Arch Aplin and Daughter at Arizona Buc-ee’s Opening
While thousands of people lined up for the grand opening of Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s, I traveled across the country for a different reason.
For months, Rebecca Beard’s family has been searching for answers in a case that remains one of the most talked-about unsolved mysteries along the Texas Gulf Coast. As part of my ongoing investigation, I wanted to ask Buc-ee’s founder Arch Aplin about his connection to Rebecca Beard and references to him in historical police records.
The challenge? Arch Aplin rarely gives interviews outside of Buc-ee’s business matters, and he has never publicly addressed Rebecca Beard on camera.
So I went to Arizona.
A Crowd Waiting For Buc-ee’s
Some Buc-ee’s fans arrived hours before opening day, setting up chairs and waiting overnight to be among the first customers inside Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s.
Long before the doors opened, thousands of fans were already lined up outside the massive new Buc-ee’s location. Some had traveled hours for the grand opening.
Most reporters were focused on the store, the crowds, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I was focused on a question that dates back nearly four decades.
Finally Getting The Chance To Ask
Buc-ee’s founder Arch Aplin speaks with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose during the Arizona grand opening. During the exchange, Aplin briefly addressed a question about Rebecca Beard, calling the case “a sad thing” and saying his heart goes out to the family.
After waiting through the event and multiple appearances, I finally had the opportunity to ask Arch Aplin about Rebecca Beard.
At first, he appeared unable to hear my question over the noise and activity surrounding the grand opening. After repeating the question, he stopped and responded.
His answer was brief.
“It’s just a sad thing. I don’t know what to even say. My heart goes out to them.”
The comment marks one of the few known public responses from Aplin regarding Rebecca Beard and her family.
Why The Question Matters
Rebecca Beard disappeared in 1986. Decades later, questions continue to surround the circumstances of her death and what may have happened to her remains.
Members of Beard’s family have publicly stated they still want answers. In recent interviews with me, family members raised questions about individuals named in historical police records and expressed a desire to hear from people connected to the case.
That is why I asked the question.
The Response Is Now Public
Whether viewers believe the response answered anything or not, the moment is now part of the public record.
As a journalist, my job is not to decide what people should think. My job is to ask questions and let viewers hear the answers for themselves.
Watch the full video interview below and decide for yourself.
Readers who follow the Rebecca Beard investigation may also be interested in these books on criminal investigations, missing persons cases, and unsolved mysteries:
Rebecca Beard’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, became a police officer and is now using those investigative skills in her search for answers about her mother’s 1986 murder. Photo courtesy of Brittany Pipkin.
Why Brittany Pipkin Questions the Original Investigation
Becky Beard’s personal planner from 1986 remains an important piece of family history. Her daughter, Brittany Pipkin, has carefully reviewed the planner and other records while searching for answers about her mother’s disappearance and presumed murder.
BEAUMONT, Texas — More than four decades after Rebecca Beard disappeared and was later presumed murdered, her family says they are still searching for answers.
After reviewing decades of police reports, Rebecca’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, believes there are questions that remain unanswered about several people whose names appear throughout the investigation.
Among them are businessman Arch Aplin and John Cohn.
Watch the Full Video Report
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose sat down with Brittany Pipkin to discuss why she believes additional questions should be asked about individuals named in the original investigation.
Questions About Arch Aplin
Redacted police report pages reviewed by Rebecca Beard’s family, with highlighted sections referencing individuals connected to the investigation.
According to police reports reviewed by the family, Arch Aplin’s name appears numerous times throughout the investigation.
Pipkin says she first became aware of Aplin while reviewing records connected to her mother’s case.
“When I was younger, I was a huge fan because I saw his name in all the police reports,” Pipkin said.
According to Pipkin, reports indicate Aplin had contact with Rebecca Beard before her disappearance and later communicated frequently with investigators.
Police records also reference reward money being offered during the investigation.
“He was contacting detectives almost daily,” Pipkin said. “He’s offering rewards.”
Despite that involvement, Pipkin says she has never had an opportunity to speak with Aplin directly.
