Sam Beal, the missing former New York Giants cornerback, spent five months in a Michigan prison over unpaid child support payments prior to his disappearance, online records have revealed.
The discovery of the 29-year-old’s brief incarceration is the latest development in Beal’s missing persons case, which has recently gained attention thanks to the efforts of his sister, Essence Zhane.
‘Tomorrow makes it 7 months since we’ve last heard from or seen my brother,’ Zhane wrote on Facebook earlier this week. ‘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.’
Beal was last seen on July 12 after dropping his girlfriend off at her home, according to his profile on the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. He was supposed to use her car to drive to work, but never arrived, and later called his girlfriend to say he was going home to Virginia Beach.
The car was ultimately discovered in Virginia Beach, where he left his shoes and socks on the passenger seat. Police believe he took only the clothes he had on, some sandals and his wallet containing a bank card and driver’s license.
It’s not clear if Beal’s legal problems led to his disappearance, but he has faced several run-ins with the law. As first reported by TMZ, Beal was in a Michigan prison from September 2024 to February 2025 for two charges of failing to make child-support payments.
Sam Beal, the missing former New York Giants cornerback, spent five months in a Michigan prison over unpaid child support payments prior to his disappearance
Beal has also pleaded guilty to a pair of gun charges in 2021 and marijuana possession
A third-round pick out of Western Michigan, Beal’s NFL career lasted just two seasons
The Daily Mail has since confirmed this information on the Michigan Department of Corrections website.
TMZ additionally reported a witness told police after Beal’s release that the former NFL player ‘seemed a little off’ and had stopped taking prescription medicine because he ‘didn’t like the way it made him feel.’
The witness did not describe Beal as suicidal but does remember him saying: ‘If I was gone nobody would even care.’
Beal is supposed to be reporting to a probation officer, but failed to do so in August, prompting the PO to reach out to Beal’s family.
Police attempts to contact Beal have been unsuccessful.
Anyone with relevant information can contact the Kenwood Police Department in Michigan at (616) 698-6580 or the Virginia Beach Police Department at (757) 385-4141.
Beal played two seasons with the Giants, opting to sit out of the COVID-19 season in 2020, and previously played his college ball at Western Michigan University.
The third-round draft pick pleaded guilty to a pair of gun charges in 2021 and later confessed to marijuana possession.
