McKinnon Investigative Group provides licensed private investigation services across Key West and the Florida Keys for private clients, attorneys, and businesses.
Memberships & Affiliations
Led by François McKinnon, a veteran investigator with over 30 years of South Florida field experience, our team provides the strategic insight required for high-stakes legal and corporate investigations.
Based in South Florida, McKinnon Investigative Group Inc has earned a reputation in Key West for professionalism, clear communication, and reliable results.
With over three decades of field experience, our licensed Key West investigators specialize in high-stakes surveillance, complex corporate due diligence, and sensitive domestic matters.
We navigate the unique cultural and legal landscape of Key West, from the the historic architecture of Old Town to the exclusive gated estates of the Truman Annex to the surrounding professional districts, to provide our clients with a distinct local advantage and results they can rely on.
Conducting investigations in Key West requires an intimate understanding of the city’s diverse terrain, from the Old Town and the Historic Seaport to the residential communities of The Meadows and Casa Marina. At McKinnon Investigative Group Inc, we provide seamless, low-profile coverage across the entire Monroe metro area, ensuring our field agents are always positioned for rapid response and optimal surveillance positioning.
– Duval Street – Historic Seaport – Fleming Street – Greene Street
– Truman Annex – Key West Golf Club – Sunset Marina – New Town North
– Duval Street – The Shops at Mallory Square – Petronia Street – Sunset Waterfront Shoppes
Our private investigation firm in Key West provides a full suite of services, including surveillance, background checks, and due diligence. Handled with professional reliability and absolute discretion, our work focuses on delivering courtroom-ready results. Our team’s deep familiarity with the Palm Beach County area ensures excellence for legal and private clients.
Serving high-profile clients and family cases throughout Miami and Miami Beach.
Detailed reporting on living conditions, parental conduct, and potential risks.
Trusted by Miami businesses from Brickell to Doral to uncover fraud, misconduct, and internal risks.
Analysis of digital activity and patterns to support legal or personal matters.
Screen potential employees, partners, or personal connections thoroughly.
Identify risks before mergers, investments, or major financial commitments.
Get clarity in sensitive family matters like abuse, dishonesty, or hidden finances.
Uncover the truth behind suspicious claims with thorough surveillance.
McKinnon Investigative Group Inc is here to provide discreet, professional support backed by over 30 years of trusted experience. We offer a no-obligation, confidential consultation to discuss the specifics of your case, outline a strategic investigative plan, and explain the legal pathways to securing the evidence you require.
Most clients reach out to McKinnon Investigative Group Inc. when their intuition suggests a discrepancy, but they lack the objective evidence required to take legal or personal action. In a high-speed hub like Key West, these red flags often manifest in specific ways. If you are experiencing any of the following, a confidential consultation is the necessary next step to protect your interests.
Sudden shifts in business cash flow or personal spending in Key West often signal hidden assets. We specialize in tracing these ‘digital footprints’ across Monroe County’s financial networks.
Rapid changes in work hours or travel routines are often the first indicators of infidelity.
If your counsel cannot locate a witness or uncover assets in the 16th, we provide the field research that databases alone cannot offer.
When child safety is at stake in the 16th, we act as a ‘silent witness,’ documenting conduct to support your case in Monroe family court.
Suspicion of payroll abuse, inventory shrinkage, or workers’ compensation fraud can cripple a business. We conduct internal audits and discreet employee surveillance to protect your bottom line and legal liability.
Before a high-profile marriage or business deal in Key West, our due diligence deep-dives vet the reputation and history of your potential partners.
If your profession or lifestyle makes you a target, waiting for a threat to manifest is a mistake. We provide threat assessments and low-profile protection to mitigate risks before they become incidents.
Navigating Key West’s unique legal landscape requires deep local expertise. While many firms exist, McKinnon Investigative Group sets the benchmark with over 30 years of litigation support experience. Their rigorous evidence handling ensures full compliance with 2026 FDACS licensing standards, protecting your case’s integrity and ensuring results that withstand scrutiny.
We begin with a deep-dive consultation to define your objectives, identify legal constraints, and establish a specialized investigative scope tailored to the Key West landscape.
Deploy mobile surveillance in public areas following Florida Statute 810.145. Obtain all-party consent for audio under Section 934.03. Ensure digital intelligence gathering respects reasonable privacy expectations and local Key West permits.
Utilizing high-resolution optics and advanced fieldcraft, our investigators execute the plan with maximum discretion.
You receive a professional, chronological report supported by time-stamped media and affidavits ready for legal review in the 16th Judicial Circuit or personal clarity.
When necessary, we work directly with your counsel to coordinate findings, providing the sworn testimony needed to move your case forward in Monroe courts.
Key West’s role as a major hub for Tourism and VIP activity creates unique security challenges.
Our executive protection services focus on discretion, meticulous preparation, and seamless movement through the Monroe County landscape.
Feel confident that you are hiring highly experienced professionals for your investigation.
We will show up at the scheduled time and complete the investigation in a prompt and efficient manner.
Our highly experienced investigators will provide you with optimal results.