“I’ve sent him a few emails,” she said. “He’s never reached out to talk to us.”
Pipkin says she would like the opportunity to ask questions about Rebecca’s final days and what information he may remember from that time period.
“I would love to ask him if he knows more than what was told to investigators,” she said.
Conflicting Accounts Raise Questions
Brittany Pipkin points to what she believes are inconsistencies within the case records. One document appears to list Arch Aplin as the last person known to have seen Becky Beard on February 14, 1986, while another references a witness statement involving Paul Taylor at the Excalibur Club around the time of her disappearance. Pipkin says the records raise questions she believes deserve further examination.
Questions Surrounding John Cohn
A police report indicates John Cone requested to speak with his attorney before providing a statement to investigators.A signed photograph of Rebecca Beard provided by her family. Family members believe the inscription may be connected to John Cohn.
Pipkin also wants to speak with John Cohn, whose name appears in investigative records.
According to police reports, Cohn reportedly contacted then-Brazoria County Sheriff E.J. “Joe” King shortly after Rebecca’s murder.
The reports indicate Cohn allegedly told authorities that his friend and co-owner of a home on Third Street in Clute was responsible for Rebecca’s death.
That individual, Paul Taylor Jr., would not be charged until approximately nine years later.
Taylor eventually pleaded guilty in connection with the case.
For Pipkin, the timeline raises questions.
“What did people know, and when did they know it?” she asked.
She believes additional information may still exist regarding what occurred in the days immediately following Rebecca’s disappearance.
“I think he knows a lot more than what has been stated,” Pipkin said.
The Family Says This Is About Finding The Truth
Pipkin emphasizes that the family’s goal is not to publicly accuse anyone.
Instead, she says they are seeking answers and hoping investigators continue pursuing leads that could help locate Rebecca’s remains.
“We’re not doing this to accuse anybody,” Pipkin said.
“We just want the truth. We want to bring her home.”
More than 40 years after Rebecca Beard vanished, the family says that goal has never changed.
They want a place to visit.
A place to leave flowers.
And finally, a place to lay Rebecca Beard to rest.
The individuals named in this story have not been charged with Rebecca Beard’s murder. Statements referenced in this article are drawn from interviews, court records and police reports reviewed by the family. Investigators have not publicly announced additional suspects in the case.
If you’re interested in cold cases, unsolved mysteries, and investigative reporting, these books provide insight into how complex cases are investigated and solved:
📖 I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara A bestselling investigation into the Golden State Killer case.
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Rebecca Beard’s family reviewed hundreds of pages of police reports and court records, saying the documents raised new questions about the investigation into her 1986 murder.
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.
Brittany Pipkin and her father examine police records and case files connected to the Rebecca Beard case, searching for answers more than 40 years after Rebecca disappeared.
Watch the Full Video Report
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
Brittany Pipkin and her father examine police records and case files connected to the Rebecca Beard case, searching for answers more than 40 years after Rebecca disappeared.
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
A sealed document and related case records reviewed by Rebecca Beard’s family as they continue searching for answers and raising questions about evidence contained in the decades-old investigation
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 Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge has been mentioned in witness statements and investigative leads related to the Rebecca Beard case. Family members continue to seek answers about whether additional searches should be conducted in the area.
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
Rebecca Beard’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, became a police officer after losing her mo
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.”
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.
Brittany Pipkin lives on a multi-generation ranch near Beaumont, Texas. During an exclusive interview, she shared memories of her mother, Rebecca Beard, and discussed her family’s continuing search for answers. Photo by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.
Exclusive: A Career Inspired by Loss
BEAUMONT, Texas — The sprawling ranch stretches across thousands of acres near Beaumont. Cattle roam the fields, horses graze beneath towering oak trees and generations of family history remain rooted in the land.
“This ranch has been in the family since 1885,” Brittany Pipkin said.
However, the peaceful setting hides a lifetime of unanswered questions for Pipkin.
In March 1986, her mother, Rebecca Beard, disappeared while Pipkin was still a baby.
