Two weeks ago SFist put out the early word of the disappearance of John Beck, a 73-year-old Alameda resident last seen boarding a BART train in downtown Oakland, and whose family hasn't heard from him since. He is now considered to be a "voluntary missing person" by authorities after the Chronicle broke the news several days later that Beck was, at the time, escaping a bankruptcy hearing in Oakland in which he was potentially facing the loss of his family's home in Alameda as well as another property. And, as the Chron reports today, subsequent looks into Beck's internet search history showed that he had been looking up directions to Baker Beach and the Sutro Baths before he went missing.

Beck's daughter, Laura Beck, tells the Chron that she and her family remain hopeful that Beck will turn up alive somewhere, and are still looking for clues about his whereabouts on February 9. They've also "uncovered an Instagram photo of what looked like Beck’s silhouette, hiking the trail near Lands End" that day, but a witness also claimed to have seen him in Sebastopol.

Beck's brother, however, tells the paper he believes Beck likely "chose to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his family," thinking that his disappearance might forestall or prevent the government seizure of the family's home on Regent Street in Alameda. Beck was facing a $113 million judgment against himself personally following a 2009 suit by the Federal Trade Commission that found Beck and several other defendants guilty of scamming consumers out of $479 million.

This was all stemming from a business, advertised on late-night infomercials, called "John Beck’s Free & Clear Real Estate System," which involved a $39.95 DVD and written manual that was supposed to lead people to find inexpensive property they could purchase and flip. The scheme also involved upsells of coaching services that ranged in price from $195 to $14,995 — the Chron speaks to one man who spent $6,000 on the services.

Beck's brother, Stephen Beck, nonetheless defends Beck's character, calling the government's case overzealous and calling him "an absolute straight arrow," adding that if he did choose to take his own life for his wife and family's benefit, that "sounds like something he would do."

Our thoughts go out to his family, as well as hope that he will still turn up.

Previously: Have You Seen This Missing Person?

If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.