At a posh bistro in Dunwoody, GA last night I was seated with my friends at a table right beside one of your husbands. Because of the configuration of the restaurant only a three foot high dividing wall separated my table from his. I was actually seated so close that I could see the detail on his wedding band.

Yes, you are exactly correct. I also overheard his entire conversation with her, and that’s how I know she is…the other woman.

So here’s what I know. He left his car at the hotel and they took the hotel shuttle over to the bistro, and back again. They drank wine first: she drank white, he had red and then they switched to beer when the meal was served. Only one entre was served and she ate off of his plate while he explained to her about the PTA. You guessed right again. She had no idea who the PTA players were that he was referring to, and trust me when I say that she was totally lost when he tried to connect the dots…and she didn’t want to hear about his kids. You need more?

He is a brunette with light brown eyes and clean shaven; she’s a red-head. When he excused himself from the table to go to the bathroom, he actually walked to the bar and called you – his wife.

Pay attention. If you suspect you have a cheating spouse, he or she may very well be. If it’s a holiday and your spouse is not home sharing in the family fun, there may be reason to have suspicion. If your spouse missed the neighborhood bbque and didn’t answer when you and the kids Skyped, and call us. Hunter Investigations highly trained detectives are ready to provide answers to the questions that cause you distress. Hiring a team of detectives is the perfect place to begin.

Because of this prevailing attitude “lost” property turns up not being lost after all… but often times finds its way to pawn shops because the owner is in need of cash. Senior Investigator Randy Wyles, in his Creekside Journal column, touches on a couple of cases that took him into local pawn shops on an investigation for missing personal property. Wyles mentions that insurance companies may pay out on a lost article, but when the item is discovered they will want their money back. It’s called fraud – and that’s a felony.

Despite the economic times, honesty is the best policy. Pawning a family heir loom and then claiming it as lost or stolen property to the insurance company only creates more trouble than its worth. However, if your property has been stolen or legitimately lost file a police report and let us help you recover your treasures.

Hunter Investigations has developed a network of resources to assist our private detectives as they work with insurance companies, local law enforcement and other individuals to recover your valuables. For more information on how we can assist in the recovery of your stolen property call our office: 770.667.7467.

Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor said that although the Dougherty’s appeared to be driving a stolen vehicle in actuality they simply switched license plates. They were driving the white 4-door Subaru Impreza with a Texas license plates LCS 909 which they crashed when the high speed chase ended. Dougherty Gang was captured by the Colorado Law Enforcement.

With 14 felony arrests for Ryan and 5 arrests for various crimes including a hit-and-run for Lee Grace perhaps these members of the Daugherty Gang should be locked away where they no longer be a menace to society. Since Dylan has a lesser rap sheet, but since he has exhibited the propensity to follow in the footsteps of his siblings, the jury on him is still out.

The Atlanta metroplex, being a heavily populated, would be a natural place for them to obtain provisions, seek shelter and obtain new transportation. Since their vehicle has been identified, a 2006 white, four-door Subaru Impreza with New York license plate FBE 5900, they may want yours. Hunter Investigations teaches personal safety and encourages everyone to be dedicated to the mindset of precaution, protection and preservation.  So, if you typically park your car in a lot during the day while you are at work, make sure the doors are locked and the windows are closed. If you work from home or at home with children make certain the garage door is closed and your doors are locked. Think safety first.

According to FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmett who was interviewed this morning on ABC Good Morning America, these fugitives are “committed to each another”. They opened fire on law enforcement in Zephyrhills, FL and fired inside of the bank they robbed. Emmett went on to say that because of the nature of their text messages and tweets the FBI believes these individuals are not afraid to die.

In situations like these if you believe you have seen the Dougherty Fugitives the way you conduct yourself is paramount to your survival. If you spot their vehicle, call 911 and speak with the trained dispatcher who answers your call. Let him/her know the location and time of day you believe you saw the Dougherty clan. Try to remember what they were wearing or what they were driving as descriptions such as these will be helpful to the FBI and local law enforcement in apprehending these fugitives.

If you believe you have encountered them either in a convenience store, diner or motel leave. Do not be confrontational. Get in your car, drive away and call 911 immediately. Do not approach these individuals and do not attempt to make contact with them as they are armed and dangerous. Do not try to be a hero, let the FBI do their work.

