Remember Arthur Paul Beal's case? I think he had amnesia but I seem to forget... :lol:

Seriously, he was a guy who turned up in San Diego with amnesia, and then later identified after the UM broadcast. I remember on the update they said he was actually wanted for larceny for stealing a truck in Washington.

Now the funny part... Lifetime quit showing it and on the anniversary special (as seen by me recently on one of CD's volumes), his face was blurred out.

So that begs the question: WTF? Was he not guilty? Did he plead guilty?

I've never understood why he was removed and then blurred from UM reruns. If he's guilty, he's guilty and we should be able to hear. If he's not guilty, he has no reason to hide. So why is he being "hidden"?

I really hope Spike updates this case. For some reason, it's always bothered me and I want to hear the truth about what happened to him.

Wait, so was his face blurred in the segment or just the update part?

Hmm I don't remember his face being blurred. Which part was it? I did notice that on the NBC version they actually show him being handcuffed and Lifetime never shows that part. I don't think the charge was that severe so my guess is considering his circumstances with amnesia and all they worked something out like maybe making him pay back the amount of the groceries if indeed he did steal them.

His face was blurred in the update where he was being handcuffed. I have no idea why. That particular part of the update never made it to Lifetime.

Another odd face blur was in that episode with Maria Armstrong. Her face was blurred on the update after her arrest.

His face was blurred in the update where he was being handcuffed. I have no idea why. That particular part of the update never made it to Lifetime.

Another odd face blur was in that episode with Maria Armstrong. Her face was blurred on the update after her arrest.

Would that possibly mean that he was never convicted of anything and he requested (or UM decided to) blur his face so as not to imply that he was a criminal. I don't know.

Yes that was ridiculous about them blurring out Maria Armstrong's face. In the NBC version at the end of the segment they show a close up picture of her face. Do they really think we won't recognize her with her new look as a blonde. :rolleyes:

That makes me wonder if anyone profiled on UM as a fugitive or the type had to sign a paper giving UM permision to air their likeness. Isn't that how it is on Cops - or correct me if I"m wrong. Anyway that could be a reason why there's an occasional blurred picture of someone in trouble with the law.

Another odd face blur was in that episode with Maria Armstrong. Her face was blurred on the update after her arrest.

yeah, that was baffling. at first, i thought it was because she was schizophrenic and they were going to send her to a mental hospital and not prison, but then the update later mentions she got a prison sentence. But if I had to hazard a guess, I would say it was her mental issues.

Something that just occurred to me: I'm sure UM's camera crew didn't tape Beal's arrest or Armstrong's trial. Maybe some local news station (probably an NBC affiliate) did and had to blur the faces for broadcast on the news, and UM was supplied with the edited/blurred footage?

Something that just occurred to me: I'm sure UM's camera crew didn't tape Beal's arrest or Armstrong's trial. Maybe some local news station (probably an NBC affiliate) did and had to blur the faces for broadcast on the news, and UM was supplied with the edited/blurred footage?

Good point... that might be it.

It still doesn't explain why Lifetime pulled everything. But maybe he did make some kind of a deal with them.

APB: "Please put my story all over national TV. Who the heck AM I?"

Authorities: "A wanted fugative from Washington."

APB: "Oops. Cancel previous request."

:lol:

Well I think there's a chance UM could have had a camera crew there the night the segment first aired in hopes he would be reunited with his family and they could get some footage. We don't know if the local tv stations aired his story or not although when it came to be that he was a wanted fugitive I'm sure it got their attention.

Well I think there's a chance UM could have had a camera crew there the night the segment first aired in hopes he would be reunited with his family and they could get some footage. We don't know if the local tv stations aired his story or not although when it came to be that he was a wanted fugitive I'm sure it got their attention.

I would have to watch the segment again but I'm pretty sure that the UM crew was with Beal when the story aired and when he was connected with his mother via telephone. But, at what point was he arrested? UM cameras may not have been around to catch that.

Perhaps Lifetime edited the story for time, and to give us a more psychologically fulfilling ending. Without all the arrest stuff, it's a (mostly) happy ending.

I would have to watch the segment again but I'm pretty sure that the UM crew was with Beal when the story aired and when he was connected with his mother via telephone. But, at what point was he arrested? UM cameras may not have been around to catch that.

Perhaps Lifetime edited the story for time, and to give us a more psychologically fulfilling ending. Without all the arrest stuff, it's a (mostly) happy ending.

I just assumed that he was arrested that night. I guess no one knows for sure. The emotional footage where he met his mother obviously didn't take place that night as she wouldn't have had time to get there. Maybe it happened after he was arrested and posted bond or whatever. It seemed like he was in someone's living room he was arrested from what I remember. Maybe someone who knew he was wanted was also watching UM that night and contacted UM and got the address where he was staying.

Remember Arthur Paul Beal's case? I think he had amnesia but I seem to forget... :lol:

Seriously, he was a guy who turned up in San Diego with amnesia, and then later identified after the UM broadcast. I remember on the update they said he was actually wanted for larceny for stealing a truck in Washington.

Now the funny part... Lifetime quit showing it and on the anniversary special (as seen by me recently on one of CD's volumes), his face was blurred out.

So that begs the question: WTF? Was he not guilty? Did he plead guilty?

I've never understood why he was removed and then blurred from UM reruns. If he's guilty, he's guilty and we should be able to hear. If he's not guilty, he has no reason to hide. So why is he being "hidden"?

I really hope Spike updates this case. For some reason, it's always bothered me and I want to hear the truth about what happened to him.
Stealing a truck in Washington? I think your memory failed you a bit there. The Spike update said he was wanted by the Boise Police Department for stealing a shipment of frozen food. Did anyone else catch this? It was funny how they showed the cops showing up at Beal's house and asking him what his date of birth was, to which he responded, "I don't know, I have amnesia." Then one of the bonehead cops asked him, "Well how long have you had amnesia for?" When he said, "Nine months," the cop said, "Well how do you know that if you have amnesia?" What an idiot that cop was. Once you find out you have amnesia, it's not like you continue to forget everything that happens to you each day.

But Spike did actually update the case. Beal served 90 days in jail for the theft of the frozen food. I guess Beal was a salesman for a food supply company, and he drove from Boise to Las Vegas with a shipment of food to sell, but somehow came back with no food and no money. Then he ended up in the desert somewhere with amnesia. One of the detectives even openly questioned whether Beal faked the whole thing.

Pretty fascinating case. Todd, you got your wish. We found out the outcome of the accusations against Beal.

But Spike did actually update the case. Beal served 90 days in jail for the theft of the frozen food. I guess Beal was a salesman for a food supply company, and he drove from Boise to Las Vegas with a shipment of food to sell, but somehow came back with no food and no money.


Thanks for the update Mr. Fuji! Nice to finally know what came of that. I think he deserved the jail time he got. Whether or not he really had amnesia the truth is he "lost" an entire shipment of groceries he was entrusted with.

I have a hard time believing so many of you are that into these cases, but I think what shocks me more is that you are so quick to judge. Someone said regardless of his amnesia, he still deserved jail time???!! Really?! Put yourself into his shoes for a moment. Imagine the terror of wandering around a desert, half dead, and not one sense of a clue who you are. Imagine what it would be like to wipe out your entire memory. You now don't know you have a family, children, that you had a dog growing up! Imagine not remembing the birth of your children, your given name, or where you came from. Well that was the case here. He had no idea what had happened to him. Do you really think that if he had the intent to steal flipping frozen meats or whatever was in that truck, he would have been found in the desert, severely dehydrated, and without a memory to be found?! Really????!!!

Did you not see the look of complete want to know who this woman was he was speaking to on the phone or meeting in person? He obviously knew he should know her, his own mother, but he didn't. It was heartbreaking. He had to have all his memories fed back into him, one by one for that last 20 some odd years of his life.

