I've been an investigator at heart since I was a girl reading Nancy Drew. For a while I wanted to be a reference librarian, because I loved facts and knowing where to find them; I read encyclopedias for fun. Later I studied human behavior, driven by a wish to understand people and why relationships work the way they do. Looking back, I was training for this job long before I knew it existed.
Then life happened. I spent years in the corporate world and became a single mother of two girls, and I wanted to be at their games and their plays instead of in an office. So I earned my private investigator's license and never looked back. More than 26 years later, I have a degree in criminal justice, a Certified Professional Investigator designation through the California Association of Licensed Investigators, and a team I'm proud of. The part of the job I love most hasn't changed: sitting with someone who needs answers and helping them get there.
When you reach out to us, I'm the one who answers. I'll listen first, tell you plainly what we can and can't do, and never make you feel like a case number. That's the promise this agency was built on.
— Anna Stowe, CPI · Founder & CEO
Anna Stowe Investigations is a woman-owned private investigation agency based in Carmichael, serving Sacramento, the surrounding counties, and clients throughout California. The agency was founded by Anna Stowe, a Certified Professional Investigator with more than 26 years in the field. Our team is made up primarily of women, and every investigator is licensed by the State of California and fully insured.
We focus on five kinds of work: skip tracing and locating people, background investigations, surveillance, asset investigations, and criminal defense mitigation for attorneys and the people they represent. Whether you’re an individual facing a hard decision, a family looking for someone, a business protecting itself, or a law firm building a case, you’ll get the same careful attention.
We don’t interrogate. We listen, ask a few questions, and explain what’s realistic before anything moves forward, including what it will cost. You’ll always know where your case stands, and you’ll never be made to feel foolish for asking. And if we’re not the right fit, we’ll say so and point you toward someone who is.
Beyond the work, we’re part of this community. We love kids and animals, we believe in fairness, and we’re proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. Everyone who walks through our door is welcome here.
Our mission is simple: careful, ethical investigations that give people the answers they need to move forward. If you’re ready to move forward, or just want to ask a question, we’d be glad to hear from you.
Mission statements are easy to write.
These are the three things we actually promise, on every case.
Before we recommend anything, we want to understand what happened, what you're hoping for, and what you're worried about. That first conversation shapes everything that follows.
You'll hear what we can and can't do, what it's likely to cost, and what we found — good news or hard news — in plain language, delivered with care.
Every case is confidential. We recommend the least invasive, most cost-effective path, keep you updated as we go, and never spend your money on something we don't believe will help.
Six people, one approach. Every member of this team was chosen for skill and for kindness, because the person you talk to matters as much as the report you receive. Anna and Ashley hold the Certified Professional Investigator (CPI) designation through the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI), and every investigator here is licensed by the State of California.
Founder & CEO
CA PI Lic. No. 21155
Chief Investigator
CA PI Lic. No. 189004
Senior Investigator
CA PI Lic. No. 188340
Licensed Investigator
CA PI Lic. No.189762
Licensed Investigator
CA PI Lic. No. 190135
Investigative Intern
