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

[1&2&3]

It seems like John just reached a breaking point prior to that Monday where he had been thru so much with the FTA, that walking into the bankruptcy court, was one step too much for him.

He had worked all his life and to face loosing it was too much for him to bare. At least in that courtroom. He knew what was going to happen, he just could not stand hearing it stated/read out loud. John was embarrassed, humiliated, deflated, defeated, felt he had failed his family, was questioning himself as to how this had happened, and on and on.

He had planned not to go to court as evident from his computer searches. Does Joy have the dates his searches were done to see how long this plan had been in his mind?

How was his demeanor over the weekend prior to him going missing? Was anything notable from Sunday?

If he was going to harm himself, why did he research these places he traveled to? Two weeks tomorrow, Monday, is a long time to be on foot going from place to place. I am not sure harming himself is his intent.

My opinions only.

 

[Tr.]

BBM

Eight miles of kindness, Secrett!! That's plenty concrete! Thank you for doing this and for your report. How encouraging!

And I have to say, for those following along from afar, there is nothing quite like a beautiful day in SF. The whole city just sparkles!

What are the city ordinances on vagrancy like there. Are they lenient with regard to homeless using the green-ways at night?
Are there any large camps?
If Mr Beck is moving at night it may be because the parks are off limits from dusk to dawn.
I would watch for him in and around parks nearest the last reliable sighting.

 

[Tr.]

If he was going to harm himself, why did he research these places he traveled to? Two weeks tomorrow, Monday, is a long time to be on foot going from place to place. I am not sure harming himself is his intent.

My opinions only.

I agree. i think he's as you described and as others here suggest may have "snapped a bit".
I hope he's mentally sound enough to sort it all out because I believe that's what he's trying to accomplish.
I lost my mother last year at that same age to Dementia and I can see how that disease may possibly play a role here...hope not but we must consider it.

 

[persimmon]

What are the city ordinances on vagrancy like there. Are they lenient with regard to homeless using the green-ways at night?
Are there any large camps?
If Mr Beck is moving at night it may be because the parks are off limits from dusk to dawn.
I would watch for him in and around parks nearest the last reliable sighting.

As a native, I can say we have the largest homeless population in the country alongside NYC. Although I don't know the city's ordinances, I tend to think they are fairly conservative about enforcing them. A homeless individual not harming anyone gets left alone. Especially an older gentleman without noticable physical or mental issues. He might actually stand out enough that authorities would be concerned with his well being and ask questions if they ever confronted him. Unless somebody complains and thats more likely in a busy shopping area etc...they are left alone.

 

[Lilibet]

The bankruptcy could actually be positive in the sense that it may have been intiated as a means to protect some assets..such as the home he resided in. Just throwing that out there.

I have been following but was hesitant to mention something I have been thinking about. Since the conversation has veered in this direction now though, I thought I would ask. If John were deceased and the house is in both his and his wife's names, wouldn't the house revert solely to his wife's ownership? If so, could he have sacrificed himself so she would not lose the home?

I hope my speculation is off base and he comes home soon!

BBM

The way I understand John's bankruptcy situation from reading (and I could be wrong), he and his wife are only able to keep the home until the FTC appeal has been decided by the court. I don't think he was able to protect any assets in the bankruptcy, so that ship may have sailed. The liquidation has begun, except for his residence. If he wins the FTC appeal, there may still be a reduced amount owed, which could still involve losing the residence...this is just a guess.

I do wonder when the court will rule on the FTC case. The last hearing we've heard about upthread was a year ago to the day John disappeared. If he loses, I assume he could attempt to appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S (SCOTUS). If the FTC loses, it might appeal. Whether that appeal process would allow him to stay in his residence while it's decided is unknown.

But it has occurred to me that his disappearance or death could delay what may seem to be inevitable to John, so there might be something like that motivating him. I don't know. I certainly hope not. His family doesn't seem to think the legal issues have changed significantly. I keep chewing on whether the meeting at court could have been more important than his family realizes, but I assume they've been informed by now. What John knows and/or thinks is unknown to us. And it probably doesn't really help to find him, as much as I'd like it to help.

I'm rambling again! The important thing is that he is found.

 

[persimmon]

Am I correct that the last known sighting (verified) was the Instagram post on the day he went missing? From there, we are not sure where he headed?

 

[persimmon]

BBM

The way I understand John's bankruptcy situation from reading (and I could be wrong), he and his wife are only able to keep the home until the FTC appeal has been decided by the court. I don't think he was able to protect any assets in the bankruptcy, so that ship may have sailed. The liquidation has begun, except for his residence. If he wins the FTC appeal, there may still be a reduced amount owed, which could still involve losing the residence...this is just a guess.

