CA CA - John Beck, 73, Alameda, 9 Feb 2016 #1

[SFBA]

JoyM

With this possible sighting tonight and everyone wondering how he made it to Sebastopol. Is John the type of individual who would ask for a ride? My reason is, would he go to the GG gift shop at the south side of the GG and ask anyone who was traveling north for a ride? Therefore, has the footage around the GG Shop been checked?

There's actually a Golden Gate Transit bus stop on the south end of the GG Bridge where he could have caught a ride to Sebastopol. (I think he'd have to go to Santa Rosa and then transfer to a Sonoma County bus to get there...) It's definitely easy to hop on a bus from the south end of the bridge--various northbound routes stop there every 10 minutes or so, especially during commute hours.

 

[Lilibet]

Shelters in the area.

http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/city.cgi?city=Sebastopol&state=CA

And soup kitchens.

http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/cityfoodbanks.cgi?city=Sebastopol&state=CA

And pawn shops!

http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=pawn&find_loc=Sebastopol,+CA

 

[Elainera]

Sorry for all the edits to the last post--the copied text looked different/didn't contain names before I posted it--the facebook formatting transferred to the draft mode but not the published version.

FWIW, John did not walk with a shuffle, but a stroke or other medical issue would help explain his disappearance, at least in part. We are guardedly optimistic.

Very excited to hear of this promising lead! I hope you'll find him today!

He could have a shuffle from walking for days. I would think with his recent hip surgery it would be difficult to walk so much and so far. Good luck!!!

 

[SCHMAE]

The shuffle could also be tiredness or a blister, with or without a stroke. But yes, a mild stroke or even a urinary tract infection could cause mental issues leading to his disappearance. Thank goodness for his internet searches that morning, whatever brought them on. Without those, there would have been no Instagram find. Without that, no widely distributed photo for this woman to have seen. What a gem she is for not second-guessing herself, but for calling LE. I'm rambling from nerves. I will stop! And pray for John.

BBM this is great thinking and so true. WS'ers take note. Symptom of UTI in senior citizens is psychosis ! It sounds strange but it is true. My mother had this a few years back and was taken to a hospital and then a psyche hospital for her behavior. The nurse told me it's very common for older folks with a UTI to act , speak and behave very erratically. She was trying to get the car keys and flee from imagined threats and we thought we had lost her mentally for good. If we lived near public transportation there is no telling what may have happened.

 

[deedee21]

Buses is probably his form of transportation. His picture should be at the depot so ALL of the drivers know who to look out for.

 

[Elainera]

Just thinking ... John disappeared voluntarily, that much we know. I think it is reasonable to assume that he doesn't want to be found, and that he might anticipate family and friends looking for him. Therefore, he might avoid populated areas, especially streets, shops, and other places (public transportation?) where he knows he could be captured on surveillance cameras.

So I was wondering, could it be he's trying to stay off the grid? Not use buses, not visit shops, not walk down busy streets? Could he be traveling at night only? Did he ever have some kind of survival training? Would he know how to find edible plants, fruits, berries, roots, etc? He might travel mainly in wooded areas, seeking out fresh water sources. He might have a map in his bag. He might try to get somewhere on foot, undetected.

I hope all this is superfluous and you found him already!

 

[nannymo]

I keep getting the feeling he is walking in tranquil areas and neighborhoods. Maybe places he has some happy memories. I agree he has left of his own accord, but I am hoping he is just confused now and doesn't know what to do.

 

[michmi]

The shuffle could also be tiredness or a blister, with or without a stroke. But yes, a mild stroke or even a urinary tract infection could cause mental issues leading to his disappearance. Thank goodness for his internet searches that morning, whatever brought them on. Without those, there would have been no Instagram find. Without that, no widely distributed photo for this woman to have seen. What a gem she is for not second-guessing herself, but for calling LE. I'm rambling from nerves. I will stop! And pray for John.

I can't agree more about the UTIs causing, for lack of better words, "brain malfunction." I learned this with my mother. There can be no outward symptoms and suddenly someone can do things that are completely out of character.

The one thing I do know is that with issues that affect the brain, the person just keeps trudging forward, doesn't usually ask for help, doesn't tend to backtrack, but just keeps going forward until exhaustion or something (someone) stops them. This could explain the sighting far from the original search area.

And thank goodness for this wonderful person being aware and noticing something that seemed out of place.

 

[SCHMAE]

Just thinking ... John disappeared voluntarily, that much we know. I think it is reasonable to assume that he doesn't want to be found, and that he might anticipate family and friends looking for him. Therefore, he might avoid populated areas, especially streets, shops, and other places (public transportation?) where he knows he could be captured on surveillance cameras.

So I was wondering, could it be he's trying to stay off the grid? Not use buses, not visit shops, not walk down busy streets? Could he be traveling at night only? Did he ever have some kind of survival training? Would he know how to find edible plants, fruits, berries, roots, etc? He might travel mainly in wooded areas, seeking out fresh water sources. He might have a map in his bag. He might try to get somewhere on foot, undetected.