As a result, she grew up searching for answers about the tragedy that changed her family forever.
Watch the Full Video Report
Before Brittany Pipkin became a police officer, she was a daughter growing up without answers. Family photos and memories helped her piece together who Rebecca Beard was before her disappearance in 1986.
Rebecca Beard and Darrell Beard in an undated family photograph. Family members say Rebecca was devoted to her daughter and dreamed of building a family
Growing Up Without Rebecca Beard
Before Brittany Pipkin began searching for answers, she first had to learn who her mother was.
To do that, she relied on family stories, old photographs and memories shared by her father, Darrell Beard.
According to Darrell, Rebecca was full of life and always made people laugh.
“She was fun loving,” Darrell recalled. “She loved to have fun. It was laughter, you know, a lot. Just having fun.”
Years before Rebecca’s disappearance, the couple met as teenagers and quickly fell in love.
Soon afterward, they began building a life together and dreamed of raising a family.
“She wanted a family,” Darrell said. “She wanted the same things I did.”
One memory stands out more than most.
After long days at work, Darrell would come home and spend time with his young daughter.
“When I came in from work, I’d take a shower and lay her on my bare chest,” he said. “That’s really what calmed her down.”
Although Brittany has few memories of her mother, those stories helped her understand the woman Rebecca was before her life was cut short.
Years later, Darrell wrote down memories of Rebecca for Brittany. As a result, she gained a deeper connection to the mother she never had the chance to know.
Today, those memories remain an important part of the family’s search for answers and their effort to keep Rebecca’s story alive.
Rebecca Beard holds daughter Brittany Pipkin. Photo courtesy of the Beard family.Rebecca and Darrell Beard on their wedding day. Photo courtesy of the Beard family.
Growing Up Without Rebecca Beard
Pipkin says she grew up hearing different stories about what happened to her mother.
For years, she believed Rebecca had been kidnapped.
As a result, she became determined to find answers.
“I wanted to hunt them down. I wanted to go find my mom,” Pipkin said.
Whenever she visited family, she asked questions about Rebecca and what happened to her.
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance continued to grow.
“I always asked all the questions,” she said. “I just had this need to know. I still have this need to know because we don’t have all the details yet.”
Over time, that need for answers became part of who she was.
Eventually, those unanswered questions followed her into adulthood and helped shape her future career.
A Career Inspired by Loss
Because of those unanswered questions, Pipkin chose a career in law enforcement.
Brittany Pipkin and Darrell Beard look through memories and documents related to Rebecca Beard’s disappearance. Photo by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.
The loss of her mother ultimately inspired Pipkin to pursue a career in law enforcement.
“My goal is I want to work murders,” she recalled telling a police chief during an early job interview. “I want to work crimes against women and children.”
Pipkin spent two years on patrol before moving into investigations.
While she helped other families find answers, she never stopped searching for answers in her own mother’s case.
That professional experience would later prove valuable as her family began reviewing decades of records connected to Rebecca Beard’s disappearance.
A Family Still Searching
More than four decades after Rebecca Beard disappeared, Darrell Beard remains hopeful the family will find answers. Photo by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.
More than four decades later, the family’s goal remains simple.
They want to bring Rebecca home.
“We just want to bring my mom home,” Pipkin said. “We want to have a place where we can visit, bring her flowers and honor her memory.”
Rebecca’s disappearance continues to affect multiple generations of her family.
Pipkin says she often thinks about the moments she missed growing up without her mother.
Shopping trips.
Boyfriends.
Mother’s Day celebrations.
The ordinary experiences many daughters take for granted.
Evidence photos raised new questions.Police records uncovered new leads.
In Part Two, Brittany Pipkin explains how police records, evidence photographs and court documents uncovered new questions in the Rebecca Beard case.
Editor’s Note: This story is Part One of a three-part series examining Rebecca Beard’s disappearance, the unanswered questions that remain and her family’s continuing search for answers.