I do wonder when the court will rule on the FTC case. The last hearing we've heard about upthread was a year ago to the day John disappeared. If he loses, I assume he could attempt to appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S (SCOTUS). If the FTC loses, it might appeal. Whether that appeal process would allow him to stay in his residence while it's decided is unknown.

But it has occurred to me that his disappearance or death could delay what may seem to be inevitable to John, so there might be something like that motivating him. I don't know. I certainly hope not. His family doesn't seem to think the legal issues have changed significantly. I keep chewing on whether the meeting at court could have been more important than his family realizes, but I assume they've been informed by now. What John knows and/or thinks is unknown to us. And it probably doesn't really help to find him, as much as I'd like it to help.

I'm rambling again! The important thing is that he is found.

Was he being represented in the bankruptcy proceedings?

 

[Lilibet]

Am I correct that the last known sighting (verified) was the Instagram post on the day he went missing? From there, we are not sure where he headed?

You are correct. The photo at Lands End was taken at 12:08 p.m., three hours after he boarded the BART train in Oakland on Tuesday Feb. 9. There is another sighting nearer the 32nd Ave exit from the trail that seems promising, but there is no photo or surveillance video confirming it (yet). The screenshots of street views that were recovered from his computer have been canvassed. No results. That's it.

 

[Lilibet]

Was he being represented in the bankruptcy proceedings?

I'm quite sure he was being represented but let me check.

ETA: Yes he is represented. There is an attorney's name at the bottom of the second link. But it really seems to be all over but the liquidation. He suspended the bankruptcy in 2013. That's if I understand it correctly. And it's entirely possible that I don't!

http://alamedasun.com/news/alameda-man-disappears
http://www.robbevans.com/assets/case-files/johnbeckstipulation01.pdf

 

[1&2&3]

From reading the banruptcy laws of CA, his home would have been worth much more than the amount allowed.

Somewhere I believe many of us have heard that in a bankruptcy you get to keep your house. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case. In my state, one can only have so much equity in the house to keep it! Believe me when I say the amount is so low, in today's market, it would be a junker.

 

[persimmon]

I'm quite sure he was being represented but let me check.

ETA: Yes he is represented. There is an attorney's name at the bottom of the second link. But it really seems to be all over but the liquidation. He suspended the bankruptcy in 2013. That's if I understand it correctly. And it's entirely possible that I don't!

http://alamedasun.com/news/alameda-man-disappears
http://www.robbevans.com/assets/case-files/johnbeckstipulation01.pdf

Thanks Lilbet for all your information and organization of the details.

 

[Tr.]

As a native, I can say we have the largest homeless population in the country alongside NYC. Although I don't know the city's ordinances, I tend to think they are fairly conservative about enforcing them. A homeless individual not harming anyone gets left alone. Especially an older gentleman without noticable physical or mental issues. He might actually stand out enough that authorities would be concerned with his well being and ask questions if they ever confronted him. Unless somebody complains and thats more likely in a busy shopping area etc...they are left alone.

Thank you. Your posts are always so easy to read and follow.

My concern with Mr. Beck "taking to the streets" is that initially he would indeed stand out to other maybe less stable individuals out there. If JB is still of sound mind then he would realize this and gravitate to areas with fewer numbers of homeless for safety reasons. He would still need to blend in and find food and water so less traveled green-ways within walking distance of services seems a likely place to look.

I wish we knew his history and whether he had ever lived on the streets before.

 

[deedee21]

Fishermans Wharf might be a good place to search.

 

[persimmon]

Thank you. Your posts are always so easy to read and follow.

My concern with Mr. Beck "taking to the streets" is that initially he would indeed stand out to other maybe less stable individuals out there. If JB is still of sound mind then he would realize this and gravitate to areas with fewer numbers of homeless for safety reasons. He would still need to blend in and find food and water so less traveled green-ways within walking distance of services seems a likely place to look.

I wish we knew his history and whether he had ever lived on the streets before.

I'm only speculating but I think he has lived a comfortable life and has never been on the streets. Also, the family spokesperson, Joy stated that he isn't a particularly outdoorsy type although sustained walking was something he was fully capable of. I guess Im just saying he wasn't a survivalist.

 

[Lilibet]

It seems like John just reached a breaking point prior to that Monday where he had been thru so much with the FTA, that walking into the bankruptcy court, was one step too much for him.