If you had actually known him, and not gone by what you saw on TV, you would know that all charges were dropped when this shady meat company was further investigated. This poor man just wanted to make some money, and unfortunately got caught up in god knows what, and his life almost ended because of it!!! This man had to go on the remainder of his years trying to wrap his head around what he was told, and what seemed to be familiar.

How dare you all throw out judgment the way you do. Mr. Beal was a kind, loving, honest, amazing father, husband, brother, son, etc. I would love to see any one of you live in his shoes for those nine months he had no clue who he was. I'd like to see how any of you would deal with it. I'd like to see what it would do to you and you family to see the horrible assumptions people make when they have nothing better to do but bad mouth someone they don't even know. You should all be ashamed!

Remember Arthur Paul Beal's case? I think he had amnesia but I seem to forget... :lol:

Seriously, he was a guy who turned up in San Diego with amnesia, and then later identified after the UM broadcast. I remember on the update they said he was actually wanted for larceny for stealing a truck in Washington.

Now the funny part... Lifetime quit showing it and on the anniversary special (as seen by me recently on one of CD's volumes), his face was blurred out.

So that begs the question: WTF? Was he not guilty? Did he plead guilty?

I've never understood why he was removed and then blurred from UM reruns. If he's guilty, he's guilty and we should be able to hear. If he's not guilty, he has no reason to hide. So why is he being "hidden"?

I really hope Spike updates this case. For some reason, it's always bothered me and I want to hear the truth about what happened to him.

I think its great that someone who knows him is posting on here, but we have nothing to apologize for. This is a message board about the tv show "Unsolved Mysteries". We theorize and speculate and offer our opinions on the facts that UM has given. That is why this board is here. If you have something more to add, some fact that you think UM left out, by all means post them here to enlighten us but don't expect us to apologize for our opinions. It is a free country, after all.

Exactly crystaldawn. We aren't law enforcement, a jury, detectives on this case. We are all fans of UM and thecases on the show. The original poster was asking a question about what actually happened to the guy. So any info someone has can go a long way. But if it was me I really wouldn't care what some people on a message board thought of me!!! Just a bunch of people I've never met. Not a big deal.

How dare you all throw out judgment the way you do.

Honestly, I don't think anyone (at least not me) thought less of him because he was arrested. I thought it was really really bad luck, because even if he did steal something, the man we saw on TV had no idea about it.

And I think it's only natural to question whether someone might be faking an extremely rare brain condition, especially if they are wanted by law enforcement. I personally never got the impression that he was faking (if he was faking to get away from the cops, why go on TV?), but I don't blame people for asking the question.

Arthur Beal was on television, and unfortunately, all people have to go on is what they see on TV. In this case, it was of Mr. Beal being led away in handcuffs. It's not necessarily right, but that's the nature of the beast. Instead of coming on this message board and assuming that we all think Mr. Beal is an awful person (which we do not), why don't you introduce yourself, and tell us what really happened that we didn't see on television? Many family members of people from Unsolved Mysteries post here and most of them are very polite and thankful for our interest in their loved-ones. I would love to hear how Mr. Beal is doing and if he was ever able to recover his memory.

There was another amnesia case on UM and it turned out that guy too had issues with the law, so you have to understand that people will be Skeptical.

Well, I see I'm getting in on this late as others have already responded but since I posted on this thread previously, I'll add my two cents. This board is for the discussion of the Unsolved Mysteries television program and the cases profiled on the show. Nothing more or less. I don't think anyone here is "judging" anyone profiled on the show. Since the cases were, by nature, controversial, you'll often see a lot of speculation and different theories thrown around. However, I think most of the discussions here are benign and the vast majority of the posters here respect the victims and families profiled on the show. Most of our discussion with regard to theories is based on what was presented on television, simply because some of these cases are so old and little information is available outside of the Unsolved Mysteries segment. So, in essence, we don't have the "full story" as I'm sure most of us realize that UM intentionally omits, changes, or embellishes details. That being said, we are always open to hearing additional information. I gather you may know Arthur Paul Beal, and if so, we welcome your insight. His particular story odes come up from time to time as a topic of discussion, and posters often do chime in with their personal thoughts with regard to belief or disbelief in his amnesia claims. It's nothing personal though and, as I said, I think you'll find most of the discussions here are benign.

" I think he deserved the jail time he got. Whether or not he really had amnesia the truth is he "lost" an entire shipment of groceries he was entrusted with."

This is what I am saying is ridiculous. So for example, if you were driving in a car with your friend's child, and you were forced out of the car and carjacked at gunpoint while the child remained in the car, you should be arrested because you lost what was entrusted to you? Or if you were a clerk in a store, and you were robbed for all the money in the register, again, would it be right to arrest YOU for the crime?

Opinions are opinions, I agree, but the are also like a$$holes, everyone has got one. People are just too quick to judge. You above comment is not a theory, it is just a not very well thought out "opinion".

And as an FYI, I am not trying to target anyone for their wanted to enjoy the mystery of these shows. However, I am ultra-protective of my loved ones. I found this website because I was wanting a hard copy of his story.

If you want somewhat of an update, he never remembered what happened to him that day. Professionals were going to take him back under hypnosis, but then realized that this man, who normally had NO fear, was taken to a place where he was 100% convinced he was going to die, and thus the purge of all memory. They felt it would be more harmful to take him back to that place.

I tell you, it broke my heart as a bystander to ask such a simple question as "did you do that too when you were a kid?" , and he would say, "I have no idea." The look on his face at those moments will never leave my mind.

Believe me when I say I am not knocking you for your hobby, but remember who it can hurt along the way. I would give anything to know what happened to him. I won't ever know. He can't tell me, nor can he be the one to explain himself to you allas he has suffered a severe brain injury from no fault of his own, but instead genetics. He is young still, and for the second time in this poor man's life, he has been taken away from his family. We often wonder if what happened in that desert contributed to his condition today.

I did not know him when the desert incident occured, I met him approximately 5 years later. I know the pain his immediate family still feels to this day though, and for life to take him away again, but this time with no chance of regaining or retaining any other memory, it just kills me. So forgive me if my guards go up to protect this man, and possibly his children, since someday they may look up daddy's name, and they may see what has been written here.

Again, I just ask to put yourself in the shoes of someone else before you put it in writing for all to see. Thanks-

shocked-
So sorry to hear that Arthur's memory never came back and that his family and friends lost him again.
I wonder if the underlying condition that has led to his 2nd brain injury made him more susceptible to amnesia in the first place.
-necco

Thank you Necco. Unfortunately now we will never know. This brain injury resulted from lack of oxygen though. It is an anoxic brain injury that was the result of a genetic heart attack. This poor man has been through way more than any one of us every should.

This is my first time ever on this site and this is feels very weird. My sister is a member of this forum and at Christmas she told me about this thread. Paul Beal dated my friend Lisa 20 years ago. The only reason that I remember him is because of the situation and she had a very hard time trusting men after him. "Mr. Beal was a kind, loving, honest, amazing father, husband, brother, son, etc." does not sound like the guy that I met. He was our pizza delivery guy and Lisa knew nothing about him when they started dating. She discovered out that he was also hooking up with a girl at his work. She found out were he lived and took me along for moral support to confront him. His wife answered the door. To make a long story short, he had a wife, a child and at least 2 girlfriends on the side. I was shocked to see him on the show and I think that he messed around with the wrong woman and was abandoned in the desert to die. I am glad that you gave an update on him even if it has a painful ending.

This is my first time ever on this site and this is feels very weird. My sister is a member of this forum and at Christmas she told me about this thread. Paul Beal dated my friend Lisa 20 years ago...Thanks for posting, mondaygirl. Since you knew him before the amnesia, I'm wondering if you can clear something up for us. The Unsolved Mysteries segment on him claimed that he might have been in the military because he knew how to fly a plane and work on an airplane engine. Is there anything like this in his background that you know of like military or flying experience?

