there anything on the UM segment that was incorrect you'd like to correct?

I don't think there's anything to correct. I haven't seen the episode in awhile though. I don't think anything said was wrong, Kathleen just left a lot out.

3) He did not have his exit strategy planned from the beginning. The only reason he did any of it was because he thought he could get away with it.

How do you know this information? What age were you at the time Phillip Breen's fraud activity was revealed?

4) He is not a physical threat to anyone, he was never violent, ever, in his life.

Probably not, he was more interested in using his brain than brawn to commit crimes.

He was a thinking man, most likely.

5) Chances are that he is dead, but not from suicide, probably from cirrhosis of the liver (he was a BIG drinker, but very alert while drunk - very weird)

Impossible to verify whether he is dead or not.

I was seven when he left, but everyone who knew him has always told me that he thought he was invincible. I assume that if you're the type of person who thinks nothing can happen to you, the possibility of getting caught wouldn't even cross your mind, although, after what happened in Florida you'd think it would have.

Hi Miss Breen,

Certainly no one can take into account everything featured on TV will be the absolute truth.


But clearly anybody can understand the animosity Kathleen aka your step mother felt towards yr family.

Your dad walked off living all those bad debts which she have to sell everything she owned to pay off, to no fault of her own !!

Anybody else in her shoes would be pissed, wont they?


I'm also kinda surprised that why are you out to defend Breen, despite the fact hes your father, but he did commit fraud, conned many people and walked out on both your families.

He could well be living with a new family and having new kids of his own now.

How are you able to stomach that?

I just saw this episode for the first time in a long time. I think that if he is not dead, then he is most likely using another fraud scheme again, maybe even the same one. The segment mentioned that he had been in prison before and may have even concocted this scheme while in prison. He could be lying dead somewhere as well as a John Die due to no one identifying his body.

I feel bad for his wife though, having to be stuck with all that debt because of him.

I just saw this episode for the first time in a long time. I think that if he is not dead, then he is most likely using another fraud scheme again, maybe even the same one. The segment mentioned that he had been in prison before and may have even concocted this scheme while in prison. He could be lying dead somewhere as well as a John Die due to no one identifying his body.

I feel bad for his wife though, having to be stuck with all that debt because of him.

I imagine if he's still alive he's still conning people somehow yes. I'd like for them to capture him when he thinks he's in the clear after this many years later to prove you can't get away w/ that ****.

I imagine if he's still alive he's still conning people somehow yes. I'd like for them to capture him when he thinks he's in the clear after this many years later to prove you can't get away w/ that ****.
he could have liver problems, but he could still be alive, just under another name in another place.

I did some quick research on the case and came across this:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-05-10/business/9202110548_1_freddie-mac-loan-fraud-bank-fraud

It said the Feds became suspicious partly because apparently Breen's salary was all of $50,000 per year, but he seemed to live quite a lifestyle.

Phil was an alcoholic and not exactly what I would call alert while drunk. He also had a very violent temper and strangled me on one occasion as well as made many threats. One particular threat against one of his brothers wives was so sinister I told him I would have to testify if she befell any harm- I strongly believe he was being blackmailed by his first ex wife- his family stole a number of items from me, took me to court !!!! I was in and out of court being sued for his misdeeds at a great legal expense- a complete and costly cluster for me- in my opinion group 1 was a bunch of greedy bumbling idiots -their word against Phil who was not here to tell his side if the story- I had no editorial control over the unsolved mysteries show - but felt treated for once in this mess in a decent manner - there is quite a bit more to this that I wish would be told- I should know as I am his/ Phil's second ex wife- Kathleen

Phil was an alcoholic and not exactly what I would call alert while drunk. He also had a very violent temper and strangled me on one occasion as well as made many threats. One particular threat against one of his brothers wives was so sinister I told him I would have to testify if she befell any harm- I strongly believe he was being blackmailed by his first ex wife- his family stole a number of items from me, took me to court !!!! I was in and out of court being sued for his misdeeds at a great legal expense- a complete and costly cluster for me- in my opinion group 1 was a bunch of greedy bumbling idiots -their word against Phil who was not here to tell his side if the story- I had no editorial control over the unsolved mysteries show - but felt treated for once in this mess in a decent manner - there is quite a bit more to this that I wish would be told- I should know as I am his/ Phil's second ex wife- Kathleen

Kathleen, I am so glad that you posted! I have often wondered how you were doing (I was very sympathetic toward you after viewing the UM segment) and whatever ever became of Philip Breen as I have found nothing online. I haven't researched the board and can't remember if anyone ever found out. Do you happen to know if he was ever found and if so did he get a prison sentence? Is he still alive? Anything more you'd like to share with us, we'd love to hear. Thanks again for posting. :)

I do not believe he has been found. He was very careless in many things and is very likely to have fallen into some sort of mishap and most likely have been hanging out with other thieves and thugs

I would really like to see the proof from the senior ball players league of what he supplied to show his alleged liquidity -

This entire matter was such a horrible mess and I feel very bad for what his daughter.

