Update On T J Ward

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is said to be profiling the increasingly famous private investigator, T J Ward in tomorrow's edition - the man with the million dollar income charging the family of Natalee Holloway $125 an hour to help find their missing girl.

This link is to a pdf file which previously did a profile on the prolific detective. Some excerpts from page 13 of the pdf:

Ward has been a private investigator since 1982, after retiring from a 25-year career as a police officer. His final police job was as a pilot with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Department, earning $22,000 per year.

Tired of trying to live off his salary, Ward decided to start his own business. "I was too close to poverty level, [which is] $15,000," he said, "Most police officers have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet," said Ward, adding that his 2003 revenue totaled $1 Million.

His firm, staffed with six investigators, bills clients up to $100 per hour, plus expenses. "I was fortunate to be in the right place and meet the right people at the right time," he said. "I know how to market my business and get out there."

One of Ward's earliest clients was former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr. Barr hired Investigative Consultants for his private practice in Atlanta, and while he served in Congress from 1995 - 2003. Barr and Ward are now working together to educate corporations on the Patriot Act. Financial success aside, Ward says he loves his job because every day is different.

RWV has been fortunate enough to see an advance copy of tomorrow's profile on Ward. It is said to include:

Investigator, T.J. Ward, 51, has been working the case for less than two weeks and claims to have already found witnesses and evidence that for two months have eluded island investigators. "This case should have been solved in three days," said Ward last week, as he prepared to return to Aruba Sunday.

One of Ward's fresh leads appears to have just added to investigator's frustrations, however.

Over the past three weeks he said he has appeared almost nightly on a cable news programs talking it. "Nancy Grace told me I'm the most famous private investigator in America," he said

He flew down to Aruba at his own expense and made his pitch to the family: What this case needs isn't more analysis, what this case needs is more shoe leather. They hired him, paying his expenses, and $125 an hour.

Now, with his work, and the FBI reportedly getting more actively involved in the investigation than it was before, the mystery may soon have an ending, said Ward - which opens another mystery.

Who will write the book about the Natalee Holloway case?

"Me," said Ward.

Update: A voice from San Diego chimes in on Nancy Grace and does a take down of the Holloway / Twitty family in the process. Must be one of those compassionate Libruls I've heard so much about! ; )

Comments

[HM]

Nowe that Beth is gone from the island, I hope Ward isnt going to sit on the beach half the day sunning himself at $125/hour...are all of Natalee's family gone from the island?

[ExGman]

Ward is just one of many opportunists' cashing in on this case; one time seeing him on TV was enough to last me; now Arlene I could watch her lip sync cartoons,,,,,

[frenchymom]

It will be a disgrace for him to write a book about the Holloway's loss....That is no different than a rapist writing a book on the rapes they have committed... i.e. TJ Ward he is taking their money for the opportunity to take advantage of them..

Just my opinion...

[angelaberdine]

It will be a disgrace for him to write a book about the Holloway's loss....That is no different than a rapist writing a book on the rapes they have committed... i.e. TJ Ward he is taking their money for the opportunity to take advantage of them..

Just my opinion...

Posted by: frenchymom | July 31, 2005 11:22 PM

Maybe he is practicing for the next case and the book, or the Dutch are doubling that $125/hour.

[hobo]

Let's give this guy some time to come up with something (hopefully). He arrived on the scene of probably one of the most bungled crime cases in history, coupled with a community of people with strong vested interests.

Peace and prayers for Natalee.

[mariaK]

Well, the Twittys got what they paid for with this piece of work! Maybe he and Tim Miller could collaberate on the book. It could be ghost written by whomever writes the books for Mark Fuhrman.

[hotbabe]

Dave Holloway and TJ Ward were on "At Large" tonight from Aruba so this is good news. That Steve Yuhas article is sick.

[!]

Dan, I think you should right the book !!!!
:O) You deserve it. !!!!

[bobo]

"Ward has been a private investigator since 1982, after retiring from a 25-year career as a police officer."
Let's see, what am I missing here?
1982-25=1957
"Investigator, T.J. Ward, 51,..."
Hmmm...2005-51=1954.
He joined the police at age...3 ??????????

[calista]

this guy is a con plain and simple - he made up a witness and he is taking the holloways money with no guilt or conscience - money money money

[mariaK]

The Steve Yuhas article is rough, but he raises some VERY good points. One thing I heard early on is that you can't go to a country to enjoy its lax laws and easygoing lifestyle, then complain about the lax laws and easygoing lifestyle when things go wrong.

[mick]

Has anyone noticed that TJ's lips keep right on moving after he's finished speaking? I want to know what he's saying when he's not talking out loud.

TJ is setting himself up to come out of this a winner regardless of the outcome. If he succeeds he is a hero and if he fails it's all the fault of the Arubans for botching the investigation.

