Sunny in San Diego

This is Investigator Lori checking in after a long hiatus from blogging. Our agency is adding some areas to our business which will include offering more services for the aging community. I am currently doing an internship in San Diego, working with ITN-GreaterSanDiego. It is a non-profit transportation agency for senior citizens and my mentors are incredible!

Magnum Investigations Plus will be looking at not only transportation services in our area, but we will  incorporate more healthy aging options to assist aging-in-place, and also education for seniors in fraud protection.
Until then, I will be toiling away here in the sun, with further research to be conducted on the beaches on the weekends. ;)

http://www.itngreatersandiego.org/

Don’t Hire Me

A common misconception about private detectives is that they are ‘money hungry’ and will do anything for a quick dollar, somewhat like the perception that attorneys are ‘bottom feeders’.  Although I cannot speak for everyone in the investigation industry, our agency actually spends more time counseling people.  Even though it isn’t the norm, we find ourselves being marriage counselors, rather than retaining the client, in some instances actually turning them away.  While most people would consider marriage counselors and private detectives to be polar opposites on the marriage repair scale, our agency shows more compassion than just trying to chase the proverbial buck.

When a marriage is in trouble due to unfaithfulness, the couple may go to a marriage counselor to see if the marriage can be salvaged.  A counselor is typically professionally trained, has a college degree to add to their name, and is state licensed.  For differing reasons such as the marriage seems to be beyond the stage of receiving marital intervention, counseling was attempted and just didn’t work, or one spouse won’t go, the retention of a private detective is sometimes used as a viable option for the spouse that was betrayed.  A private detective does not need to have professional training, or a college degree, but does need to be state licensed in most states.  Additionally, a good detective will have had years of experience in dealing in these matters, have law enforcement background, and will be a member of a governing private investigator association in their state, and have continuing education.

A marriage counselor characteristically works with both marital partners, but not always.  If the cheating partner is still involved in an affair, they typically will not agree to seek help.  They will tell their partner they no longer love them, and may want to leave the marriage. Sometimes the cheater will deny anything is wrong at all while attempting to enjoy both worlds.  In contrast, a private detective will see the offended spouse only at a very sensitive and emotional time in their relationship.  Most likely this is at a period when the spouse is feeling helpless and abandoned, and may be far beyond the point that the counselor is seeing them.  Typically, the spouse that is seeking counsel by themselves is also the one seeking an investigator in order to start to bring closure to the relationship or to determine if there is any hope left at all.  Sometimes they are referred to the investigator by the counselor, or an attorney, if it has gotten to that point.

Since a marriage counselor is expected to assist the couple (or the partner that is seeking counsel) with coping abilities, life skills, and relationship building, their job is set forth over a specified period of time.  This sometimes involves months, if not years, and may even be covered by insurance.  The counselor/client relationship is determined by a preset goal of reaching coping skills.  When a client comes to a detective, similarly there is a specified time set, but the basis is determined by affordability, since it will be cash out of pocket, and also job completion, regardless of the end result.  The outcome is typically finding if the offending partner is simply caught cheating or not cheating.  The common thread between the counselor/client and detective/client relationship, is that there is an emotional bond typically felt by the client, based on a vulnerable point in their life.  This is when they don’t share their plight with anyone in their social circles, if even in their inner circles, usually because of a sense of embarrassment.  They feel they have no one to turn to.  This is even harder when they are not working with a professional therapist.  Where our agency differs from other detective agencies, and where we become like marriage counselors ourselves, is that we actually encourage the client to do anything within their power to save their marriage.  In some cases, that is even more than counselors will advise.  We try to accomplish this prior to conducting surveillance.  First, we recommend that the client purchase the “Love Dare” book and follow it for thirty days.  We advise them of what the signs of a cheater are, and inquire as to what their intention is if they receive negative news.  We take phone calls from them and lend a compassionate ear, most times before accepting a retainer.  The client then decides to either pursue an investigation, continue to work on their marriage, or just throw in the towel.  At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that we, as private detectives, did everything we could to save their marriage, before taking money from them.  A slighted spouse would not come to a detective unless they felt they had no other place to go.  They may feel there is something they want to rescue in their marriage, and have some glimmer of hope that there is something to be reconciled.  Possibly, they may not be ready to let go.  At any rate, some states like Wisconsin are “no fault” states; therefore, there is no need for evidence.  An investigator could, unfortunately, take advantage of an already sensitive situation, accept money, put in some time, and leave the client with no answers.  Our agency differs from counselors, and many detective agencies for that matter, in the fact that we also work off the clock, taking calls from our clients, even after the case is concluded, whether there was a good or bad outcome.  The connection seems to be there for the client to feel comfortable to call and update what is going on in their life.  Sometimes they just want to vent.  We have no problem with that, since good client service not only gives us referrals, but we also have compassion for the human condition and believe in the “Golden Rule”.  Our case does not have to be concluded when we close the file as it does in a therapist’s office.

