Witnesses to the crash noticed the plane was flying unusually low, but said it did not appear to be out of control. The plane’s gas tank was full, and it erupted into a massive fireball after striking the side of the building. Plumes of thick, dark smoke billowed into sky, and debris continued to rain down from the building long after the collision.

When it happened, no one was sure why. People speculated that it was an accident or terrorist attack, but the truth was soon uncovered. Joseph Stack was the pilot, and according to officials, the crash was intentional.

Stack was enraged because two businesses he founded were shut down by the State Franchise Tax Board. He wanted revenge, and left a long note on his website that included comments such as “Violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer” and “Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.”

Before heading to the airport, Stack set his own house on fire. His wife and daughter had to be rescued from the flames. Stack never filed a flight plan, but that didn’t raise suspicions since he was flying under Visual Flight Rules, a law that allows pilots to fly freely in premium weather conditions.

In the aftermath of the crash, one person from the IRS building was not accounted for, and two others were hospitalized. Amazingly, no other serious injuries have been reported. Workers said the impact of the plane felt like a bomb exploded in the building, and people scrambled to find safety. One small group had no way out other than to break a window and climb onto a concrete ledge.

As emergency crews arrived, they rescued people who weren’t able to evacuate the building, tended to injuries and helped soothe the terrified victims who were trying to make sense of their horrifying ordeal. Crews worked feverishly to extinguish the flames, and two F-16 fighter aircraft were deployed to patrol the area as a precautionary measure.
At PeopleFinders, when we hear about such a heartbreaking event, our thoughts go in one direction: people. It is impossible to watch a scene like today’s plane crash in Austin and not feel deep emotions. You fear for those who were put in danger, and hope they will be safe. You can’t help but think about the people who had loved ones inside the building, and the uncertainty they must have felt when the news broke.

Family and friends are the most cherished part of all our lives. That’s why PeopleFinders is dedicated to helping you find and reconnect with family, friends and anyone you’ve been missing. A tragic moment like today’s plane crash in Austin reminds us of just how important people are; and that you never know what could happen to any of us.

Hold your loves ones close tonight, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Family, friends and strangers – you can brighten anyone’s day with a random act of kindness. Your good deed may have an even greater impact when it is completely unexpected. There are many things you can do to celebrate and participate in this day that is designed to make people happy.

Compliment people. It’s usually impossible to hold back a smile when someone says something nice about you, so take some initiative and make positive comments to people throughout the day. It will give them a nice boost, and make you feel good in return.

Surprise someone. You can leave surprises for people all day long; put extra money in a parking meter, bring a street vendor a cup of coffee, pay the bridge toll for the car behind you. The recipients of your surprises may never know your identity, but they will feel great knowing that someone they’ve never met took the time to do something kind.

Leave gifts. Take small gifts to friends, family, coworkers or anyone else you interact with regularly. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just a little something to let them know that you’re thinking of them. An unexpected present is guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Reconnect. The kindest thing anyone can do is to make time for another person. February 17 is a great day to reach out to family and friends that you’ve lost touch with over the years. Find people from your past and reestablish a cherished relationship.

Send a note. It always feels wonderful to receive a letter or email from someone you care about, so why not share that joy on Random Acts of Kindness Day. Take a few minutes to write to anyone whose day you’d like to brighten.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, but you don’t have to wait. You can make every day an opportunity to do something thoughtful and out-of-the-blue for the people who share your life, or even for someone you’ve never met. Get out there and pay it forward, bask in the joy that comes from sharing a simple act of kindness and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

The origin of this holiday may be a mystery – there are multiple stories about how Valentine’s Day began – but one thing is certain: it is one of the most celebrated days of the years and a great time to reconnect with the important people from your past…

Missing Your Old Flame?
They say it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Some people have added to this and discovered that it can be better still to rekindle an old love that was once lost. Now and then you hear stories about two star-crossed lovers reconnecting after decades apart. It could be that some people were just meant to be together – even if it takes many years to realize that fact.