He had worked all his life and to face loosing it was too much for him to bare. At least in that courtroom. He knew what was going to happen, he just could not stand hearing it stated/read out loud. John was embarrassed, humiliated, deflated, defeated, felt he had failed his family, was questioning himself as to how this had happened, and on and on.

He had planned not to go to court as evident from his computer searches. Does Joy have the dates his searches were done to see how long this plan had been in his mind?

How was his demeanor over the weekend prior to him going missing? Was anything notable from Sunday?

If he was going to harm himself, why did he research these places he traveled to? Two weeks tomorrow, Monday, is a long time to be on foot going from place to place. I am not sure harming himself is his intent.

My opinions only.

BBM

These are really good questions.

I recall that the searches for public transportation to Sutro Baths and Baker Beach were done early in the morning of the day he disappeared 2/9. So doesn't seem planned ahead. I assume he researched these places just so he could get there easily without his car. But why?

Later they found street views of various places...the Embarcadero BART station, Sutro Baths and the address on Sacramento St. I recall Joy saying that these were done at 4:00 a.m. I assumed she meant the same morning he disappeared. They were buried deeper (deleted?) so it took longer to find. The Sacramento St address has been checkout out, along with others in the area.

Other searches that were done 2/1 and 2/2 haven't been found to have significance yet. We were discussing them Friday evening when the Sebastopol report came in.

I hope Joy can answer the rest or correct any mistakes I've made.

 

[Andrew_Bg]

It seems like John just reached a breaking point prior to that Monday where he had been thru so much with the FTA, that walking into the bankruptcy court, was one step too much for him.

He had worked all his life and to face loosing it was too much for him to bare. At least in that courtroom. He knew what was going to happen, he just could not stand hearing it stated/read out loud. John was embarrassed, humiliated, deflated, defeated, felt he had failed his family, was questioning himself as to how this had happened, and on and on.

He had planned not to go to court as evident from his computer searches. Does Joy have the dates his searches were done to see how long this plan had been in his mind?

How was his demeanor over the weekend prior to him going missing? Was anything notable from Sunday?

If he was going to harm himself, why did he research these places he traveled to? Two weeks tomorrow, Monday, is a long time to be on foot going from place to place. I am not sure harming himself is his intent.

My opinions only.

I do not believe either that he was thinking about harming himself.I think he is still ok,just on a kind of "cruise" to keep his mind together and find his thoughts clear again.

 

[neesaki]

I'm quite sure he was being represented but let me check.

ETA: Yes he is represented. There is an attorney's name at the bottom of the second link. But it really seems to be all over but the liquidation. He suspended the bankruptcy in 2013. That's if I understand it correctly. And it's entirely possible that I don't!

http://alamedasun.com/news/alameda-man-disappears
http://www.robbevans.com/assets/case-files/johnbeckstipulation01.pdf

I wonder why he voluntarily suspended the bankruptcy. Would that not have offered him a little protection? I'm not knowledgeable on this kind of thing so forgive me if my question sounds stupid, lol.

ETA: I just read a previous post that stated California bankruptcy laws are apparently not favorable regarding home values. Maybe that's the reason ?

 

[persimmon]

Why would an individual planning to harm themselves or disappear for that matter, be calculating distance to Martinez for bookkeeping purposes? Seems so contradictory. Makes me wonder.

 

[persimmon]

I wonder why he voluntarily suspended the bankruptcy. Would that not have offered him a little protection? I'm not knowledgeable on this kind of thing so forgive me if my question sounds stupid, lol.

I thought the same thing but I am also not up on the bankruptcy laws. I assume he initiated it as some form of protection. I also wondered if he was not separate from his business. So that assets acquired under his name would not be subject to seizure.

 

[skibaboo]

BBM

These are really good questions.

I recall that the searches for public transportation to Sutro Baths and Baker Beach were done early in the morning of the day he disappeared 2/9. So doesn't seem planned ahead. I assume he researched these places just so he could get there easily without his car. But why?

Later they found street views of various places...the Embarcadero BART station, Sutro Baths and the address on Sacramento St. I recall Joy saying that these were done at 4:00 a.m. I assumed she meant the same morning he disappeared. They were buried deeper (deleted?) so it took longer to find. The Sacramento St address has been checkout out, along with others in the area.

Other searches that were done 2/1 and 2/2 haven't been found to have significance yet. We were discussing them Friday evening when the Sebastopol report came in.

I hope Joy can answer the rest or correct any mistakes I've made.

BBM - They were cached images. Meaning they weren't photos saved on his computer, which he deleted. But ones he had recently looked at online (google maps in this case) Your computer temporarily saves files from sites you browse in your cache, this is so when you browse again your computer remembers and the page loads faster.