Bellevue private investigator accused of ripoffs

Published 8:43 am Wednesday, October 14, 2009

SEATTLE — The family of a Lynnwood woman who was killed three years ago says they have been preyed upon by a private investigator.

The mother of Nicole Pietz, Gael Schneider, told KOMO-TV that Jaemichael Henderson claimed to have evidence and took $675 to process it. They never heard from him again. But the Bellevue man told KOMO he worked on the unsolved killing for over a year.

The Schneiders aren’t the only people who say Henderson has ripped them off. He was in court Tuesday in Seattle on a theft charge.

Bellevue Police Det. Kevin Kliewer says Henderson has swindled many people by failing to deliver detective work.

The state Department of Licensing revoked his license in May for misrepresentation, negligence and malpractice.

Information from: KOMO-TV, www.komotv.com/