A Deadly Paradise
By Randy Wyles | July 21, 2010
Few stories capture the imagination of amateur sleuths and mystery buffs like the champagne and caviar murder cases of the rich and famous – and the murder of Ben Novack, Jr. has popped a cork in celebration of its first anniversary in a big way.
No “soap opera” could ever come close to this 
storyline. This is a “true crime detective” style, bona fide murder mystery that has it all; deep, dark family secrets, serious family money – and ties to the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, used in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger”. There’s even a long lost relative – suffering from mental illness – who provides a surprise Read the rest of this entry »
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Watching Over Their Innocent Worlds
By Randy Wyles | July 15, 2010
My wife and I have a rock solid policy; our little girls never, ever go into a public restroom alone…period. They go with each other or my wife takes them. If I’m out with them, I stand beside the door to the restroom – and dare any “perv” to just “accidentally” go in the wrong door. The same thing was true when my grown son was just a little boy. Either I or one of his little friends went with him – but I still kept an eye on the door.
I’m not paranoid; I’m a parent – and an investigator. And I’ve seen too many cases like the “Magic Jeff” case – the former youth minister from a Kennesaw, Georgia church named Jeffrey Alan Wasley, 39, who was sentenced to 20-years in federal prison this week in Atlanta.
A security guard from a local Target store reported Wasley to police when a little boy said “Magic Jeff” wanted to help him tuck in his shirt in the restroom of the store.
When they searched his home, police discovered over 17,000 images of child pornography on Wasley’s computer. The pornographic images that police found included images of six boys in the restrooms of several Metro Atlanta Target and Walmart stores.
Wasley did not fight the charges, though he did try to kill himself when police decided to make the arrest. Wasley barricading himself in his garage, cut his wrists and neck and stabbed himself multiple times.
He had also left an apologetic note to his wife and children. Police say that, in addition to the pornographic images, they found the manuscript of a novel he was writing about a child molester who had been abused as a child.
Following his prison sentence, Wasley will be on the probation for the rest of his life. He admitted to the charges from the beginning and has agreed not to appeal the sentence in the future.
But back to the matter at hand.
I’m certainly not saying that parents who allow their kids to go to into public restrooms alone are bad parents. Not at all. Heaven knows, when you’re in the middle of a meal with the family at a restaurant or you’re trying to grab some groceries with the kids in tow and get out of the store in time to get home and make dinner, you just get sidetracked sometimes. And, of course, when your child needs to go, it’s usually right then!
So, you say “fine” and give a quick look as to the general location of the restroom – and let them go. It’s a fairly common occurrence. No problem, right? Besides, kids want to be “grown up” and they want to go to the restroom alone because they feel it makes them more “grown up” – because they see the older kids and adults do it. It’s perfectly logical in their young minds.
But, as the parent, you have to keep in mind that these people – like “Magic Jeff” – are out there…and not just out there “somewhere else.” They are out there in your neighborhood. They infiltrate family settings and public venues where children play and learn. And they lay in wait – for that innocent child. Our job as parents is to remember to be vigilant.
So, go the restroom with them. I use to make it seem to my little boy that I just happened to be going at the same time. Once I saw the room was clear, I’d just happen to finish up before him and let him know that I would be “right outside” the door. Even though it was only a minute or two, it gave him a sense of being on his own, without really being on his own.
Let a friend or sibling go with them. There is safety in numbers. Of course, you still keep an eye on the door to see who comes and goes.
Finally, report anything suspicious. If some guy steps out of the ladies room – let someone know…right then! If you notice a guy just loitering in the men’s room, report it…right then!
And let me be perfectly clear and absolutely “politically incorrect” about this; I’m not concerned with, nor could I care any less at all, whether child molesters were once victims of child abuse. I don’t care about their excuses – those are issues for therapists. My concern is the safety of my kids – and getting these “pervs” off of the street – or out of the restroom, as the case may be.
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OnLine Detective Service, Don’t Risk It
By Holly Hunter | July 6, 2010
In a recent posting on reviret.com it was suggested that in order to keep a low profile while having your cheating spouse investigated you should use your credit card and burn a few hundred dollars with an online detective service. I am here to give you three good reasons why this is not a good idea.
