The Sleuth

In this captivating episode of The Sleuth Podcast, host Jamie is joined by her friend Mica, the mastermind behind Mica's Sweets & Treats, a successful bakery in Raleigh. The duo dives into personal stories, including Mica’s journey of starting her bakery during the pandemic and winning awards for her delectable treats. The episode takes a serious turn as Jamie delves into her friend Bertrand’s ongoing legal battle for the custody of his two children. The complex and heart-wrenching custody case is explored in detail, highlighting the challenges within the legal system. Jamie and Mica also discuss their love for podcasts, networking tips, and even share a few laughs. Tune in for a mix of entrepreneurship, resilience, and real-life legal drama. 00:00 Welcome to The Sleuth Podcast 00:55 Meet Our Guest: Micah 01:22 Micah's Baking Journey 03:35 Networking and BNI Insights 10:31 The Robbery at Reed's Jewelers 22:49 Starting a Bakery During COVID 25:53 The Famous Carolina Bliss Cookie 27:13 Mardi Gras and King Cakes 33:26 Entrepreneurial Advice and Multiple Income Streams 35:31 Podcasting and Favorite Shows 40:05 A Disturbing Dream 40:39 Recounting the Susan Smith Case 42:35 Micah's Sweets and Treats 43:16 Networking and Charcuterie Boards 43:57 Trader Joe's Garlic Dip? 46:20 Ophelia and Bertrand's Custody Battle 49:42 The Struggles of the Legal System 58:17 Temporary Custody and Violations 01:12:25 Seeking Legal Help for Bertrand 01:16:06 Closing Remarks and Future Guests

Join Jamie, your favorite private investigator, in this solo episode of the Sleuth podcast, as she welcomes the New Year 2025. In this engaging episode, Jamie reflects on changes in the world of private investigations, shares personal insights about work-life balance, budgeting, and the significance of background checks, and hints at a compelling multi-episode investigation involving a friend's mysterious case. Along the way, Jamie also talks about the lighter side of life with anecdotes on New Year resolutions, quirky ChatGPT interactions, and the challenges of remote work. Tune in for an episode filled with intriguing stories, practical tips, and a sneak peek into the everyday life of a private detective! 00:00 Welcome to the Sleuth Podcast 00:57 Podcasting Expertise and Studio Plug 01:33 New Year Resolutions and Dry January 04:22 Financial Goals and Dave Ramsey 10:05 Work-Life Balance and Reality TV 16:16 Chat GPT and Personal Assistants 19:36 Private Investigations in 2025 24:34 The Entrepreneur's Dilemma: Work vs. Leisure 25:28 AI in the Workplace: Friend or Foe? 26:26 The Reality of Remote Work and Fraud 33:10 Background Checks: Protecting Your Business 35:09 Elder Abuse and Online Dating Scams 41:55 Uncovering the Truth: Crazy Cases and Investigations 45:09 A Personal Mission: The Case of Bertran and Ophelia 55:27 Conclusion: Stay Curious, Stay Safe

Welcome to the Sleuth Podcast! Join host Jamie and her co-host and friend Stacey as they discuss the wild and dramatic world of private investigations. In this episode, Stacey shares her journey from being an office manager to a dedicated case manager at Blackman Detective Services. She recounts her personal experiences, including a shocking betrayal in her own marriage that led her to become a private investigator. Jamie and Stacey also dive into interesting cases such as tracking down work-related misbehaviors and managing the complexities of client relationships. They highlight the importance of intuition and client peace of mind, offer shout-outs to local businesses, and introduce new ventures like Stacey’s ‘Fizzology’ dirty soda truck. Additionally, the episode emphasizes the significance of CPR training for personal and business well-being. Filled with laughter, random thoughts, and heartwarming stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the world of private investigations. 00:00 Welcome to the Sleuth Podcast 00:54 Meet the Co-Host: Stacey B. 02:11 Morning Coffee and Banter 03:37 Stacey's Role at Blackman Detective Services 04:05 The Life of a Case Manager 05:09 Challenges and Rewards of PI Work 09:54 Networking and Community Building 11:59 Jamie’s New Venture: Join Jamie 12:30 The Importance of Accurate Information 15:59 Personal Stories and Reflections 18:36 Shoutout to Pick 'em Pros 21:04 Case Story: Stealing Time 26:35 Marriage Troubles and Red Flags 27:25 Following the Suspicious Husband 28:48 Confrontation at Home 33:30 The Aftermath and Moving On 37:00 Sweet Treats and Business Ventures 38:02 Introducing Dirty Soda 45:14 CPR Training and Community Care 48:43 Podcast Wrap-Up and Future Plans