I hope all this is superfluous and you found him already!

Good thinking. Ex military or boy scout ? If he enjoyed conspiracy theories, then he probably has at least peeked at doomsday prepping.

 

[SCHMAE]

I can't agree more about the UTIs causing, for lack of better words, "brain malfunction." I learned this with my mother. There can be no outward symptoms and suddenly someone can do things that are completely out of character.

The one thing I do know is that with issues that affect the brain, the person just keeps trudging forward, doesn't usually ask for help, doesn't tend to backtrack, but just keeps going forward until exhaustion or something (someone) stops them. This could explain the sighting far from the original search area.

And thank goodness for this wonderful person being aware and noticing something that seemed out of place.

The nurse explained it to me . IIRC it has to do with the failure to release the urine so that 'backup' so to speak causes a chemical reaction in the blood similar to a poisoning of the blood if you will. The behavior can be very scary. She also used the word ' psychosis' because we thought mom had a break with reality and she did but it was temporary. Even after treatment, it took many days for the symptoms to go away.

ETA I know this is a reaching ' what if' but it's good to remember there could be perfectly logical reasons .

 

[1&2&3]

So for you more knowledgeable sleuths, where do you think John is sleeping at night?

Do you think he is sleeping in the wooded areas in a park, on a park bench, or checking into a little motel? If he's sleeping outside, after this many days, he is shuffling as his body is pretty tired from not getting good rest and with all the walking he is doing.

It seems like he is on a mission. Has he ever expressed interest in seeing something in these areas he visited?

 

[Elainera]

Schmae, this is very interesting information. Thank you! My mom is 80 and occasionally has a bladder infection. I will talk with her about this.

 

[skibaboo]

My Mum turns 80 this year, she is paralysed after a major stroke in 09. But she was hospitalised in December with a possible UTI. She was confused and distressed, strangely not upset, but upbeat and also quite chatty. Which for her is weird! She had become quite dehydrated which had added to her confused state. They thought she may have had a minor stroke at first. Interesting theory and might explain John's behaviour. Fingers crossed!!

Map updated - John Beck Case Map

 

[michmi]

So for you more knowledgeable sleuths, where do you think John is sleeping at night?

Do you think he is sleeping in the wooded areas in a park, on a park bench, or checking into a little motel? If he's sleeping outside, after this many days, he is shuffling as his body is pretty tired from not getting good rest and with all the walking he is doing.

It seems like he is on a mission. Has he ever expressed interest in seeing something in these areas he visited?

If it's a medical issue like stroke or UTI, my guess would be he is sleeping outside wherever looks good at that moment, could even be in backyards, parks, a chair on a front porch of a home...it's just going to be a place that looks like a nice place to sit and rest. He may even have a disruption in his sleep cycle that causes him not to have to sleep for a day or two. It's not going to be thought out - just a place where he thinks "I'm going to sit for a minute" and then it turns into a nap.

 

[kimi_SFC]

Sending my continued thoughts and prayers to JoyM and all who continue to search for John.
Thank you to each and every one of my fellow WSers and to those reading here!
#KeepTheFaith
#FindJohn

:candle:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lilibet]

Thanks everyone, for validating the possible UTI theory. I've been holding this idea in my back pocket as it wasn't that relevant to finding John. But factoring in dehydration, I think it may explain a lot and add to the urgency of finding him. Yes he planned the SF visit, but that would still be possible to do. By now, dehydration and a UTI would be worse, combined with lack of sleep...a perfect storm for mental issues....and heading toward a medical emergency.

Although a UTI is more common in women, I wonder if John has ever had one before. Some people have them frequently.

The search starts soon. I'm sure they will be canvassing neighborhoods near where he was seen and where he was heading. Water sources would be a good focus too. John will be on my mind and in my prayers every minute.

 

[Deleted member 165632]

Sending prayers to his family & friends, that John is brought home. Good luck with the search, this feels like a credible sighting.

 

[Lilibet]

It seems likely that if this is John in Sebastopol, he could have used two bus lines to get there from SF...Golden Gate Transit to Santa Rosa, transferring to Sonoma County Transit. Someone mentioned that GG Transit can be caught near the bridge. Of course, that's assuming that he went to Sepastopol directly and didn't meander or stop off here and there. It's about 55 miles to Sebastopol from SF, a little over an hour by car.

http://goldengatetransit.org/schedules/current/route_72.php

http://sctransit.com/maps-schedules/?routes=1027

http://www.travelmath.com/drive-distance/from/San+Francisco,+CA/to/Sebastopol,+CA

 

[neesaki]

Just thinking and wondering why John chose to leave on foot and not in his car. I guess he never planned to go very far ?

 

[Lilibet]

Just thinking and wondering why John chose to leave on foot and not in his car. I guess he never planned to go very far ?

I think a car would be easier to find perhaps? It's a little easier to travel incognito on public transportation...except for those pesky BART surveillance cameras! But I agree that he didn't plan to go far.