Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery docuseries which features Raymond Burr, Karl Malden, Robert Stack, Virginia Madsen, and Dennis Farina. The show documents real-life mysteries and unsolved crimes. Over the years, it has aired on various networks, and since 2020, it has been streaming on Netflix.
The Arthur Paul Beal case was part of the show's fourth season and served as a catalyst for Beal's reunion with his family. The episode was hosted by Robert Stack.
Arthur Paul Beal was diagnosed with amnesia. His case was featured in season 4, episode 3 of Unsolved Mysteries, which aired on October 2, 1991.
Details about Arthur Paul Beal's case
The case is about a man who was found wandering in the desert near Las Vegas, wearing three layers of clothing. On January 28, 1991, people discovered him and admitted him to a hospital. It was later revealed that he had been in the desert for nearly three days. Since no one knew who he really was, he was given the name "Tyler."
Tyler suffered from extreme dehydration and later, he was diagnosed with amnesia. He could not remember who he was and was later enrolled in a state-funded program. He spent nine months in the program but was unable to remember his true identity.
Months later, Tyler underwent hypnosis. During the process, he remembered a Coast Guard airfield and flying to San Diego. Under hypnosis, he gave details of flying a plane, leading authorities to believe he had indeed flown a plane before.
Over time, Tyler displayed some remarkable skills, including advanced scuba diving, knowledge of bomb mechanisms, and computer programming, leading authorities to suspect he might have a military background.
Despite this, Tyler could not remember his name and was diagnosed as a genuine victim of amnesia. Unfortunately, his state funding was eventually withdrawn, leaving him to rely on friends for food and shelter.
After the episode aired, a man identified Tyler as his son, Arthur Paul Beal.
Who is Arthur Paul Beal?
Arthur Paul Beal is a man from Boise, Idaho, where he worked as a salesman for a food supply company. He was married and had two children, but he separated from his wife in 1990.
After the caller recognized Tyler as his son, he had a twenty-minute call with his mother, Lynn, and his stepfather, but Tyler was not able to remember them. However, things quickly took a drastic turn when Arthur Paul Beal aka Tyler was arrested by the Las Vegas Police in connection with a case involving a stolen shipment.
In January 1991, Arthur Paul Beal left with a shipment for Las Vegas but soon went missing. He returned a few days later with an empty truck in Boulder City, where he was questioned by the police. However, he was not arrested and left the city.
Apparently, just three days after being detained by the police, Arthur Paul Beal was found wandering in the desert and was hospitalized, where he was later diagnosed with amnesia.
Bob Baughman, a Boulder City detective who met Paul when he returned with the empty truck, questioned Paul's amnesia and suspected he might be faking it. In November 1991, Arthur Paul Beal pled guilty to the theft case and spent ninety days in jail.
Unsolved Mysteries renewed for fifth volume
Netflix has renewed Unsolved Mysteries for a new season, with Volume 5 expected to hit the platform in October 2024. The new addition to the series will reportedly consist of four episodes, although the official release date has not been announced yet.
You can watch Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix.
