Investigative Services
Investigative Services for Non-criminal Missing Persons
The longer it takes to find a non-criminal missing person, the chances increase that something bad will happen to that person.
State of California 2024 Statistics:
Lack of Resources for Non-Criminal Cases
Sometimes, criminal missing person cases (which have evidence of a crime) pertaining to Murder, Suspicious Circumstances, and Domestic Violence will have priority over non-criminal missing person cases. Furthermore, the vast difference between state laws complicates how cases are classified:
- In some states, it is not illegal for a teenager to run away from home.
- In some states, it is not illegal for a person to commit suicide.
- It is not illegal for a for an elderly person to elope or walk away from their last residence.
Sometimes people who file missing person reports (known as the Reporting Party) will be informed by law enforcement that law enforcement has limited manpower and can allocate only so much time in certain missing person cases. Additionally, law enforcement tends to gain more information, leads, and evidence in criminal matters; such that criminal matters may be more fluid with information and the case getting closer to being solved.
A Private Investigator is Often the Best Choice in Non-Criminal Cases
Private Investigator Martin Geisler created Known Stranger Investigations, LLC, to assist law enforcement, the family in need, as well as the person who has been reported as “Missing,” with closing out the missing person case.
Known Stranger Investigations can be a secondary source, providing the assistance of time and manpower in the search of non-criminal missing person cases pertaining to runaways, suicidal persons, and people with Dementia/Alzheimer’s.
With law enforcement’s permission to assist on a case, Known Stranger Investigations, LLC, will collaborate and share any obtained information with law enforcement to aid in an attempt of a speedy recovery of the “missing” person.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) on Investigative Services
Why should I pay for private investigative services?
If a non-criminal missing person case becomes stagnant or exhausted with law enforcement, Known Stranger Investigations can assist as a secondary investigative source.
There are not many companies or organizations that search for non-criminal missing persons related to runaways, suicidal persons, or lost people with Dementia/Alzheimer’s.
The founder of Known Stranger Investigations, Martin Geisler, previously worked for approximately 3-years at a missing children organization called Child Quest International. Even though that organization focused on missing children, it was one of the few organizations in the United States which also took on missing suicidal person and missing Dementia / Alzheimer’s cases.
Martin assisted in over 100 missing person cases and helped solve several high-profile missing person cases. His case experience and interviewing of found persons helped to improve his skills with locating runaway juveniles.
Is a license required to be a private Investigator in each state?
Yes, states have different licensing requirements for specialized investigative services. Known Stranger Investigations is licensed as a Private Investigator in the State of California (#PI23821)
Are posters with photos of the non-criminal missing person disseminated locally?
- Runaways - No, posters of runaway juveniles will not be created or disseminated. The runaway views his/her own missing person poster as a “WANTED” poster by law enforcement.
- Missing Suicidal Persons - No, posters of the suicidal person will not be created or disseminated. Exposing these fragile individuals to public scrutiny can often give them another reason to act on their suicidal thoughts.
- Missing Dementia/Alzheimer’s - Yes, posters of the lost person will be created and disseminated. These will be distributed by going door to door within the lost person’s neighborhood.
How is the non-criminal missing person treated once found?
Although paid by the client of Known Stranger Investigations, this company will also consider the point of view of the non-criminal missing person, the reasons why the person left, and the privacy rights of the non-criminal missing person (if 18-years-old or older).
Do voluntary missing adults have different rights than runaway minor children?
Yes, if an adult 18-years-old or older wishes to remain hidden from the Reporting Party or paid client of Known Stranger Investigations, the company must legally withhold the missing person’s whereabouts. However, Known Stranger Investigations will inform law enforcement of the missing person’s whereabouts.