About Trace Investigations
Hi, my name is Annie, and I'm the owner of Trace Investigations.
I was a child abuse investigator for government agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina for several years before deciding to become a private investigator in Asheville. I specialize in cases involving children. I’m a trained forensic interviewer (nationally-recognized RADAR model) and previously served on the forensics team within Buncombe County CPS. (The forensics team is a small team within the investigations division that is more highly trained and takes the more serious cases of abuse/neglect + all fatality cases.)
Over the years, I have completed trainings on numerous topics, including these:
Domestic violence; illegal/illicit substances; documentation and report writing; interrogation skills; child abuse/neglect; mental health; fatality investigations; injuries suspicious for trauma; early childhood development; photography of evidence; due diligence and background investigations; legal matters and testifying in court; process serving techniques; surveillance techniques.
I have successfully fought for clients and defended my investigations through court testimony numerous times.
Why choose Trace Investigations?
Well, for one, you won’t find a more diligent PI anywhere. I try to hone my skills with every case and to make sure every client feels they got their money’s worth from my services. I stay on top of the latest technologies and offer 24/7 case access to clients through my case management system. I’m constantly educating myself regarding new sources of information, investigative techniques, etc., and I’m good with data and people. And I truly love and enjoy doing detective work full time without ever having to be a cop. (Most private investigators in this area are retired law enforcement officers.)
Plus, here is a direct quote from another investigator that I saw recently: “…as a PI, what you do means nothing to me on a personal level. You’re a number. I work the case, send the bill, and move onto the next one. So if it is a PI, maybe it’ll bring you a little comfort knowing that it’s just a job. We aren’t emotionally invested in you.”
Unfortunately, that's how a lot of people in this field think.
But for me, that isn’t true at all. And that’s the biggest reason why you should choose Trace. I left CPS because I was tired of feeling like my clients were just a number. It felt like I was the only person who actually cared about their lives and the impact the “system” was having on them. I was tired of carrying too many cases at once and not having enough time to thoroughly investigate each one. Now, in private practice, I choose how many cases I take on and ensure that I can give each and every one 100%. And I expect the same of anyone who works for me.
It's impossible to guarantee results in this field, but here is what I can promise if you're my client:
I will fight for you. I will stay in communication with you and be transparent with you about the investigation. I will never knowingly obtain information in illegal/unethical ways. I will protect your rights and confidentiality. I will do my best to help you, and if I/my team are not a good fit for the job, I’ll try to help you find someone else. Maybe CPS, law enforcement, or another private investigator has dropped the ball, and you aren’t sure who to trust. If you hire Trace Investigations, I promise to treat you like my top priority…because you will be.