Missing Persons Investigations
John Olsen, Principal Investigator
John Olsen is the principal investigator of Salient Strategic. He’s a U.S. Marine veteran, and retired NYPD undercover police detective. Highly regarded for his expertise, discretion, and professional judgement— John helps families locate missing loved ones.
Everyone is important to someone.
John spent years in service between the Marines and the NYPD, seeing some of the most heartbreaking things imaginable. One thing stayed with him throughout the years: missing persons cases. Parents with missing kids. Teens that got in with the wrong crowd and left without saying a word. Mentally ill family members who have vanished while families fear the worst.
The truth is brutal: not all stories have happy endings. Time is often not on the family’s side. For people who want nothing more than to find their loved one, the official police response can seem slow and lacking; a complete let down. Police officers want to help, but they have so many cases to juggle that there just isn’t enough time in a week to touch them all. Nonprofits exist, but they mostly coordinate public awareness.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.
John saw firsthand how families felt: trapped, helpless, desperate. This is why we offer families in crisis an additional resource. Our services are not for everyone— some families are comfortable working only with police and nonprofit organizations. But we are here for those who prefer discretion, speed, and a third option.
Why We Help Families
What Can You Expect?
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The Decision
You just discovered your loved one is missing. Nobody is making progress, and the police aren’t moving fast enough. It feels like your loved one is just another number. So you decide to make the call.
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The Call
You’ll have a call with John, the principal investigator, who will ask you a series of questions to better understand the situation. He will explain the process, pricing, and answer all of your questions.
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The Search
We will hit the ground running, working smarter to find your loved one. Law enforcement takes reports and leverages systems/networks. This is slow and reactive. We run down leads and obtain intelligence the old school way, leveraging human intelligence.
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Closure
We have an exceptional closure rate, and our top priority is to locate your loved one and bring them home. Once our time together is
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Getting started is simple. Click the “Book A Call” button at the top of this page and schedule a discovery call.
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It all comes down to investigative experience. Would you pick a surgeon with no surgery experience? What about a mechanic who has never fixed a car? Probably not. You need a seasoned investigator who knows the street, and knows how to extract information from people.
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We offer services on a weekly retainer, with expenses when warranted and no refunds. There is no commitment on your end, and you can stop at any time, but we do require the initial payment up-front to begin.
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Discreet, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide you through the process, find actionable information, and bring your loved one home.
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Investigations vary in length and complexity. We’ve had engagements that resolve within 24 hours, and others that have lasted for multiple weeks.
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Yes. We are licensed by the state and legally allowed to investigate for you. Hiring an unlicensed investigator is a crime, and carries significant risk. Always ask about their experience and license number.
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For most people, involving the police is the natural first step, and a sensible one. The police will investigate for free, and for many people, that is enough.
The clients that work with us tend to be willing to pay for faster resolution, because they understand that statistically, time is not on their side. These clients pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are doing everything possible, when speed and results matter most.