Murderers, missing kids and cheating spouses: Private investigators tell all

From meetings with notorious killers to searching for missing children and cheating spouses, private investigators from across Sydney are spilling the secrets of the job.

He’s been in “crazy, dangerous” situations while investigating kidnappers, underworld heavies and notorious murderers throughout his 40 year career, but the case of a missing teenager is one that’s stuck with private investigator Michael Rumore for years.

The teen was from a “very normal” family, in high school and doing well with her studies, until she suddenly vanished.

Her parents suspected she’d run off with a much older man, and with their calls unanswered, they enlisted the help of Mr Rumore.

It was a change of pace for Mr Rumore, who’d investigated gang rapists and corrupt cops for much of his career, but it ended up being one of his most bizarre jobs.

He tracked her to a swanky resort on a tropical island thousands of kilometres from her home in Australia.

Private Investigator Michael Rumore. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The problem was there were thousands upon thousands of rooms at the resort – and finding her would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

However, he found himself in a situation he’d never been in before.

“I’m at the desk checking-in only hours after landing on the tropical island and they just walk right past me, the two of them together,” he said.

“Luck like that doesn’t happen often, but it’s a win when it does.”

Days of surveillance revealed they’d joined a cult – and were at a quasi-conference at a five-star hotel.

Based on the intelligence he determined, he was able to tip-off the girl’s parents and the Australian Federal Police about the girl’s whereabouts and travel plans.

Federal Police then waited for her when she touched back down in Australia after which she was soon safely reunited with her family.

“There is something about this story that was just so wacky, initially it presented as being a most challenging task but suddenly it became very easy; given the fact they weren’t even hiding this odd and inappropriate relationship – probably feeling rather comfortable given they were thousands of kilometres from home,” he said.

He recalls every job over his 40-year career, explaining that he becomes so immersed in someone’s life that it’s impossible to forget.

“You get to know their habits and even predict their moves,” he said.

“I remember their names, their stories, their backgrounds – even their number plates.”

REMEMBERING EVERY STORY

There was the day family killer Sef Gonzales walked into his office asking for help following the deaths of his mother, father and sister.

Mr Rumore suspected Gonzales was being followed and monitored by police, and he was correct.

The same day Gonzales walked into his office pleading for his assistance, he was arrested and ultimately charged with murdering his family.

Then there was the afternoon he visited Neddy Smith in jail after he had been charged with Sallie-Anne Huckstepp’s murder.

Mr Rumore had been enlisted to work behind the scenes on the case, after Ms Huckstepp was found dead following her decision to publicly reveal details about corrupt cops and links to Smith.

“That was really a moment when my guard went up, this was serious stuff and, I needed to be very careful” he said.

Sef Gonzales.

Arthur " Neddy " Smith.

He’s been followed by serious criminals, had a knife held to his throat and had moments where he’s thought “this is it” – but it’s never deterred him.

“Being a private investigator is inherently dangerous on a number of levels,” he said.

“But the constant thrill of it, the fact you can help people when no else has or can, and the fact that every single day is unpredictable and different, can be pretty amazing not to mention most satisfying and rewarding.”

Mr Rumore began working as a private eye in 1984 at just 21-years-old, after meeting an investigator while out in Sydney one night.

He was immediately fascinated and began studying for his PI licence, with his first job coming less than a year later.

His task was simple – capture photographic evidence of a man who was breaching his worker’s compensation claim and working in a factory despite his injury.

“No one could get him,” Mr Rumore recalled.

“But I pulled up in my van, pretended I had broken down, and I got the shot of him. It just came so naturally to me.”

Six years later he was running his own business – and became the “go-to-guy” in high-profile murders and disappearances, insurance claims and custody cases involving stolen children.

DISGUISES AND SPY GADGETS

He colloquially calls himself a “spy”, and while he doesn’t have a shoe phone like Maxwell Smart, he’s got tiny pinhole cameras disguised as pens and lapel pins, video cameras disguised as iPhones and nondescript vans for surveillance.

“The toys and gadgets are the best part of it,” he said.

