About My Company And My Values

Born just across the Mississippi River from St.Louis, Missouri in Belleville, Illinois, Josh spent the first five years of his childhood in Collinsville, Illinois, where both of his parents had been raised. His early years were marked by a tragic event that would leave a lasting imprint on his life. On December 6, 1969, his grandfather was murdered—a crime that remains unsolved to this day.

Growing up in the shadow of this unresolved tragedy, Josh experienced firsthand the weight of intergenerational trauma, grief, and pain. Yet, rather than allowing these hardships to harden him, they shaped him into a man of deep compassion, kindness, and empathy. He developed an innate understanding of loss and resilience, using his experiences to connect with others on a profound level. Through adversity, he became not just a survivor of his family's past, but a source of strength and support for those around him.

Racism toward Black people in that area was not only prevalent, but often accepted, and taught as a cultural norm among white residents. Both sides of Josh's family had upheld these beliefs—except for his mother, who primarily raised him. She chose a different path, instilling in Josh values of kindness, respect, and equality.

Later in adulthood, Josh asked his mother why she had raised him so differently. She explained that, having grown up surrounded by these attitudes in the 1960s, she had come to see them for what they were—cruel and unjust. Her decision to break away from the prejudices of her upbringing shaped Josh into a man who rejected hatred and embraced empathy, setting him apart from the generations before him.

In January of 1985, Josh's mother made the life-changing decision to leave Illinois, seeking to be closer to her mother and stepfather in Colorado Springs. His grandmother worked as a Civil Servant for the Air Force, while his step-grandfather was on active duty, stationed at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) within Cheyenne Mountain.

As Josh grew up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, his grandmother instilled in him a deep appreciation for American history. Having lived through the turbulent 1960s, she encouraged him to learn about the past—not just through textbooks, but through the personal stories of those who had witnessed history firsthand. Josh did his research to find people's addresses, and wrote to them, and in many cases, telephoned them. This sparked a lifelong passion in him, particularly for the era’s pivotal moments.

One of his earliest deep dives into history was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. However, rather than focusing solely on the crime itself, Josh was drawn to how the event impacted everyday people who had been thrust into history. His dedication led him to meet several eyewitnesses to the shooting, and he even formed a close friendship with the woman who captured a now-famous black-and-white Polaroid at the exact moment the President was struck.

After years of struggling to accept his identity, Josh came to terms with being gay—a realization he had wrestled with since the age of 13. In July of 1996, at 16 years old, he made the deeply personal and liberating decision to come out. The moment of self-acceptance came during a solitary, barefoot walk at sunrise along the shores of South Padre Island, Texas. As the waves lapped at his feet and the sky transformed with the dawn, he embraced his truth, feeling a newfound sense of freedom and authenticity. 

Josh is a proud alumnus of the William J. Palmer High School class of 1998. His time at Palmer was shaped by his passion for history, his journey of self-discovery, and the resilience he developed through life's challenges. 

 In 2008, Josh moved to the Denver Metro Area, though he left for a few years between 2017 and 2022. When he returned, he discovered the world of True Crime podcasts and quickly became captivated by them. He found himself drawn to those with hosts who had soothing voices, making the chilling stories easier to absorb. His newest favorite is Dark Downeast, a podcast that explores New England cases with a compelling storytelling style and an incredible host whose voice adds an extra layer of intrigue to each episode. 

Having established himself as a published American history author in The Denver Post in 2011 with a tribute piece written on the night former First Lady Betty Ford had died, and a poet in 2021, Josh was naturally drawn to the HBO documentary on the late investigative author Michelle McNamara and her book I'll Be Gone in the Dark. The way McNamara built strong relationships with victims' families and law enforcement resonated deeply with him, sparking an idea to revisit a case that had haunted him for decades.

At 21, while in a Colorado Springs gay bar one June night, Josh had come across a missing persons flyer featuring a young gay man. Later, he learned the man had been murdered, and the image of his face became seared into Josh’s memory. For the next 23 years, the case lingered in his mind, compelling him to seek answers.

Determined to help, Josh reached out to the victim’s family and partnered with Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons (FOHVAMP), a Denver-based nonprofit, knowing he would need guidance. He became a Research Analyst and Family Advocate for them. Law enforcement had been unresponsive to both him and the victim’s loved ones, so he took matters into his own hands—contacting the media, requesting the autopsy report, and pushing for movement on the case. His instincts proved strong, and under the mentorship of FOHVAMP’s Executive Director, he quickly learned that he was on the right path. That mentorship became invaluable, shaping his approach to investigative work.

On January 2, 2025, Josh stepped down from FOHVAMP to establish Resolutions Investigations LLC, a venture driven by his mission to serve those who are too often overlooked. As a gay man with Indigenous ancestry—much of it unfortunately undocumented—he understands firsthand what it means to be marginalized in America. He knows the pain of being unheard, unseen, and dismissed, and he refuses to let others endure that same experience.

Through Resolutions Investigations LLC, Josh is committed to helping families of missing persons, victims of homicide (both recent and cold cases), and those in need of investigative support—particularly those from minority communities. His goal is simple yet profound: to ensure that no one seeking justice is left without a voice.