The role of marriage counselors is not always similar to that of some private detectives, but in the scenario of our agency, we believe it is.  Other than the fact that a counselor may expect the decision of the spouses to be made when they arrive in their office, the client goes to therapy sessions because they need someone to intervene, and give them direction.  As a detective, with years of experience in dealing with cheating spouses, it boils down to the simple fact that each storyline, when it comes to infidelity, practically has the same plot repeated over, and over again, with different actors in each performance.  The villain has the same method of operation each time the story is played out.  Detectives typically only hear one chapter of the storyline, but if they are good at their craft they are also proficient at putting the scenarios and subplots together rather quickly, and knowing when the narration needs to be replaced with a good old-fashioned, gumshoe, action-adventure, motion picture.    After all, doesn’t everyone just need one person they can trust, to chronicle their story?

Ode To An Old Repo Man

Magnum Investigations Plus

On January 19, 2010, my father in law of 27 years passed unexpectedly. Francis Jenkins, "Fran The Friendly furnace man"(retired 2003) went in the hospital January 11, 2010, to have his pacemaker changed out, which is a very minor procedure. At which time the doctors found his bloodwork to be way off. Subsequently, it was discovered he had acute Luekemia, which was manifesting over a period of ten years. After blood transfusions/ pacemaker changed, his body started shutting down and thus passed.

Here is my eulogy of "Fran" at his memorial service:

I was really blessed to have the privilege of two fathers.
My biological father passed in Dec 2000, and now my second, surrogate father.
I met Fran back in 1980 while dating my beautiful wife Lori. Fran was kind of intimidating at first, he being 240#s lbs and me 185#s. But he was a big teddy bear. He became my father in-law in August of 82. He really enjoyed life, his family and friends.

We really became close when my family moved to Shawano in Sept 1999.
I would help him with his furnace work until his knees hurt too much.
He then retired in 2002 or 2003.
At that time my business picked up and we took him along to do repoes.
Then it was to the point where Fran would call and say where are we going today or where we going tomorrow?
If it wasn’t serving papers on a road trip to LacDuFlambeau or Manitowoc or repoing cars in Eau Claire; He loved riding along as our reward for a good days work was lunch or dinner, wings, burgers, or brats and a beer or two.
Long surveillances were kind of taxing on Fran as sometimes he couldn’t pee when he had to as we couldn‘t go anywhere till the person moved.
One time while doing some work at the court house in Stevens Point I came out to the van and he said he used the bathroom, and he had to empty his pee bottle; being smack dab in front of the court house I just busted out laughing and we pulled into the adjacent parking lot and emptied the bottle. You have to understand, when Fran peed he dropped everything while standing.(and I could imagine him standing vanside and peeing into his bottle)


Oct 2008 was the last time Fran went on a road trip with me, it was to Marinette, WI.
It became too painful for him to walk around and I’m sure he felt being a burden, always using the bathroom.
I didn’t care about the peeing or the time he took.
It was just he couldn’t handle the pain and he was losing strength.
The only time we had lunch now was after a doctor visit.
I enjoyed his candor, his laid back style, his quick humor and his determination among a host of other attributes.
Wisconsin’s oldest repo man will be missed. My friend and my 2nd dad will be painfully missed.