First of all using your credit card to pay for detective service is not a smart move. When your statement arrives in the mail the line item on your account will read “OnLine Detective Service”, “Web Investigator” or what ever the name of the detective company is. You run the risk that your spouse will see the statement, will access the account online or that the credit card bank will call one of the phone numbers associated with your account and ask if this was an intentional purchase. Imagine what kind of a conversation you will have with your supposed cheating spouse when the bank calls him about your purchase with Net Detective. Oh, sure you can change the passcode on the account so he cannot access it online but as soon as you do you better have a plausible explanation as your spouse will surely want to know why his access was denied. And I know the rest of you are the dutiful stay-at-home mom who retrieves the mail and you can screen everything that comes in. Well ask yourself this: are you willing to risk blowing your case before you begin? Besides, if he wasn’t cheating and he sees the line item purchase he may decide to leave you before you can leave him.
Second, private detective agencies in 44 out of 50 States are required to have State issued licenses. Some of these States have reciprocal agreements, others do not. Of the remaining six, two require business licenses and two require permits for certain cities and municipalities. Can you be certain the online investigation service you hire fits into at least one of these categories? Will they provide their State of licensure and license number for you to research them and see if they are legitimate? Have you been able to reach a live person to speak with and not a chat window with an innocuous person on the other side answering your questions from a script? There are many fly-by-night detective services across the nation, online and across the globe that simply take your money, have no licensure or training and provide little to no information in return. A lot of people talk a good game, but the bottom line is in all 50 States that impersonating licensed private detective or operating as a private investigator is illegal. Information that is not legally obtained is not admissible in a court of law. Now ask yourself this: is the information I need worthy of a licensed detective or should I just settle for a rip-off artist or possibly, a hacker?
Third, and probably the most important thing to remember is that if you hire a detective service, online or otherwise who provides information directly to you, that information is not considered to be protected and must be divulged during interrogatories and depositions. If you hire Hunter Investigations through your attorney, Hunter Investigations becomes your attorney’s client and the information we obtain will be provided directly to your attorney. This process is practiced by reputable detective and law firms in all 50 States because it keeps the information protected under attorney-client privilege. This means you can obtain information discretely through your attorney, your credit card statement will not reveal that you have hired a detective because payment can be made through your attorney in cash.
If you are considering using a detective service opt for a licensed private investigations firm instead. Call Hunter Investigations, 770.667.7467 and let a licensed investigator speak with you about your concerns. We will be glad to set a time to meet with you in person and give our professional opinion as to whether or not you should be considering investigative services. Sometimes there are simple answers that are being overlooked and our trained detectives are here to help you make that determination. You, the Client, have the right to sit face to face or, at the very least, speak with a live person before spending your money. At Hunter Investigations the first half hour consultation is free. In addition, Hunter Investigations LLC has our license number posted on our website and any of our licensed detectives or office staff will be more than happy to provide the Agency licensure number at your request.
Save yourself time and money; call Hunter Investigations LLC: 770.667.7467. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
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Parent Custodial Equality in TN
By Holly Hunter | April 12, 2010
In a recent article PI Newswire discusses one of the age old problems that divorcing parents face: who gets the children? The article points out that when King Solomon posed the solution of dividing the child between the two mothers who both claimed the child was born to them. The rightful mother was horrified not wanting her child to be harmed, told the King to give the child to the other woman. This display of love showed King Solomon who the birth mother was and so she was awarded custody.
Apparently a group of fathers’ rights activists are driving the Tennessee Legislature to demand the courts award equal time with their children unless their spouse can prove they are unfit to parent. These equal rights organizations are claiming that the courts have intentionally cut fathers out of the picture when it comes to awarding custody of their children. The pending legislation in Tennessee HB 2916, not the number listed in the article, states that divorcing parents are to be awarded equal time with their children unless one parent can provide “clear and convincing” evidence that the other is unfit. In this instance the court would be required to order an investigation.
A court ordered domestic investigation would most likely be conducted by various State Agencies and may not provide all of the necessary answers as the accused parent would undoubtedly be on their best behavior. Remember too State Agencies have heavy case loads and limited resources to devote to your case. Because of this a parent who is planning to divorce and accuse their spouse of being unfit should hire a private investigator prior to filing. To have the detective work completed prior to filing allows parents to have the opportunity to reach a reasonable agreement between themselves which they would present to the court. HB 2916 also allows for this solution.
One of the problems not addressed in the article is that divorcing parents who want to prove their spouse unfit will be looking in the wrong direction to hire an investigator. Fly-by-night, cloak-and-dagger gum shoes are a dime a dozen and purport to be what they are not. A spouse who is concerned for the welfare of their children needs to seek the assistance of an experienced investigative team in order to get the best results and not get ripped off.
