The Mysterious Disappearance of the Beverly McGowan

In early July 1990, Beverly McGowan, a 34-year-old bank clerk from Pompano Beach, Florida, decided to find a new roommate. She met Alice, a British woman who drove a nice car and seemed successful. They both shared an interest in New Age beliefs like numerology.

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Roommate Strange Predictions

Alice offered to do a numerology chart for Beverly, asking for personal details like her passport number and birth certificate. After completing the chart, Alice told Beverly she would find true love and wealth. However, Alice also warned that someone close to her would betray her.

Disappearance and Suspicion

On July 17, just days after Alice moved in, Beverly disappeared. Her friends and family received letters from her, claiming she had sold her condo and was starting a new life. When her siblings went to check her condo, they found it empty, her car missing, and her phone disconnected. The only things gone were her two cats, address book, birth certificate, and passport.

On July 19, Beverly’s remains were found in a canal in St. Lucie County, about 100 miles from her home. Her attackers had tried to delay identification by removing parts of her body and a tattoo. Dental records confirmed her identity.

Suspicious Behavior

The letters Beverly sent were written in her handwriting, which puzzled police. They soon suspected Alice, who was seen using Beverly’s credit card after the disappearance. Alice apparently fled to England. An unidentified man, "Sam," also used Beverly's credit card to reserve a rental car at Heathrow Airport.

Unraveling the Mystery

Police later discovered that Alice had stolen the identity of Sylvia Ann Hodgkinson. Elaine Parent, the real name of Alice, was a con artist with multiple stolen identities. She was linked to Beverly's case through forensic evidence and handwriting.

Capture and Aftermath

In April 2002, Elaine Parent was finally caught in Panama City, Florida, thanks to a tip from a viewer of "America's Most Wanted." To avoid capture, Elaine took her own life. While her death brought some closure, many questions about her criminal activities remain unanswered. Some still wonder if "Sam" was actually Elaine in disguise.

Ongoing Questions

Despite Elaine's death, the case remains unresolved in many ways. The true extent of her crimes and her possible connections to other cases are still unknown. The search for answers continues, leaving Beverly McGowan's story as a haunting reminder of a mysterious and tragic event.

Source: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Beverly_McGowan