A true gumshoe

As a girl, I read all of the Nancy Drew novels, so it’s no wonder that I became a private investigator as an adult (currently in Ohio, formerly in New York). 

In fact, I’ve been cracking criminal and civil cases for over thirty years. A true gumshoe, I’ve worked many investigations on the hard streets of New York City alongside US Marshals, FBI agents, customs agents, the Attorney General, and local law enforcement agents. I’ve been an investigator on high-media murder cases, such as the Wendy’s Massacre and the Carnegie Deli Murders in New York City.

One of my biggest cases was Jeffrey Blake, a wrongfully convicted man who was serving a prison sentence of 36 years to life for a double homicide. After I uncovered compelling evidence and one crucial witness, Blake’s conviction was overturned and he was released from prison. I even received a Proclamation for Outstanding Dedication to Justice from New York City. I was interviewed on Court TV about the twists and turns of this exciting case and Rikki Klieman dubbed me “a modern-day Nancy Drew” (which might have thrilled me more than the proclamation!). 

Although I’m a retired Federal investigator, I still love to solve cases and catch the bad guys as a private investigator. I always “get my man.” Not only did I get a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University, I’ve been an adjunct professor for Tiffin University for the past 13 years teaching, of course, criminal justice. 

My Yorkshire Terrier, Dash, is named after Dashiell Hammett, the author of The Maltese Falcon. And my former partners were two basset hounds, Det. Emma Peel and Det. Olivia Benson, who had outstanding noses for tracking down the bad guys.

I have written about criminal and civil cases in a quarterly column “From the Case Files of Private Investigator Jan Mitchell.” And I’m beginning plans for a book about my investigative adventures!