Also, I think there's a good chance that he went through a drastic personality change as a result of the amnesia. He may have been sketchy guy at one point, but he may have changed as well.

regardless if you loose your memory or not. If I kill someone and then get knocked over the head and forgot who I am, I am still responsible for the crime I committed.

Apparently Mr. Beal isnt so sweet as some may point him out to be. There are always two sides to every storie and Mr. Beal committed some sort of crime regardless if he remembers it or not.

regardless if you loose your memory or not. If I kill someone and then get knocked over the head and forgot who I am, I am still responsible for the crime I committed.

Apparently Mr. Beal isnt so sweet as some may point him out to be. There are always two sides to every storie and Mr. Beal committed some sort of crime regardless if he remembers it or not.
True. That's the reality of the situation. I'm just saying that, given that there are conflicting reports on this message board about his personality from people who know him, both reports might be true. We'll probably never know for sure!

"Since you knew him before the amnesia, I'm wondering if you can clear something up for us. The Unsolved Mysteries segment on him claimed that he might have been in the military because he knew how to fly a plane and work on an airplane engine. Is there anything like this in his background that you know of like military or flying experience?"

I don't remember exactly. It was 20 years ago and I was a bystander to the drama. Lisa went to his apartment to try to get back money that she had loaned him for books or tuition. His wife ?Stacy? was very angry and said something about him getting the GI bill and his father paying for the rest of his college. I don't think that you can get the GI bill without military service. This is bugging me and I am going to contact Lisa to see if she is willing to refresh my memory. I do know that she dropped one of her classes at Boise State because he was in it.

I spoke to Lisa and she told me what she remembers about him and his military service but was not pleased to reminded of his existance. Beal had told her that his family owned a ranch in Montana that shared a property line with the Fonda ranch. He had been a ski instructor and an olympic hopeful before breaking his ankle. He showed her a nasty scar on his ankle to somehow prove this story and he did have expensive ski equipment and Oakley sunglasses. When she confronted him he claimed that he had been Special OPs and the ranch/ski instructor story was just a cover and part of his new identity. He also told her that Beal was not his real last name, his father lived in Boise and he showed her a bank book to somehow provide proof. She said that it was very scary how convicing he could be and that he seemed to believe his own lies. Chances are he was in the military but I doubt Special OPs.

I spoke to Lisa and she told me what she remembers about him and his military service but was not pleased to reminded of his existance. Beal had told her that his family owned a ranch in Montana that shared a property line with the Fonda ranch. He had been a ski instructor and an olympic hopeful before breaking his ankle. He showed her a nasty scar on his ankle to somehow prove this story and he did have expensive ski equipment and Oakley sunglasses. When she confronted him he claimed that he had been Special OPs and the ranch/ski instructor story was just a cover and part of his new identity. He also told her that Beal was not his real last name, his father lived in Boise and he showed her a bank book to somehow provide proof. She said that it was very scary how convicing he could be and that he seemed to believe his own lies. Chances are he was in the military but I doubt Special OPs.
Wow! Thanks for sleuthing! I had always believed his amnesia story, despite the warrant for his arrest and all that stuff, but in light of this information it sounds fishier.

Wow! Thanks for sleuthing! I had always believed his amnesia story, despite the warrant for his arrest and all that stuff, but in light of this information it sounds fishier.

I agree, this really turns things around a bit. He seemed like a nice guy in the segment, but that means nothing. Yeah it was kinda odd, but did anyone figure out how and why he was hit over the head??!?!?

G R E A T ! ! !


I private messaged the original poster last year, answered his questions and hoped that this would fade into internet obscurity without any of the children seeing it. They did not ask to have this guy for a father. Perhaps I could have prevented something like this from happening if I would have sent a private message to everyone showing an interest in this case.

Don't let little miss shocked69 make you feel guilty for anything. She put a video on her myspace of him saying that he wanted hookers and blow for his 40th birthday. I have been irritated with Unsolved Mysteries for years because they would not remove these episodes from their TV rotation. Couldn't they have utilized the airtime to feature cases that have never been solved and possibly help someone else. Perhaps my complaints led to his face being blurred.

Let me introduce myself, I am his ex-wife. Thank you miss monday for that unpleasant trip down memory lane. I will try to answer all issues that have been brought up and hopefully this will die once and for all.

Beal is the last name of his stepfather, he did serve in the Navy as a sonar tech, he never had flight training, he broke his ankle playing softball, he spent most of his military career on limited duty doing 21 gun salutes at funerals and he received a medical discharge.

Now for the wandering in the desert issues. He is the victim of shoddy police work. This was the second time that he had come up missing. Originally he had disappeared with his frozen food truck and was reported as a missing person. He did turn up but the merchandise, money and even the radio were missing from the truck. He was detained and questioned in Nevada but they released him with the understanding that charges would be pressed in Idaho. He disappeared a second time and no one listed him as a missing person because it was assumed that he was hiding out.

He was identified by his father who was watching the show and Unsolved Mysteries contacted me by phone to confirm his identity. I refused to go to Vegas because I was trying to divorce him and did not want myself or my children to be on national TV. His father paid for his bail even though it shows his mother claiming him. The charges were dropped because his father paid full restitution to the food company. Paul disowned his father even thought the man had saved his butt because he did not believe the amnesia story.

I have never known what to think about the amnesia claims. I gave him a fair divorce by default with joint custody and minimal child support. He did not keep in contact with his children and I did not have the child support raised or go after him for their medical expenses. I kept the same last name as my children even after I remarried to make it easier for him to locate his children. Instead I would get angry phone calls from various girlfriends. The last phone call came in the fall of 1999, I remember the year because I was home on maternity leave. I don't know if the calls stopped because I changed my name or if he finally straightened up. I do know that he was a much better father to the children that he had with miss shocked69.

His current condition is pathetic. He had a heart attack in November of 2007 and is in a nursing home. He is in a wheelchair and his memory fades in and out. A few of his friends keep me updated and I have been informed that he sometimes calls other women by my name. This is odd because he has not seen me in person since before the amnesia claims. The nursing home where he lives has substandard ranking and there have been problems with him falling out of his wheelchair. My oldest son and I did discuss the possibility of him getting legal guardianship of his father and relocating Paul to a better facility. But it was decided against because there are younger half siblings who don't deserve to have their father moved out of state and away from them.

My opinion is all of the bad karma that he built up in his younger years caught up with him.

**** EDIT ****

This should have died a long time ago and it was flying under the radar until certain people felt the burning need to set the record straight. I have been monitoring this board for over a year because I suspected that something like this would happen and I wanted to be able to do damage control. This is not due to "an unhealthy obsession" but a need to shield my children. I did not raise my children to hate their father but they do have a deep resentment that they developed on their own and they don't need more fuel for that fire. I do not consider it to be an "unhealthy obsession" for children to want to know about their father. It is unfortunate that their father is just some guy that told a bunch of lies and made stupid choices. He paid a very hefty price for those choices.

My only obsession is my children and to do whatever I can to soften the blow of harsh realities until they are mature enough to cope with the misfortunes of life.

thank you so much steph. I knew there as more to this than it seemed. It seems as if Arthur has lead an eventful life, but not in a good way.

Steph I am very sorry if I reopened any wounds. My intention was to tell Shocked that her perfect angel has a history of deceit and bad behavior. Upon reflection I realize that she already knows the truth but is trying to build him into a better person for the sake of her children. I should have kept completely out of this.

I apologize

G R E A T ! ! !


I private messaged the original poster last year, answered his questions and hoped that this would fade into internet obscurity without any of the children seeing it. They did not ask to have this guy for a father. Perhaps I could have prevented something like this from happening if I would have sent a private message to everyone showing an interest in this case.