[dave]

Dan - If you go to Mr. Yuhas' site you will see that he is actually a conservative, not that it makes any difference. A prick is a prick, no matter what there political beliefs.

[calista]

sooo...now natalee left with deepak, joran's shoe is still missing, they haven't found anything in the landfill yet, jossy and tj ward are still all over tv blabbing, tim miller is knocking on the vandersloots door with a fox crew to try and search it, beth has left aruba, and we are pretty much where we started in this case.....nowhere..............ouch I have a headache

[calista]

I odn't think this will be solved.........aruba really screwed up in those first days....really

[ashleigh]

This guy TJ Ward is the slimiest, dirtiest snake I've ever seen. I think he stinks.

[calista]

what a circus I swear - it is more like a pr event than a search anymore.........between jossy and tim miller and all these starnge connections with money laundering and then the corrupt police and everyone else..........just a BIG CIRCUS.......I don't believe any of these people anymore

[nancydrew]

Fox news site reporting Greta will be in M Brook live (with Beth) for Mon evening show

[Cindi in PA]

Must be one of those compassionate Libruls I've heard so much about! ; )

Posted by Dan

I believe he was on the steps when Rosie and her lover got married, you know, the couple in matching blue polyester suits.

MrsJh SHOULD GO TO SAN DIEGO AND KICK SOME ASS :)

[bobo]

After reviewing Georgia licensing site, it appears that T(homas) J(oseph) Ward, Sr, license expired/lapsed in 1999.
Also, curiously, Robert (ex US Rep Bob?) Lawrence Barr, Jr, has a PD license through the same firm, Invest Consultants Intl, issued in May and expiring 8/31/2005

[realitybased]

I don't think the Aruban LE screwed up this case at all. I think the Twitty's went in with guns blazing demanding answers and the right to question Joran and when they found out they couldn't have their way, their PR person (who hires a PR person when someone is missing, btw?) told them to claim incompetence.

Obviously, the FBI isn't giving them any information either, but they can't very well claim the FBI isn't doing it's job, because they got what they asked for, almost. The FBI will need to make sure this case does not further antagonize relations with Aruba and they aren't about to go against Aruban law and divulge information.

BTW, where's all the media clamoring to the FBI to get info? Even in the missing husband from the cruise line case, they had an FBI agent makes comments about the case. Where are the FBI comments on this one?

[mariaK]

Cindi in PA-Rosie and her lover were "married" in San Francisco, not San Diego. Please get your prejudices straight!

[calista]

Fox news site reporting Greta will be in M Brook live (with Beth) for Mon evening show

Posted by: nancydrew | August 1, 2005 12:03 AM

for what? so we can hear the same thing over and over again false witnesses useless searches scumbag p.i.s jossy and his magic witnesses eh makes appear............I like Greta and nithign against beth but enough is enough already with this mess........someone PLEASE tell the truth

[Jessie]

Twitty,Mansur and Ward would play a recording of squealing pigs, having their throats slit, thorugh an amplifier in front of the home the Van Der Sloots are staying and in Joran's prison cell if they thought they could break these two.
These are three sick and likely evil to the core men. And the media (primarialy Fox News) is probably just going along for the rateings ride.

[mariaK]

I thought I had heard over and over that in Aruba prosecutorial evidence that is leaked to the media can not be used at trial. So, that confession Jossy and T.J. Ward discussed in full detail would be tossed out. Way to go, guys! Of course, that may be the intention.

[Cindi in PA]

I don't think this will be solved.........aruba really screwed up in those first days....really

Posted by: calista | July 31, 2005 11:54 PM

Calista
A cover up indeed. There is no other explanation. And they claim to have trained with the best police depts in the world.

[nancydrew]

I like Greta and I always learn something about the case,even it is insignificant

[calista]

http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/kidnap/bradley.htm

ok for everyone who said natalee could not be listed on fbi missing list because she went missing in anoither country - amy bradley went missing in aruba also or in that region and she is on the fbi missing/kidnapped list - natalee NEVER has been on this list?????????/

[dpa]

>

Nah, don't even bother to check out Yuhas' Web site and actual words. Dan has an independent witness that says that Yuhas is slightly more liberal than Rick Santorum. That makes Yuhas a liberal.

[Jessie]

I tend to agree with the Steve Yuhas take on this situation. To paraphrase Jerry Lewis:Just because misfortune befalls you, it does not mean that you cannot be the same jerk or jackass you were before misfortune was visited upon you. There are jerks and jackasses in wheelchairs,you know.

[Cindi in PA]

Cindi in PA-Rosie and her lover were "married" in San Francisco, not San Diego. Please get your prejudices straight!

