Jerry Rodriguez

UHCLIDIAN STAFF

University of Clear Lake student Claudine Phillips works with Blue Moon Investigations, the local investigation company hired by Clara Harris to follow her husband.

Harris was found guilty last week of killing her adulterous husband with a Mercedes-Benz in the Nassau Bay-Hilton Hotel parking lot.

Phillips coordinated the investigation for Harris and is one of the private investigators who testified at the trial. Although Phillips cannot discuss the case of Clara Harris, Phillips said some relationships can end up "messy" due to evidence found during an investigation.

"Those things usually get handled after the clientÕs interaction with Blue Moon Investigation is completed," Phillips said. "Therefore, rarely are we privy to those circumstances. I am not aware of anything happening to any of my clients as tragic as the incident with Clara Harris."

When Phillips is not investigating at Blue Moon, she is a literature major at UH-Clear Lake. She plans to teach high school English after graduating.

"I have always loved reading books," Phillips said. "It has always been my pastime."

Phillips considers herself fortunate to work for Blue Moon Investigations, because her employers value education and are supportive of the employees who are trying to finish school.

"We are all cross-trained, which helps when thereÕs a test or when I have a writing assignment due," Phillips said.

Phillips says different approaches and procedures apply when investigating.

"Every situation is different," Phillips said. "If the client suspects a partner is meeting someone, then I might suggest surveillance. If they believe their partner is corresponding on e-mail with someone, then I suggest computer software that tracks computer activity. If a client suspects their spouse is contacting the other person by phone, I can break the phone number into a name and address. For almost every situation, we have some type of service to suggest. Sometimes the client already knows exactly what they want."

Phillips says being a private investigator is not just the surveillance of cheating spouses.

"We investigate runaways, missing persons and employment/resident verification for companies," Phillips said.

Phillips plans to graduate in fall 2003.

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