Don't let little miss shocked69 make you feel guilty for anything. She put a video on her myspace of him saying that he wanted hookers and blow for his 40th birthday. I have been irritated with Unsolved Mysteries for years because they would not remove these episodes from their TV rotation. Couldn't they have utilized the airtime to feature cases that have never been solved and possibly help someone else. Perhaps my complaints led to his face being blurred.

Let me introduce myself, I am his ex-wife. Thank you miss monday for that unpleasant trip down memory lane. I will try to answer all issues that have been brought up and hopefully this will die once and for all.

Beal is the last name of his stepfather, he did serve in the Navy as a sonar tech, he never had flight training, he broke his ankle playing softball, he spent most of his military career on limited duty doing 21 gun salutes at funerals and he received a medical discharge.

Now for the wandering in the desert issues. He is the victim of shoddy police work. This was the second time that he had come up missing. Originally he had disappeared with his frozen food truck and was reported as a missing person. He did turn up but the merchandise, money and even the radio were missing from the truck. He was detained and questioned in Nevada but they released him with the understanding that charges would be pressed in Idaho. He disappeared a second time and no one listed him as a missing person because it was assumed that he was hiding out.

He was identified by his father who was watching the show and Unsolved Mysteries contacted me by phone to confirm his identity. I refused to go to Vegas because I was trying to divorce him and did not want myself or my children to be on national TV. His father paid for his bail even though it shows his mother claiming him. The charges were dropped because his father paid full restitution to the food company. Paul disowned his father even thought the man had saved his butt because he did not believe the amnesia story.

I have never known what to think about the amnesia claims. I gave him a fair divorce by default with joint custody and minimal child support. He did not keep in contact with his children and I did not have the child support raised or go after him for their medical expenses. I kept the same last name as my children even after I remarried to make it easier for him to locate his children. Instead I would get angry phone calls from various girlfriends. The last phone call came in the fall of 1999, I remember the year because I was home on maternity leave. I don't know if the calls stopped because I changed my name or if he finally straightened up. I do know that he was a much better father to the children that he had with miss shocked69.

His current condition is pathetic. He had a heart attack in November of 2007 and is in a nursing home. He is in a wheelchair and his memory fades in and out. A few of his friends keep me updated and I have been informed that he sometimes calls other women by my name. This is odd because he has not seen me in person since before the amnesia claims. The nursing home where he lives has substandard ranking and there have been problems with him falling out of his wheelchair. My oldest son and I did discuss the possibility of him getting legal guardianship of his father and relocating Paul to a better facility. But it was decided against because there are younger half siblings who don't deserve to have their father moved out of state and away from them.

My opinion is all of the bad karma that he built up in his younger years caught up with him.

Thanks for the update !

Thanks for the info on the case.

Can anyone confirm is this Paul: http://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Paul-Beal/1166739981

regardless if you loose your memory or not. If I kill someone and then get knocked over the head and forgot who I am, I am still responsible for the crime I committed.

The thing he was (apparently) convicted of doing, stealing a truckload of FROZEN food - doesn't that strike anyone else as desperately strange? What would you DO with a truckload of FROZEN food if you did steal it? Most people don't have freezers big enough to store a truckload of frozen food; if you're not going to store it, you have what - 6 hours to fence it if you don't steal the truck?

Apparently, this same person thought he could date two women at a time IN ADDITION to his wife without hiding his identity and there would be no consequences.

And then this same person winds up in the desert with absolutely medically legitimate amnesia a short time later (why else would he go on UM to find his family?).

Is it maybe just possible that he was suffering from some mental disease or defect BEFORE the full-fledged amnesia kicked in? If I were his lawyer, you can bet that would be what I would argue.

****EDIT*******

I guess I should have read the rest of the thread before posting. So he was caught with the truck. And maybe he was making the whole thing up in a bizarre effort to get his father to clear things up for him? Although it's hard to assume that he could have known his father would be able to get him off.

I don't know.

Thanks for the info on the case.

Can anyone confirm is this Paul: http://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Paul-Beal/1166739981

Doesn't look like he's in a shoddily run nursing home, does it?

And the more I think about it, the more it seems to me, despite some of the suggestion to the contrary on here, that it would have been just about impossible for him to fake amnesia to the extent that he did. Think about it: why would he start faking it in the first place? Obviously, to make a new life for himself and duck impending charges in another state. But then, why would he THEN agree to go on UM, 9 months later, to tell his tale? What changed his mind? And why go through this whole elaborate hoax, if all it was going to take in the first place was getting his father to pay for the stolen frozen food and radio?

And the more I think about it, the more it seems to me, despite some of the suggestion to the contrary on here, that it would have been just about impossible for him to fake amnesia to the extent that he did. Think about it: why would he start faking it in the first place? Obviously, to make a new life for himself and duck impending charges in another state. But then, why would he THEN agree to go on UM, 9 months later, to tell his tale? What changed his mind? And why go through this whole elaborate hoax, if all it was going to take in the first place was getting his father to pay for the stolen frozen food and radio?

Just to play devil's advocate if I may...

On the UM segment, it was mentioned that he was receiving some kind of government assistance income that was about to run out. He also couldn't find employment because he didn't know his social security number. He even made a comment toward the end of the segment that he couldn't do anything because he didn't know his SS#.

I think it's possible that Arthur Paul Beale did fake amnesia in the hope of starting a new life and dodging the criminal charges. However, he then realized after so many months that he basically could not do anything. He couldn't get a job and his money was running out. Maybe his friends told him to go on UM. Maybe he even saw UM as a potential solution to his problems. If he went on the show and his family recognized him and called in, he could be reunited with them and have an excuse for why he had been gone for all those months.

Ultimately, I don't now what to think, but I always thought the onset of the amnesia was rather convenient.

Also, mozart, I don't mean this as a jab, I honestly do not, but I'm curious for your take on this...

From other threads, I gather that you believe Tim McClure is guilty. McClure sought out UM to profile his story. Wouldn't you say that is a gutsy move for McClure to make since he had gotten away with the crime for so long at that point? He would have everything to lose if the UM broadcast backfired and turned up some new leads that implicated him in the crime, yet he went forward with it anyway.

However, you believe Arthur Paul Beale had legitimate amnesia and part of your reasoning is because he went to UM.

If you believe McClure is a murderer and a liar yet capable of going on UM to plead his case regardless of the dangers (he had a TON more to lose than Beale), then what makes Beale any different?

From other threads, I gather that you believe Tim McClure is guilty. McClure sought out UM to profile his story. Wouldn't you say that is a gutsy move for McClure to make since he had gotten away with the crime for so long at that point? He would have everything to lose if the UM broadcast backfired and turned up some new leads that implicated him in the crime, yet he went forward with it anyway.

However, you believe Arthur Paul Beale had legitimate amnesia and part of your reasoning is because he went to UM.

If you believe McClure is a murderer and a liar yet capable of going on UM to plead his case regardless of the dangers (he had a TON more to lose than Beale), then what makes Beale any different?

Fair points; I'm more convinced of McClure's guilt than Beale's innocence, so for the sake of consistency I guess I will have to concede Beale's guilt.

Although, if my recollection of the little bit of Jerry Springer I've watched is accurate, hillbillies like McClure have a strange habit of reaching out to magazine shows of dubious quality to solve their problems (in this case, McClure's need for an alibi)... ;)

I find it hard to believe that people need to hang out on message boards to discuss these types of things, especially after all these years. These viewers were simply asking about a character on a show, if you think its anything different, then please reevaluate your perception of things you see on a TV show.

This forum is not for anybody to air dirty laundry, however scorned you may feel either way.