So many people have a story about ‘the one that got away’, and wish there was something they could do. Maybe there is – if true love was meant to be, it can wait for longer than you might think. Maybe it’s time to reunite with that long lost flame who still burns brightly in your mind.

Family Lasts A Lifetime
Your family – these are the people who are linked to you forever. They may share a last name, similar features or familiar quirky traits, but more importantly they share a bond that remains strong no matter how much time passes, or how far apart they get.

Family members lose touch for many reasons. It can be due to an old argument, because people move so often that it becomes impossible to keep up, or hundreds of other scenarios. Whatever the cause, one fact remains: family ties can be bound back together.

Friendships Were Built To Last
It’s unfortunate, but friendships sometimes fade away over time. Work schedules get hectic, new families require large amounts of time, people move far away…

Our true friends are the people we cherish, and the people we can reconnect with no matter how much time has gone by. When you get together with an old friend, you usually notice something extraordinary: it seems like no time has passed at all. Why spend another day missing someone you proudly call your friend? After all, if you’re thinking of them, chances are they’re also thinking of you.

Valentine’s Day is a reason to celebrate more than the love between two people – it is a time to celebrate the devotion you feel towards every person who has touched your life. So many people lose through the years, but the simple truth is that some people are worth finding all over again.

If you have someone that you’d like to reconnect with this Valentine’s Day – an old flame, family member or a dear friend – you can find them again with help from PeopleFinders. Start with a People Search, and get the information you need to reach out to everyone who will always hold a special place in your heart.

Visit PeopleFinders, create your own happy ending and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Laurie with her sister Kathy, aunt Peggie and brother Kevin

Jeri is a people finding sleuth who goes by the nickname “Sherlock”. She has utilized The PeopleFinders Network to find hundreds of people, and was kind enough to share a few of her success stories with us. One of our favorites is about a woman named Laurie…

Laurie was separated from her mother as an infant in the 1940’s. She would never see her mother again.

Years later, Laurie hoped to find her family, but only had a few clues: her mother’s name (which was very common), the name of her mother’s husband (Bruno Vernazza) and the fact that her mother had a sister named Peggy. After some intense investigating, Laurie found an address for Bruno, but it was not current, and the trail dried up.

That’s when Jeri got involved. Jeri used the old address to find more recent information through The PeopleFinders Network. Sadly, Bruno had passed away, but Jeri also found someone who used to live with him. That person was able to provide a few of Bruno’s personal belongings, including a marriage certificate. It was the lead Jeri had been looking for.

After a little more searching, Jeri tracked down a man in Arizona who had the same name as Laurie’s grandfather. That man turned out to be Laurie’s uncle. He helped fill in even more blanks, which led to the discovery of several of Laurie’s family members – including her aunt Peggy, her sister and a brother she never knew existed. Today they all enjoy a larger and very loving family.

Laurie’s case was difficult to crack. It was full of twists, dead-ends and false hope. During her search, Laurie discovered that her name was listed differently on four official documents. The name on her birth certificate was Doran Doran, and officially changing that name only led to more complications. Her search for relatives took more than eleven years, but she finally reunited with her family … and it happened on her 60th birthday!

It took a large amount of ingenuity and perseverance from Laurie and Jeri, but the end result was a happy ending worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. Laurie loves to share her story, and to give others hope that they too can find their family members – no matter how much time has gone by. As she likes to say, her story shows that you just have to be persistent.

If you have someone that you’ve been missing, we can help. Visit us today to search for anyone in the United States. We’ll show you how to reconnect with a family member, friend, classmate, military buddy or anyone else.

We love reading heart-warming tales like this one. If you’ve had your own people finding adventure with help from PeopleFinders, please let us know.  Share your story with us … and we’ll share it with the world.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write and remind us of why we do what we do. We appreciate the messages and love to hear about how we helped you plan your own reunion. Keep searching until you find the people who mean the world to you, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Developing a business involves an incalculable amount of time, work and effort. It is not a venture that is entered into lightly; the desire to found a company stems from the pursuit of a dream and the need to carve your own niche in this world.

