Felony Defense Investigation From Indictment Through Trial
Felony cases can run for a year or more, generate thousands of pages of discovery and involve dozens of names. Birds Eye gives defense attorneys a PI team that can stay with the case from the first discovery production through the last witness subpoena.
- Discovery mapped into people, places and dates
- Witness program managed over months
- Mitigation and trial prep support for counsel
What stage is the case in?
Pick the closest match and we will point you to the right next step.
How does a PI help in a felony defense case?
In a felony defense investigation, a PI works under defense counsel to organize discovery, identify and interview witnesses, document and reconstruct scenes, research the background of key prosecution witnesses from public records, gather records for mitigation with client authorization, and serve trial subpoenas. The attorney directs every step and receives every finding.
The Scale Problem in Felony Defense
A serious felony often arrives with body camera files from several officers, phone extraction reports, lab results, recorded interviews and a long list of names with little context. Defense counsel has to understand all of it while also handling motions, client meetings and other cases. A PI team that knows how to break that material into workable pieces saves the attorney time and prevents important leads from sitting unnoticed.
Birds Eye treats a felony matter as a managed project. We keep a running list of open tasks, completed tasks and questions for counsel, so the attorney can see the state of the investigation at a glance and redirect effort as the defense theory develops. The task list also becomes a record of what was done and when, which helps if a question later arises about how a lead was handled.
Mapping Discovery Into People, Places and Time
When counsel shares discovery with us, our PIs build three working tools. A people index lists every named person, their role, what they reportedly said and whether anyone has spoken to them. A places index lists every address or location, with notes on whether it should be visited. A master timeline merges events from reports, recordings and records in one chronology.
These tools surface gaps. A witness mentioned once in a supplemental report but never interviewed, a location that nobody photographed, or two reports that place the same event at different times are exactly the leads defense counsel wants to see early. We flag them, and counsel decides which ones to chase. The indexes are updated with each new production, so nothing is lost between batches.
Running a Witness Program Over the Life of the Case
Felony witnesses move, change phone numbers and grow harder to reach as a case ages. Our PIs locate witnesses, conduct interviews counsel requests, and keep contact information current so the defense can find people when trial approaches. Each interview produces a neutral written summary, and counsel decides whether any statement should be recorded. Contact attempts are logged with dates and outcomes, and addresses are refreshed before each major hearing.
The rules stay constant throughout. We never contact a represented party about the case, never contact jurors or prospective jurors, and never suggest what anyone should say. Our PIs identify who they work for, respect a refusal, and report everything to defense counsel, including information that does not help the client. These rules have no exceptions, and trial subpoenas are served with documented returns.
Talk it through with a licensed PI
Tell us what is happening. We will explain what the work involves and put scope, timeline and cost in writing before anything starts.
Scene Documentation and Reconstruction Support
Many felony cases involve a physical location that has changed since the incident. Our PIs photograph and measure scenes, record sight lines and lighting, and compare the present layout with images from discovery. When a case needs specialized analysis, such as accident reconstruction or digital forensics, counsel retains the appropriate expert and we can supply that expert with organized field material.
We are careful about what we are and are not. A PI documents and gathers. A qualified expert interprets technical evidence. Keeping those roles separate helps counsel present each piece of work on its own footing. Our photo logs record the date, time, position and direction of each image, so an expert or the attorney can match it to a diagram. Where a scene has changed, we note what changed and when, based on records or witness accounts rather than assumption.
Mitigation and Background Records for Counsel
Whether the case goes to trial or resolves by agreement, defense counsel may want a fuller picture of the client's life. With written authorization from the client, our PIs can request school, employment, military and similar records, locate family members, former employers or coaches who can speak to character, and organize everything by life period. Each record arrives with a note on its source.
Some of these records take weeks to arrive, so starting early matters. We keep a request log showing what was asked for, when, and what came back. Counsel decides what is relevant and how it is used. Birds Eye does not offer opinions on sentencing or legal strategy. Records that arrive late are added to the binder as they come in.
Supporting Counsel as Trial Approaches
In the final weeks our role shifts toward logistics. Our PIs confirm witness availability, serve subpoenas, re-photograph scenes for exhibits when counsel asks, and prepare a short sheet on each defense witness with contact details and interview history. When a witness becomes unreachable, we report it immediately so counsel can consider next steps. Last-minute changes are reported the same day.