1) Yes, he is in a long term facility because he is in a minimally conscience state

2) That Facebook page is not him. Please refer to #1. It is my belief that his ex wife has created that Facebook page. Why? You'll have to ask the creator. But whomever has created it has an unhealthy obsession with him

3) If his care is claimed to be sub-par then why would someone who obviously has such low regard for him even care?

I understand spreading juicy gossip is fun, and oh boy is it just awesome to smear each other on an Internet message board/forum, but lets all grow up and move on. I know that the things that were laid out about him happened over twenty years ago, in that time there have been a lot of changes in a lot of people's lives. Since he is not able to respond on his own behalf, lets go ahead and build up some karma of our own and not try to smear him or each other anymore.

I find it hard to believe that people need to hang out on message boards to discuss these types of things, especially after all these years. These viewers were simply asking about a character on a show, if you think its anything different, then please reevaluate your perception of things you see on a TV show.

This forum is not for anybody to air dirty laundry, however scorned you may feel either way.

1) Yes, he is in a long term facility because he is in a minimally conscience state

2) That Facebook page is not him. Please refer to #1. It is my belief that his ex wife has created that Facebook page. Why? You'll have to ask the creator. But whomever has created it has an unhealthy obsession with him

3) If his care is claimed to be sub-par then why would someone who obviously has such low regard for him even care?

I understand spreading juicy gossip is fun, and oh boy is it just awesome to smear each other on an Internet message board/forum, but lets all grow up and move on. I know that the things that were laid out about him happened over twenty years ago, in that time there have been a lot of changes in a lot of people's lives. Since he is not able to respond on his own behalf, lets go ahead and build up some karma of our own and not try to smear him or each other anymore.


You of all people (1 post, and this is it) don't get to tell the rest of us what we talk about and what we don't. It's free speech and he was featured on a nationally televised program both back then and most recently these past few years (multiple times) on Spike TV. he gave up his anonymity when he agreed to appear on TV.

I agree everybodylovesrs. Not to mention that Tyler/Paul's story is still running on UM on Spike. In fact it aired this week! I am sorry that he has all these health problems but that really has nothing to do with this board. We are simply discussing a UM segment as that is the main purpose of this board. If you don't like what we have to say, you don't have to post or read it.

I also agree that we own nothing to anybodies children. If he wanted anonymity, he shouldn't have gone to UM. Whatever he did or didn't do, it was up to him. There are consecuences for his actions. I don't even care about the story but it's a pet peeve of mine that people do their actions and then when they don't want to face the consecuences of them, they hide under the shield of protecting their children, when they themselves didn't think of that when they were doing those actions before.

I also agree that we own nothing to anybodies children. If he wanted anonymity, he shouldn't have gone to UM. Whatever he did or didn't do, it was up to him. There are consecuences for his actions. I don't even care about the story but it's a pet peeve of mine that people do their actions and then when they don't want to face the consecuences of them, they hide under the shield of protecting their children, when they themselves didn't think of that when they were doing those actions before.


I for one am not hiding under any shield of my children. I already apologized for lashing out at the board, but I was protecting a man who couldn't defend himself. My guards were up, maybe it was a bad day, who knows. I don't fault any of you for your hobby. I have no idea who the recent poster is, but my guess is that he/she was speaking more of the personal bashing from people that claim to know him, not those of you discussing the case. UM helped Paul find his real family. That alone is priceless, he always knew that.

Anyone else not buy this entire story? IMO as soon as UM found out Beal was wanted in Indiana, they should have pulled the story. This has got to be one of the vaguest stories UM ever profiled. The guy allegedly stole a shipment of frozen food, and was actually held by LE in Nevada (if I'm not mistaken). The officer who questioned Beal in Nevada point blank told him that Indiana would be issuing a warrant for his arrest, to which Beal told him he would go back and straighten everything out. This tells me that Beal was never the victim of foul play, or a heist, or anything of that nature. Beal KNEW he was going to be arrested, and while he was being questioned in Nevada he NEVER claimed to have amnesia. How convenient that three days later he's found wandering in the desert? There's no doubt in my mind he feared criminal prosecution and decided that his best defense would be to claim amnesia and "forget" everything about his past. And he only reached out to UM once he realized how hard it was to "start over" without a social security number.

wow...thought I'd move this thread to the top because the info in it is fascinating...

regardless if you loose your memory or not. If I kill someone and then get knocked over the head and forgot who I am, I am still responsible for the crime I committed.

Apparently Mr. Beal isnt so sweet as some may point him out to be. There are always two sides to every storie and Mr. Beal committed some sort of crime regardless if he remembers it or not.

I agree, thank you for this. If the police hadn't followed up with his case when he was found, regardless of his circumstances, imagine how many serial killers, thieves, abusers and kidnappers would end up in the desert with "amnesia" when the police were hot on their trail. I think it is important to sent a precedent that yes, I'm sorry you had amnesia, and right this way to the squad car.

I realize how old this conversation is, but I just saw a rebroadcast of the UM show that featured Aurthur Paul Beal. I found more info online about his larceny charge, etc. But, what's driving me crazy is how they found the hairline fractures in his hands, the suspected old, healed gunshot wound in his thigh, his ability to fly a plane, and his race car engine rebuilding skills and more but did NOT explain these things after his family was found! WTF?! Lol I want the explanations that there must be...his family must have filled in the blanks, right?

I realize how old this conversation is, but I just saw a rebroadcast of the UM show that featured Aurthur Paul Beal. I found more info online about his larceny charge, etc. But, what's driving me crazy is how they found the hairline fractures in his hands, the suspected old, healed gunshot wound in his thigh, his ability to fly a plane, and his race car engine rebuilding skills and more but did NOT explain these things after his family was found! WTF?! Lol I want the explanations that there must be...his family must have filled in the blanks, right?
Ha I was watching it too and I agree they could have explained things better.

I spoke to Lisa and she told me what she remembers about him and his military service but was not pleased to reminded of his existance. Beal had told her that his family owned a ranch in Montana that shared a property line with the Fonda ranch. He had been a ski instructor and an olympic hopeful before breaking his ankle. He showed her a nasty scar on his ankle to somehow prove this story and he did have expensive ski equipment and Oakley sunglasses. When she confronted him he claimed that he had been Special OPs and the ranch/ski instructor story was just a cover and part of his new identity. He also told her that Beal was not his real last name, his father lived in Boise and he showed her a bank book to somehow provide proof. She said that it was very scary how convicing he could be and that he seemed to believe his own lies. Chances are he was in the military but I doubt Special OPs.
I realize that I am a few years behind on this topic but I am watching unsolved mysteries as i write this and Pauls story had just been on so I wanted to know more. I think the things he did to Lisa were mean and very unnecessary but he was like 20 years old right? I'm not saying his age excuses that but most 20 year olds always have been and always will be very immature (I know I was) but people grow up and I would bet that if he hadn't lost his memory (as I believe he did because that would be a really hard charade to carry on for 16 years) he would have regretted alot if not all of that crap he pulled. (I know I did when I got older) Anyways my point is just because he was a stinker as a young guy that doesn't mean he would have continued to be as an adult and play such a horrible trick on his family. Seeing him on Unsolved Mysteries he looked very sincere to me and I think Stack would have seen threw him if he was lying. This is just my opinion I realize everyone has their own.

EDIT: Well it seems I should have read past the second page before going on about this lol....I still believe he had amnesia but as for the rest of it....I shall insert foot in mouth.

Good point... that might be it.

It still doesn't explain why Lifetime pulled everything. But maybe he did make some kind of a deal with them.

APB: "Please put my story all over national TV. Who the heck AM I?"

Authorities: "A wanted fugative from Washington."

APB: "Oops. Cancel previous request."

:lol:
when i watched the story today on lifetime, his face was not blurred out.

just read the thread. Have to say, the ex-wfe sounded sort of vengeful. No one deserves to be crippled and to fading in and out. He made some mistakes earlier in his life by cheating on a number of different woman. Its not really an uncommon problem.
I just think its terrible that you still loathe him that much.