At PeopleFinders, we believe in people. We believe that family and friends are the most important part of life, and that it is the love, friendship and companionship of others that truly keep us going. That’s why PeopleFinders was created, and why we continue to do what we do.

PeopleFinders is dedicated to helping people find and reconnect with others. Now and then we receive emails from people who have used our services to reunite with someone they lost touch with years ago. These messages remind us of why we continuously endeavor to provide our customers with the most powerful people search tool available: we want to help you find anyone, anywhere.

We thought we’d take a moment to look back at some comments that made us smile, laugh or just stop for a moment and enjoy a sense of pride for our work. Like this message from our friend Will:

“I decided to join PeopleFinders to locate my old classmates. I was so thrilled when I started finding people. I had the daunting task of finding 455 people. Over a two month period, I was able to locate 413 classmates. Being able to cross-reference people who are associated with an individual really helped. Last month, we had a great reunion…”

Will finishes by saying that using PeopleFinders has been fun and rewarding. Thank you, Will, we’re glad we could help.

Most families share a bond that cannot be broken – at least not permanently. When we hear from someone who reunited with family members through PeopleFinders.com, it makes our day. Like this letter from Samuel:

“5 days ago I got onto this site to see if I could find my mom and my brother, and within minutes I found out where she was. Now, just today my mom contacted me, and after 23 years I am finally reunited with my mom, brother, uncle and two sisters I didn’t even know about. I encourage anyone that has lost communication with someone or never really met a family member to give this site 5 days the way I did and see the results this site can produce.”

Samuel enjoyed a family reunion that included siblings he never knew existed. We know that this meant everything to Samuel, and we were excited to play a small part.

We are proud that our services help people – and that some people use our websites to help others. Take Jeri from California, who goes by the nickname Sherlock. Jeri helped find “missing” classmates for a High School Reunion Committee, and then continued to help friends, other committees and complete strangers find their long lost loved ones. Read more about it in part two of this blog.

We’ve seen so many amazing events unfold over the year. We shared a collective feeling of bereavement at the loss of celebrities like Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Patrick Swayze.  These beloved entertainers brought so much joy into our lives, and their unfortunate passing reminds of us how important it is to hold the people that we care about close. We are constantly reminded of just how unpredictable life can be.

We were stunned by the startling tale of Jaycee Dugard, and couldn’t contain our excitement when she was finally reunited with her family. We marveled at how modern technology helped solve mysteries from long ago, like the man who murdered Rebecca Doisy being brought to justice after more than 30 years. We honored those whose lives were lost or changed forever on September 11. We cheered for the Good Samaritan who helped save a young boy from a raging fire. We watched with rapt attention as the saga of Tiger Woods unfolded before our eyes.

Throughout the year, one thing that we’ve found holds true for everyone is that it’s all about a connection. Technology continues to advance, stories break that astound and provoke us, but in the end the most important thing is always the people who share our lives.

Thank you for giving us an outstanding 2009, and allowing us to help you find and connect with family, friends, classmates and anyone else who touched your life. We look forward to an exceptional and fulfilling 2010. Have a happy New Year, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Throughout the year millions of people created social networking accounts that allowed them to communicate with friends, family and complete strangers; purchased phones that were just as powerful as their computers and laptops; and downloaded apps that gave them the ability to do almost anything. One of the biggest buzz terms of 2009 was “real time” – people were suddenly able to learn all about anything, while it was actually happening.

Social Networking was massively popular in 2009, and several networking sites grew by amazing proportions. Facebook started the year with about 150 million users, and ended with more than 350 million. There are now more people using Facebook than there are people living in the United States. Twitter also experienced a tremendous surge in users, and perhaps an unprecedented dedication. When Twitter was down for a few hours in August, ardent tweeters claimed they were extremely upset and felt naked without the service.

