Lauth investigators spoke to the Client, gathered information about the fitness studio, their business model, and the branding and markings associated with the franchise. The Client wished to have an investigator infiltrate the business as a customer, document the interior of the studio, learn about the employees, and what the Subject’s involvement was in daily operations. Lauth sent in an undercover operative to speak to the Subject about membership fees and programs, but the Subject was deliberately evasive. Investigators photographed the inside of the studio and confirmed that the Subject was still heavily involved in the daily operations of the studio.

Lauth investigators positioned themselves outside of Subject’s residence, ready to document any physicality on behalf of the Subject that would contradict his request for FMLA leave. Lauth investigators also conducted surveillance at the home of subject’s mother, but Subject was never observed at the residence. Surveillance conducted at the Subject’s home revealed that Subject’s wife was the individual coming and going from the house the most often, as well as a handful of unidentified females who would arrive at the residence and stay a short while before leaving the neighborhood again. Investigators were also able to observe a motorcycle parked in the garage of the Subject’s residence. Over the course of surveillance, Lauth investigators were only able to document a single instance of Subject exerting significant physicality when he unloaded an SUV that included heavy boxes and totes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation became involved when news arrived that a non-custodial American parent had kidnapped the children. The mother waited, but did not receive any updates about her children. Taking initiative, she reached out to the Committee for Missing Children, which provides resource and supports parents in crisis when their child goes missing. This was how the mother found Lauth Investigations and learned that our CEO, Thomas Lauth is one of the nation’s foremost experts in missing children and adults. After interviewing the mother, family members, and other relevant witnesses in the case, Lauth investigators were able to contact the father’s family in America. After some surveillance, investigators were able to locate the children in North Carolina after only two days—six weeks after the onset of the investigation.