At any rate, to discuss the amenisa. I just don't buy he was faking it. He would of never agreed to be on a nation wide t.v show. Knowing when it airs his parents or family members would see it. Thus he would be brought back and charged. and really, lets think about this logically. Why would anybody, anybody go through so much trouble?? Its not like he was facing a long sentence, life in prison, or a death sentence. He was looking at maybe a month in the county jail with good time. Maybe even with a good attorney and pleading out probation, since it was his first sentence. So when you look at the two options out there, logically. There is no reason for him to go through faking all this nonsense, and leaving all of his loved ones. For maybe a month in jail.

Somehow, even though I thought I had read all the posts, I apparently missed a page! I hate when people make comments without reading the whole thing...lol Anyway, I meant to!

I also want to convey my sympathy to his loved ones, past and present. I'm sure it sucks to find these kinds of discussions online, which is all the more reason to avoid seeking them out. I don't mean that as a scolding, just as concern for "your" own mental health or peace of mind. People are curious, and as long as this story is out there, it will be talked about.

It's tragic that Paul will never be able to answer all the questions. I have to say that we are all human and have various strengths and weaknesses. Mosrpt people are not ALL good or ALL bad, and our perspectives color our memories and opinions of those people. His ex wife has a justifiably negative opinion of Paul due to his pre-amnesia behavior, but appears to have his children's best interests at heart. His wife/partner from post-amnesia obviously had different, more pleasant experiences with him. I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that amnesia can bring about a complete personality change.

So, whether due to perception or actual personality change, neither woman's opinion about him is "wrong".

when i watched the story today on lifetime, his face was not blurred out.

just read the thread. Have to say, the ex-wfe sounded sort of vengeful. No one deserves to be crippled and to fading in and out. He made some mistakes earlier in his life by cheating on a number of different woman. Its not really an uncommon problem.
I just think its terrible that you still loathe him that much.

At any rate, to discuss the amenisa. I just don't buy he was faking it. He would of never agreed to be on a nation wide t.v show. Knowing when it airs his parents or family members would see it. Thus he would be brought back and charged. and really, lets think about this logically. Why would anybody, anybody go through so much trouble?? Its not like he was facing a long sentence, life in prison, or a death sentence. He was looking at maybe a month in the county jail with good time. Maybe even with a good attorney and pleading out probation, since it was his first sentence. So when you look at the two options out there, logically. There is no reason for him to go through faking all this nonsense, and leaving all of his loved ones. For maybe a month in jail.
Sorry if I came across as being vengeful when my emotion in this matter has been annoyance and it is directed at myself for being the fool that married him. I receive private messages/emails from strangers and amused phone calls from people that know me every time that episode is aired. I am from a small community where the whole unsolved mystery thing quickly became a joke and my sense of humor has been sorely tried. It is kind of admirable that an episode that was taped 20+ years ago is still alive a kicking but I wish that it had happened to someone else.

Before his fearless defenders start accusing me of being obsessed and other silly things, would like to explain that I am only here because a woman named Melissa contacted me a month ago with an unneeded apology. Melissa, if you are reading this there is no apology required, my sons are now older than their father was when all of this happened and I have done my best to instill in them that only small minded people would judge them by the actions of their father.

I have kept an eye on things for about a month and everyone seems to be honestly curious and relatively benign. I will once again try to answer the questions that were left unanswered. The wound on his inner thigh was caused by a mishap with fireworks and not a firearm. I am certain that the hairline fractures in his hands were detected by xray at his initial assessment and caused by his tendency to punch walls and other objects. He also had scars on his ankle, abdomen, knee and upper lip that weren't really mentioned. My comments about Karma were directed towards the girlfriend who has repeatedly told her friends and acquaintances that Karma will get me without recognizing that Karma has bitten her in the butt for her nasty treatment of my children. I don't loathe him and I wouldn't wish his existence upon anyone but she is a bully and I have struggled to not loathe her.

I hope that this answers it...

Anyone else not buy this entire story? IMO as soon as UM found out Beal was wanted in Indiana, they should have pulled the story. This has got to be one of the vaguest stories UM ever profiled. The guy allegedly stole a shipment of frozen food, and was actually held by LE in Nevada (if I'm not mistaken). The officer who questioned Beal in Nevada point blank told him that Indiana would be issuing a warrant for his arrest, to which Beal told him he would go back and straighten everything out. This tells me that Beal was never the victim of foul play, or a heist, or anything of that nature. Beal KNEW he was going to be arrested, and while he was being questioned in Nevada he NEVER claimed to have amnesia. How convenient that three days later he's found wandering in the desert? There's no doubt in my mind he feared criminal prosecution and decided that his best defense would be to claim amnesia and "forget" everything about his past. And he only reached out to UM once he realized how hard it was to "start over" without a social security number.

I didn't buy it the first time I saw it, and I don't buy it now.

I was always very skeptical about that bit about knowing about military aircraft and apparently having the ability to pilot a plane. Anyone can pick up a copy of Jane's and learn about military equipment, and almost anyone can learn how to pilot civilian aircraft. The guy was only 23 years old at the time. He realistically should have had zero or very little flight time beyond flight school if he was in fact a military pilot. I had the distinct feeling that this was probably someone who had been in the Navy or Air Force for a time, and knew just enough to concoct a mystique like something in a Soldier of Fortune feature as part of this amnesia charade. After all, if you had the opportunity to completely fabricate an identity out of thin air, wouldn't you want to be an international man or woman of mystery, a super-cool guy? I always got the feeling that's exactly what was going on there. According to a couple of other posters a few pages back, he apparently was in the habit of lying about the details of his service.

Bottom line: Beal isn't the only person featured on a UM amnesia segment who has been wanted for a crime. I agree with Cars and others that once he found out how difficult life was going to be without a SSN, he decided to go public with his amnesia claims in order to simultaneously submit a built-in defense ("I don't remember committing the crime") and attempt to garner sympathy and support from droves of people.

juststeph, I appreciate your coming here and sharing with us things that I'm sure you'd probably rather forget. That takes a lot of courage and after having read through this thread I think you've been exceptionally dispassionate and patient. You don't sound vengeful to me at all. In any event, I hope you are well and thanks again for posting.

Bottom line: Beal isn't the only person featured on a UM amnesia segment who has been wanted for a crime. I agree with Cars and others that once he found out how difficult life was going to be without a SSN, he decided to go public with his amnesia claims in order to simultaneously submit a built-in defense ("I don't remember committing the crime") and attempt to garner sympathy and support from droves of people.

Yeah I saw the one the other day about the guy who claimed amnesia and moved out west and got a job at a newspaper (the only job he could find without a SSN). He wanted to fly to Chicago but the airport wouldn't let him because he had no ID. I actually believed the guy until they updated it and said he had a warrant for his arrest. Then I thought, "wow another Paul Beal."

I saw this story many years ago as a kid and totally believed it. Watching it now 20+ years later, I have to control myself from bursting into laughter at just how blatantly fake his amnesia story and acting job was. That is unfortunate about his current condition though, and I do feel bad for his Mother. She seems so sweet and adoring, yet completely clueless and gullible about his fabricated story at the same time. I just don't understand how his fingerprints weren't matched with the Department of Defense since he served in the Navy.

Yeah I saw the one the other day about the guy who claimed amnesia and moved out west and got a job at a newspaper (the only job he could find without a SSN). He wanted to fly to Chicago but the airport wouldn't let him because he had no ID. I actually believed the guy until they updated it and said he had a warrant for his arrest. Then I thought, "wow another Paul Beal."


Pat Brown. One of my least favorite segments in UM history.