The States of Georgia and Tennessee have reciprocal agreements which allow licensed GA investigators to work in TN. Hunter Investigations LLC located in GA specializes in domestic case work and on several occasions have assisted fathers in gaining sole custody of their children. Call us for more information 770.667.7467.
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Don’t Get Ripped Off
By Holly Hunter | January 25, 2010
The downturn in the economy has resulted in an economic swing in the opposite direction for Private Investigations. Many reasons can be attributed to this but, for the most part, private corporations as well as individuals are seeking the help of the professional PI to insure they are not being ripped off.
Many law firms and other medium to large size corporations who have staffed an in-house detective are eliminating that position to save on their budgets. What are they doing in the mean time? They are working with private investigations firms on a case by case or as needed basis. Several medium size law firms in the Atlanta area who are confidential clients of Hunter Investigations said that when they housed a firm detective all the staff, attorneys and paralegals, seemed to hand off much of their case work to the detective. In an effort to increase their bottom line, these firms admitted that a corporate restructure that included eliminating the in-house detective(s) and utilizing private investigators has resulted in a more productive firm and increased revenue.
Hunter Investigations is poised to assist corporate America as well as the private individual as each seeks to protect their assets. Our investigators work to present our Clients with the facts. Regardless of who is in need we offer background checks, search for debtors, surveillance for domestic disputes and provide due diligence for all types of criminal and civil cases. Contact Hunter Investigations to find out how you can better protect your assets during these uncertain times: 770.667.7467.
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Most Wanted
By Holly Hunter | September 10, 2009
As a private investigative firm one of the services we provide is the location of missing persons. Hunter Investigations has also provided information to local Law Enforcement as well as the FBI, DOJ and other Federal Agencies to assist in their apprehension of known criminals.
We have developed a Most Wanted page on our website to further assist in this endeavor. Many criminals have been apprehended and brought to justice because citizens like you have taken a moment to leave an anonymous tip or report a sighting. Visit our Most Wanted page and continue to help in the quest.
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In Home Alarm Systems
By Holly Hunter | September 2, 2009
Many homes across America have electronic alarm systems which of course set off a loud siren in the event of an intruder or break-in. I think most city-folk have at least heard someone’s alarm sounding in the distance so I am not going to bore you with the details of how they work or why you should protect your home and family by having one. Alarm monitoring service is an accessory to most systems and it is an accessory that most people with alarm systems have.
One of my good friends told me that that she recently changed alarm companies largely because the existing company had increased her rates steadily over the past fifteen years and she decided enough. The new company was able to make the switch without changing out her existing system, which no doubt made her happy for the cash savings.
Two interesting things happened when her new security company rep came out to make the switch. First the rep set her up with a panic code. He added an additional code to her keypad for panic situations. For example, if she comes home and surprises an intruder she punches in the panic code, then house alarm does not sound but the local police are immediately dispatched. How cool is that?
The other thing that she came to find out was that she needed to register her alarm system with the local city in which she resides. According to the rep, if she was not registered with the city and the police are dispatched she would be fined by the city for $75.00.
“Who knew you had to register your alarm system,” she said to me. Well I did some checking only to find out the rep is correct. In the greater Atlanta metroplex every municipality I spoke with gave me the same advice: register your home alarm system or risk being fined. Just another way to generate revenue I said as I hung up the phone. I suppose, though if there is good news about registering my home alarm system it is that I was able to obtain the forms online.
Register your alarm system, get a panic code set and call Hunter Investigations LLC if you find yourself the victim of an in-home burglary or other crime. We provide services that include crime scene investigation and recovery of stolen property. Pick up the phone and call for your free consultation: 770.667.7467.
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Area Code 809
By Holly Hunter | July 24, 2009
This morning I received an urgent email from a respected colleague alerting me to the not dial any phone number with the area code 809 as it would result in telephone charges that would exceed $2,000.00 per minute. Ouch, I thought. Two grand a minute for returning a phone call I don’t think so. I know this colleague would never intentionally send over a hoax, but since I was having a difficult time believing the information I decided to check out this claim and see what the real deal is.
Many of you may be aware that there are several websites available for free and unrestricted use that help you decipher truth from fiction. So I began with the all to familiar Snopes, followed by TruthOrFiction and a few other websites that publish information on urban legends and folklore. What I found was all the same: yes, using the area code 809 as well as a few area codes in some instances can result in higher than normal telephone charges and there are scammers who will leave a message enticing you to return the call by trying to connect with you on an emotional level. After all if you thought legitimately, your sibling has been in an accident or your long lost college room mate has hired them to find you wouldn’t you call back? Probably so. The scam begins with the voice mail; continues when you call in and converse as they try every tactic possible to keep you on the phone; and when you get the invoice from your phone company and write the check to pay for the telephone call time the scam for you ends.
