PI’s Declassified!

Genuine credentials should be foundational to the credibility of any expert witness. An expert witness is defined as one who has knowledge beyond that of an ordinary person and often gives testimony to understand or interpret an issue requiring a specific expertise. But…are an expert’s credentials always authentic? A background investigation of one expert revealed tainted qualifications. Tune in to hear the shocker uncovered by Private Investigator Chris Reynolds on a prosecutor’s key witness.

On-line dating has become a popular method to locate that once-in-a-lifetime prince or princess charming. Whether it is an on-line dating service or a social media site, it is a convenient and accessible way to meet others. It is no secret, however, that the internet can be fraught with scammers and fraudsters, ever-ready to prey on the vulnerable and unsuspecting. The idea that “it can’t happen to me” is common but, unfortunately, it can happen to anyone! What are the red flags? Tune in to hear DL “Diana” Garren, author of Who is the Real Man Behind the Screen? Diana will provide insight on the predator’s tools of deception as well as report on the inner workings of the scamming world as told to her by the fraudsters themselves.

Howard Hughes was a pioneer aviator, aerospace engineer, filmmaker, inventor, investor, entrepreneur, business magnate, and philanthropist. One of the wealthiest men in the world during his lifetime, he founded Hughes Aircraft then acquired Trans World Airlines which merged with American Airlines. He is included in the fifty-one Heroes of Aviation. Always controversial, Howard Hughes was famously handsome and dated many well-known actresses such as Ava Gardner, Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis. Private Investigator Peter Maheu knew Howard Hughes and was involved in managing Hughes gaming interests as well as his mining and real estate investments. Tune in to hear Peter discuss the Hughes he knew along with the myths that surrounded him, some true and some not so true.

For 17 years, Ted Kaczynski, a child prodigy and university mathematics professor-turned domestic terrorist, manufactured and mailed bombs to key people, killing three people and injuring twenty-three. Meet Max Noel, former criminal investigative agent with the FBI, who along with other task force members, tracked Kaczynski and apprehended him in front of his remote Montana mountain cabin. Tune in to hear Max Noel tell the story of his team’s activities and the work of the FBI on this most fascinating case of the hunt and capture of Theodore J. Kaczynski aka The Unabomber.

Private investigators, like the police officer on the street, often have to gather information quickly, frequently standing on the street or even at someone’s front door. Besides being able to talk to people easily, a private investigator also needs to be quick at evaluating the provider of the information for authenticity and truthfulness. Private investigator and former Fayetteville, North Carolina patrol officer, Christopher Borba, will share his experiences getting people to tell the truth.

No one is safe from identity theft. It is an epidemic fueled by fraud and deceit. Unfortunately, it is more than a financial risk; it can involve medical services, diagnoses and other details stored in your permanent medical file. Victims of identity theft have their credit ruined, tax refunds diverted, and crimes committed in their name. The results of identity theft can be life-altering and private investigators are often called to assist. One experienced Private Investigator and Identity Theft Expert is Carrie Kerskie. Tune in to hear Carrie’s viewpoint on conducting ID Theft investigations.

For two years, the sordid saga of conspiracy and criminal acts of a California Private Investigator and a Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) Task Force Commander rocked Northern California. Not only did they sell drugs confiscated from evidence, but they also ran a brothel and provided paid protection for the bawdy-house prostitutes. It didn’t stop there! This PI, conspiring with a family law attorney and utilizing his female soccer mom PI’s, set up “Dirty DUIs” on husbands in contested child custody cases. Further driven by greed, he and his staff of mommy PI’s used actors to fake cheaters cases to gain media attention and develop a TV series. Tune in to hear Pete Crooks discuss his connection to this merry band of co-conspirators he chronicled in his recently released book, The Setup: A True Story of Dirty Cops, Soccer Moms, and Reality TV.

It is difficult to imagine shaking a baby so hard to cause death or serious injury. In 2005, Julie Baumer was convicted of child abuse resulting from the injuries to her 6-week-old nephew while in her care. The prosecution case centered around Shaken Baby Syndrome, however, other causes were not explored by either the prosecution or Julie’s defense attorney. She was sentenced to 10-15 years. Tune in to hear Julie, along with Professor David Moran and Heather Kirkwood discuss what went wrong and what actually happened to baby Phillipp.

David Camm, a retired Indiana State Trooper, arrived home after playing basketball at a local church one evening and found his wife on the garage floor shot in the head. Her pants and shoes were removed, and her shoes were on top of the family’s Ford Bronco. Their two children, ages five and seven, were found in the backseat of the car, fatally shot as well. David was arrested two days later. In an unfortunate case of police tunnel vision, followed by prosecutorial misconduct, a palm print inside the car was ignored and a prison sweatshirt found next to his wife was dismissed. A name was printed on the back of the sweatshirt. On October 24, 2013, three trials and thirteen years later, David Camm was acquitted and walked a free man. Tune in to hear David and his private investigator, Bill Clutter, tell the sordid details of David’s journey and his ultimate exoneration.

A fear worse than falsely being convicted of a crime as heinous as rape or murder is the fear of dying in prison as an innocent person. That is what happened to Timothy Cole, a military veteran and 26-year-old university student. He was convicted of rape in 1986 when the victim testified to his identity. Despite the confession of the real rapist in 1995, Cole was not released. Following his death in prison in 1999, a DNA test cleared his name “to a 100 percent moral, legal and factual certainty.” Join Timothy’s brother Cory Session and Innocence Project of Texas attorney, Nick Vilbas, to discuss this tragedy and the progressive steps taken in Texas since Timothy was exonerated.