Expertise
Investigative Experience Is More Than Knowing Where to Look
Investigations can generate enormous amounts of information. The harder task is determining what matters, what remains unverified and what the evidence actually supports. Drawing on experience in law enforcement, investigative leadership and private investigations, Mike Toth brings that judgment to three areas of expertise.
Investigative Judgment & Strategy
Ask One More Question.
Investigations rarely fail because there isn’t enough information available. Problems often develop when the information already collected creates the impression that the investigation is complete.
Mike approaches investigative work differently.
A report is a starting point, not the final word. Mike examines what has been established, which assumptions may have shaped the investigation and where another interview, independent check or fresh look at the evidence could change the understanding of a case. His approach combines careful analysis with curiosity, fieldwork and the willingness to ask one more question.
Never confuse access to information with completion of an investigation.
Major Case Analysis
Separate What Is Known From What Is Assumed.
Major cases create pressure for answers.
Investigators, journalists and the public may be working with incomplete information while trying to understand what happened, what the evidence means and where an investigation may be heading.
Mike’s approach to major case analysis begins by resisting the temptation to fill those gaps with speculation.
High-profile cases often generate pressure for quick answers before all the facts are known. Mike helps audiences distinguish confirmed evidence from assumptions; understand why particular facts matter and identify what investigators would need to establish next. His role is to explain the investigative process, not predict an outcome or fill gaps with speculation.
A piece of evidence can be significant without proving a theory. An arrest can tell us investigators established probable cause without telling us everything the evidence will ultimately prove. Missing information can be important without automatically pointing toward a particular conclusion.
Mike’s role isn’t to predict an outcome from limited facts. It is to explain how investigators evaluate information, why certain evidence matters, what questions remain unanswered and what investigative steps may come next.
That distinction allows complicated cases to be discussed clearly without getting ahead of the evidence.
Fraud, Scams & Financial Exploitation
Follow the Evidence. Understand the Method.
Fraud often depends on trust, urgency and convincing impersonation. Mike examines how schemes unfold, how victims are persuaded to act and what evidence may remain after money is lost. Drawing on investigative work and media commentary, he explains both the methods behind scams and the warning signs that can help people recognize them earlier.
His approach focuses on both sides of the problem:
How did the scheme work?
What evidence did it leave behind?
Understanding the method can help investigators determine what happened. Understanding the warning signs can help others recognize the danger before money is lost.
Putting Experience to Work
Mike brings these areas of expertise to several different settings.
For journalists and producers, he provides investigative perspective that helps explain complex cases without substituting speculation for facts.
For professional organizations and conference audiences, he translates investigative experience into practical lessons that investigators and other professionals can apply to their own work.
For attorneys and other professionals, he brings an independent investigative perspective to existing information and case material.
And through his writing and commentary, Mike continues exploring the practical lessons that emerge from investigative work.