Early in the process of starting her career here at Lauth Investigations, Valerie came across a claim for approximately $8,500 due to a man named Stephen. After finding the right contact information for him in North Carolina, Valerie called him on the phone. She revealed to him that the assets were from a Death Benefit that belonged to his father Louis, upon his passing.  Louis had passed away quite some time ago. Sometimes, these assets just get lost and forgotten about until our researchers are able to research and find them.

When asked if Lauth Investigations could assist him in getting this money recovered and back to him, Stephen replied, “Even if it were $25.00, I would want the money because I can sure use it”.  This was one of the first moments that Valerie realized the importance of what we do here at Lauth Investigations. We reunite people with what rightfully belongs to them, sometimes at a crossroads in their lives. If $25.00 could help him, think about the impact of the rest of the money, we would be able to return to him. 

While still learning the systems we use at Lauth: Return Assets, Valerie was quick to navigate the process. She learned about how to generate documents, write up the Intake Sheet, find obits, order Death Certificates, order Probate Records, and so much more. It was a real learning experience for Valerie, using many of the same processes she uses today.

Upon receipt of the claim agreement, I searched everywhere trying to find the connection. As a last-ditch effort, I began scouring old phone directories for the city and finally came across a last name that was identical to the claimant’s with just the letter “E” for a first name. That was close enough for me to contact Karen and I finally spoke to Eric myself. He was shocked beyond belief. It occurred to him that that was where his father lived when he was a young man and the “E” also stood for Eric for my claimant, I finally discovered, was actually a Junior.

With this information I was able to submit the claim to the state and it ultimately got approved. I was so excited when I heard the news and immediately called the family to congratulate them and wish them a bon voyage. Well, there was sad news when I called. Karen was crying, saying the check had come that very day but sadly enough Eric had passed away the night before.

Using information obtained with the client, investigators combed these databases in search of property, vehicles, judgements, and other unseen assets. Investigators also checked the Subject’s credit history and pulled information regarding his small business. A criminal background check revealed that the subject had no history of run-ins with the law, and therefore should not have additional court fees or fines to pay in that regard. No other significant investments or brokerage accounts were discovered in the course of the investigation either.

Lauth investigators formulated a plan to insert themselves covertly in their daily operations. A Lauth investigator contacted the Subject(s) and created a ruse in which the investigator required their services for a personal loan. Lauth investigators met with the Subject(s) under a professional ruse with recording equipment on their person. The entire meeting was recorded, and the investigator retained copies of vital documents to the investigation.

Lauth’s private investigators ran a comprehensive background check on the subject and discovered a history of violence and other run-ins with the law. At the onset of the investigation, after investigators had discovered the Subject’s address, investigators made several attempts to service the court documents with no success. Vehicles could not be observed outside the residence, and investigators were unable to lock down a timeline for his daily movements. Investigators eventually had to develop a phone ruse, in which the Subject was contacted by the investigator, and by means of deception, the investigator confirmed with the Subject a time he would be available at his home. When the Subject finally opened the door to the private investigator, he became agitated, and advised that all court documents must be forwarded to his attorney. The Subject provided the address and contact information for the attorney and slammed the door.

Subject appeared to walk with a limp and had to use the pillar on his front porch for support several times. An unidentified female would often arrive in a vehicle and drive the Subject around to do errands, as he reportedly could not drive his own vehicle. Subject was observed at one time carrying a rolled up 16×9 rug from the front door of his residence to the rear of his vehicle under one arm, still walking with a limp, but not appearing to struggle under the weight of the rug.

Once a background narrative was begun on the driver, the Subject, Lauth began combing verified databases in search of address history for the Subject. The Subject’s address was located, and investigators began doing spot checks at the residence to piece together the movements of the individuals who resided there.

Investigators stationed themselves outside the Subject’s residence to see if the boyfriend made an appearance at the residence while the children were present. After a few sessions of surveillance, neither the Subject nor the boyfriend’s vehicle was observed at the residence. The boyfriend lived in a trailer park, where there were no sufficient places to conduct inconspicuous surveillance and neighbors were vigilant of activity outside their homes. After much surveillance, it was determined that the boyfriend did not spend time at the Subject’s home, but that the Subject spent most of her time at the boyfriend’s trailer. It was determined that the boyfriend was not around the children. However, it was also concluded by the investigator that when the children were dropped off for visitation with their mother, the Subject would leave the children with her mother, and spend visitation time with the boyfriend instead.

Lauth investigators spoke to the Client, gathered information about the fitness studio, their business model, and the branding and markings associated with the franchise. The Client wished to have an investigator infiltrate the business as a customer, document the interior of the studio, learn about the employees, and what the Subject’s involvement was in daily operations. Lauth sent in an undercover operative to speak to the Subject about membership fees and programs, but the Subject was deliberately evasive. Investigators photographed the inside of the studio and confirmed that the Subject was still heavily involved in the daily operations of the studio.

Lauth investigators positioned themselves outside of Subject’s residence, ready to document any physicality on behalf of the Subject that would contradict his request for FMLA leave. Lauth investigators also conducted surveillance at the home of subject’s mother, but Subject was never observed at the residence. Surveillance conducted at the Subject’s home revealed that Subject’s wife was the individual coming and going from the house the most often, as well as a handful of unidentified females who would arrive at the residence and stay a short while before leaving the neighborhood again. Investigators were also able to observe a motorcycle parked in the garage of the Subject’s residence. Over the course of surveillance, Lauth investigators were only able to document a single instance of Subject exerting significant physicality when he unloaded an SUV that included heavy boxes and totes.