Part historian, part detective.

I’m a historical investigator dedicated to restoring dignity to forgotten lives. While others stop at the online databases, I combine archival digging with boots-on-the-ground fieldwork to uncover the truth your family lost.

Every family story is unique. I do not sell "packages."

Because the paper trail for every ancestor is different, I approach every investigation as a custom project. Whether you need a single record pulled or a multi-generational mystery solved, your case requires a tailored plan.

I work on a wide range of challenges, including:

• The Record Pull (Simple Tasks): Locating and explaining specific obituaries, deeds, or birth/death records in archives that are difficult to access.

• The Forensic Reconstruction (Intermediate Tasks): Using DNA results, GIS mapping, AI tools and Google Earth to recreate the world your ancestors lived in.

• The Deep Investigation (Complex Tasks): Solving cold cases involving adoptions, parentage, Civil War military service, community & historical memorials, or building custom AI tools for large-scale projects.

They sell you the library card. I read the books.

Big genealogy sites are powerful tools, but they are just tools. They rely on algorithms and digitized indexes (which are often wrong).

The Grave Guy does what an algorithm can't: I walk the physical ground, dig through undigitized courthouse basements, and resolve the contradictions that computers miss. They provide the data; I provide the story. Research, documentation, and storytelling tailored to your needs.

Services include:

• Genealogical research and family tree building

• Cemetery documentation and transcription projects

• Serialized blog arcs and digital storytelling

• Consulting for nonprofits, heritage groups, government entities, and families

DNA gives you the "Who." I give you the "How" and "Why."

A DNA test can tell you that you are 20% Irish. It can’t tell you why your great-grandfather fled Dublin in the middle of the night, or where he’s buried today. I take the biological map provided by DNA and fill it in with the actual life lived.

Whether you need a single record lookup or a full-scale historical investigation, you’ll always receive:

• A clear, upfront estimate

• No surprises

• No pressure

• No hidden fees

Every case is unique, so I don't sell "one-size-fits-all" histories.

Your cost depends entirely on the complexity of the hunt. After you submit The Grave Survey and we complete your initial briefing, you’ll receive a transparent, itemized proposal. No hidden fees. No surprises. Just a clear path forward.

Research costs cover the professional time spent:

• Reviewing your existing information

• Searching multiple databases, archives, and repositories

• Verifying record accuracy

• Interpreting old handwriting, spellings, and locations

• Organizing findings into clear, meaningful summaries

My goal is to keep the process approachable and affordable while providing results you can trust. You’ll always know the cost before any work begins.

Because real history isn't automated.

Real genealogy is skilled labor. It requires hours of analyzing faded handwriting, driving to remote archives, and cross-referencing legal codes from the 1800s.

You aren't just paying for my time; you are paying for the expertise to know where to look when the trail goes cold.

Roots in Ohio. Reach is National.

While my boots are often on the ground in Ohio’s cemeteries, I manage investigations across the United States. Through a network of trusted archivists and remote access to national repositories, I can follow your family’s trail wherever it leads.

That is my signature service.

Locating the final resting place is often the last piece of the puzzle. I use cemetery maps, burial permits, and landscape analysis to locate graves—even the unmarked ones.

With strict confidentiality.

I operate with a "client privilege" mindset. Your personal data is secure, and sensitive family secrets remain private unless you choose to share them. I never publish findings without your explicit consent.

Yes. History is a team effort.

I partner with genealogical societies, museums, and municipalities to document at-risk cemeteries and preserve local history. If you have a project that needs a professional researcher, let’s talk.