Fran, Thank you for your daughter and family. I Love you.

Fran was 85.

Posted by Magnum Investigations Plus at 2/7/2010 3:28 PM

To Our Military

It came to mind that since our Wisconsin Private Investigative Agency has done work for Servicemen, even before the Iraqi War (and have a daughter married to an enlisted Army Soldier) that we could offer and pursue, as a small token of our appreciation, to serve those that serve our country so faithfully and sacrificially.
If you are active duty, whether you're based out of Wisconsin or not, we want to offer our investigative services to you at a discount so you can serve our country with a peace of mind. What we would like to do is help safeguard your hearts by offering not only a 25% discount to all active military, but also a reasonable payment plan. We do not offer payment plans to any other client (only special circumstances). We wanted to do this for those who are helping protect our freedom. Whether you are stateside or overseas, you may be concerned about what your significant other is doing while you are away. It could be for investigative purposes, collection of property, process service, or to check the welfare of your children. We would like to assist you with that as we have a heart for the sacrifices of our soldiers. Unfortunately, there is a select few in our society that are taking advantage of our soldiers' paychecks, promising a loving relationship on the other side. We have seen it all too often. If this is a concern of yours or you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for a no obligation, free consultation. We could even just be a listening ear, and offer you suggestions to your situation. We do not, however, offer legal advice.
Additionally, since I (Lori) have a soft spot for the older vets, because my father served in the Army on the front lines in the Pacific Theater during WWII, we are extending this offer to all veterans that feel they may be (or have been) taken advantage of as well. Again the sacrifices of our soldiers and veterans are immeasurable. Now, all too often, our older veterans are losing money (and hearts) to scam artists, or predators as I like to call them.
Please, when contacting us, let us know you have served (or are currently serving our country) and let us know how we can assist you.

Phone:  715-524-9044 

or E-mail: magnumi@frontiernet.net

Posted by Magnum Investigations Plus at 3/13/2009 11:42 AM

Now you can follow us on Twitter! 
https://twitter.com/#!/MagnumiPlus

How Far Will A Prank Go?

A few years back we had a family contact us, from Canada, to locate the boyfriend of their sister (Jill, not her real name) .  The "boyfriend" (Jack, also not his real name) apparently had been contacting Jill for 5 years via the internet, with most recently, FaceBook.  Mind you, Jill is only 17 years of age at this time, so Jack and Jill have been conversating via phone and the internet since she was 12 and they never met in person.  

The issue now is that Jack has invited Jill to come to a little town in Wisconsin to finally meet.  Well, Jill's sister and her husband were not too thrilled with this prospect. After all, Jill is underage, never met this guy in person, his FaceBook wall shows he looks like he's Emo (appealing to young girls, not adults), and now she wants to run away to meet him?!  Running away was going to be Jill's option if her family was going to be "unreasonable" and not see it her way.

Hence, this is where we, Magnum Investigations Plus, come in the picture.   Jill's sister and  brother-in-law call us and ask us if we can find anything out about this guy.  They give us Jack's Facebook picture and wall info and best of all, his home address.

Preliminarily, we check all our data bases to see what we can find out about Jack.  He is supposed to be about Jill's age so this shouldn't be hard since we also knew kids his age in high school.  The name is not familiar to the area and when the data bases come up negative, we try kids he should know in school. Not one teen we talked to, knew Jack.  Finally we go to the address and ask for Jack.  No one there by that name. Just a mom and her teen daughter.   Back to the drawing board, questioning locals, neighbors, and also checking with local businesses to see if anyone heard of Jack or of anyone with his last name.  Again, all negative results.

Jill's family double checked the address and believe it is correct. We asked if there is any way Jill could have been talking to a girl? Jill's brother in law says no way, because he had heard Jack on the phone with Jill.