At the start of 2009, PeopleFinders released our predictions for the top search trends of the year. Our number one prediction stated that people would no longer tolerate slow search results. We also predicted that people would want access to a broader range of data. These were defining elements of 2009; people all over the world demanded a larger scope of information, and they wanted it immediately.

Over the last year PeopleFinders worked hard to help set the pace of advanced technology. We’ve proudly offered 24/7 access to vital details about people and businesses throughout America. We created new sources of useful information, and ensured that this information is available whenever you want it. Our new websites and iPhone apps, Are They Really Single and Stud Or Dud, have helped people across the country discover valuable facts about individuals that they might be interested personally or professionally. We have even more in store for 2010.

The hottest tech trend of 2010 will be advancements in technology that give people instant knowledge and change the way they communicate. We’ll be able to send and receive information faster than ever, and find any data we need using a single device. Existing technology, like Google Wave, is likely to become extremely popular in the new year. The Wave will allow you to communicate with people faster than ever. You won’t even have to wait for someone to finish a sentence anymore; you’ll be able to see every keystroke in real time. And you can bet people will be using Google Wave on their smart phones.

As we prepare for a new year, PeopleFinders promises to remain on the cusp of new technology that will benefit you. Our Social Profile Search will help you keep track of all the profiles, blogs and status updates people maintain on dozens of networking sites. Our products will help you find important facts about individuals and businesses instantly. Our mobile technology will give you the data you need from wherever you are.

We’re looking forward to a bright and prosperous new year, filled with intriguing technological advancements that will put a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. PeopleFinders will be here whenever you need us; ready to provide you with all the facts you need to reunite with long lost friends and family, make well informed decisions and stay connected to your world. Here’s to an exciting new year; and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

People’s list contains more than 25 intriguing individuals – some people were listed as couples (like Barack and Michelle Obama), and others were clumped into larger groups (like the Kardashian sisters). Every winner was given their own title, such as “The Power Pair” for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or “The Departing Diva” for Oprah Winfrey.

A few celebrities will find themselves in this issue for an entirely different reason; this year the magazine features a “Men in the Doghouse” list. The inductees include: Chris Brown, Jon Gosselin, Kanye West, David Letterman and Tiger Woods.

At PeopleFinders, we reviewed the “Most Intriguing of 2009” list with great interest and amusement. We were reminded of the stories that shocked us, like the harrowing story of Jaycee Dugard or the tragic departure of Michael Jackson. We also couldn’t help but smile at the success of new entertainers like Lady Gaga, and old favorites like Sandra Bullock.

Of course celebrities aren’t the only people who fascinate us. The people who make the biggest impact on our lives are the ones we call our friends and family. These are the people who are around when we need someone to talk, laugh and cry with us, or even to share encouraging thoughts during difficult times.

Through the years we welcome so many intriguing people into our lives. Relatives, friends, classmates, neighbors … we build up our own personal cast of characters. So many meaningful people share their lives with us, but time has a funny way of separating even the closest of friends.

Our world moves at such a fast pace that it can be easy to lose track of anyone. But no matter how much time passes, you’ll always remember the people who intrigued you the most. PeopleFinders is here to help you reconnect with people who were once the biggest newsmakers in your world.

PeopleFinders will help you find anyone, anywhere. Start your own People Search Membership, and prepare to embark on a truly rewarding adventure – a trip down memory lane filled with exciting people from your past. You’ll find yourself remembering why these are the people who have earned a spot on your own most intriguing list.

You can check out the new issue of People Magazine on December 18, and read more about fascinating headline-makers and celebrities. Check out PeopleFinders.com anytime you want to learn how to find and reconnect with unforgettable people like your best friend from high school, an old military buddy or the cousin who got married and moved around too often to keep track.

Have fun creating your own list of intriguing individuals, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Collecting public records on your own is difficult. We can help.

We live in the information age, a time when people are able to get almost any type of data they want from thousands of sources. This wealth of information has generated a new challenge: finding data that is complete, accurate and reliable.