Investigators, law enforcement personnel, and EquuSearch members meet along Calder Road as search efforts continue in the Texas Killing Fields investigation. Tim Miller says information provided by James Elmore Jr. led search teams back to the area.
Texas Killing Fields New Search Focuses on Calder Road
A new search is underway along Calder Road in League City. The area is known as the Texas Killing Fields.
Investigators continue working cold cases tied to one of Texas’ most infamous murder investigations.
EquuSearch founder Tim Miller told investigative reporter Tammy Rose that search teams are looking for evidence connected to another possible victim.
The Texas Killing Fields new search comes decades after four young women were found dead in the area.
Investigators hope the latest search could uncover new evidence and provide answers in a case that has remained unsolved for decades.
Tim Miller Reveals New Details
EquuSearch founder Tim Miller discussed his conversations with James Elmore Jr. and the possibility of another victim during an interview with investigative reporter Tammy Rose. Miller said information provided by Elmore helped lead search teams back to Calder Road in the Texas Killing Fields area.
Watch Tammy Rose’s report and interview with Tim Miller below.
Tim Miller Reveals New Details
Tim Miller said he met with James Elmore Jr. more than 30 times.
The meetings took place over several years as Miller investigated information connected to the Texas Killing Fields.
During one conversation, Elmore discussed Laura Miller.
Miller said Elmore claimed Clyde Hedrick stalked Laura near a cemetery a few blocks from her family’s former home.
The information caught Miller’s attention.
Laura often walked to the cemetery. She also spent time near a nearby bayou.
Miller said very few people knew about that location.
Elmore later pointed toward a group of trees.
“See them woods right there? That’s where Clyde used to hide and watch Laura,” Elmore allegedly said.
Miller said the comment unsettled him.
The statement described a specific location. Miller believed few people would have known about it.
Questions About Another Possible Victim
A memorial marks part of the Texas Killing Fields along Calder Road in League City. Decades after the murders shocked the community, investigators continue searching for answers and following new leads.
Miller said Elmore repeatedly suggested there could be another victim connected to the area.
“I always wondered, is there any more girls?” Miller said.
According to Miller, Elmore brought him to the area multiple times over several years and repeatedly mentioned another woman.
“He always said there’s another girl out here,” Miller told Tammy Rose.
Miller said he initially questioned the information because Elmore often followed the statements by saying drug use decades earlier made some memories difficult to recall.
Still, Miller said many other details Elmore provided were later confirmed.
“Everything else he told me ended up to be true,” Miller said.
Search Teams Return to Calder Road
Search teams returned to the Texas Killing Fields area along Calder Road after EquuSearch founder Tim Miller said James Elmore Jr. repeatedly spoke about another possible victim. Investigators continue searching for evidence connected to the decades-old case.
The latest search focuses on locating evidence connected to the possible additional victim described during those conversations.
Officials have not publicly identified any potential victim, and investigators have not announced whether any evidence has been recovered.
For now, search teams continue working the area along Calder Road as investigators examine information that could provide new answers nearly four decades after the killings shocked the community.
The Texas Killing Fields
A memorial near Calder Road honors Laura Miller, Audrey Cook, Heidi Fye, and Donna Prudhomme, whose deaths became linked to the Texas Killing Fields. The area remains the focus of ongoing investigations and renewed search efforts decades later.
The Texas Killing Fields refers to a stretch of land near Calder Road in League City where the bodies of several young women were discovered between the 1970s and early 1990s.
The area remains one of Texas’ most infamous unsolved murder investigations and continues to generate new leads, searches, and investigative efforts.
Tammy Rose will continue following developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
As an independent reporter, I often spend long hours covering breaking news, search operations, and investigations across Texas. Here are a few items I use and recommend:
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Rebecca Beard Case: Family Demands Answers 146 Days Later
It has been 146 days since a witness came forward in the Rebecca “Becky” Beard case and led multiple law enforcement agencies to a location inside the Brazoria County Wildlife Refuge.
Beard’s family says investigators have not returned for a new dig.
The delay has left the family angry, frustrated, and searching for answers in a case that dates back to 1986.
