The Sleuth

Welcome to the Sleuth Podcast! In our 38th episode, join us for an intriguing conversation with real private investigators from the field. Our special guest, Devin, a new field investigator, shares her unique journey into Black Detective Services and her experiences so far. Learn about the ups and downs of investigative work, dealing with domestic cases, and how PIs handle stressful and unexpected situations. Plus, we dive into light-hearted chats about our favorite drinks, gym routines, and funny surveillance mishaps. Don't miss our hot topics and fun segments – it's all here in this action-packed episode!

00:00 Welcome to the Sleuth Podcast

01:42 Meet the Team: Introducing Devin

02:06 Coffee Talk: Our Favorite Starbucks Drinks

05:25 Hot Topics: Romance Readers and Social Media

08:49 Private Investigator Stories: Cheater Cases

13:38 Devin's Journey: From Retail to PI

18:12 Challenges and Strategies in PI Work

27:57 Fun and Fitness: Devin's Personal Life

32:23 What Would Devin Do?

32:47 Handling Aggressive Custody Exchanges

33:34 Recording and Testifying in Custody Cases

36:01 Challenges of Being a PI

38:42 Surveillance Techniques and Tools

40:35 Dealing with Stalking Cases

47:42 Rapid Fire Questions

53:58 Using AI for Breakups

58:22 Closing Remarks and Announcements

In this exciting episode of Sleuth, join us as we celebrate Friday with special guest Derrick Thompson, founder of T&T Creative Group. The hosts chat about their pets, share their Starbucks orders, and discuss some significant community initiatives led by Derrick, such as 'Tweens and Technology' and 'Bowling for Autism.' They also dive into fascinating topics like the importance of voting, ongoing scams to watch out for, and the impact of digital marketing for private investigators. Don’t miss the engaging conversation about balancing work life with community involvement and the amusing anecdotes about their favorite cocktails and cartoons. Listen in for valuable insights, humor, and meaningful discussions!

00:00 Morning Greetings and Disney Talk

01:06 Introducing the Show and Co-Hosts

01:31 Cat and Dog Conversations

02:17 Guest Introduction: Derrick Thompson Founder/CEO of T&T Creative Group

03:55 Starbucks Moment and Drinks Discussion

06:03 Voting and Current Events

09:34 Networking and Community Events

18:20 Guest Spotlight: Derrick Thompson

28:27 Bowling for Autism: A Community Initiative

29:28 Golfing for Good: Annual Charity Event

31:36 Creating a Positive Work Environment

32:46 Personal Achievements and Lifestyle Changes

38:49 The Pick 'Em Pros Sports Show

49:40 Scams and How to Avoid Them

53:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join us on the Sleuth Podcast for a riveting episode where we discuss wild experiences from the life of a Private Investigator and share insider tips to boost your street smarts. Hosts dive into topics ranging from digital forensics, true crime stories, the importance of vigilance in our crazy world, and hilarious moments filled with quirky insights. Additionally, we spotlight Brooke, the latest addition to the team, and her unique journey into the world of cybersecurity and crime analysis. Tune in as we explore the compelling case of Kelly Bordeaux, shedding light on how PIs assist law enforcement in solving cold cases and dive into modern work-life balance trends. Don't miss this episode's engaging anecdotes, current events, and valuable advice!

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:16 Meet the Hosts

01:42 Podcast Format and Content

02:22 Spotlight on Brooke

02:52 Seasonal Drinks and Starbucks Talk

07:41 Election Season and Political Commentary

14:21 AI Music and Fun Challenges

20:35 NFL and Flag Football

24:30 Pet Stories and Cat Adventures

29:24 A Journey from New York to Georgia

29:56 Life in Florida: Cybersecurity and Law Enforcement

32:49 Transition to North Carolina

33:26 Teaching Middle School and Higher Education

34:50 Gen Z's Approach to Work-Life Balance

40:14 Memorable Investigative Cases

43:16 The Kelly Bordeaux Case

54:23 The Role and Limits of Private Investigators

01:01:25 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of the Sleuth podcast, private investigator Jamie returns after a long hiatus, introducing new co-host Brooke and guest therapist Faith A. Naumcheff. They dive into the Casey Anthony case, analyzing the timeline, behaviors, and legal strategies surrounding the controversial murder trial of Casey Anthony, who was accused of killing her daughter, Kaylee. The team discusses the psychological aspects, the role of trauma, and the public's reaction, with insights from both investigative and therapeutic perspectives. The episode also touches on maintaining ethical standards in the private investigation field and provides resources for those seeking support and the expertise of our guest.