Join us on this engaging episode of the Sleuth Podcast as we dive into the world of art and private investigations. Hosts Brooke and Jamie welcome artist, educator, and curator Peter Marin. We cover a variety of topics, from the complexities of art creation and patterns in artistic expression to the nuances of private investigation work. The discussion also touches on recent events, the role of details in storytelling, and how art can intersect with investigative techniques. Plus, get to know Peter’s personal journey, his preferred teaching methods, and the exciting projects he's involved in. Don't miss this dynamic and insightful conversation! 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 01:06 Meet the Hosts and Guest Introduction 01:36 Current Events and Personal Updates 03:40 Networking Event Announcement 05:39 Casual Conversations and Pets 09:58 Peter Marin's Art Journey 29:35 Understanding Still Life in Art 29:44 Challenges of Drawing from Observation 30:59 The Role of Ego in Art 32:14 Grading and Objectivity in Art Education 34:25 Art as a Form of Expression 35:44 Private Investigation and Art: Finding Common Ground 38:22 Human Nature and Art: Patterns and Idiosyncrasies 42:59 The Intersection of Art and Private Investigation 46:19 Ethics and Confidentiality in Private Investigation 57:09 Fun and Games: This or That 01:00:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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, Devan, 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 Devan 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 Devan'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

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. 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.

Candice takes over the show for this special Halloween episode featuring a real true crime story. Follow along and take the quiz along the way to compete with our other Sleuth and podcast producer. Candice has prepared 10 questions scattered throughout the tale of a family going trick or treating, a sick child, a sudden death, and more. Our story takes place in Deer Park Texas, a family was out collecting candy during Halloween. After stopping at a house with the lights off and not getting a response from the door the group went ahead. One dad stayed back and brought back six giant Pixie Sticks from the house with the lights off to the excited kids. Since there were only five in their group the extra stick was gifted to a lucky passerby. After returning home the parents told the children they could each pick one piece of candy. Timothy chooses the giant Pixie Stick. Within an hour he was gravely ill and died shortly after. Upon further investigation, they found that his breath smelt like almonds which was a sign that he was poisoned. The parents quickly contacted the other children and made sure no one else ate the contaminated sugar sticks. Timothy's father tried to collect the insurance money the morning after and other evidence came in to narrow down who the culprit was, but when questioned, Ronald did not plead guilty. At trial, the jury only deliberated for 46 minutes before finding Ronald O'Brien guilty and punishing him to death by execution. Timothy was the only child on record to have passed away from deliberately tainted Halloween candy.

Before we jump into the 2020 election voting we talk about voting on Dancing with the Stars. Jamie shares her thoughts on the cast this year. Switching back to the election we talk about voter suppression in North Carolina. What does it look like and what to do if you witness voter intimidation at the polls? If you are mailing in your vote there is a website that you can visit to confirm that your vote was received. https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/ North Carolina is one of the few states that has signature validation so if something goes wrong with your ballot they will let you know by mail. Candice and Jamie discuss the way a mail-in ballot may affect the election this year as many people who may vote by mail are more likely to vote "blue." Candice discusses a site that will ask you a series of questions on the issues and help you understand which candidate lines up the best with your values. https://www.isidewith.com Jamie and Candice talk about their cases and upcoming "murder weapon party" where they are planning to have guests bring what they believe the murder weapon is in a pro bono case they are working and they will press the possible murder weapons into playdough, let it harden, and compare to the wound patterns. Much of the information shared by Candice on this episode is from Pod Save America. They have a website called VoteSaveAmerica.com

