FROM THE CASE FILES OF RENEE ARMBRUSTER P.I.
Torched On
Chincoteague Island
A TRUE STORY
Follow A Real P.I.’s Steps to Solving a
Cold Case Arson – Homicide
Sometimes the Unimaginable Is True!
On December 6, 1992, a Sunday evening, a call came into Chincoteague Island, Virginia’s 911 dispatch. There was a fire in progress at 4202 Cherrix Lane, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Mathews. All volunteer fire persons on call and off-duty firefighters, including the police chief, received this alert and responded. Upon their arrival, they found smoke engulfing the interior of the Mathews home,
The local police chief and fire marshal bumbled their jobs and shrugged off their responsibilities to properly handle the crime scene at the Mathews fire. Because of this, there would never be an arrest for Stanley Mathews’ torched murder, and it would take this P.I. most of two years investigating it to solve and prove this for the widow.
Meet Renee Armbruster P.I.
Law enforcement would never have been my chosen field. Marriage ending and the responsibility of our three sons moved me to first work as a clerk at the Summit County Sheriff’s Dept. in Akron Ohio. That job came by way of a government program called CETA.
Then the boys and I moved to Tidewater Virginia and there the city of Newport News had posted notice for new police officers. The position for police officers wanted at the time was the highest paying job posted in the city. I applied. When hired, there was approximately three other women on the force at the time; one was in the academy with me, and so I began. I would later leave Newport News Police and join in with Department of Defense, where I worked as a Federal Police Officer.
Sex discrimination was ramped and I sued and quit. Two weeks later, I began my own Private Investigation firm.
This was not as easy as it sounds. I had been the victim of physical abuse as a child where police were at times called into the house and prior to that at age 5 my father was shot and killed.
Shortly after opening my business, I would help the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service write a lesson plan for up and coming future P.I.
For approximately 10 years I was an instructor in investigations and in firearms, register with DCJS.
During the times while teaching I would work this cold criminal case and others. I speak about some in the book here.
One was a double murder that involved international organized crime. I testified twice in Innsbruck Austria. That case would make its way to the European Human Rights Court in France. A win for my client; I did his defense work with his Austria attorney. Lots of fun and a great education.
This book is a kept promise to my client the widow of Stanley Mathews. Mrs. Mathews almost made to publishing. I did this for you Pauline.
As a professional private investigator for decades, Renee Armbruster brings her knowledge, case experiences, and expertise to her consultation work and speaking engagements.
Renee has consulted with law enforcement officials on many cases, both in the United States and overseas. She is also an experienced speaker who has spoken at many functions and groups, large and small, on a variety of topics.
Interested?
Contact Renee with the form below for more information on acquiring her for your group’s next meeting!
Testimonials
Roberta Reese
This book is a great read. It has kept me captivated and I can’t put it down. I look forward to down time so I can keep reading it. You really feel like you are a part of the investigation. If you’re on the fence of whether you should read this book, don’t hesitate. Get it. Thank you PI RM Armbruster for sharing a “part of your story” with us and sharing this investigation.
Ann
Reading the sample drew me into wanting to read more of this non-fiction murder mystery. I had to order the book. Torched on Chincoteague Island is a captivating and scary journey of a Private Investigator’s work to unravel the details of a man’s murder. A murder not solved by the local police.
From the author’s style of writing, the reader feels as if I’m part of the investigative team. The author, a Private Investigator, explains some terms that an ordinary citizen might not know. During the progress of the investigation, the reader is often asked for an opinion. After the facts are presented the reader is asked for a conclusion.
My conclusion: Around whom one lives makes a difference in the quality and safety of one’s life. High quality training and personal integrity of first responders and police keeps citizens safe. Prosecuting law breakers keeps citizens safe.
TG
I read the book in one weekend. Great for readers who like to see how the pieces of the puzzle come together. Renee Armbruster explained how she was able to gather the facts in the case and put them together to come to a logical conclusion. She doesn’t hold back and doesn’t disappoint!
Melody
What a captivating read – this book had me hooked from the first chapter! I loved all of the factual evidence that the author added to each chapter. Highly recommend!
DB Hundley
I lucked upon this book from a law enforcement friend. A true page turner. As I read the book, I felt that I was right there next to her chasing everything down. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. I consumed this thing in less than 2 days. If you love this type of genre, you can’t miss this one.
Karen
Torched on Chincoteague Island is a gripping mystery centered around the murder and investigation of one of the islands long time residents. The book focuses on the death, investigation and the journey that the investigator took. I was drawn in by the author’s ability to make me feel part of the process. The author gave me a new outlook on how investigations take form and proceed. Looking through the author’s eyes, it is obvious that she is passionate and knowledgeable about investigations. This book was a page turner, I found it difficult to put it down.
I read the book in one weekend. Great for readers who like to see how the pieces of the puzzle come together. Renee Armbruster explained how she was able to gather the facts in the case and put them together to come to a logical conclusion. She doesn’t hold back and doesn’t disappoint!