In 2017, Kimberlie Reed was captivated by Michael Hyatt, a man she met on Tinder. His stories were compelling: He claimed to have represented Jamaica in table tennis at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, and in an interview, he had even been lauded as the “Usain Bolt of Table Tennis” in USA Table Tennis’s magazine. To Reed, he seemed like the embodiment of success and charm. Their first date, at a BJ’s restaurant in Sacramento, cemented her impression of him as an accomplished and charismatic man.
The Illusion of Promise
As their relationship deepened, Hyatt’s passion for PongNation, a table tennis club he envisioned, became a central part of their conversations. He painted an ambitious picture, describing a franchise model similar to SPIN, the Susan Sarandon-backed New York table tennis bar chain. Reed was swept up in his vision. She believed in him, trusting him so much that she co-signed business loans and put her own money into the venture. She even walked through an empty storefront in Roseville, where Hyatt promised PongNation would soon take root. Partnerships with brands like Puma and Starbucks seemed imminent.
But things took a sudden and shocking turn. Hyatt disappeared. Reed, who had invested her time, energy, and finances into the business, was left alone, wondering what had happened.
The Pattern of Deception
Reed’s story is far from unique. After reviewing numerous interviews, court records, text messages, and financial statements, it became clear that Hyatt had a long history of deceit. His sudden disappearance was just the latest in a series of similar betrayals.
Attempts to reach Hyatt have been unsuccessful. Various numbers and email addresses tied to him have gone silent. He also appears to have severed contact with his family, as his mother stated she had not spoken to him in years. She even admitted that she didn’t know whether he was alive or dead.
A Web of Lies
The case of Michael Hyatt is one of several that illustrate the darker side of seemingly charismatic individuals who prey on trust and use personal relationships for personal gain. For Reed, the emotional and financial damage is profound. She had believed in Hyatt’s grand ambitions and invested her resources in his promises, only to be left with nothing.
Hyatt’s actions raise troubling questions about trust, manipulation, and accountability. It’s easy to be swept up by someone who presents themselves as confident and successful, but as Reed’s experience shows, appearances can be dangerously deceiving. The lessons here are clear: trust must be earned, and promises should never be taken at face value, no matter how impressive the individual behind them might seem. It’s a sad reminder that even the most compelling stories can mask darker truths.