It is surprising to find interest still in this case,

Phil was an alcoholic and not exactly what I would call alert while drunk. He also had a very violent temper and strangled me on one occasion as well as made many threats. One particular threat against one of his brothers wives was so sinister I told him I would have to testify if she befell any harm- I strongly believe he was being blackmailed by his first ex wife- his family stole a number of items from me, took me to court !!!! I was in and out of court being sued for his misdeeds at a great legal expense- a complete and costly cluster for me- in my opinion group 1 was a bunch of greedy bumbling idiots -their word against Phil who was not here to tell his side if the story- I had no editorial control over the unsolved mysteries show - but felt treated for once in this mess in a decent manner - there is quite a bit more to this that I wish would be told- I should know as I am his/ Phil's second ex wife- Kathleen

Kathleen, I too have often wondered how you were doing and thank you for posting here. I can't believe your ex-husband just left you to take responsibility for HIS actions. I've always hoped you were doing far better than you were at the time the segment was filmed.

The thing about Philip Breen is that not only does there seem to be almost NO information on him anywhere on the internet, but it's like he literally dropped off the face of the earth. I don't see how he could possibly do that, what with the drinking problems you mentioned and what was shown in the segment.

In any event, I'm glad you posted and am extremely sorry about what happened to you. There's definitely still a lot of interest here on where Philip might be. Ever since moving to Hawaii--believe it or not--I kind of keep a bit of an eye out for anyone who might resemble him.

Incidentally I did love my step daughter - I never hated her -not only did I lose her father who I loved but her as well - never had a chance to say good bye to either one.

There was no update on this case on the Farina/Spike version.

Fun fact about this case: current San Francisco Giants manager, Bruce Bochy, was the starting catcher for the team Breen owned, the Orlando Juice. For the non sports fans out there, Bochy is arguably the best manager in baseball, having guided the Giants to three of the past five World Series championships.

Second best manager behind Joe Maddon lol
But it's nice to hear from two people close to Phillip Breen, his ex wife and daughter in this thread

This is one of the cases for me where I believe he is still alive. Glad to hear from relatives.

Perhaps just perhaps he is hanging out with Jack Quinn and Woody Kelly.

Just saw this on Farina version. I'm surprised he never got caught. Usually they are pretty good getting fraudsters.

He would be about 70 now so could be dead but no doubt he created a new identity and started doing the same thing again as why wouldn't he? He looked like someone who loved to live the high life.

He would be about 70 now so could be dead but no doubt he created a new identity and started doing the same thing again as why wouldn't he? He looked like someone who loved to live the high life.

If you've stockpiled enough assets in offshore accounts, you're willing to never again set foot in your native land, and leave your family to clean up after the havoc you've wreaked at home, I'd think you'd have a lot of options for safe havens around the world. Not at all unlike the Nazis who lived the high life in Argentina off of riches they plundered during the war.

never caught the guy...I found a post on another site

Submitted by Bob Urbanek (not verified) on Sat, 05/13/2017 - 08:37
Phil was born in 1946, we grew up together on Detroit's northeast side since I went in the Navy I lost contact with the family and who knows if he is alive but after all these years he had to have fled somewhere

says he grew up with him but has no idea where he is

Similar to the Eric Maynard case in a way. Had more sympathy for Kathleen in this as opposed to the other lady though.

I've often wondered if people like Breen and Woody Kelly committed suicide shortly after they disappeared, and their remains have yet to be found.

To me it feels like Breen planned to disappear. The thought might've occurred to him only after he started getting in over his head, but he struck me as sharp enough to pull it off.

