Chris Butler was the brains behind PI Moms, a detective service that nearly became a reality TV show. As the subject of a new Trainwreck episode on Netflix, here’s what happened to the cop-turned-criminal.
Trainwreck is a Netflix documentary series that focusses on disasters and chaos in all walks of life, with recent episodes focussing on Balloon Boy, Project X, Poop Cruise, and the Astroworld tragedy.
The ‘PI Moms’ episode revolves around the Lifetime Channel commissioning a reality TV series in 2010, about a private investigation agency staffed by soccer moms.
But while everyone involved smells a hit, their cases keep falling apart, suggesting sabotage by someone on the inside. And that’s before the owner of the company is arrested…
Who is PI Moms mastermind Chris Butler?
Chris Butler is a former Antioch police officer who founded a private investigation company and – believing that women are better multitaskers – hired a bunch of mothers to solve his cases, whom he crhistened the PI Moms.
But he also saw an opportunity to make money and become famous – in spite of the fact that he was somewhat shy and awkward – so following his agency’s appearance on Dr. Phil, the PI Moms TV show was born.
Combining the genres of police procedure and Real Housewifes, PI Moms looked like a surefire hit. But there was trouble from the start, with Butler overpromising stories, and investigations appearing to be scripted and staged.
Director of Operations Carl Marino also caused trouble by sabotaging cases, tipping perpetrators off, and wanting the limelight for himself. But worse was to come for the PI Moms.
The criminal case agains the PI Moms mastermind
While pulling together PI Moms, Chris Butler was also involved in a criminal conspiracy with Central Contra Costa County California Narcotic Enforcement Team Commander Norman Wielsch involving the stealing and selling of narcotics.
Wielsch would take drugs from evidence facilities that had been seized during CNET raids, and then conspired to distribute them with Butler.
Wielsch also admitted that he and Butler “participated together in a phony “sting” operation in which they falsely detained a young man under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation, conducted warrantless searches, and kept narcotics that were taken during the sting.”
At the end of Trainwreck, it says that “On May 4 2012, Chris Butler pleased guilty to selling drugs, extortion, robbery, and planting illegal wiretaps. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.”
While the United States Attorney’s Office states that Butler received: “a sentencing reduction for his cooperation with law enforcement in this and other investigations.”
What happened to Carl Marino?
Chris Butler drew Carl Marino into his criminal conspiracy, at which point Marino was advised to go to the cops, which helped blow the Butler case open.
Hailed as a hero, he used the fallout as a springboard for publicity, and ended up a regular on TV series Homicide Hunter, which ran from 2011-2020.
But PI Mom Ami wasn’t impressed, saying during Trainwreck: “He ruined us and became the center of attention – he got what he wanted.”
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