A man who woke up outside a Burger King claiming to have amnesia may be connected to unsolved crimes, according to a new documentary series. The case of 'Benjaman Kyle' has baffled investigators for decades, but now filmmakers allege he may have ties to a powerful crime family and several cold cases.
The Mysterious Discovery
On August 31, 2004, a Burger King employee in Richmond Hill, Georgia, found a naked man lying unconscious behind the restaurant. He had no wallet, identification, or memory of who he was. Hospitalized as 'Burger King Doe,' he later adopted the name Benjaman Kyle, believing his birth date was August 29, 1948. He recalled vague memories of Denver and Indiana but had no idea how he ended up in Georgia. Diagnosed with dissociative amnesia, he struggled to live without a social security number or government ID, relying on strangers and media attention to uncover his identity.
Identification and Unanswered Questions
In 2015, genetic genealogists identified him as William Burgess Powell, an Indiana man who vanished in 1976. His car was found abandoned in Battleground, Indiana, with plates removed. His family believed he had died. At 67, Powell finally obtained legal identification. However, filmmakers Shannon and Eric Evangelista, who initially sought to help him, uncovered disturbing inconsistencies. Shannon Evangelista alleges Powell may not have suffered amnesia at all, instead fleeing a dangerous past.
Links to Organized Crime and Cold Cases
The docuseries, 'The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle,' features witness accounts claiming Powell is linked to a crime family in Lafayette, Indiana. It focuses on George Keck, a suspect in the 1977 murder of Purdue student Kristine Kozik. Both Powell and Keck worked as janitors at Purdue. In a recorded interview, Keck revealed details about Kozik's death, saying he was told she was killed accidentally during a struggle. The murder remains unsolved. The series also explores other cold cases in the area.
Continuing Investigation
Evangelista says major questions remain about Powell's life between 1976 and 2004. Although Powell has not been charged, she believes he knows more. Powell, now 77, has cut off communication, but Evangelista insists, 'If we stop, he wins.' The series premieres May 25 and 26 on Investigation Discovery.