Our PIs can be available to testify about the work they personally performed, such as how photographs were taken or how a witness was located. Whether that testimony is appropriate is a decision for counsel. Our Birds Eye reports are written with that possibility in mind: dated, factual and free of speculation. Each report lists who did the work and when.
What Felony Defense Support Includes
People and places indexes
Working lists of every name and location in discovery.
Master timeline
A single chronology merged from reports, recordings and records, with sources.
Witness program
Locates, approved interviews, summaries and contact refreshes.
Scene work
Measured photos, sight-line studies and comparison with discovery images.
Mitigation records
Authorized record requests and character witness locates organized by life period.
Trial logistics
Subpoena service, availability checks and witness sheets for the defense team.
How a Felony Engagement Is Organized
Case intake with counsel
The attorney shares the charges, discovery status, deadlines and initial priorities.
Phased written scope
We propose work in phases, each with scope, timeline and cost approved before it begins.
Ongoing task reporting
Counsel receives regular updates on tasks and new leads.
Trial readiness
Final phase focuses on subpoenas, witness availability and exhibit support.
Felony case phases and where PI effort usually goes
| Case phase | Main PI focus | Output for counsel |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest to indictment | Scene preservation and early witness identification | Photo sets and initial witness list |
| First discovery | People and places indexes, master timeline | Working indexes and gap list |
| Pretrial motions | Targeted fieldwork on disputed facts | Short memos tied to specific issues |
| Plea discussions | Mitigation records and character witnesses | Organized record binder and summaries |
| Trial preparation | Subpoenas, witness availability, exhibits | Witness sheets and service returns |
Materials That Help Us Start Well
Counsel can share these at the first meeting or as they become available.
Statewide coverage from Nashville
Birds Eye supports felony defense teams statewide, including felony matters in Davidson, Rutherford and Montgomery counties in Middle Tennessee, Knox, Hamilton and Sullivan counties in East Tennessee, and Shelby and Madison counties in West Tennessee. Long cases often involve witnesses who have moved to another part of the state, and our PIs cover all 95 counties so the defense does not lose track of people when they relocate.
All service areasNashvilleMemphisKnoxvilleChattanoogaProcess serving
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a felony defense attorney bring in a PI?
Early is usually better. Scenes change, video is overwritten and witnesses scatter. Even before full discovery arrives, a PI can document locations and begin identifying witnesses. Counsel can then expand or pause the work as the case develops. Early work also gives the attorney a head start on witness identification before memories fade.
Do you review body camera footage?
Yes, when counsel shares it. We log what each file shows, note times and landmarks, and add relevant moments to the master timeline. We do not alter or enhance video; technical enhancement is a job for a qualified expert that counsel retains. Our logs note the file name and time stamp for each moment referenced.
Can a PI testify in a felony trial?
A PI can testify about work they personally did, such as taking photographs or serving a subpoena, if counsel decides that testimony is appropriate. Our reports are written factually so they hold up if that happens. The PI would testify only to facts, not to opinions about guilt or the meaning of evidence. Counsel prepares any PI witness in advance.
Who owns the investigation file?
The file is prepared for defense counsel. Questions about privilege and work product protection are for the attorney to evaluate. Birds Eye keeps the file confidential and releases it only as counsel directs. Our PIs are instructed not to discuss the case with anyone outside the defense team, including the client's family.
Can you research the prosecution's witnesses?
At counsel's request, our PIs can research public records such as prior lawsuits, business filings and publicly available court records. We do not contact represented witnesses, obtain sealed records without legal authority or use pretexting. Findings arrive as sourced memos so counsel can verify each item independently.
How are long cases billed?
We break long cases into phases. Each phase has its own written scope, timeline and cost that counsel approves before work begins, so the defense team always knows what the next stage involves. If a new lead appears mid-phase, we describe it and estimate it separately before doing any work on it.
Related pages
Put a PI Team on the Case Early
Defense counsel can call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com. We will propose a phased plan with scope, timeline and cost in writing.
Photography: Zulfugar Karimov (Unsplash License). Last reviewed . General information, not legal advice.
