What Happened to William Burgess Powell (formerly known as Benjaman Kyle)?
William Burgess Powell, known for over a decade as 'Benjaman Kyle,' was an amnesiac man found in 2004 with no memory of his identity. After years of public appeals and genetic genealogy efforts, he was identified in 2015 as William Burgess Powell, who had disappeared from Indiana in 1976. Recent 2026 documentaries have revisited his case, suggesting inconsistencies in his amnesia story and exploring potential links to cold cases and organized crime.
Quick Answer
Benjamin Kyle, whose real name is William Burgess Powell, was found naked and injured with severe amnesia behind a Burger King in Georgia in 2004. For 11 years, he lived without an identity until genetic genealogy identified him in 2015 as a man who disappeared from Indiana in 1976. As of May 2026, Powell is reportedly living a private life in Indiana, while a new Investigation Discovery docuseries, "The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle," has premiered, raising questions about the authenticity of his amnesia and exploring potential ties to cold cases and a Midwestern crime family.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Found with Amnesia
A naked, injured, and unconscious man is found behind a Burger King in Richmond Hill, Georgia, with no memory of his identity. He is later diagnosed with dissociative amnesia.
Adopts Alias 'Benjaman Kyle'
Hospital staff refer to him as 'Burger King Doe' or 'B.K. Doe.' He later chooses the name 'Benjaman Kyle,' spelling Benjaman with two 'A's.
NPR Segment Airs
NPR features his story in a segment titled 'Know This Man? Can You Tell Him Who He Is?', bringing national attention to his plight.
Documentary 'Finding Benjaman' Released
Filmmaker John Wikstrom releases a short documentary detailing Kyle's situation and appealing for public help in identifying him.
Participates in Reddit AMA
Benjaman Kyle engages with the public in a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session, sharing details of his life with amnesia and his struggle for identity.
Identity Discovered via Genetic Genealogy
After years of effort, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore and her team identify 'Benjaman Kyle' as William Burgess Powell, born August 29, 1948, in Lafayette, Indiana.
Obtains Florida ID Card
With his identity confirmed, William Burgess Powell obtains a Florida identification card with assistance from the organization IDignity, marking a significant step towards regaining legal existence.
True Identity Publicly Revealed
William Burgess Powell's full name is publicly revealed, confirming his birth details and his disappearance from Indiana in 1976.
Podcast Revisits Case
The Mile Higher podcast covers 'The Benjaman Kyle Story,' focusing on his initial discovery and the resolution of his identity.
Missing Podcast Episode
The 'Missing' podcast dedicates episode 546 to 'Benjaman Kyle,' discussing his background and identification.
The Grimes Files Podcast Episode
The 'Unidentified: Benjaman Kyle – The Grimes Files' podcast episode explores the systemic failures in his case and the shift of suspicion onto him.
Docuseries 'The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle' Premieres
A new two-night, four-part docuseries on Investigation Discovery and HBO Max begins, delving into inconsistencies in Powell's amnesia story and exploring potential links to cold cases and organized crime.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
On August 31, 2004, a man was discovered naked, injured, and unconscious behind a Burger King in Richmond Hill, Georgia. He had three depressions in his skull consistent with blunt force trauma and was covered in fire ant bites. Upon waking in the hospital, he claimed to have no memory of his identity or past, leading doctors to diagnose him with dissociative amnesia. He adopted the name 'Benjaman Kyle' (spelling Benjaman with two 'A's) based on the hospital's 'Burger King Doe' (B.K. Doe) placeholder.
For 11 years, Benjaman Kyle lived as a man without a legal identity, unable to obtain a Social Security number, employment, or government assistance, despite extensive media coverage, including appearances on 'Dr. Phil' and in National Geographic, and a dedicated online community. His struggle highlighted the systemic challenges faced by individuals without verifiable identification. Efforts to identify him through fingerprints, dental records, and traditional missing persons databases were unsuccessful.
The breakthrough came in 2015 through the pioneering work of genetic genealogist CeCe Moore and her team. By comparing Kyle's DNA to public databases, they identified him as William Burgess Powell, born August 29, 1948, in Lafayette, Indiana. Powell had reportedly cut ties with his family in 1976, and his Social Security trail went cold in 1983, leading his family to believe he was dead. With his identity restored, Powell was able to obtain a Florida ID card and access public assistance.
However, the story has taken a darker turn with the release of a new two-night, four-part docuseries, "The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle," which premiered on Investigation Discovery and HBO Max on May 25-26, 2026. Filmmakers Shannon and Eric Evangelista, who initially sought to help Kyle, claim to have uncovered disturbing inconsistencies in his amnesia story. The documentary explores behavioral discrepancies, a chilling remark made by Powell on camera about a good place to dispose of a body, and alleged connections to three unsolved cold cases from the 1970s and a possible Midwestern crime family. The producers now openly question whether Powell's amnesia was genuine or a deliberate construction to escape a past life.
As of May 2026, William Burgess Powell, now 77 years old, is reportedly living a relatively private life in or around Lafayette, Indiana, and has cut off communication with the documentary filmmakers and investigators. He has not been charged in connection with any of the crimes discussed in the documentary, and the period between 1976 and 2004 remains largely unaccounted for.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if William Burgess Powell (formerly known as Benjaman Kyle) made different choices?