Was cleaning out my dvr and watched this one on spike yesterday. During the update when the cops were handcuffing paul, they asked him something and he replied. I only caught the cop saying "how can you remember that if you have amnesia?" did anyone catch what was said? I wondered if it was anything relevant....

Was cleaning out my dvr and watched this one on spike yesterday. During the update when the cops were handcuffing paul, they asked him something and he replied. I only caught the cop saying "how can you remember that if you have amnesia?" did anyone catch what was said? I wondered if it was anything relevant....

IIRC, the cop asks him a question whether or not he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest and he says no and then the cops makes the "how can you remember" line. Unintentionally hilarious.

IIRC, the cop asks him a question whether or not he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest and he says no and then the cops makes the "how can you remember" line. Unintentionally hilarious.



Ok...that makes sense. Thanks!

This segment was on today and I read this thread and saw that he had suffered a heart attack in 2007 and was placed in a nursing home. The last update on his health was in 2010. I wonder if he has improved since then.

I didn't find him believable. His amnesia seemed like an act. With his history of stolen valor (claiming to be special ops & there was no record of his service), lying, adultery, possible violence (hairline knuckle fractures), I'd be willing to bet he's a sociopath. The person who knew him & jumped to his defense fell right into his trap. Sociopaths are experts at getting people to feel sorry for them & if that doesn't work, they turn to violence.

I remember when I would see this case on the Lifetime reruns in the late 90's early 2000's, they would show the update with Paul reuniting with his mother, talking to her on the phone, etc. but nothing was shown or mentioned about him getting arrested. There may have been a brief mention in the update about the stolen frozen food, but I honestly cannot remember, and it seems like they were trying to paint Beal in the most sympathetic light. Granted, it could have been because the case was old and done with, that they edited the bit about his arrest out. Or maybe it was due to time constraints. Either way, I found that interesting. It wasn't until the Farina episodes that I actually saw the footage of the cops arresting him.

I was just reading through this thread and am I understanding this supposed friend of the Beal family when he/she says that Paul ended up getting lost from his family again?

She was his live in girlfriend and was referring to the fact that he suffered brain damage from a heart attack in 2007. She was being vague for the drama and suspense.

I guess I might be naive but he really looked like he had no clue and was blank when looking at his mom. I really think this guy did get amnesia.

I'm with Cars and Meg, I think this guy was faking it. I think when I was a kid when it first aired I probably believed it, because I didn't think people lied back then, but then seeing it again when I was older, I thought he made it up, especially after finding out about the trouble.

I could look blank looking at my mom, especially if I didn't really have amnesia ever, so I don't think that's really an indicator. If I had faked this, when I saw my mom I could so fake a blank expression when I saw her, because it's not unusual. I don't know how to explain what I'm trying to. If he did have amnesia and he didn't recognize her, there'd be no expression. If he did have amnesia and he did recognize her a bit there might be a small expression of recognition and happiness. If he did not have amnesia and was just seeing her, and knew he was faking, it'd be pretty easy to control your response and remain blank because it's not a big deal. The real emotion would only have come through if he really had finally recognized her AFTER NOT RECOGNIZING HER which I don't believe ever happened.

Lmao.

He was obviously faking it. My favorite is the detective in the segment:

"Amnesia's easy. I don't know. Who are you? I don't know. Where are you from? I don't know. Do you know anything? I don't know. It's easy"

He said he didn't know so much, he legitimately looked like he zoned out and was beginning to not really know.

Lmao.

He was obviously faking it. My favorite is the detective in the segment:

"Amnesia's easy. I don't know. Who are you? I don't know. Where are you from? I don't know. Do you know anything? I don't know. It's easy"

He said he didn't know so much, he legitimately looked like he zoned out and was beginning to not really know.

LMAO I caught that too.

My question about this entire thing was why UM felt it necessary to film pretty much eavh phone call/reaction he made.
I think he faked it but I feel so awful for his mom. Everything she had to go through then boom we put you on tv now you gotta go bail him out and jsyk he probably won't recognize you. While I like that she was determined to help him get his memories back I can't help but feel he was tricking her :(

While the majority of us agree that it's no coincidence that 3 days after being questioned about stolen food is when "Tyler" surfaces, I do have to wonder how he was able to fly a plane, know extensive military history, tearing down and rebuilding racing car engines, etc. That's a lot of hobbies for anyone NOT suffering from amnesia. I had forgot about that part of the segment. I guess I'm just a bit confused how a 23 year old salesperson for a food factory would have the time to have so many hobbies, and if he was in fact faking the amnesia, why would he go onto a television show highlighting said hobbies, upping the chances of him being discovered?

Not to mention the UM segment specifically states that he was diagnosed with psychogenic amnesia, which can be triggered by a traumatic experience. Is it too much of a stretch to say that maybe the fact that he got caught selling the stolen food (and with the looming threat of going to jail) that it could have triggered legit amnesia?

Not to mention the UM segment specifically states that he was diagnosed with psychogenic amnesia, which can be triggered by a traumatic experience. Is it too much of a stretch to say that maybe the fact that he got caught selling the stolen food (and with the looming threat of going to jail) that it could have triggered legit amnesia?

Lmao. That man didn't have amnesia from getting caught stealing. He probably FAKED having amnesia if he was caught stealing.

The segment said he was found wandering around in the desert. I wonder if he did any hard drugs and it messed up his memory? I don't think he had amnesia, but if he did I'm willing to bet he sold the contents of the truck and probably bought drugs with the money.

I still find it amazing that with no flight training, he successfully landed a small plane. According to his ex, he had zero flight training. Why would this guy, who is faking amnesia to avoid jail, randomly say he thought he had prior flight experience and then actually go fly and land one?

I still find it amazing that with no flight training, he successfully landed a small plane. According to his ex, he had zero flight training. Why would this guy, who is faking amnesia to avoid jail, randomly say he thought he had prior flight experience and then actually go fly and land one?

She was obviously lying for him. I think he was an idiot, and said a dumb lie. There's no way you're landing a plane without some flight experience. It's completely dumb to say you "thought" you had experience, and then going to land a plane. He KNEW how to fly the plane all along, because he never had amnesia. You're giving this guy way too much credit in the thinking department. He did sell frozen food out of his truck, he wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.

IIRC, the cop asks him a question whether or not he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest and he says no and then the cops makes the "how can you remember" line. Unintentionally hilarious.

There you go. He's an idiot.

She was obviously lying for him.

His ex-wife has posted here several times, and I don't get the impression that she would lie for him.

His ex-wife has posted here several times, and I don't get the impression that she would lie for him.

Maybe she didn't know. I don't have someone with amnesia, and no prior flying experience to fly and land a plane. One, or both are lying/mistaken

I still find it amazing that with no flight training, he successfully landed a small plane. According to his ex, he had zero flight training. Why would this guy, who is faking amnesia to avoid jail, randomly say he thought he had prior flight experience and then actually go fly and land one?

I think this part was a bit overplayed by UM. As a pilot and flight instructor myself, I can tell you that this is very subjective. APB flew with a certified flight instructor (CFI) in the segment who allowed him to manipulate the controls under his authority and supervision. In part of that scene, APB is turning the plane and you can hear the instructor tell him to watch his altitude as he turns. Then UM says "He successfully brought the plane in for a landing" and the CFI said APB had definitely flown before.

I can talk almost anyone through a landing in a small plane provided they have some basic ability in hand/eye coordination. Doing it ALL on your own is a different story. I've had people who have never flown before and take to it very well. They are able to manipulate the plane very well with instruction. Others are not so gifted and they usually required a bit more instruction. The CFI on UM actually says "Not bad!" That is far from "Wow, you did that all on your own with no input from me so you must be a pilot." :D

So while he MAY have flown before and he showed some aptitude in flying, I don't think this means APB had "definitely flown before." I think he certainly had some abilities in multiple areas but I really suspect this was overplayed by UM and/or APB. When they list off all of his abilities he sounds like a cross between MacGuyver and James Bond. I think most of it was not true.