While it may seem like a taboo area, Mr Rumore said business is booming, with more people than ever requesting his help.

So much so the number of private investigators is increasing around the state.

“The industry is rather competitive,” Mr Rumore said.

“With the advent of an increased public awareness of the existence of private investigators, over the last 10 years, there has been a steady increase in demand.”

A question he faces almost immediately after revealing his profession is “do you wear a disguise”, the answer is yes, but it’s not as dramatic as it sounds.

“I am always equipped with a complete change of clothing so that I can quickly change my appearance during the course of surveillance or any other investigation as need be,” he said.

Michael Rumore said the best disguise was being unassuming and underestimated. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“For example, shorts and a T-shirt to full business suit to hi-viz tradesman’s gear including tool belt.”

The best disguise of all however is being overlooked, underestimated and blending in, according to Mr Rumore.

“In my experience, the difference between presenting as being well-dressed and well-groomed and being underdressed and scruffy is amazing – measurable – and a very powerful tool,” he said.

THE SPOUSE SPY

Sydney cop turned private investigator Anthony D’Amore, has made a living hunting down cheating spouses across town – and said he’s never been busier.

While it sounds like something that only happens in the movies, Mr D’Amore is inundated with calls to track down an unfaithful husband or wife every week.

A private investigator for company Spouse Spy, he sees people from all ages and walks of life caught in the act.

“You’d be surprised,” he said.

“We get young women and men calling and also much older people who have suspicions about their spouses of 40 years.”

Sometimes it takes days of stake outs and searching for a cheating spouse, sometimes it’s as easy as watching them walk out of a restaurant.

Private investigators say business is booming in Sydney.

“One funny case I had was a wife who contacted me about her cheating husband,” he said.

“On my first attempt I saw him walking out of the restaurant with another woman and let’s say they couldn’t wait until they got home – and I captured it all with my camera.”

Other jobs take longer – and despite lurking in bushes with a camera, or peering over fences, may never have an outcome.

Unlike Mr Rumore, Mr D’Amore keeps his identity a secret, as revealing his face could jeopardise his future investigations.

“If people recognise me or know who I am it could immediately ruin an investigation,” he said.

“We need that secrecy and that level of anonymity to get the best result.”

A common misconception is that PIs have access to sensitive information like government records or phone logs, but that isn’t the case.

“There’s very limited information we’ve got access to and absolutely no investigator has access to the RMS or to bank accounts or to police records,” Mr D’Amore said.

“Privacy laws protect everyone, even the guilty.”

Social media has changed the game for PIs – people now share a lot online, which can make things a lot easier for if someone is being investigated.

“A lot of people have their social media profiles open,” Mr D’Amore said.

“It’s pretty scary how much you can find out just by looking at someone’s page.”

INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS

The other area that brings in the most work for Sydney investigators is insurance work.

Companies who received insurance claims will often call in an investigator to monitor a claimant, and ensure their “sore neck” or “broken leg” is legitimate.

An investigator who agreed to speak to the Telegraph on the condition of anonymity said he got a “real kick” out of his dodgy subjects.

“This guy allegedly had a sprained neck and had the quintessential foam brace wrapped around his neck,” the PI said.

“But the minute he got into his backyard, the brace came off and he dived head first into the pool.”

In a circumstance like that, it makes the job worthwhile – but in the case where someone is legitimately injured, the PI said you do feel a “little guilty”.

Private eyes are often tasked with finding cheating spouses.

“You know you’re just doing your job and doing the due diligence for these insurance corporations,” he said.

“But at times it can get to you if you feel you’re investigating someone who is genuinely struggling.”

To legally follow someone around as a private investigator, rigorous licencing and studying is required.

The process usually starts with a Certificate III in Investigative Services, before an operator’s licence is issued by the NSW Police force under the Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate.

According to Mr Rumore, it’s an industry much bigger than anyone would assume – with his clients coming to him for everything from delving into an unsolved homicide, or tracking down a long-lost relative.

“It’s made for a very entertaining 40 years,” he said. “I don’t ever want to stop.
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Originally published as Murderers, missing kids and cheating spouses: Private investigators tell all