I have been in this business long enough to tell you that I have heard all of the excuses and frankly, none of them hold water. “I don’t have the money…” Everyone has at least one trusted friend who would help in a time of crisis. “My spouse will find out…” Only if you are the one who tells. Hunter Investigations provides confidential investigations; this means we do not tell anyone, other than you and your attorney about your case. “I don’t know if I really need to hire an investigator…” Every case, domestic, criminal and civil needs an investigator. Beyond traditional detective work our investigators work with the counsel of record to help tie up loose ends and close any holes in your case. “I’m willing to take gamble…” Are you really willing to take a gamble, a roll of the dice to hope beyond all hope that you might, on the off chance have what you need to go to court? Are you crazy? Probably not, you’re just not thinking.

Well, think on this: if you take a gamble you get what you get. Increase your odds, hire our investigative team and have no regrets. Stop making excuses; get the results you need to support your case. Do not compromise because, literally, you cannot buy back your past. You only have one chance to make sure your evidence is in place and your case is solid before you go to court.

I have been stalked twice in my life that I am aware of: once the stalker harassed me for two years and the second time was less than three months. A friend of mine asked if the second time was easier because it was a relatively short period of time. No, it wasn’t easier to face because the length of time was less than the first, but it was easier to face because I knew what to do. Knowledge is power, I told her; information is power. You have to know what to do so that you stand the best chance of surviving. Women are 3 times more likely to be stalked than men and the emotional and psychological paralysis that sets in can very quickly become crippling.

Stalking is a federal crime punishable by imprisonment however, not all States classify it that way on a first offense. That is why you must document everything, each and every incident separately with dates, times, locations and a description of the event that ensued. Each offense must be followed up with a filing a report with your local law enforcement agency. The file I had on my first stalker was almost 2 inches thick. It contained page after page of events and photographs; it looked like a manuscript, but it was my evidence. You must have tangible evidence to take to the authorities; in this case your word is not good enough.

Who is a stalker? Since stalkers are most often someone you know, the stalking begins when you have, in one form or another ended the relationship.  A stalker is someone calls, emails, write letters or sends unwanted gifts; someone who follows you when you are driving or walking in the park; someone who  shows up where ever you go, work, grocery store, movies, church; comes on your property or into your apartment complex uninvited. Depending on the psyche of your stalker this may be all they do. However, if they are not made to stop or if they are not getting the response they desire they may take it to the next level. Stalkers may also monitor your phone calls, use GPS to track your movements, install spyware on your computer or hidden cameras in your home; contact your friends, family and coworkers; and search through your garbage. The average time a stalker spends pursuing their victim is 1-2 times per week. It is important to note that as the frequency of stalking increases so does the intensity.

Stalkers also are known for making verbal and written threats against you, your friends, family and pets are way they exact their power over you; 20% of the time they use weapons when making threats. Statistics here are staggering. When a stalker reached the level of exacting threats by use of physical force or brandishing a weapon more than 54% of female victims are murdered.

Threats need to be taken seriously. Threats mean danger and if you are in danger call 911 first. Then seek the help of someone who can help you protect yourself and your family or go to a shelter. There are shelters for men as well as women; safe places where you can be sequestered away until you can safely return to your home. Statistics vary on how many victims are killed by their stalker, but it does happen.

How do you know if you are being stalked? The stalker makes you feel fear: feel afraid of what the stalker might do. You begin to sense your vulnerability and question who you can trust. You feel anxious and on edge all the time and this causes your level of stress to dramatically accelerate which makes it hard to concentrate at work, extremely difficult to relax at home. You don’t sleep which perpetuates a short-tempered attitude, trouble remembering things; it causes eating disorders, flashbacks and worst of all you begin to feel isolated because you begin alienating your own family and friends…the ones you should be trusting.

Victims sometimes unknowingly make it easy for the stalker. If you suspect you are being stalked develop a Plan of Safety. Change your routine. If you usually go to the gym in the morning, go after work instead; don’t go places alone and develop strategies for what you will do in case the stalker shows up school, work or home.  Solicit the help of close trusted friends and let them know how they can be of help to you – don’t just say I’ll call you if I need you; set them up with something specific to do. Perhaps a friend can pick up your child from day care for you twice a week and meet you at the mall.

Remember DO NOT communicate with the stalker and do not attempt to respond to their attempts to communicate with you. You cannot survive being on their level; you must be proactive. According to The National Center for Victims of Crime in the United States alone 3.4 million people are stalked each year; 3 out of 4 of those victims know their stalker, and women are the victim 75% of the time.