So, we once again go back to the address.  This time we tell the mom, this is serious, and a child is leaving her country to come to her house, so if she knows anything, anything at all, she better spill the beans or the police will be the next ones at her door to question her.  All of a sudden her memory starts to come back to her. She yells into her house to her daughter, and says, "Isn't that girl you talk to online named Jill?"  The daughter answers, "Yes"!  The mom says they were online friends for some time but has no idea who Jack is.  She goes over and over again, that there is no boy at the house who could be Jack, but did say she encouraged her daughter to talk to Jill, which we found a bit odd.  "Mom" also starts to get nervous and wonders if the police are still coming.  I asked her why she would be worried if she did nothing wrong.  I also suggest to her to tell her daughter to make sure she tells Jill not to come, if that is her intention. I said if Jill leaves Canada, the first place the police will come, is right to her doorstep.

We then call Jill's family and tell them that Jack is in fact a girl that Jill has been talking to.  The only logical explanation for the male voice is that they either had a boy around to talk to Jill or used a voice changer which is really easy to obtain, even on a computer, nowadays.  

Why did they carry it on this long?  Was the mom involved?  Maybe she was trying to lure the girl here for some sick purpose.  Of course all the pictures on FaceBook were fake.  

Jill was devastated and didn't believe it at first.  She confronted Jack and said she knew the "police" were coming to "his" house if "he" didn't tell the truth.  Jack finally did admit to the lie and that he in fact was a she and it was all a joke. 

We later talked to Jill on the phone, so not only would she understand what harm could have come to her but also let her know that her family loved her and that's why they hired us. 

Moral of the story here kids, don't think that someone wouldn't go to the trouble of carrying on a prank or lie for that long.  This may not even have been a prank.  It may have been an adult trying to lure kids to her house and involved her daughter to go along with it.  5 years!  We are just glad it was stopped before Jill could have ruined or even lost her life.

Lori

Magnum Investigations Plus

715-524-9044

You Don't Want The Kids Around The New Girlfriend/Boyfriend

You are angry now that your ex (or soon to be ex)  is now with the person they cheated on you with.  Obviously you don't want this person around your children. After all, this person  destroyed your family, your marriage.  Well your ex is to blame too, but that is an issue to be touched on a different day.

So what can you do? Surely the courts will say you can keep them away from this person. The truth is, you CAN'T restrict your children from being around your ex and his/her new relationship.                                                                              

So what can you do legally?

Do what you can to find out about this home wrecker's background. If you can't find anything on your own, call us.  What we look for is former relationships that were volatile, or court ordered restrictions on drinking, or drug convictions.  This can all be shown to the courts and can be put in an order as to what restrictions there are. 

If this person is "clean", you can try to at least have a judge order that when your ex has your kids, he has to be WITH them and not at a bar, etc.  This will at least prevent him/her from leaving the kids at a babysitter, to spend time with the other person, or will make their time together not as cute as it was when they were alone. Therefore the "other" person probably won't even want to be around your kids anymore. 
An attorney would be the best to tell you what direction to go.

Also, feel free to give us a call for suggestions or more ideas as to what we would look for.

This is not to say in relationships, that mutually parted, that the "new" person can't be good for the kids.  I am speaking specifically to those who marriages were broken due to infidelity.  That adds a whole new element to the jilted person's feelings.  

If you have any hopes of saving your marriage, because maybe you are separated and your spouse is trying to "find" themselves, think of it this way...your kids being around your spouse and his new (you insert word here), may show the true colors to your spouse that their new relationship wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  Maybe the new person isn't a kid person and the sight of vomit, or whining will send them for the hills. 

Whatever you do, DO NOT talk down about your ex to your children. That is the worst thing you can do to put them in the middle.  It is still their parent.  Also do not give them the third degree after a visit.  We will touch base on this subject a different day also.  Just remember the kids are the most important through all of this, so try very hard to not speak lowly of your ex to them.  If your ex is that bad, they will learn on their own, as they grow older, and will see you were the bigger person to allow them to have two parents.

Phone: 715-524-9044

Email:  magnumi@frontiernet.net