Blackman Detective Services got to share a big win of really helping out a client in need in a situation where things could have gone bad very quickly. Many businesses, although they might not understand it fully, is in the peace of mind business. Private investigators and employee benefits share this business. We talk about the issues surrounding workman compensation fraud that affects both employees and small businesses. The most common types of workman's comp fraud are: Chris shares stories from his experiences selling insurance of employers who could really have benefited from coverage and some funny stories of some absurd situations that they've run into. The average workman compensation payout is $40,000. So it is imperative to take care of your employees, and many small business owners would not be able to survive the average worker's comp payout. We shared the "Peanut payday" story from Blackman's newsletter about Mr. Brown slip and fall injury that he claimed prevented him from lifting. The employer called Blackman to investigate.

Candice reached out to Blackman during the COVID-19. She decided she wanted to be a Private Investigator a year before. The process can take a long time, so she got all her paperwork together and sent it all off, and then the day after it was sent off, the pandemic started. The firm she applied to decided to close their practice, and he forwarded her information to Blackman and has recently joined the team! A week after Candice began at Blackman, we received a request to do some work on a cold case. They are working on the cold case for a UNC student who was killed in 2012 whose murder had gone unsolved. We are excited to share more about the investigation in the future. We talk about Candice's murder board. We learn about her previous employment and love of true crime podcasts. We discuss the "Undisclosed" podcast. It has three hosts who are all lawyers. The first season is them going through the "Serial" Podcast with personal insights from the case. The following seasons have been helping with wrongful convictions. Today the Sleuth's discuss the case of Ronnie Long. There are four episodes, between the seasons of two and three in the "Undisclosed" podcast. Ronnie long was living the average 20-year-old life in Concord, NC. Concord is a company town. A woman in the town was raped and through a strange happenstance, they come to find Ronnie Long as a suspect. There was a lot of shadiness that came through the investigation in 1973. Ronnie was a black man in a mostly black town. You're not going to believe some of the details and the process that Ronnie Long went through in this case despite him not matching the original description at all. The jury selection seemed highly skewed against Ronnie Long as they didn't allow black people in the jury pool. If you're interested in other wrongful convictions cases check out the podcast "Wrongful Conviction." If you're looking for comedy true crime podcasts check out "Let's go to court"

Mallie grew up locally and then spent two years in the military, he came back, went to North Carolina, Westland college, and got a bachelor of science in criminology after which he went to work for the Raleigh Police Department. He spent over 13 years in the homicide unit. We get into the details of the life of a homicide detective. He shares a lot of stories of the tricks of the trade learned from his time on the force. Including a story about a crime committed at a convenience store where they tested some empty cans in the back, got a fingerprint hit, and picked up a local suspect who promptly confessed to the crime. Lindsey shared about her experience watching crime scene investigators do their job while she was working security at the scene of a shooting where an investigator noticed a bullet hole that was 7 feet in the air and drove to the Lowe's across the street to buy a saw and a ladder and removed the bullet hole to take it in for testing. Today we are talking about the "State Versus Taylor" case. On September 26, 1991, RPD discovered a body of our victim on a cold morning. The woman had been brutally murdered with both blunt force trauma and cutting trauma injuries into her head and neck. A vehicle belonging to, our defendant was located approximately 150 yards away and out of view, stuck in the mud on gravel and a dirt service road. The victim was known to trade sex for drugs. We talked about the reliability of witnesses when it comes to things like clothing and times. The police dog placed a crucial role in this case. It was trained to smell blood. The victim's injuries were brutal. The detectives had not told the victim anything about the crime scene and he seemed to know more than he should have known. After his conviction. This guy sits in jail for 17 years. He speaks with the innocence commission and they decide to take a look at his case. He feels as if he has had ineffective counsel.

Jamie is joined by two other panelists for this important discussion. Bob and Barry share their thoughts and perspectives throughout the episode. We share our feelings respectfully. Truth can sometimes be hurtful, change is painful at times, but it makes us better. Topics covered in this episode We also share stories from our personal experiences. Our thoughts on what justice looks like and what it will take to move forward. We highlight and discuss some of our favorite civil rights leaders. This is an important conversation and we invite you to share it with people you know in hopes that it, and conversations like it, will lead to social change.