This young man had been romantically scammed through a chat room:

Thanks for all your help and support. I have contacted a constable in Hoppers Crossing (Australia). She is helping me in a tremendous amount. Well apparently, Samantha Davis did not exist. Constable Fulton is taking several approaches to verify her existence and/or possible death. Ironic quirk of fate I guess. Very cruel to do to me. But apparently this has been done and there is nothing I can do about it. I really do appreciate your help. I may need your services in the future to find this "Samantha Davis." Name Withheld

I think we helped end some confusion in New Jersey:

Thanks Charles: Apparently that person knew Ed. Ed called me and asked me if I was looking for him. I said 'yes' and told him that I was hurt. To make a long story short, he was getting a divorce and wanted me to just run away with him. I had said 'no' and he was mad about it. We broke up. There is still something going on, and we're now seeing each other. We saw each other at lunch time. "J" is his daughter, and"'Frances" is his ex-wife. I am telling you this because you are a very sweet person to check out those listings. I really appreciate it and will let you know how it goes. He is living with his cousin in the city and has no phone under his name.You've been so nice. Thanks again. Sincerely, Name Withheld

Adopted out, we gave this man the answers he wanted:

Following is a letter from another one of our clients. He and his wife, Kathy, hired Sterling Investigations out of the phone book. Bill had been adopted out at five or six years of age, and they asked us to locate Bill's mother. They weren't sure of his original last name, and had very little to go on. Unfortunately, when I found his mother's only living sibling, a sister living in Kentucky, she informed me that his mother had died in the sixties. Nevertheless, she was just as happy to find "Billy" as Bill was to have found her, and they had a big reunion in Kentucky, where Bill met all sorts of relatives he didn't even remember.

Dear Mr. Charpentier:

I just wanted to write and tell you how happy I am with the service you performed for me (actually it was for us; my wife, my son and myself). What you found has changed my life. After forty years, thanks to your efforts, I now have "family" of my own; I have a past! I have "ROOTS"!

I don't know how to explain to you what it feels like going through life not knowing who you are where you came from, who your mother and father are, and WHY you were taken away. Was it because your mother and father didn't want you, or was it something you had done? It kind of leaves you with a hollow feeling inside. Questions that no one can answer for you. In my case no one would even talk about it.

Now I have answers! I haven't found all of them yet, but at least now I have "family" I can turn to. Not only do I have some answers, I have pictures of my parents, myself as a little boy, two half-brothers and two half-sisters. I now know that some of my "ROOTS" are right here in America. For as you know, my great-grandmother was almost full-blooded Cherokee.

I had almost given up hope after the last detective we hired. The only thing he came up with was a name in California, with an unlisted number. We never heard from him again. Oh, by the way, Kathy called him and said that if he ever needed a good detective, to call you! Sherlock Holmes would have been proud!

I have no way to express how much what you have done means to me. A simple "Thank You" seems so lame! Should you ever need a reference, don't hesitate to contact us. I would be happy to tell them how you helped us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

William 0. Hamman

Having given up her daughter at birth, mom wanted to know if she was ok:

Charles,

Thank you so much for finding Allison. I cannot find the words to express how grateful I am. I am just so happy that she is alive and well. Could you please tell Mr. Phillips that I have no intention of doing anything to contact Allison until she wants me to. My main concern now, and has always been, for her well being. That is why I waited until she had more time to mature, and to be able to handle all of the emotions that come with a situation like this.

I really do want to meet her and let her know anything and everything she needs or wants to know. I have never let her go from my heart, and I never will, no matter what her choices are now. I also want her adoptive parents to know I do not wish to try to take their rightful place in her life. If they would like to contact me at anytime, please also let them know I would be more than happy to speak with them.

Well, it is getting very late and I get up at 5:45 so I must say goodnight. Again, I know I can never say in mere words how grateful I am and always will be to you for your help. Sincerely,

Bonnie J.

An attorney client gives his opinion:

In typical fashion you have once again demonstrated your uncanny ability to find people that the common investigator could not locate. Enclosed are requests for the location of two more subjects... Attorney (Reedsburg, Wisconsin)

Excerpt of a letter from an associate investigator in another state:

The honest and informative descriptions of your services in an industry where so many people make pie-in-the-sky claims about what they can do impressed me. We're happy to be doing business with you. Nancy Brown