Now as to how long he lived after he disappeared, that's anyone's guess (the UM Wiki entry on him mentions his alcoholism & involvement w/criminals so I'd be generous and say maybe 10yrs at the most)

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Philip_Breen

I think Breen got in way over his head, as compared to the prior 1978 conviction, with the purchasing and funding of the professional baseball team and league he was involved in. I honestly think he figured that investment would pan out as a way to help cover his tracks, but when it went south, his whole world began to collapse. I honestly think when he took off, he did it to kill himself. Although it wouldn't shock me if he were still alive.

I think Breen got in way over his head, as compared to the prior 1978 conviction, with the purchasing and funding of the professional baseball team and league he was involved in. I honestly think he figured that investment would pan out as a way to help cover his tracks, but when it went south, his whole world began to collapse. I honestly think when he took off, he did it to kill himself. Although it wouldn't shock me if he were still alive.


Now that you mention that, it does seem similar to Dennis Walker (the guy from OR with the baseball memorabilia - but was found dead in a Vegas hotel room). With that said, if he did commit suicide, I would think his body would be found by now. Changing your identity & jetting off to parts unknown is an awful lot of trouble to go to if your end goal is to commit suicide.

Just saw the PB UM segment (S04). Sickening. Fraudsters like this are pure scum; they bilk people out of millions of dollars, and then skip town - leaving someone else holding the bag. Terrible how he treated all of the people who trusted him - including his wife.

I would hope that this guy gets caught & punished for what he did - but, given that it's been 30 years since he disappeared - I doubt it. Given that he would be in his 70's now & has supposedly been living a life where he's had to have constantly been looking over his shoulder - he may have passed on already.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if his wife would have still been left to pay off all of his debts if he did kill himself and his body was found? I guess what I'm getting at is, if you're going to kill yourself, why pack bags and leave town to do it? Why not just do it? Especially if no one related to you would be responsible for your bad deeds.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if his wife would have still been left to pay off all of his debts if he did kill himself and his body was found? I guess what I'm getting at is, if you're going to kill yourself, why pack bags and leave town to do it? Why not just do it? Especially if no one related to you would be responsible for your bad deeds.

Good question! I was wondering the same thing. I have never found anything indicating if there was some money unaccounted for after his cars and houses were sold and all. I wonder if LE thinks he did put money in off shore accounts for when his scheme hit the fan? I think he was probably alive for awhile at least and maybe still. I had a couple uncles and an aunt who were bad alcoholics and none of them died from cirrhosis. So the drink doesn't always get them if they have a high constitution I guess.

I think Breen got in way over his head, as compared to the prior 1978 conviction, with the purchasing and funding of the professional baseball team and league he was involved in. I honestly think he figured that investment would pan out as a way to help cover his tracks, but when it went south, his whole world began to collapse. I honestly think when he took off, he did it to kill himself. Although it wouldn't shock me if he were still alive.

One does not pack luggage when one plans to kill oneself.

I think Breen got in way over his head, as compared to the prior 1978 conviction, with the purchasing and funding of the professional baseball team and league he was involved in. I honestly think he figured that investment would pan out as a way to help cover his tracks, but when it went south, his whole world began to collapse. I honestly think when he took off, he did it to kill himself. Although it wouldn't shock me if he were still alive.

If they bought everything jointly, both spouses are responsible for the debt if one dies or disappears.

With a few hundred thousand dollars you can live like a multi-millionaire in Eastern Europe. He likely went there, or the caribbean. He's most likely deceased by now. I don't feel badly for the wife because she was leeching off him. I have zero doubt she would not have left him had he gone broke. She liked the money, so she asked no questions.

One does not pack luggage when one plans to kill oneself.

One can pack luggage with the initial intent of not killing yourself, only to do it after the fact. Danny Casolaro comes to mind.

One can pack luggage with the initial intent of not killing yourself, only to do it after the fact. Danny Casolaro comes to mind.

Can you please explain how someone commits suicide by slashing themselves on both wrists multiple times? That's not something you can just casually do to yourself once or twice, let alone, over 10 times.

Can you please explain how someone commits suicide by slashing themselves on both wrists multiple times? That's not something you can just casually do to yourself once or twice, let alone, over 10 times.

He had been drinking all day, and Vicodin was found in his blood. Not that hard to do if you are suicidal and drinking up the courage to go through with it.

2) No, he was never caught. However, because he has been missing more than 7 years, he is legally declared dead. I doubt anyone is still looking for him.Hmm Are you sure honey??


I have that episode recorded from analogue cable and I swear they had an update... Ill have to watch it again!