SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: The lifeless remains of Beau Mann, a 39-year-old founder of the popular addiction recovery app Sober Grid were tragically found in an abandoned apartment building on Monday, May 8, in Santa Monica, California. This eerie location was less than 1,000 feet away from where he was last seen being dropped off by an Uber driver. Grieving Mann's fiance, Jason Abate, revealed the heart-wrenching conversation they had the day before his disappearance.
Recalling their last conversation, Abate shared, "He told me he loved me and that he wanted to adopt children with me." "So none of it made sense. I'm just glad that we were able to at least text I love you to each other each night." Mann's body was identified through dental records, while the cause of his death remains a mystery.
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'Beau Mann's fiance suggests foul play in his disappearance'
Expressing his belief that foul play was involved, Abate said, "I believe that Beau was killed. I don't believe it was self-inflicted," The Sun reports. Abate emphasized that Mann was a cautious person and unlikely to have willingly ended up in the circumstances in which he was found. The Santa Monica Police Department has acknowledged the possibility of homicide and is committed to a thorough investigation, ensuring justice for Mann and his loved ones. "We owe it to the victims and their families and friends to make sure that our work is done correctly and completely," SMPD Lt Erika Aklufi said.
Mann got into the car outside of a 711 near his office and texted 911, but the police said they couldn't get in touch with him. "It was a gibberish text maybe and then he didn't respond," Lt. Aklufi said, according to the Los Angeles Times. The police are planning to speak with the Uber driver to get more information on Mann's final moments. "We're looking at pretty much any option at this point to make sure it's thorough," Aklufi said after the discovery. Abate, who led a Facebook group to help find Mann, has slammed officials after he waited in agony for any sign of his partner. "They didn't even handle it, and I think that's because they assumed he was just a drug addict and gay and they didn't care," he said of the LAPD, who was initially searching for Mann.
'He wasn't doing well if you want the truth!'
"I mean, he was within a thousand feet of where he was dropped off at. He easily could have been found if somebody has done an actual investigation or a search." Abate clarified that officials were never rude to him or Mann's family, but he hoped to obtain more answers from the Santa Monica Police Department. Discussing Mann's mental health prior to his disappearance, Abate revealed concerns about the combined stress of work and family. "He wasn't doing well if you want the truth," said Abate. Mann had recently returned from a Thanksgiving trip to Texas to visit his family, while Abate remained in Michigan to care for his terminally ill mother.
Despite seeking treatment in the past, Abate dismissed the notion of an accidental drug overdose, citing the unlikely nature of the drug used by Mann. "The drug that he did usually does not overdose unless it's laced," Abate said. "So I don't believe that he was just ODing." "I think a lot of people would like to compartmentalize that and said, 'Oh he was just on drugs,' and I'm not so sure I believe that."
Jason Abate mourns the loss of Beau Mann
Furthermore, Abate described his fiancé as a "caring" person who saved "countless lives" with his sobriety app. "When I reflect on my relationship with Beau, I see so many missed opportunities because he just did so many beautiful things for me and I enjoyed every one of them," Abate said through tears. He recounted one moment when they were asked about the company while dining abroad. "One time we were in London together (at dinner) and Beau paid with a Sober Grid card," Abate said. "And the waiter said, 'Are you affiliated with Sober Grid,' and he said 'Yeah I'm the founder and CEO.'" The waiter then whipped out his phone to show Mann that he was a user. "I mean, this is an app that is all over the world and has helped people, and I don't know if we'll ever know how many people have been helped," Abate said.
