Phoenix, AZ —The happening place to be is in this lurid and sexually charged murder trial.  Young Jodi Arias is on trial for her life for killing a sometime boyfriend. There are no eyewitnesses, just too many different versions of the event given by the not too shy accused killer.  Will her deception convict her?  Will her efforts to skew the evidence be her downfall?  Conventional wisdom says, yes. My 40 plus years as a cop and private eye has taken me down this road so many times before.  I’m here to tell you that when a self-defense killing takes place the frightened, ignorant and confused victims often lie because the feel the need to do so.  Does that mean liars are automatically guilty?  Heavens no! The other issue was whether Arias over-reacted to the perceived threat of the boyfriend?  Did she act out of the heat of passion?  The lies and cover-up can’t really answer those questions. However juries usually hate liars ...

Three men wearing tough guy black suits, but are they trained or just security theater?  Los Angeles, CA —As the Oscar Awards are presented the serious side of celebrity security is an important area of concern.  Today many entertainers and security professionals are discussing the dark side of the entertainment business. As a private investigator I've had to deal with numerous stalking cases involving celebrities in film, television and TV news.  I generally stick to threat assessment, background investigations, management and actual prophylactic contact with the offenders.   Except in special cases I leave the muscle work to others.   Celebrities are generally admired but sometimes for the wrong reasons by their fans.  When an actor makes the choice to expose their images and personal history for the general public it can pay handsomely.  It also sometimes comes with a price that can be painfully expensive and sometimes frightening. ...

Andrea Fleckenstein at Villa Aurora Pacific Palisades, CA —High upon a scenic ocean view bluff here is a fabulous villa that was a refuge for Jewish artists that fled from the horror of Adolph Hitler and National Socialism during that terrible war.  Today, decades later Villa Aurora is an epicenter for resident German artists of various disciplines including filmmakers.   There are a lot of special events held here like the one I attended today with my dear and beautiful friend  Andrea Fleckenstein who is again visiting from Berlin.  This was a terrific pre-Oscar Award party honoring actors, producers, and directors who are currently nominated for that coveted little gold statuette.   It was nothing short of terrific to meet so many talented and classy German film industry people all in one place.  I have a pet German film project of my own and what a great place it was to network with people serious about making quality films....

Las Vegas, NV -While attending this years SHOT Show I took my inexpensive Panasonic Lumix digital camera and shot some video out the window.  I added a little music courtesy of my favorite actress Carice van Houten for the mood. Trust me she will put you in the mood! 100 Years From Today is an old song from the 1930’s that was used in the great Paul Verhoeven film, Black Book .  Van Houten is the undisputed star of that great 2006 movie based on World War Two reality. 

Los Angeles, CA —When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.  That well-worn saying has never been better demonstrated by disgraced and fired LAPD officer Chris Dorner .  In a dumbfounding paradox Dorner was an advocate of Obama and the failed gun ban Democratic Party dogma.  Of course Dorner apparently wanted to make sure his future victims would be disarmed. Dorner had quite a cache of weapons already banned under California and federal laws. He had at least two firearm silencers. He had several banned M-4 platform rifles.  He also had banned gas grenades.  Most of his handguns had magazine capacities well over the California 10 round limit.  He had numerous already banned magazines for his rifles and pistols. Local and federal gun laws were violated by Dorner not to mention his murdering four and the maiming of his other victims. Dorner went to war with the cops.   In at least two regrettable cases cops went to war with un...

Los Angeles, CA —Fired LAPD cop Christopher Dorner was on a rampage but the TV news coverage was limited to chasing official police information officers around to tell the story.  Frankly that just didn’t cut it.  The police agencies involved could be counted upon to only release self-serving information and nearly always that information is far less than candid.  Additionally the information is always meticulously influenced by the political slant of the persons appointing the police chiefs. What are the reporters and producers supposed to do?  They need to let their least experienced or capable people chase the worthless public information officers.  The real reporters and producers need to scour public records and find people to interview that could shed important light on the story.  Litigation records of the players involved would have revealed lots of names that deserve follow up interviews.  They could have broadcast a much better and...

Chicago, IL —A well respected  University of Illinois  cancer researcher, Kathleen Loviscek , 55 was reasonably concerned about the strangers who were renovating her home.   She did not have viable options but to bring her lawfully purchased and unloaded gun to work so it would not fall into wrong hands.   For example, she could not simply entrust a neighbor with her gun without running afoul of Chicago’s draconian gun laws. Police treated Lovisicek like a dangerous terrorist, knowing she had no criminal record and a legitimate Firearms Identification Card.  She was charged with felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and jailed overnight.  She was hauled before a fascist Cook County judge who set bail at $25,000.00. Bail is for two purposes; one to insure the accused will appear in court and to protect the public.  This woman had strong ties to the community and no criminal history.  Nobody was ever endangered so letting her out on he...