Exclusive: Rebecca Beard Family Says Police Records Raised New Questions
BEAUMONT, Texas — For decades, Rebecca Beard’s family believed they understood the basic facts surrounding her disappearance and murder.
That changed when they began reviewing police records.
According to Rebecca’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, a tip received in 2021 led the family to take a deeper look into the case file.
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Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose spoke with Brittany Pipkin about the documents that she says changed the family’s understanding of the case.
A Tip That Changed Everything
Pipkin says a former law enforcement officer encouraged the family to reexamine the investigation.
The family obtained records through open records requests and began reviewing decades of reports.
As they worked through the documents, one item immediately caught their attention.
The Sealed Document
According to Pipkin, the family discovered a copy of a sealed document inside the records.
The document referenced a body that investigators were reportedly waiting to identify.
“We were given a copy of a sealed document,” Pipkin said. “That document said there was a body they were waiting to identify and make sure it was my mother’s body.”
The discovery shocked the family.
For years, they believed there had never been any indication that Rebecca’s remains had been found.
“That right there was kind of a shocker to us,” Pipkin said.
New Witnesses Come Forward
The records review also prompted additional people to contact the family.
Pipkin says several witnesses have provided information that she believes deserves further investigation.
The family has shared information with law enforcement and continues to seek updates on the status of the investigation.
“We have had new witnesses come forward,” Pipkin said. “There have been very specific details on what happened that night.”
At this time, authorities have not publicly announced any new criminal charges connected to the case.
Searching for Answers
Pipkin says she understands the challenges investigators face in a case that is now more than 40 years old.
However, she believes additional work remains.
“I would love them to search all the locations,” Pipkin said.
The family says it has even offered to help locate resources for future searches if needed.
Their goal remains the same as it was decades ago.
They want answers.
Most importantly, they want to bring Rebecca Beard home.
“We just want the truth,” Pipkin said. “We want to bring her home.”
Related Coverage
Read Part One:
Read more Rebecca Beard coverage.
Learn more about missing persons investigations through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:
https://www.missingkids.org
Coming Next
In Part Three, Brittany Pipkin discusses questions surrounding people named in police reports, including businessman Arch Aplin and witness John Cohn, and why the family believes additional answers may still exist.
Editor’s Note: This story is Part Two of a three-part series examining Rebecca Beard’s disappearance, the unanswered questions that remain and her family’s search for answers.
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Rebecca Beard tag page:
https://www.chopperrose.com/tag/rebecca-beard/
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:
https://www.missingkids.org