BY STAS VOYAGER
Atlanta Police have made a significant arrest in the high-profile theft of unreleased music and sensitive data belonging to global superstar Beyoncé, but the hunt for the stolen digital property continues.
Kelvin Evans, 40, was taken into custody in September 2025 and charged in connection with the July break-in. However, the crucial hard drives and flash drives containing the singer’s unreleased music and detailed show plans have not been recovered, leaving the music world on edge regarding a potential leak.
The Incident: A Vulnerable Moment in Atlanta
The theft occurred on the evening of July 8, 2025, just two days before Beyoncé’s first planned performance of the Cowboy Carter Tour at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Christopher Grant, Beyoncé’s choreographer, and dancer Diandre Blue reported the break-in to authorities. The pair had parked their rented black Jeep Wagoneer in a parking deck at the Ayla apartment building ahead of the tour stop. Upon returning, they discovered the trunk window had been shattered and two suitcases were stolen.
The loss was far greater than just luggage and personal effects. The stolen suitcases contained items critical to the tour and the artist’s future projects, including:
- Hard Drives/Flash Drives with watermarked, unreleased music.
- Future concert set lists and past show information.
- Footage plans and show visuals.
- Laptops, designer clothing, and AirPods Max headphones.
Grant informed police that the stolen items contained “personal sensitive information” and that the computers held “really, really important information,” later confirming the theft of the hard drives containing Beyoncé’s data.
The Investigation and Arrest of Kelvin Evans
The investigation was aided by modern technology and diligent police work:
- Device Tracking: Investigators utilized Apple’s “Find My” feature, which was tracking the location of the stolen AirPods and MacBooks, providing an initial lead to an address in Hapeville.
- Surveillance Footage: Detectives reviewed security footage from the parking garage, which captured the incident. The footage showed the perpetrator breaking into the Jeep Wagoneer and leaving in a 2025 Hyundai Elantra with Georgia plates.
- Apprehension: Police tracked the vehicle to its owner, who stated she had lent the car to her uncle, Kelvin Evans. Surveillance footage from a subsequent apartment complex allegedly showed Evans removing the stolen bags from the car.
Evans, who reportedly has a criminal history dating back to 2002, was arrested on September 16, 2025, and booked into the Fulton County Jail. He faces one count of entering an automobile or other motor vehicle with intent to commit theft or felony and is currently being held on a $20,000 bond.
The Current State: The Music is Still Missing
Despite the arrest, the most critical element of the case remains unresolved. Police have confirmed that the hard drives and flash drives containing the unreleased Beyoncé music have not been recovered.
The stolen music is believed to be related to the artist’s future projects, potentially including the long-rumored “Act III” of her current musical trilogy. The fact that the suspect was arrested for a crime of opportunity—a standard car break-in—and may have been unaware of the sensitive nature of the data he stole, only adds to the tension. If the drives were not secured or encrypted, the data could surface online, completely derailing Beyoncé’s carefully managed release strategy and potentially causing financial and creative damage.
For now, the legal process moves forward for Kelvin Evans, but the hunt for the stolen digital property continues. Fans and industry experts alike are watching closely to see if law enforcement can secure the missing music before it falls into the wrong hands.