Family Questions Paul Taylor Jr.’s Confession
Family members tell investigative reporter Tammy Rose they no longer believe convicted Paul Taylor Jr. pulled the trigger.
They believe Taylor may have been present, but they say his own confession raises serious questions.
According to records reviewed by the family, Taylor said he was blacked out drunk during parts of the crime. He also reportedly said he used a handgun to shoot Becky.
The family says that does not match other evidence in the case.
Records Point to a Shotgun
According to family members, this evidence sheet contains information they believe conflicts with details contained in Paul Taylor Jr.’s confession.
Family members have spent months reviewing police reports, court records, and evidence documents.
One sealed evidence document raises major questions for the family.
According to family members, the document shows investigators recovered a Remington shotgun along with remains.
The family says the document also shows an investigator expected to testify about the remains after officials identified them.
Photos From Clute Home Raise Questions
Family members point to these two holes inside the 3rd Street residence in Clute and question whether they are consistent with a handgun, as described in Paul Taylor Jr.’s confession.
Family members also reviewed photos from the 3rd Street home in Clute, where police say Becky was shot.
They say two holes in the photos look more like shotgun damage than handgun damage.
No law enforcement agency has publicly confirmed that interpretation.
Family Says DA Had Not Seen Document
In December 2024, the family met with Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck.
They asked him about the sealed evidence document.
According to family members, Selleck said he had not seen the paperwork.
The family says that answer does not make sense because the document appears tied to evidence and possible testimony in the case.
Investigative reporter Tammy Rose reached out to the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office for comment. As of publication, the office has not responded.
146 Days and No New Dig
A witness led multiple law enforcement agencies to this area inside the Brazoria County Wildlife Refuge in January 2026. Family members say no new excavation has taken place in the 146 days since.
The family says 146 days have passed since the witness led agencies to the Brazoria County Wildlife Refuge.
They say no new dig has happened at that location.
For Becky’s loved ones, the wait has only added to their frustration.
They want investigators to return to the site and follow the information the witness provided.
This remains a developing story. Investigative reporter Tammy Rose will continue following the Rebecca Beard case.
Editor’s Note: The claims about the witness, records, and photos come from family members. Tammy Rose requested comment from the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office and will update this story if the office responds.
A major development in the Texas Killing Fields investigation is unfolding after search warrants were served at a Bacliff property linked to James Elmore Jr.
Take a look at the scene as the search unfolded on the property.
Search Warrant Details
Court documents show investigators searched the Bacliff property for human remains, burial sites, and items tied to missing persons in the long-running case in Texas.
The warrant also lists tools or materials that could help conceal or move remains. Investigators looked for any evidence of tampering or disturbed burial areas.
Crews worked the property for hours while heavy equipment assisted in the search.
Human remains discovered near Highway 3 and FM 519 have sparked an active Texas EquuSearch search, as crews continue grid searches through wooded terrain. Search dogs were heard barking deep inside the woods, adding urgency to the ongoing investigation.
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For decades, the Texas Killing Fields have stood as one of the country’s most haunting crime scenes. Along Calder Road, multiple young women were murdered—leaving families still searching for answers.
Now, the case is taking a new turn.
Investigators say more arrests could be coming. They also warn additional victims may be connected.
For the first time, a man is speaking out. He says he survived a disturbing encounter as a child—one that closely mirrors what investigators believe happened to a known victim.
Exclusive Interviews Reveal New Details About the Texas Killing Fields
What if there are more victims in the Texas Killing Fields?
Chilling new interviews could lead investigators to more victims buried near the criminals’ old house. In these Texas Killing Fields exclusive interviews, neighbors and family of Clyde Hedrick and James Elmore Jr. share details that raise new questions about the case.
Take a listen to the full interviews in the video below.
If you want to dive deeper into cases like this, I’ve linked some true crime books below that break down investigations just like the Texas Killing Fields.
For the latest updates on the Texas Killing Fields investigation — including coverage of the press conference where officials said there are ongoing active leads and families continue to push for answers — see this report from ABC13:
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