The Challenge of Finding an Insurance Beneficiary
For any firm or insurance company, the task of finding witnesses, beneficiaries, subjects, claimants, or clients can be quite challenging without a dedicated support team. This was particularly evident in an incident from 2014.
The Case Begins: A Tragic Loss
A warehouse employee of a prominent retail chain tragically lost his life on a service road along an Oklahoma interstate in the early morning hours. The challenge for our client was to locate the life insurance policy’s beneficiary. The question was, who was she?
Uncovering the Mystery Beneficiary
The policyholder had recently altered the beneficiary designation from his young adult son with disabilities to his “fiancée.” However, the family, now responsible for the son’s lifelong care, was unaware of her identity. I was tasked with locating the fiancée, armed only with her name. I’ve always relished a good challenge and puzzle, yet this case would soon become the most bewildering investigation of my career, amidst a history of intriguing cases.
My initial step was to consult databases. The last name wasn’t as ubiquitous as ‘Smith,’ but it wasn’t going to be straightforward. Only one match appeared statewide. I obtained a phone number and made contact. A woman responded. It seemed too straightforward, but alas, she had no knowledge of the policyholder. I ended the call, pondering my next move in locating this elusive woman.
Delving into the Policyholder’s Life
The next logical step was to delve into the life of the policyholder. I endeavored to metaphorically step into his shoes. I investigated his residence, cohabitants, daily routines, and social circle. This is when the case took a turn for the extraordinary.
The first lead was his apartment complex. I encountered an exceedingly cooperative woman there. It’s worth noting that apartment complexes can be as impenetrable as Fort Knox, rarely confirming even the residency of tenants, much less divulging information critical to an investigation. However, my experience as a former bartender equipped me with the skills to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. My education in the fundamental questions of Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How undoubtedly contributed to my success as a private investigator. I’m known for my ability to extract information from just about anyone. By speaking rapidly, I prevented the woman from pondering her responses to my barrage of questions, aiming to understand the policyholder’s mindset.
She disclosed that the policyholder and his son were reclusive, interacting minimally with other tenants and primarily with the management office. The son, in his twenties, had the mental capacity of a twelve-year-old. Upon the policyholder’s death, the son reported the incident to the office without displaying any emotion, and it was uncertain if he grasped the gravity of his father’s passing. Both were known to dress exclusively in black and had an affinity for knives. The fiancée remained a mystery, with no sightings of a woman at their apartment. The complex consisted of six apartments, and it was clear that the neighbors would not be of assistance, prompting a shift in my investigative approach.
A New Approach: The Power of Social Media
With a more defined understanding of the policyholder—a solitary, introverted 62-year-old with a son with disabilities, employed at a warehouse for a major retail chain, and not sociable—the prospect of finding anyone acquainted with him or the fiancée seemed daunting. Yet, undeterred by challenges, the quest to find her became my obsession.
The subsequent phase of the investigation led me to Facebook. It seemed improbable that a 62-year-old man with a penchant for knives, always clad in black, and averse to social interactions would maintain a Facebook profile. Yet, in the realm of possibilities, anything could happen. With his name and city of residence at hand, I entered the details into the search bar, half-expecting a miracle. To my astonishment, his profile appeared, modestly adorned with a mere 11 friends. Unsurprisingly, none of his acquaintances mentioned him or his demise. However, one friend piqued my interest: a local gentleman’s club. Scouring the club’s Facebook page, I noticed a friend with a name resembling my subject’s, albeit with a different spelling. Her profile revealed her occupation as an entertainer at the club. Could she be the elusive insurance beneficiary?
Before reaching out to the club, I sought to uncover her identity, residence, and the nature of her acquaintance with the 62-year-old policyholder. My databases indicated that the potential beneficiary was a 24-year-old residing in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, all listed phone numbers were invalid, and her latest address was unoccupied, with no forwarding information available.
A Glimmer of Hope
Yet, there was a glimmer of hope. The databases identified a potential relative who might connect me with my subject. I dialed the number, heart racing with each ring. A woman answered, identifying herself as the subject’s cousin. She lacked current contact details for the subject, who frequently changed phone numbers. She promised to reach out to the subject’s mother for updated contact information and to either return my call or direct the subject to contact me. Despite numerous follow-up calls, I received no response. Should I persist in calling, risking becoming a nuisance?
The only remaining option was to contact the gentlemen’s club. With 17 years of investigative experience, I knew that inquiring about an entertainer at such an establishment would be challenging. As expected, the club’s owner, a woman, confirmed that the subject had previously worked there but had since moved on. She believed she knew the subject’s current workplace but declined to share details, citing privacy concerns. However, she agreed to message the subject with my contact information. The policyholder had been a regular patron, but she was unaware of any engagement between him and the subject and had been curious about his absence.
The day ended without a word from the subject. Convinced that she was indeed the person I was looking for, I revisited her Facebook profile, which now listed a new gentleman’s club as her employer. Once more, I found myself on the phone, the anticipation palpable. A man answered, uncertain of her presence as he only knew the entertainers by their stage names. He took my contact details, promising to inquire about her, and requested that she contact me. And so, the waiting continued…
A Swift Resolution
The resolution of the case arrived swiftly. Within a mere three minutes, my phone rang. A woman’s gentle voice came through, introducing herself. It was the fiancée, whose name had been misspelled in all the documents. I had succeeded in finding her. She verified that the policyholder had passed away in the spring of 2014, a fact she learned from his son three days later. She acknowledged being the policyholder’s fiancée, though she was unaware of his middle name or birth date. Their relationship, she admitted, was “interesting” and somewhat “indefinable.”
With the necessary information in hand to conclude the investigation, I furnished her with the client’s contact details. The final step was to inform the client. I made the call, and upon delivering the news, the client expressed both gratitude and astonishment at the rapidity of the discovery. Now, the client was tasked with the delicate matter of informing her own client that the insurance beneficiary had been found. She pondered, “How am I going to explain this to the family?”
Need Assistance Finding an Insurance Beneficiary? Contact Claims Bureau USA Today!
If you’re facing challenges in locating witnesses, beneficiaries, claimants, or clients, Claims Bureau USA is here to help. Our experienced team of investigators specializes in uncovering even the most elusive individuals. Don’t let unanswered questions hinder your progress—reach out to us now for expert assistance.
Leave A Comment