Sheila conducted database research with Merlin and develop two possible addresses in Arizona.  One was in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, and a P.O. Box in Arizona city located near Casa Grande, Arizona  approximately an hour from Phoenix.  Sheila hired Pat to assist with the Arizona research.

Pat undertook the usual skip tracing for the fugitive researching public records in the state of Arizona and Maricopa County, specifically in Glendale, Arizona.  After checking with the local directories for the last 10 years for each the Glendale address, as well as the assessor and recorder records, there was no indication Dryman or Valentine had, at least for any significant amount of time, resided at the Glendale address.  This residence has been owned by the same individual for a good number of years and that individual was not familiar with the fugitive.  No Arizona records were found under either name for the fugitive via litigation, judgments, liens, or any other records, including motor vehicle.  Other online and database research was conducted to no avail.

A special postal forwarding request was sent to the Arizona City Postmistress.  Originally research with Skip Smasher showed a business name associated with the provided P.O. Box.  At the time we were not privy to the type of business, the fugitive ran if any, plus another name appeared to be linked to it.  Pat received the results back from the postal forwarding search by mail, which luckily provided a physical address.  This turned out to be the key piece of information needed to further locate Dryman, who was later found to live at this address, but under an assumed name.

Based on the new address, provided we ran new database research which revealed the documents name as Victor Houston.  In order to ascertain if Victor Houston and Frank Dryman were the same individual, motor vehicle records were obtained, particularly a photo ID.  Pat asked Sheila to provide a photograph that the client or Montana parole authorities might have of the fugitive as we were unable to find a photograph of him on the Montana Department of Corrections website.  We learned from Sheila that the fugitive had identifiable tattoos, between his fingers he obtained in prison, which would aid in identifying him.

Further research learned Victor Houston was the proprietary of Pink Panthers Signs, was an official public notary, and licensed to marry as a deacon.

Utilizing the services of colleagues in Arizona license investigator Patrick Cote, who resided in nearby Casa Grande.  It was agreed Patrick would visit the residence provided by the post office.  Patrick approached the property owned by Dryman/Houston after Pat obtain a good photo ID of the subject.  While meeting with the person at the Arizona city property, Patrick was able to clearly observe the prison tattoos, although somewhat altered, on its hands.  Patrick telephone Pat once he was certain of the subject's identity.  Pat in turn telephone Sheila, who was attending an Intellenet conference in New Orleans that very day!  To state that our client was happy with the results would be an understatement.

The client had undertaken considerable background research of the fugitive in Montana, California, and to some extent Nevada, his Navy history, plus other criminal history including the robbery of a liquor store in Nevada prior to the murder.  Dr. Pellett has since come to Arizona to meet with the investigators on the case and was part of a  presentation given to the Arizona's Association of Licensed Investigators (an audio CD of that  presentation is available).  The trio of investigators and Dr. Pellett also gave a similar presentation to the national Association of Legal Investigators at their annual conference in Las Vegas in June of 2010.  Additionally, the team participated in an Internet radio presentation on July 1, 2010, "Hiding in Plain Sight," a  new show hosted by Francie Koehler, "PI's declassified."  This radio show is available at www.voiceamerica.com or www. pisdeclassified.com/show. 

Once the fugitive was arrested Pat and Sheila conducted an extensive background of Frank Dryman, primarily for the benefit of the Montana Parole Board, to establish his activities over the last 38 years.  Public and other  records were researched in states known to have been residences for the fugitive, including Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.  Sheila concentrated on California research but also assisted in developing a chronological portrait  of Dryman's  marriages, divorce, and places of residence along with known family members.

Besides obtaining Arizona motor vehicle records, number of real property related documents were located for Victor Houston pertaining to the Arizona city property, Arizona Secretary of State's notary commission records, and divorce records from the fugitive's fifth marriage to a Debbie K. Houston, whom he married in Las Vegas.  Interviews were held with a couple of local Arizona City residents, one neighbor and good friend of the fugitive  provided a local perspective and a vast amount of information, leads to other marriages, information on Dryman's children, some New Mexico history involving a son-in-law with a questionable death, and other character-related data.

Pat and Patrick interviewed others to further embellish on Dryman's past history including with local authorities, and with the father of Dryman's son-in-law who died in a somewhat suspicious manner.  Research has been undertaken to ferret out rumors that Dryman may have been involved in the disappearance of one of his five wives.  Marriage records there obtained between California and Las Vegas, Nevada.  The plot has thickened indicating this case may not be over as research is ongoing to determine the identity of the possible missing wife and the circumstances surrounding Dryman's son-in-law's death!

Armed with the assembled records between the client and the investigators, Dr.Pellett and other members of the Pellett family testified at the fugitive's parole hearing in Montana on June 4, 2010.  The parole board revoked Dryman's parole and returned him to prison; his parole eligibility will be reevaluated in five years.  Of note at this hearing, Dryman's daughter emotionally stated that her daughter would have to grow up without her grandfather.  The Pellett grandchildren had also grown up without their grandfather thanks to Dryman.

Note from T & T Investigations:  We often work closely with other investigators using whatever resources and expertise needed and available  to find a solution and solve a case.  If you have a question or need assistance please call us for a free consultation.