Many companies sell public records, but they are often accused of providing inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information. These companies don’t always own the data they sell, and sometimes utilize a “bait and switch” tactic to get people to purchase multiple reports. They do this by displaying a teaser that indicates a lot of information is available, but when a customer purchases a report they discover that they must buy several more to get all the details. This leaves people with two choices: order reports from a public records company and hope for the best, or try to find the information they need on their own.

One of the biggest problems people encounter when searching for information themselves is that there is an intimidating amount of data available, and it is scattered over innumerable locations. People who attempt to find accurate details about individuals or businesses frequently discover that the search can be exasperating. Social profiles often provide information that is incomplete or inaccurate, and obtaining public records from government agencies can be difficult and time consuming.

To complicate matters, some of the data people have access to is not complete or correct. A recent Wall Street journal article reported that arrest records aren’t always ‘by the book’.  It stated that a famous 1967 report about crime statistics in the U.S. was seriously flawed, and that criminal data may be even more unreliable today. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country don’t follow a uniform system for calculating and reporting data, and this directly affects the criminal information that public records companies provide.

Another issue that makes collecting and displaying criminal information difficult is determining what should be listed in a report and what should not. These days it’s easy to get a background check to learn more about anyone’s past, and these reports often show criminal records even when the charges were dismissed or the circumstances were trivial (such as a traffic violation).

The problem is that many reports do not differentiate between what is and is not a criminal offense. This is causing people to want to take control over what information is available about them. One  Wall Street Journal story explains that many people are attempting to expunge even the most minor infractions so the details won’t be publicly available.

Criminal reports aren’t the only difficult aspect for public records; even the most basic information presents problems. Every person generates thousands of records in their lifetime, and they are not always consistent. For example, an individual may have several variations on their name, phone numbers may or may not include an area code, people entering data make mistakes, numbers are easily transposed … there are many potential issues.

Every problem needs a solution, and that’s why PeopleFinders is dedicated to providing the most accurate and detailed information available. To achieve this goal we own and maintain the web’s largest database of public records. We have access to more than 40 years of historical data, which allows us to create comprehensive documents about individual and businesses. This sets us apart from companies that only provide a limited amount of data or try to get you to purchase multiple reports – we offer everything you need to know in one convenient and easy-to-understand report.

First we collect every relevant piece of information, sort it, fix spelling errors, create a uniform format to display the data and insert it into appropriate categories. Next we meticulously search through this data to ensure we only utilize relevant information. The criminal data mentioned earlier provides a good example. When creating documents such as a “Stud Or Dud” report (which thoroughly examines any person’s past to create a clear profile of their background) our system eliminates minor violations and only keeps serious offenses, such as a felony charge.

Presenting the data provides another major challenge. We refine our reports to make them clear, concise and easy to read. Even reports that are likely to contain a large amount of information, such as a Marriage Search report, are displayed in a manner that makes all the information easy to find and understand.

The art of collecting, sorting and presenting public records may not be perfect yet, but by putting in the time, effort and resources it is possible to offer valuable and accurate information. PeopleFinders is up to this task, and we continually strive to find to provide you with the best source of public records available anywhere. Thank you for turning to us for your public records needs, and for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Lately it seems almost impossible to find a story with a happy ending. It’s moments like these when our friends and families matter the most. Spending time with the people we care about may just be the best way to get through these difficult times.

At PeopleFinders we’re proud to help you find people so you can reunite with anyone who made an impression on your life. We know that the people who share your life are a big part of what makes you happy and keeps you smiling – even when the world seems to be falling to pieces.

Last week brought a flurry of bad news and stories that were difficult to digest. Certain events are so horrifying that we can’t even begin to understand them, but no matter what happens, we always have other people. Family. Friends. People who are there to comfort us when things are bad, and celebrate with us when they are good again.

Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by these tragic events. We’re all hoping for better times around the corner. Until then we can turn to each other for reassurance, do everything possible to keep our families secure and try to watch out for one another, because we’re all in this together. Stay safe out there, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.