The Enigmatic Case of Benjaman Kyle: Unraveling a Man’s Lost Years

In August 2004, behind a Georgia Burger King, a man was found unconscious, initially described as naked and injured. When he regained consciousness, he claimed no memory of his identity. Two filmmakers now delve into the story to uncover what occurred during the years he was missing. The docuseries “The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle” on Investigation Discovery (ID) follows Eric and Shannon Evangelista as they help this mystery man rediscover his identity. Although he was identified in 2015 as William Burgess Powell, the investigation took unexpected turns.

Powell, who disappeared from Indiana in 1976, reemerged nearly three decades later behind the Georgia fast food restaurant, claiming to be unaware of his identity, and became known as Benjaman Kyle. People magazine reported no criminal record or charges against him. The docuseries shares his unknown whereabouts and encourages public tips to Hot Snakes Media, the production company.

Shannon Evangelista stated that since discovering Powell’s story, they have been determined to reconnect him with his family. Yet, more questions than answers surfaced as they examined his case. “We are still investigating,” she said, hoping to answer what happened between 1983, when his Social Security stopped, and 2004.

Shannon highlighted that the filmmakers uncovered a lack of injuries on Powell’s body when found, opening questions regarding his story.

The Evangelistas linked with Ken Maxwell, a retired FBI agent, who provided insights. An Indiana State Police report from 1976 detailed Powell’s sudden departure from Lafayette, Indiana, prompting speculation about his actions during that period. His story of being beaten and abandoned conflicted with medical records and the initial EMT evaluation.

The filmmakers discovered possible connections to organized crime, though no evidence directly linked him to criminal acts. They consulted with retired profiler Ken Maxwell. Although some speculated about Powell’s past connections, evidence remains inconclusive.

Powell, now 77, provided filmmakers with memories from the 1980s and used his knowledge of specific locations to navigate during filming. Despite being identified and connected with his biological family, the mystery regarding his past and current whereabouts persists.

Shannon noted their last contact with Powell was in December 2016. Despite efforts to track him down, his whereabouts are currently unknown. Some believe he might still reside in the Lafayette area, keeping a low profile.

With no evidence linking Powell to any known crimes, the search for his true story continues. “We want answers,” Eric Evangelista stated. While many questions remain unresolved, the filmmakers maintain their commitment to uncovering the truth about Benjaman Kyle.