I hope this helps...

I hope this helps...

Yes, thanks for that info.

I guess I was just amazed that they made not only reference to his piloting an plane, but also his ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a engine, extensive military aircraft knowledge, scuba diving knowledge, martial arts, and computer programming. Seems an awful lot for a 23 year old to know in the pre-internet age.

I think this part was a bit overplayed by UM. As a pilot and flight instructor myself, I can tell you that this is very subjective. APB flew with a certified flight instructor (CFI) in the segment who allowed him to manipulate the controls under his authority and supervision. In part of that scene, APB is turning the plane and you can hear the instructor tell him to watch his altitude as he turns. Then UM says "He successfully brought the plane in for a landing" and the CFI said APB had definitely flown before.

I can talk almost anyone through a landing in a small plane provided they have some basic ability in hand/eye coordination. Doing it ALL on your own is a different story. I've had people who have never flown before and take to it very well. They are able to manipulate the plane very well with instruction. Others are not so gifted and they usually required a bit more instruction. The CFI on UM actually says "Not bad!" That is far from "Wow, you did that all on your own with no input from me so you must be a pilot." :D

So while he MAY have flown before and he showed some aptitude in flying, I don't think this means APB had "definitely flown before." I think he certainly had some abilities in multiple areas but I really suspect this was overplayed by UM and/or APB. When they list off all of his abilities he sounds like a cross between MacGuyver and James Bond. I think most of it was not true.

I hope this helps...

Wow, good stuff, thanks for clearing that up. I forgot he was flying with a pilot. This case has way too much fluff. I think he sold the food, and faked amnesia. If any of his amnesia was real it was hard drug induced. This case is way too hilarious to take seriously.

He sold some frozen food, and was found with amnesia. Really? I'd be more on his side if his food was stolen and he had amnesia, as he could've been robbed/attacked. But he obviously tried to fake amnesia. Lmao at this case.

Dude was probably a drug addict who sold the food to score a fix.

Yes, thanks for that info.

I guess I was just amazed that they made not only reference to his piloting an plane, but also his ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a engine, extensive military aircraft knowledge, scuba diving knowledge, martial arts, and computer programming. Seems an awful lot for a 23 year old to know in the pre-internet age.

Yeah, looking back on it now it is almost absurd, especially when you point out his age. My guess is that APB's false bravado, UM wanting to believe the story, and some ability in some areas oversold the hell out of this story. It's funny that you mention it was in the pre-internet age. I never thought of that, but it does indeed make it so much harder to have gained all that knowledge and skill. I think pretty much everything about APB was bulls***.

Paul seems to be another Frank Dux type person.

What I find with these so called amnesia cases is that they are rarely legit. The person is usually trying to escape something unpleasant in their life. I just don't buy amnesia in any of the cases I've seen on UM.

It was funny how they showed the cops showing up at Beal's house and asking him what his date of birth was, to which he responded, "I don't know, I have amnesia." Then one of the bonehead cops asked him, "Well how long have you had amnesia for?" When he said, "Nine months," the cop said, "Well how do you know that if you have amnesia?" What an idiot that cop was. Once you find out you have amnesia, it's not like you continue to forget everything that happens to you each day.

I just saw this case on Youtube and thought the exact same thing.

I have watched the Tyler episode 20+ times and it has never made sense. I joined this forum to follow people's opinions and the back story is unreal. Today I saw the episode again and I am still confused. Why would an intelligent person take a ruse that far? Being on the show had to be embarrassing. I have always wanted to believe that his amnesia was real in the beginning and when he got it back he didn't want to go back to his old life. Does anyone know if he has recovered from his illness or has passed away? I wish USM would do follow ups decades later.

I have watched the Tyler episode 20+ times and it has never made sense. I joined this forum to follow people's opinions and the back story is unreal. Today I saw the episode again and I am still confused. Why would an intelligent person take a ruse that far? Being on the show had to be embarrassing. I have always wanted to believe that his amnesia was real in the beginning and when he got it back he didn't want to go back to his old life. Does anyone know if he has recovered from his illness or has passed away? I wish USM would do follow ups decades later.

I think he was a young guy who did a stupid thing, and went too far to cover up the fact that he had stolen a truckload of frozen food. His ex-wife, Stephanie, posted (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=5234590&postcount=10) 5 years ago that he has been in a wheelchair for 10 years prior.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that APB wasn't just hauling a load of produce from Idaho to Las Vegas (assuming a warehouse or freight terminal) but it was his responsibility to find a buyer for his load. IMO that takes a special skill to persuade a buyer to agree to a specific price and not everyone has it.

Not defending APB on the theft or whatever happened to the load/rig, but it might provide insight as to why faking amnesia might have seemed like a solution to the fact that APB failed to do what he agreed to do. Imagine going door to door trying to sell encyclopedias and having ten sets to peddle. It sounds simple until you get rejected at every doorstep.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that APB wasn't just hauling a load of produce from Idaho to Las Vegas (assuming a warehouse or freight terminal) but it was his responsibility to find a buyer for his load. IMO that takes a special skill to persuade a buyer to agree to a specific price and not everyone has it.

Not defending APB on the theft or whatever happened to the load/rig, but it might provide insight as to why faking amnesia might have seemed like a solution to the fact that APB failed to do what he agreed to do. Imagine going door to door trying to sell encyclopedias and having ten sets to peddle. It sounds simple until you get rejected at every doorstep.

Assuming that's true, why not just take the stuff back to Idaho and tell whoever that you couldn't find a buyer?? The worst that could happen in that event was you'd get fired/let go. Why abandon it and risk the charges??

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that APB wasn't just hauling a load of produce from Idaho to Las Vegas (assuming a warehouse or freight terminal) but it was his responsibility to find a buyer for his load. IMO that takes a special skill to persuade a buyer to agree to a specific price and not everyone has it.

Not defending APB on the theft or whatever happened to the load/rig, but it might provide insight as to why faking amnesia might have seemed like a solution to the fact that APB failed to do what he agreed to do. Imagine going door to door trying to sell encyclopedias and having ten sets to peddle. It sounds simple until you get rejected at every doorstep.

He was supposed to deliver a shipment of frozen food to Las Vegas from Boise. He never came back to Boise and twenty days after he left/disappeared, he was stopped in Boulder City, NV with the empty truck. He was questioned, but released. Just three days after being questioned is when he was found wandering around in the desert. I think he planned on pocketing the money from the sale and faked his amnesia to "start over".

"In Boise, he was a salesman for a food supply company. On January 5, 1991, he left for Las Vegas to sell a shipment of frozen food." taken from the UM wiki page

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Tyler

My neighbor was a retired produce jobber. It was a crazy career where he would buy truckload and or train loads of produce with the *hope* of finding a buyer in an established market area- Kansas City, Dallas or Atlanta. Sometimes, the truckload or train car of perishables could not be sold and was considered a total loss.

"In Boise, he was a salesman for a food supply company. On January 5, 1991, he left for Las Vegas to sell a shipment of frozen food." taken from the UM wiki page

And he sold it...and never came back to Boise. He was stopped twenty days after leaving Boise, detained and questioned, and then released. He told the cops in Boulder City that he was headed back to Boise to sort out this "misunderstanding" and then faked his amnesia. He clearly found someone to buy the food because the truck was empty when it was stopped in Boulder City.

One of the UM's most iconic segments ever.

His "acting" when talking to him mother on the phone and meeting her in person is CAMP. My god.

As others have noted, sometimes UM would omit certain details to make a case more interesting, and I'm grateful they went ahead with this bull**** story because the entertainment and camp factor was gold. I did feel bad for his Mom, who obviously wanted to believe her son, and also his family, based on the subsequent posts from his ex-wife.