CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsA day in the life of a private investigator
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CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - He's the guy in the background you never notice, always the "man standing behind the man."
Well, not anymore. With the news that private investigators located the body of Kate Waring, private investigators are right up front.
"You can't solve crimes if you can't get the information," said James Randolph of Randolph and Habersham Investigations. It appears Randolph and Tommy Blackwood can get the information.
Randolph's company helped lead police to Waring's body. So, what is a typical day like for these guys? "It's exciting, it's exciting - it really is," said investigator Blackwood.
That said, don't think they have stake-outs in disguised vans full of hi-tech equipment. "Those type of scenarios are pretty nil, most often you won't see a white van," said Blackwood.
So if that's the case, how did private investigators manage to solve the Waring case before police? "Those incidents are rare that the investigator solves the crime before the police do," said Blackwood. "Hard work, perseverance and knowing where to look - not leaving any stone unturned," said Randolph.
Both men are former local police officers. They say they employ the same techniques they used on the force. And insist they don't have an advantage talking to sources because they can't arrest them.
"When I was a police officer the badge was not a hindrance to me on the street solving crimes," said Randolph. Nor do they say they have more time to work a case. What it often comes down to, according to these two men, is desire and attention.
They say as a case gets older police may not pay as much attention to an unsolved case. That's where they come in. "Clients are generally apt to go to a private investigator and try to keep hopes alive," said Blackwood.
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