The bad news here is that the scam exists; it began about fifteen years ago. It died down for a while but seems to be coming back around. Why? My guess is the economy; with the economic downturn people are trying to get you to part with your money and scams of all sorts are on the rise. The good news is that if you get victimized you won’t loose your life savings paying the phone company, but your conversation will cost you about $95.00 – $125.00 per minute.
The reason you can be charged such exorbitant rates for dialing some 809, 284 and other area codes is because these numbers go to regions of the globe that are not regulated and do not require the call initiator to state that you may incur additional charges if you return the call.
How can you avoid becoming a victim? Know your caller: if you do not know the person who left the message do not return the call, simply ignore the message and delete it from your voice-mail. If you think there is a chance the call may be legitimate, first call Hunter Investigations at 770.667.7467 and have us investigate the situation for you. No problem is too small for us to handle; your peace of mind is worth the call to Hunter Investigations LLC.
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Private Investigations: Sabotage
By Holly Hunter | June 2, 2009
Recently my car was sabotaged. That’s right, sabotaged. Now we’re not talking James Bond 007 style of sabotage involving an explosion, just your basic means of intentionally interfering with the proper performance of my car. In the world of PI my car is one of my most precious commodities so to tell you that this deliberate act of sabotage made me angry is being kind.
The sabotage was not directed at a corporate vehicle: the blacked-out surveillance van or the Jeep with the dark-tinted windows, it was my personal vehicle that the saboteur targeted.
Little did that saboteur know that shy of a James Bond incident this episode would not keep me down for long as I have Isinovi and Joel in my rolodex. Who are these people you ask? They are my mechanics. Once my car was safely delivered to IC Auto Tech in Atlanta, Joel confirmed the sabotage, repairs were made in their state of the art, high efficiency garage and I was on my way in short order.
Isinovi races motorcycles on the weekends, which, of course, means they have a garage devoted to the maintenance and service of many makes and models of motorcycles as well as cars and trucks. They have been in business for more than 20 years and are honest about their diagnostics, and charge a fair price for the cost for repairs. Even though these economic times are tugging on peoples purse strings Isinovi and Joel have not changed their honest policy or their pricing.
If you reside in town or if you’re just passing through; if you are in need of automotive repair or just maintenance take your vehicles to Isinovi and Joel, you’ll be glad you did. Tell them Holly sent you, or not; they’ll still treat you right.
If you suspect your vehicle has been sabotaged or tampered with in an inappropriate manner, call us in our offices here at Hunter Investigations and we will be glad to investigate: 770.667.7467.
Oh, by the way, I do know who sabotaged my car and consider yourself warned: you’ll be meeting the Sheriff up close and personal very soon.
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Sex Offenders Where Are You?
By Holly Hunter | February 13, 2009
In a recent article dealing with the actual whereabouts of sex offenders appeared in the January/February 09 issue of aboutU Magazine. In the article Hunter Investigations Senior Investigator, Randy Wyles reveals that approximately one-third of the convicted sex offenders, who by the way are ordered to remain registered, that were investigated are not. That’s right. The State of Georgia does not have current and updated contact information for almost one-third of the convicted sex offenders living in this State.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to Wyles, indicated there are approximately 15,000 sex offenders State wide. Does this mean that there are 5,000 sex offenders living under the radar unwatched and unmonitored? Honestly, I’m appalled that the State of GA has no more concern than to allow nearly one-third of this populous to just do whatever they want. What this tells me is that of the gentleman living down the street, the yard man who cuts your grass or the woman cleans your house one of these could be a convicted sex offender “living incognito” as the article says.
This doesn’t say much for the GBI and their attempt to keep up with these offenders, but what about the State you live in? Do you know who is living next door to you? Do you really know about the guy you sent to clean out your mother’s gutters? Do you know what the statistics are for incognito sex offenders living in your area? Do you have total peace of mind about your friends and coworkers?
If you can not answer yes to all of these questions then pick up the phone and call Hunter Investigations 770.667.7467 and let us find the answers for you. We have a staff of trained investigators who will find answers to your questions and help you regain peace of mind.
To read the full article Offenders Incognito by Randy Wyles: if you are local pick up a copy of aboutU Magazine or go to www.aboutuonline.com.
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