Former New York Giants player Sam Beal missing for 7 months; sister pleads for help

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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Former NFL cornerback Samuel Beal has been missing for seven months, according to a Facebook post by his sister, Essence Zhane.

Zhane is pleading for the public's help in locating her brother, hoping anyone with information on his disappearance will reach out to the Kenwood or Virginia Beach Police Department in Virginia.

Beal is known for the two seasons he played for the New York Giants.

"Tomorrow makes it 7 months since we've last heard from or seen my brother. We've done everything we could on our end to piece things together and at this point we're in desperate need of support on all ends," Zhane said in her post.

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"I'm not here to answer a bunch of why's and how's I just need this to land in the right direction to gain some form of answers or closure.

"I'm a Big sister and I need my brother to know that We Love You and miss you and this has been a heavy feeling for months to carry around," she said.

According to information from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Beal was last seen by his girlfriend on July 12, 2025, after he dropped her off at a family member's house.

Beal's file states that he borrowed his girlfriend's vehicle that day and was supposed to head to work; instead, he headed to Virginia Beach.

On a phone call with his girlfriend, Beal told her he was in Virginia Beach and was planning on heading back home -- but he never arrived. Instead, the girlfriend's vehicle was recovered in Virginia Beach. Beal's shoes and socks were found on the floor of the front passenger seat along with some sand on the floor.

"Samuel did not bring anything with him aside from the clothes he was wearing, a pair of slides, and his wallet that contained his banking card and driver's license," Beal's missing persons file stated.

Zhane hopes that someone will come forward with information on her brother's whereabouts.

If you have any info please reach out to:

Kentwood Police Department
(616) 698-6580
Virginia Beach Police Department
Main phone: (757) 385-4141
Detective Bureau (handles missing persons investigations) - (757) 385-4101 (ask for a Missing Persons Detective)

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