Posted by: mariaK | August 1, 2005 12:06 AM
LOL, caught me.
Never said they were married in SD. And I am not prejudice.....just jealous, hell when I got married, sucking face with my husband sure as hell din't make the 5'oclock news. And I was fit, trim and wore white! lol

[NYMom]

Arauban legal tradition sounds foreign to us in NY. No teachers and Scout Leaders vouching for the three alleged perpertators. No friends sticking up for them. While most Arubans seem nice and helpful, we see undroll Trolls blaming the victim and her family. Maybe we are just more open in the US. Backgound informatin on alledged perpertrators is more available. Many of us are parents and feel deeply for Dave Holloway and Beth Twitty. We see a young girl missing and a family in anguish. Keep it simple and the truth will set you free. But most important,don't make a circus of our deep desire to bring Natalee home.

[calista]

http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/kidnap/bradley.htm

ok for everyone who said natalee could not be listed on fbi missing list because she went missing in anoither country - amy bradley went missing in aruba also or in that region and she is on the fbi missing/kidnapped list - natalee NEVER has been on this list?????????/

Posted by: calista | August 1, 2005 12:15 AM

anyone have any info/thoughts on this? I htink it is downright weird

[calista]

all natalees posters lised a FBI tip line?? so why is she not on that list? The only reason I can think of is they know she is dead and not missing

[smart ass]

Tim miller and Tj ward have decided the best way to search for Natalee is to go on tour with the girls gone wild crew, I admire these men for their sacrifice.

[mariaK]

RE: the FBI list - I think they said on court tv last week that Amy Bradley is listed because she was on a cruise ship that left from a US port and was therefore considered to be missing from US property.

[MrsJimiHendrix]

Dan, Cindy, et al

from the start, why do names like Johnny Cochran and Mark Garagos come to mind when i think of this guy???

[calista]

RE: the FBI list - I think they said on court tv last week that Amy Bradley is listed because she was on a cruise ship that left from a US port and was therefore considered to be missing from US property.

Posted by: mariaK | August 1, 2005 12:48 AM

well natalee was on a us plane that left from the us so..........

[loco]

Perhaps the plane was not from a US airline :=)

[calista]

Perhaps the plane was not from a US airline :=)

Posted by: loco | August 1, 2005 01:09 AM

maybe but I still think it is odd.........

[bamaguy11]

Dan,

I don't know how to break this to you....

Steve Yuhas is a (gulp) CONSERVATIVE

http://www.steveyuhas.com/

[angelaberdine]

Dan, Cindy, et al

from the start, why do names like Johnny Cochran and Mark Garagos come to mind when i think of this guy???

Posted by: MrsJimiHendrix | August 1, 2005 12:48 AM

Well, I will not say anything about JC, because he is dead. His biography was written for him with the OJ Trial and the NOI; history will remember him for the racist he was. Mark Geragos makes my skin crawl all the way from Washington to California.

[Merlin]

Was there not a post that someone posted earlier somewhere about "quicksand" being on the island ?!! I was thinking of the missing shoe and Natalee

[007Scarlett]

When I read the shallow, whiny, bitter drivel that comprises the Yuhas article, I am reminded of this quote by Abraham Lincoln:

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Actually, that could apply to many people who have used this situation to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame. This whole debacle is beginning to resemble a sideshow event at the fair..I can smell the greasy polish sausage/cheap liquor/vomit smell now....

[Merlin]

Missing ..Aruba >> http://www.visitaruba.com/facts/newsdesk/missing.html

[007Scarlett]

BamaGuy...

I think Yuhas just says he is conservative to get women. God knows he needs the help. I am a conservative. I know conservatives, and that Rush/Sean/G. Gordon/O'Reilly wannabe is no conservative.

007Scarlett (also from Bama)

[MrsJimiHendrix]

angelberdine

LOL

n/c on NOI!!!

[MrsJimiHendrix]

BAMAGUY

and believe it or not but sandiego and orange
counties are mostly conservative too!

[Cathy]

It would be very easy for a person like TJ Miller to take advantage of the family. The family is so consumed with the events surrounding Natalee disappearance, and at the same time, having to face the possibility that she may be dead and never found. I would not doubt that Beth and Dave feels guilty and blaming themselves for letting her go on the trip, and they may not be thinking straight headed at this time, and that leaves them gullible enough for a person to come along and take the advantage of them. They should have stepped back and let friend who doesn't have the emotional connection to the case inspect TJ Miller to see if he is the right person to investigate the disappearance. When I first saw TJ Miller on television, I was turned off by the man for some reason. He seems to love the glare of the spotlight. He may be an opportunistic. However, he could have been recommended by the FBI for being the best. I don't know.

[007Scarlett]

I think I read on Fox or CNN that Ward offered his services (haha) to the Twittys shortly after Natalee went missing..that should have been their first clue that something was rotten in Aruba...I mean Denmark.

Serious question: There was talk from the first day that Natalee might be in Venezuela, via the sex trade, etc., yet I have never heard of any searches there for her. Has anyone ever looked there?