00:00 Welcome Back to Sleuth Podcast!

01:00 Meet the New Co-Host: Brooke

02:22 Introducing Joe and Special Guest Faith

02:52 Faith's Background and Friendship with Brooke

03:09 Valentine's Day Brunch Story

03:37 Diving into the Casey Anthony Case

04:45 Casey Anthony's Behavior and Lies

07:10 Law Enforcement and Investigation Challenges

11:55 Casey's Parents and Family Dynamics

13:40 Sexual Abuse Allegations and Psychological Analysis

22:12 Casey's Terrible Interview and Lies

22:28 The Imaginary Nanny: Zani the Nanny

23:50 Discovery of Baby Kaylee's Body

27:28 The Trial and Verdict

29:02 Public Reaction and Family Impact

32:31 Mental Health and Parenting

35:44 Faith's Work and Therapy Insights

38:41 Casey's PI Aspirations

40:05 Private Investigations: Ethics and Challenges

43:33 Conclusion and Contact Information

• Cryo Wake Forest was founded by a disabled veteran who has seen and experienced the need for mental, physical, and spiritual services firsthand. 
• As a result, Cryo Wake Forest was created to provide these services for all in the Wake Forest, Wakefield, Rolesville, and surrounding communities. 
• There is nothing more telling than the actual experience of treatment/services to be one’s testimony. After the experience of the first treatment which was COLD, different, and fun there were several more and the results proved to be more effective than any other treatments prompting the founder to begin the journey to bring these services to the area for all. 
• We chat about COVID and whether we should be talking about COVID.
• Antonio shares about the services they offer to help people recover and feel better.
• We discuss the benefits of cryotherapy.
• We chat about how Private investigator services and wellness intersect.
• We talk about how Blackman can help businesses with background checks, and issues that may arise like theft where a business owner could avoid going to the police by using a licensed Private Investigator.
• We talk about a true crime case that the sleuths have been working for over three years, what their job was in the case as private investigators, and how they assist the attorneys.
• They are hired by the defense attorneys.
• Jamie shares a story about a 29-year-old man who was convicted of murdering two women in a massage parlor found on murderpedia.org

We start the show with some talk about football and the Superbowl.

Raven talks about how she became the owner of 4C cleaning, and how her background has made her the perfect owner for her business today.

Her team can handle decontamination due to blood, decomposition, and all other bodily fluids.  Our technique also removes foul odors. 4C certified for removing mold and we handle Coronavirus cleaning according to CDC regulations. Her team removes debris from a hoarder/cluttered homes, construction sites, and post-cleaning. We contract with local businesses for repairs and site rehabilitation, if desired.

She has also launched Final Passage, which is a compassionate end-of-life transportation company. We are located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and serve all the surrounding counties and more. We will travel across the state or across the country to get your loved one safely to their final destination. 

Many people don't know that their insurance policies normally cover the services of a company like 4C Cleaning. Biohazard issues especially are eligible to be covered by insurance. Things like blood spatter, deaths in hotels, etc. 

Raven shares some pretty crazy stories of situations where 4C Cleaning was called. 

Once the contaminated items are removed the smell starts to dissipate, but sometimes it lingers in the air and special air cleaning can be necessary. 

We talk about her hoarding services and what they offer. Raven also shares what she has learned as an entrepreneur and business owner. The importance of hiring great people and how they go about identifying them.

We share a true crime story related to body cleanup and ask Raven's opinion on some of the facts of the story.

Find out more about 4C Cleaning on their website, Facebook, and Instagram

Story number one is about Jeff McDonald. He married Collete Stevenson on September 14, 1963, and had two kids. Jeff was intelligent. He studied thorastic surgery. He became a Green Beret physician.  

One night Jeff called 911 to report that there had been a stabbing. His wife had been stabbed 21 times in the chest and 16 times in the neck. His children had also been brutally murdered. Jeff sustained a few injuries but reported that after finishing washing the dishes, his daughter had wet the bed, so he went and slept on the couch. He said men broke into the house with a woman who was holding a candle and chanting "Acid is groovy, kill the pigs."

Police thought the story was a bit fishy, but they didn't have more to go on. 

He was formerly charged in 1970 of the deaths at an army hearing. He was dishonorably discharged and move to California for a successful career. His civilian trial began in 1979. 

He was convicted of the murders, it was found out that he found his daughter in bed after wetting the bed and killed her. After that, he killed his other daughter and wife to cover it up.

