About

The Columbia Investigations team of licensed private detectives is rounded out by individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds, skill sets, education, life and professional experience. The majority of our investigators carry degrees in fields related to sociology, criminal justice and psychology. Your investigative team will be designed to fit the specific needs of your case, hand picked to bring you unparalleled results. 

About Melinda Kidder, Columbia Investigations Owner

Melinda is the owner and lead investigator of Columbia Investigations. A graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Melinda holds a Bachelors Degree in the Administration of Justice, earning the Edward Tomich Memorial Award and Honors from Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. In addition, she was one class short of a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and plans to continue Graduate coursework in Psychology and Law.

Prior to opening her own firm in Columbia, Missouri, Melinda worked as a public safety officer on the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, as a Loss Prevention Detective for a major department store (before being recruited into Human Resources & Customer Service Management) and as a Private Detective under another agency’s license. However, her prior volunteer work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian ad Litem in the Jackson County Family Court, working with a team to help child victims of abuse was the most rewarding work of all. Both Melinda and her agency have been sought after for print and radio interviews on topics ranging from child trafficking to targeted individuals. Melinda has also guest lectured at the University of Missouri – Columbia (MU) on the topic of privacy laws as it relates to private investigations and journalists.

Melinda lives with her family in a quiet country setting enjoying the peaceful surroundings. A fourth degree black belt master instructor, she also utilizes this country acreage as the setting for her martial arts classes. She donated her school to a charitable organization in 2007 in order to do more good for the local and global communities through martial arts & safety mentorship and leadership training. Melinda believes that communication, balance and integrity should be the building blocks of a successful life and overcoming obstacles. A powerful communicator, she uses her intelligence, experience and ingenuity to assist others in achieving their own successes and quests for truth.