Founding Father of Lajoie Investigations, Inc.

John M. Lajoie, CLI, CCDI 

jlajoie@privateinvestigator.com

John M. Lajoie, CLI, CCDI, founded Lajoie Investigations, Inc. (LII) in 1989 and built a distinguished career as one of the most respected private investigators in the United States. A board-certified legal investigator, board-certified defense investigator, and board-certified professional investigator, John brought exceptional skill and dedication to every case. His experience ranged from high-profile homicides to routine auto accidents, and his client base spanned from the rich and famous to the homeless and indigent.

John was widely known for his intuition, investigative acumen, expansive knowledge base, and worldwide professional network. His dedication to clients and tireless work ethic earned him a sterling reputation as a highly effective and trusted investigator. He was also deeply committed to mentorship, spending countless hours training his wife—Susan Lajoie, now President of LII—as well as his employees, instilling in them the importance of professionalism, integrity, honesty, and ethical investigative practices. Many of his former employees have gone on to successful careers in private investigation and related fields, often crediting John’s mentorship as the foundation of their success.

As an active and influential member of the investigative community, John held numerous leadership roles in national and international professional organizations. He served two terms as President of the Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts (LPDAM), six terms as Northeast Regional Director for the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI), and was elected National Director of NALI in July 2019. He also served four terms as Chairperson of NALI’s prestigious Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) program and remained an active member of the CLI Committee for many years. Additionally, he was a member of the BCPI certification board of the United States Association of Professional Investigators (USAPI) when it was headquartered in Washington, DC. Lastly, he was the recipient of the NALI Julius “Buddy” Bombet Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2022.

John’s contributions to the profession were widely recognized. In October 2002, he was honored as National Investigator of the Year by the National Association of Investigative Specialists and was also a finalist for the Council of International Investigators’ International Investigator of the Year. An award-winning author, John published numerous works, including his critically acclaimed non-fiction book, Trials and Tribulations of a Real Life Private Eye (published in 2005), offering candid insight into the realities of investigative work through true stories and personal experience.

Respected criminal defense attorney Peter L. Ettenberg wrote the following to John after a high-profile homicide investigation and trial in which John served as lead defense investigator:

“You never gave up. You never got discouraged. If a roadblock appeared, you found a way around it. You took a great load off my mind by not having to think of everything. We’re a pretty good team together and I’m grateful for that. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of issues dealing with the investigation and how it all ties together. You clearly are a great PI!!”

Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, John remained deeply connected to central Massachusetts throughout his life. He was known not only for his intelligence and street smarts, but also for his sharp wit, humor, and genuine love of life.

In December 2019, John was diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer. He faced his illness with courage and resilience, continuing to inspire colleagues, family, and friends with his humor and outlook. In March 2022, he stepped down as President of LII but remained actively involved as a Director and Investigative Management Consultant, continuing to support the company and its clients.

On August 10, 2022, Lajoie Investigations, Inc., along with the broader investigative community, lost an unwavering champion of the profession—a mentor, teacher, and leader. Though deeply missed, John’s legacy lives on through those he mentored and the standards of excellence he instilled.