Story number two is another family of four. In a small town which people call "Little Washington". The husband and wife were attacked in their bedroom by intruders, while the daughters slept through the attacks.  Police couldn't find any evidence of the involvement of the kids so turned their attention to the husband. 

He was very much into Dungeons and Dragons. Our own social media coordinator is very into role-playing games and explained it to the Sleuths. The husband had made friends at his college around the game D&D. They decided to murder his family in exchange for a part of the inheritance. 

The connection between these two stories will surprise you.

After thinking 2021 was going to be an incredible year and the trainwreck that was 2020 would be ending, the Sleuths address what has happened so far in the new year. 

The Sleuth highlight three stories about cheaters.  

Story One: California High

A stay at home mom was married for over five years to her high school sweetheart. The subject picked up the bad habit of vaping. She was vaping THC. Those are not legal in North Carolina. Her husband would ask her where she got the vape pens. He noticed an Instagram post on her phone she left open. He took a screenshot and sent it to Blackman Detective Services. After some digging, they were able to identify the man and his address.  

We discuss alienation of affection. 

Women are more likely to cheat on men when the women are younger, and men are more likely to cheat on women when the men are older. 

We discussed "breadcrumbing" for dating on social media sites. 

Story two: Monetary Motives

Marty and Dan had been married for years when, unfortunately, the husband became suspicious that his wife was having an affair. We tracked the wife as she told the husband she was going out of town. The private investigators were caught with video evidence. 

Story three: Mr. Cumbuckets

That's right, we keep it classy at the Sleuth. A husband and wife had been married for 18 years. They looked like a typical happily married couple. After COVID hit the wife started working more than normal. The client enlisted Blackman Detective Services to find out what she was up to when she would visit an unknown male's house at least two or three times a week. The client got a small audio recorder and placed it in the wife's car. After hearing an x-rated conversation with her Paramore the husband brought her pants into Blackman Detective Services for testing. Testing confirmed male and female DNA on the pants. 

The Covina massacre occurred on December 24, 2008, in Covina, a city in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, United States. Nine people were killed, either by gunshot wounds or in an arson fire inside a house at 1129 East Knollcrest Drive, where a Christmas Eve party was being held. The perpetrator, 45-year-old Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who had entered the house wearing a Santa suit, died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head at his brother's residence in the early hours of the morning after the attack. Authorities cited marital problems as a possible motive for the violence; reports indicated that Pardo's divorce had been finalized on December 18, one week before the massacre. Three people, including Pardo's ex-wife and his former in-laws, were initially declared missing pending identification of their bodies.

This guy had a bad dating life and they call him the Santa-Gunman. 

We discuss what are red flags in dating? What should you look for and is it okay to get a background check on someone you've started dating.

• Significant age gaps
• Excessive drinking or drug use
• An imbalance in power 
• If you have to pay for everything
• They do a lot of lying about trivial things
• How they interact with their family
• An excessively dirty house

We talk about how it would be much easier to have a conversation about getting a background check at the beginning of a promising relationship than as a three-year anniversary present...   

In your background checks, you can get civil criminal records, judgments, bankruptcies, social media searching. And then of course you can always throw that surveillance detail in there and collect information the old school way. A lot of, I don't want to say older people, but some like persons, they usually don't do a lot of social media searching.

It's important to listen to your gut.

Jamie binged the entire show "Dexter" since we last recorded and was excited to talk about serial killers.

We start off by talking about who is not a serial killer. Often time mass murderers are mistaken for serial killers. The FBI defines mass murder as murdering four or more people during an even with no "cooling off period" between the murders. They typically happen at a single location where one or more people kill several people. An example would be a school shooter.

There is also a spree murder. Usually defined as killings that take place at two or more locations with almost no break between the murders.

What is a serial killer? A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people usually in service of abnormal, psychological gratification with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them.

What makes someone a serial killer? Short answer: we don't know, but there are some tools that people use to identify serial killers. Some have been disproved, but others remain useful tools to this day.

We discussed the lead crime hypothesis: the hypothesis is the proposed link between elevated blood lead levels in children and increased rates of crime, delinquency, and recidivism later in life. Check out the article by Kevin Drum "Lead: America's real criminal element." 

We unpack the real-life stories and details of actual serials. Andrei Chikatilo's story is shared by Jamie. He was from Ukraine. His upbringing was rough. 

And Candice unpacks the story of Amelia Dyer the notorious baby farmer and serial killer.