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Orlando Sentinel
RICARDO RAMIREZ BUXEDA / THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Kelly Hite, left, and Sandy Love own and operate Central Florida PI in Orlando. "People have a concept of what you should look like, but people meet us and think it's wonderful. We're just hardworking women," Hite says.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A new private-investigation agency here is less like Sam Spade and more like the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Sandy Love and Kelly Hite are sleuthing around Central Florida, challenging the perception of P.I.s.
"People meet us and think it's the coolest thing," said Hite, 49. "People have a concept of what you should look like, but people meet us and think it's wonderful. We're just hardworking women."
Love, 45, has been a private investigator for almost 22 years and started her own business, Sandy Love Investigations, in 1995, when she had trouble finding work because she was a woman and did not have previous military or law-enforcement experience.
Hite owned a medical clinic for 18 years before selling it last January because she was disillusioned with the insurance red tape. She had known Love for about seven years. Central Florida PI was born last spring, with Love in the field and Hite handling administration while working on her two-year licensing internship.
Two other women also are working on their internships at the Windermere, Fla.-based company.
Orlando private investigator Stephen Craig, a regional director with the 600-member Florida Association of Licensed Investigators, said private investigation is a male-dominated field, because many private investigators are men with military or law-enforcement training in their past.
He said about a third of licensed investigators are women, who tend to put subjects at ease, not on the defensive.
"I don't intimidate people," Love said. "I have a funny, crazy personality, and yes, I carry a gun."
Love said that in the beginning, she didn't worry about working alone, but now she works with a partner and will quickly back out of an uncomfortable situation.
"I've had my share of run-ins with bad people, but if you know how to handle your situation, you're OK," Love said. "I kind of go with my gut feeling."
Once, Love said, she approached someone she wanted to talk with in Apopka, Fla., on a murder case, and he pulled a gun on her because he was dealing drugs.
Hite said one reason she got into the business is to help keep others safe.
As a single woman, she went to dinner with a man she had met online. Though he seemed like a wonderful person, she had Love run a background check and found he had recently been released from prison.
"If I had not had a friend like Sandy, I would have seen this person more times," Hite said. "It really got me to thinking about women and men that don't check."
Love and Hite work cases involving everything from missing persons to child custody.
Some of Love's most challenging, time-consuming cases are homicides, in which she retraces the life of the accused. She gathers information about the subjects, including their prenatal care and childhood injuries, and interviews school and work associates.
"Every day, it's something different," Love said.
By Rebekah LaSala on February 2, 2009 6:35 PM
I am an attractive, heavy woman and I love these two women because they are really shattering and challenging the common stereotypes that I am now experiencing from being who I am right now.
I am getting tired of feeling that I am not wanted on interviews b/c I am overweight. I go on interviews, do a great job and they are always really interested in me until they see how heavy I am.
I was wondering if any other heavy sisters out there are experiencing this?
My e mail is: seattlepoet@gmail.com.
Please write if you want.
Bless you,
Rebekah
By Rebekah LaSala on February 2, 2009 6:35 PM
I am an attractive, heavy woman and I love these two women because they are really shattering and challenging the common stereotypes that I am now experiencing from being who I am right now.
I am getting tired of feeling that I am not wanted on interviews b/c I am overweight. I go on interviews, do a great job and they are always really interested in me until they see how heavy I am.
I was wondering if any other heavy sisters out there are experiencing this?
My e mail is: seattlepoet@gmail.com.
Please write if you want.
Bless you,
Rebekah
By Rebekah LaSala on February 2, 2009 6:57 PM
I am an attractive, heavy woman and I love these two women because they are really shattering and challenging the common stereotypes that I am now experiencing from being who I am right now.
I am getting tired of feeling that I am not wanted on interviews b/c I am overweight. I go on interviews, do a great job and they are always really interested in me until they see how heavy I am.
I was wondering if any other heavy sisters out there are experiencing this?
My e mail is: seattlepoet@gmail.com.
Please write if you want.
Bless you,
Rebekah
By Rebekah LaSala on February 2, 2009 6:58 PM
I am an attractive, heavy woman and I love these two women because they are really shattering and challenging the common stereotypes that I am now experiencing from being who I am right now.
I am getting tired of feeling that I am not wanted on interviews b/c I am overweight. I go on interviews, do a great job and they are always really interested in me until they see how heavy I am.
I was wondering if any other heavy sisters out there are experiencing this?
My e mail is: seattlepoet@gmail.com.
Please write if you want.
Bless you,
Rebekah
By Joanne Brass on February 3, 2009 11:29 AM
I too am a privat4e investigator in the New York area. There are very few woman in this business. I have been an insurance investigator for 30 years. when it is in the blood its there to stay. If you ever need assistance in the New york area give me a call and I too will do the same in Florida.
By Bill Mitchell, 7-Day Detective on February 5, 2009 5:08 AM
We've hired females for five decades. They're contributions to the private investigative field have been disarming and create an opportunity where a men's presence would be a deterrent. This is a dangerous business, so female private investigators must be more vigilant with their surroundings. This is a male dominated business which will not change but it’s great to have women contributing to this challenging occupation.
America’s Best Known Private Investigator Bill Mitchell, author The More You Know – Getting the evidence and support you need to investigate a troubled relationship.
Seen on Dr. Phil.
Get your copy today at http://www.7daydetective.com/books.html
By Catherine Olen on May 19, 2009 7:57 AM
I too, am a woman PI, and I ran a very successful business for 13 year back in MA before moving to FL in Mid August of 2007. I am 48 and very attractive and articulate. I have been working hard to break into the field here in FL,and basically specialize in all facets of insurance fraud, criminal and civil investigations. No matter how I try to put myself out there and network, to get my own business going, I do find that it is definitely a man's world in the good old South. It's a discouraging, tedious task, I must say. Especially if you are not from here. Would like to get some advice from these two ladies as to how they have done so well.
By Liz Mason-PI on October 31, 2009 11:30 AM
I am a trained Private Investigator and have been since the 90's. I love the work, although to me it is not really work, because I get to do the things I enjoy doing.
I have not been able to utilize my talents in several years, because I am living overseas, but when we sell our property over here and I get back on US soil, I plan to hook up again. To me there is no better or more rewarding career choice that can ever be made.
I would love the opportunity to be able to do some internet work while still overseas, if anyone should have the need.
Being a PI is simply the best career choice above all others.