Remember, this is not television. Each stalking case is different. The police are over worked and they do not have the man power to set up surveillance at your home or work. You have to take control. If this is what you are faced with get help. Do not allow yourself to become another statistic.

When an adult, a person beyond the age of majority, goes missing the first thing to do is make a written description of the person: ethnicity, height, weight, hair and eye color; the clothing they were last seen wearing and the last place they were seen. Once you have this information our private detectives can begin the investigation. Next make a list of family, friends and co-workers along with their address and phone numbers; this vital information can be processed and given to the investigators already working on your case. Private investigators can begin work on a missing persons case immediately whereas the police tend to give these type cases low priority depending largely on the circumstances that surround the victim who has gone missing.

According to Jeremy Bennett, Director of Training and Emergency Management, City of Griffin Police, Griffin, Georgia and Owner of Assure Security & Asset Protection LLC: “The police are so inundated with all different types of case work that in many jurisdictions if a person is over the age of 13 they are not a priority to be located.” Bennett explained further that, “…if a young child has been kidnapped and is missing for more than 3 days statistics bear out that they are most likely no longer alive. If an adult has gone missing and there is any history of domestic violence associated with this person, the first 24 hours are critical in locating the victim. With each day that follows without the victim being located, statistics dictate that the victim, when found, will most likely be deceased.”

“Atlanta is the hub for human trafficking in the south,” Bennett said. “With people coming in from the islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, coming from Savannah, up [Interstates] 16 to 75, then once in Atlanta they hop on a plane or bus and disappear.” Bennett went on to expound on the fact that time is of the essence when locating a missing person.

It is helpful to have filed a missing persons report with local law enforcement because the report will be listed with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) which is the primary tracking system for crime-related incidents. This electronic data base is maintained by the FBI and is accessible to all criminal justice agencies. As the private detectives investigate the case from one jurisdiction to the next if they need to solicit their assistance, law enforcement can access NCIC and immediately send an alert out to their on-duty officers. Bennett did emphasize that each jurisdiction has their own threshold of what they are able to do and that the responsibility for locating a victim is not solely that of the police. Family, friends and co-workers have to put forth a joint-effort.  The media can also be of help in these situations as well, said Bennett.

Hunter Investigations detectives work closely with the victim’s family, friends, co-workers, local, state and federal law enforcement as well as the media to locate adult missing persons. Check out SafePassage Adolescent Services ® to find out more information on locating missing teenagers. Bennett also provides more information about law enforcement protocol for missing persons cases.

This non-custodial parent had remained in communication with his ex-wife and even arranged to visit with his children but quit making his child support payments. After conducting surveillance and an undercover investigation our detectives were able to locate the new residence, verify employment and document his lifestyle. We provided documentation to the local county child support recovery agency and as a result garnishment has been ordered by the court and back child support was seized from one of his bank accounts.

This custodial parent called Hunter Investigations because she wants to be a part of the 47% who receive the total amount of the child support they are due. Our detectives have an expertise in this area; check out Child Support Recovery on our website for more information.

In his diatribe of reasons why a person may or may not want to hire a PI Pratham leads you to believe that a good PI will help you attain your goals. This is not necessarily true. A good private detective gathers information pertinent to your case – and that information is what it is. The facts may indeed bear out what the Client had hoped for, however, often times that is simply not the case.

In a recent domestic investigation we conducted a husband was absolutely certain his wife was cheating on him. After a long extensive investigation the truth revealed itself to be that his spouse was leading an exemplary life and simply did not enjoy being around her husband.

Pratham also leads you to believe that men are the only investigators that have honor and are the only ones who can properly investigate domestic situations. This is absolutely not true. Hunter Investigations has excellent female investigators of integrity licensed in GA and WV ready to provide due diligence for your case. The Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies has reciprocal agreements with Tennessee, Louisiana, California, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia which means we can come to where you are.

In another recent domestic investigation the only way to gather the information was to send female investigators undercover. This brings to the forefront another statement made by Pratham which is bogus. Pratham stated that the private detective should be willing to: take a few risks.  Just what kind of risks are you talking about Pratham? It sounds like you have been watching far and away too much television.

Private investigators of integrity know the boundaries, know the law as it pertains to them and do not take risks that put them or their client in jeopardy. After all, what’s the point of investigating a case only to have your findings thrown out of court as fruit obtained from the poisonous tree? It sounds to me like Pratham just doesn’t know his stuff.