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The Wild True Story Behind Trainwreck: P.I. Moms

BBG News

On the 24th of August, 2010, Pete Crooks – a senior writer at Diablo magazine – received a call from a publicist in Los Angeles, who was representing Chris Butler’s private investigation company. The proposition he was offered was captivating: Butler had employed a team of local mothers to monitor unfaithful husbands, and the business was thriving. This firm had been showcased on People, The Today Show, Dr. Phil, and most recently, Lifetime Television had approved a new reality series titled P.I. Moms San Francisco, focusing on its East Bay branch.

Butler presented an intriguing idea to Crooks: Join one of the mothers on a surveillance mission, observe them catching a womanizer red-handed, and document the event for a story. It sounded like it could make for an excellent tale, and eventually, Crooks climbed into a car with Denise Antoon, one of the four moms hired by Butler. The operation unfolded smoothly as they trailed the suspect who met up with a young woman in a parking lot and began kissing her, while Denise captured photos and footage. It was clear why Lifetime wanted to develop this into a series.

Wasn’t it all a bit too convenient? Not long after coming home, Crooks received an email from someone named Ronald Rutherford, causing him to doubt everything. The message read: “It wouldn’t be wise to write about the PI moms and Chris Butler, for Chris tricked you. The case you observed was staged. Everyone involved or working there are paid actors. I hope you don’t intend to publish it.

According to Netflix’s fresh documentary Trainwreck: P.I. Moms, that enigmatic message marked the start of a scandalous chain of events filled with deceit, infidelity, wire-tapping, methamphetamine abuse, and imprisonment. This sordid tale ultimately brought an untimely end to the Lifetime reality series before it even had a chance to air. In this account, director Phil Bowman delves into the lives of some of the moms, Lifetime producers, and other show personnel to offer a clearer perspective on how Butler’s business wasn’t as legitimate as it appeared.

Reality show origins

Around the year 2000, when Butler established his investigation company, he initially recruited numerous off-duty law enforcement officers to assist on cases. However, he discovered that these men were overly competitive and impulsive, which made them less effective investigators. Later on, he decided to hire a mother instead, and she turned out to be the most skilled investigator he had ever collaborated with. She was calm, cooperative, and adept at multitasking. This is what he shared with Crooks.

In due course, Butler enlisted the help of Michelle Allen, Charmagne Peters, Denise Antoon, and Ami Wilt to round out his team. He utilized their abilities and discretion for undercover missions, stings, and investigative work, including a covert “Dirty DUIs” operation where they’d persuade men to drink alcohol, drive, and then notify the police. (The documentary doesn’t delve into this questionable aspect of his business.) As these moms gained media spotlight during the reality TV surge, Lifetime recognized a potential television series centered around them. Additionally, they saw opportunities for spin-offs in different cities.

In my perspective as a passionate movie enthusiast, I was thrilled when the network approached me with the opportunity to oversee this captivating series. The idea of portraying a tight-knit group of women working together to take down criminals intrigued me immensely, as I shared in the documentary. However, I felt it was crucial not only to delve into their professional lives but also to shed light on their personal journeys beyond their roles.

As Denise and Ami testify, these remarkable women were adamant about avoiding the stereotypical portrayal seen on shows like “Real Housewives” and instead focusing on genuine, meaningful aspects of their lives. I was more than happy to comply with this request, as I believe that the authenticity and depth of their stories will resonate deeply with viewers.

Initially, Lifetime granted Platt the resources – three camera teams and a budget of four million dollars – to create eight episodes featuring Butler’s team, which in addition to Butler, included Carl Marino, a retired law enforcement officer. Marino was helpful when cases required a male presence. However, as Platt and the other mothers observed, Marino seemed overly ambitious to become a TV star, disregarding all costs – they found it excessive and self-centered, which is why they titled the series “P.I. Moms“, since he wasn’t one of them.

Repeated sabotage

Once Crooks got an anonymous tip about the fake ride-along, he contacted Platt to pass on the news. He pondered, ‘If this trick was played on me, why wouldn’t it happen for TV?’ The showrunner trusted the authenticity of the women and their investigations, until their next undercover operation when their target warned Denise that he had been tipped off.

Now, Platt found himself intrigued and decided to delve deeper into the matter. It wasn’t long before he unmasked the tipster (the man behind the Rutherford email) as Marino. Given the potential damage of employees undermining the show due to resentment and envy, Platt informed Butler about his employee’s actions. However, instead of taking disciplinary action against Marino, Butler advised Platt not to concern himself with it – a rather unusual response, particularly for someone eager to reap profits from a reality TV series. “It seems that other matters were more important to him,” Denise explained.

Marino was well-versed in those matters and was ready to disclose the details. He persisted in communicating with Crooks, revealing that Butler was deeply engaged in illegal activities such as peddling marijuana, Xanax prescriptions, and steroids that had been seized by a commander of the Contra Costa County Task Force. After obtaining the drugs, Butler would subsequently provide them to Marino within their shared office space. “I haven’t participated in any sales and I want no part of this,” Marino wrote to Crooks. “I have no interest in being involved.

Simultaneously, Marino kept hatching plans, ultimately resolving a missing person’s case with confidential files, which had been a potential chance for Platt and the P.I. Moms to save their series. As both Ami and Denise recall, Marino was intent on seizing his moment in the spotlight, regardless of further damaging the show he so desperately wanted to be part of. “Just how clueless do you have to be to think they’ll promote this disaster and make you the star?” Ami exclaims.

The final sting

Following Crooks’ sharing of crucial details with Daryl Jackson, District Attorney of Contra Costa, Marino eventually cooperated and consented to act undercover for law enforcement. They were poised to apprehend Butler once it was uncovered that he intended to deal three pounds of methamphetamines. A transaction was set up at the private investigation firm where the corrupt officer, Butler, was to meet with Marino. As soon as the exchange was completed, authorities promptly arrested Butler.

The news confirmed that P.I. Moms San Francisco would no longer be aired on Lifetime. Regrettably, the show was cancelled, leaving Platt to convey this unfortunate news to the cast and crew. This announcement was particularly tough for Ami, who had revealed personal experiences during the show’s production, including her struggle with losing her son at an early age. She intended for her story to provide support to other women facing similar hardships. Unfortunately, her testimony would remain untold on television.

On May 4th, 2012, approximately two years following his request for a story, Butler admitted guilt to dealing drugs, extortion, robbery, and installing illegal wiretaps. He was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison due to these crimes. The repercussions were not limited to Butler; even the private investigator mothers who had worked with him faced criticism, being branded as frauds and receiving backlash from their community for their association with him. (Notably, Crooks eventually penned a 10,000-word account of his experiences.)

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I finally had my time to shine when I landed the lead role of Detective Lt. Joe Kenda on Investigation Discovery’s show “Homicide Hunter.” However, for those associated with “P.I. Moms,” Chris and I will forever be remembered as the masterminds who sabotaged our careers on television. As Denise puts it, “Chris and Carl essentially stole the limelight from everyone else. They prioritized their own ambitions over the needs of others.

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2025-07-23 03:06

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