REC
A division of Behavior Analysis Investigations LLC
Behavioral Analysis-Driven Investigations · OC · LA · SD
Orange County Private Investigator
We Identify Deception Others Miss.
Federal-level behavioral analysis and court-defensible evidence for insurance carriers, SIU teams, claims professionals, and defense attorneys across Southern California.
Trusted by leading organizations
Our Approach
Behavioral science meets investigative skill
OC Private Investigators is the only firm on the West Coast pairing federal-level behavioral science with traditional investigative methods. Founded by David S. Boone, our team brings decades of forensic psychology, behavioral interviewing, and surveillance to deliver intelligence that holds up in court and in the boardroom.
For SIU teams, claims professionals, and defense counsel, that means credibility assessments and court-defensible evidence where observation-only investigations fall short.
What we do
Private Investigation Services in Orange County & Southern California
Four core service lines, each grounded in behavioral analysis and built to produce court-defensible results.
Insurance Investigations
Detect fraud and verify claim legitimacy with behavioral-science credibility assessments and covert surveillance.
- Witness statements (AOE/COE)
- Surveillance (subrosa)
- Investigative intelligence gathering
- Subrogation & 3rd-party liability
Business & Corporate Investigations
Protect your organization from internal misconduct, theft, or policy breaches with factual, confidential results.
- Employee misconduct & theft
- Due diligence & background
- Workplace surveillance
- Behavioral risk assessment
Legal Support & Litigation
Strengthen your case with investigators who assess credibility and surface the truth for law firms statewide.
- Witness location & interviews
- Credibility assessments
- Court-ready evidence & testimony
- Litigation support
Private Investigations
Discreet surveillance, evidence collection, and credibility assessments for informed, defensible decisions.
- Covert surveillance
- Evidence documentation
- Deception detection
- Confidential case work
Dr. Paul Ekman’s 5 Channels of Communication
Behavioral Analysis & Credibility Assessment
The human face has 43 muscles capable of 10,000 expressions. These expressions, as they relate to human emotions, are universal and are expressed the same way across all cultures. The credit for the universality of emotions is shared between 2 major figures: Charles Darwin, who first theorized it, and Dr. Paul Ekman, who scientifically proved it. The truth is written all over our faces…
Facial Expressions
The face is a dual system. It can broadcast what a liar wants to show and conceal what they want hidden, at the same time.
- Micro-expressions. Lightning-fast involuntary movements lasting less than 1/5 of a second, which occur when someone tries to suppress a true emotion such as fear, anger or guilt. Spotting them is the single most effective way to catch emotional leakage.
- Asymmetry and timing. False expressions often appear slightly asymmetrical across the face, linger too long, or land out of step with the spoken words.
- Duping delight. A subtle, involuntary flash of satisfaction or a smirk that appears when a liar believes they have successfully misled someone.
Body Language
Many people assume fidgeting indicates lying. Dr. Ekman’s research finds that general nervous fidgeting is an unreliable measure, so our investigators look for specific contradictions instead. These show up in the head, the shoulders and the mouth.
- Gestural slips. A physical movement contradicts the verbal statement. Someone says “Yes, I agree completely” while unconsciously giving a very slight head shake side to side, indicating that they do not.
- Partial shrugs. A one-sided shoulder shrug or a fragmented gesture, which often hints that the speaker does not fully believe the words they are saying.
Voice
The voice is directly linked to the autonomic nervous system. Under the stress of fabricating a story, the vocal cords react to the emotional pressure.
- Pitch and tone changes. A sudden rise in vocal pitch or a sharp shift in tone, which frequently signals underlying fear, anger or distress.
- Acoustic irregularities. Clearing the throat, a swallowing motion, or a shallow sudden intake of breath, all of which betray physiological nervousness.
Verbal Style
Verbal style focuses entirely on how a person talks rather than on the specific words they use.
- Speech pauses and latency. Uncharacteristically long pauses before answering a question, or pauses between individual words, which reveal a high cognitive load while a person constructs a lie.
- Stuttering and altered cadence. Sudden changes in normal speech rhythm, loops, word repetitions or slips of the tongue, which indicate that the speaker is deviating from their established behavioral baseline.
Verbal Content
Verbal content examines the actual text of what is spoken. Some call this statement analysis.
- Distancing language. Liars alter their pronouns to put distance between themselves and a situation or a person, switching from “my car” to “the vehicle.”
- Evasive formulations. Overly detailed, legalistic or defensive answers that technically avoid answering the core question directly.
Choose with confidence
Why choose OC Private Investigators
Behavioral-science precision
Advanced psychological and behavioral analysis for accuracy beyond standard observation.
Licensed & accredited
Affiliated with CALI, SCFIA, NCFIA, the Anti-Fraud Alliance, and the NICB.
Discreet & confidential
Every case is handled with meticulous care, fully confidential and compliant.
Court-ready reporting
Findings backed by verifiable evidence, formatted for legal or corporate proceedings.
Decades of experience
25+ years of corporate and law-enforcement investigative experience.
Tailored strategies
Each assignment is uniquely designed to meet your legal, corporate, or insurance objectives.
How we work
Our investigation process
A systematic, confidential process built for accuracy, efficiency, and credibility.
Consultation & planning
Define objectives and design a tailored investigative plan.
Evidence collection
Conduct surveillance, interviews, and behavioral assessments.
Reporting & insights
Deliver verified, actionable intelligence with clear recommendations.
Where we work
Private Investigator Services Throughout Southern California
OCPI deploys across three metros within 24–48 hours. Explore investigation services by location:
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Investigations
What types of investigations do you specialize in?
OC Private Investigators handles insurance, corporate, legal, and behavioral cases across Southern California.
Are your investigations confidential?
Yes. All investigations are conducted discreetly, under full compliance and confidentiality standards.
How soon can you begin an investigation?
Most cases begin within 24–48 hours after consultation, depending on complexity and required resources.
Do you provide court-ready evidence?
Yes. Every report is structured to meet evidentiary standards for legal proceedings.
What makes your approach different?
We integrate federal-level behavioral science with investigative skill, producing higher accuracy and court-defensible insight than observation-only firms.
From the blog
Investigation Insights & Resources
Ready to get started?
Request a Confidential Investigation Consultation
Tell us about your case, or call directly. We respond within 24 hours. Most cases begin within 24 to 48 hours.