Years of combined experience in the professional investigative field
Successful investigations completed across a wide range of cases
Countries Where We Have Conducted Investigations
Work with a fully compliant agency operating under FL Statute §493.
Expertise in Key West neighborhoods and Monroe County court logistics ensures seamless navigation of local legal procedures and regional community nuances.
No two cases are the same. We adapt our approach to your objectives.
Our team brings an elite level of training and insight to complex investigations.
As a premier firm serving affluent residents in Key West and Monroe County, we specialize in discreet investigations for family law and domestic asset protection. We provide sophisticated solutions to safeguard your personal interests within this prestigious island community.
– Support legal cases in Monroe County high-conflict family court with verified documentation of a parent’s behavior and suitability – Discreetly investigate suspected infidelity within the Key West luxury lifestyle to provide evidence for domestic disputes – Protect Key West businesses by conducting corporate fraud investigations and employee theft due diligence – Perform comprehensive background checks to verify criminal, financial, and professional history for personal safety or employment – Provide professional security and covert surveillance in areas ranging from the historic architecture of Old Town to the exclusive gated estates of the Truman Annex
Key West is a vibrant island hub where a thriving tourism industry and historic residential appeal meet complex legal and corporate challenges. Recent city hall scandals and high-stakes real estate drive a critical demand for surveillance and professional due diligence.
Our investigative team maintains a deep operational presence across these primary Monroe institutions. We leverage these facilities to conduct on-site records research, file legal documentation, and coordinate jurisdictional field operations.
The value of an investigation is defined by the integrity of the evidence. At McKinnon Investigative Group Inc., we follow a rigorous set of internal protocols designed to ensure that the facts we uncover are documented with the highest level of professional care.
Success in a private investigation isn’t just about what you see; it’s about how that information is documented and the local insight used to capture it. At McKinnon Investigative Group Inc, we bridge the gap between high-level street-smarts and rigorous legal standards.
Operating in Key West presents unique challenges, from the historic architecture of Old Town to the exclusive gated estates of the Truman Annex. Our investigators understand Monroe County traffic and cultural nuances, allowing us to maintain visual contact and deliver professional evidence that meets the strict standards of the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Confidentiality is vital for Key West investigations to ensure a quiet and strategic start. Tipping off a subject, whether a spouse or business partner, makes professional surveillance nearly impossible by alerting them to hide evidence. Maintaining secrecy allows investigators to gather authentic information before a target changes behavior or discovery.
Avoid Direct Confrontation: Confronting a subject in Key West without proof usually causes them to hide evidence or change their behavior, making a future professional investigation in Monroe County significantly more difficult.
Refrain from ‘DIY’ Surveillance: Attempted ‘tailing’ through Key West traffic often leads to the investigator being ‘made,’ which can result in harassment charges or physical altercations.
Do Not Use Illegal Tracking: Using unlicensed GPS trackers violates Florida Statute §934.425. This renders evidence inadmissible in the 16th Judicial Circuit and potentially exposes you to a third-degree felony charge.
Maintain Absolute Confidentiality: Do not share your suspicions with anyone in your Key West social or professional circles; the more people who know, the higher the risk of the subject being tipped off.
Do Not Attempt Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized access to private accounts violates federal laws and Florida’s Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act (CADRA), making any discovered information useless in a Monroe legal proceeding.
In the state of Florida, there is no legal distinction between the two terms; both refer to professionals licensed under Chapter 493 to conduct investigative services. While “private detective” is a more traditional term often used in popular culture, “private investigator” is the official designation used by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). At McKinnon Investigative Group Inc., we fulfill all state requirements to carry this professional title.
Yes, it is entirely legal to hire a private investigator in Key West, provided the agency is licensed through the FDACS. Our firm operates under Florida Statute §493, ensuring all surveillance in Monroe County is performed within state and federal law.
Absolutely. Evidence collected by a licensed investigator is highly valuable in Monroecourts, provided it meets the evidentiary standards of the 16th Judicial Circuit. We follow rigorous Chain of Custody protocols and provide time-stamped media, detailed chronological logs, and professional affidavits specifically designed for courtroom admissibility. Our investigators are also prepared to provide expert witness testimony to authenticate our findings during legal proceedings.
Private investigator costs in Key West vary by logistics. Rates differ between surveillance in the historic architecture of Old Town or the exclusive gated estates of the Truman Annex versus background checks. We provide transparent estimates for all Key West residents.
Discretion is our foundation. Our Key West field agents use low-profile vehicles and long-range optics to maintain distance. We minimize risk even in high-density areas like the historic architecture of Old Town to the exclusive gated estates of the Truman Annex or local gated communities.
Frequently. We serve as a strategic partner to legal counsel throughout South Florida, providing the critical discovery and surveillance needed for family law, civil litigation, and criminal defense. Whether it is locating a missing witness or uncovering hidden assets for a divorce case in Monroe Family Court, we align our investigative tactics with the attorney’s overall case strategy.
Our firm provides comprehensive coverage throughout the entire Key West metro area and surrounding communities. We have deep operational experience in The Meadows, Old Town, Casa Marina, and Truman Annex and the greater Monroe County region. Our local knowledge of traffic patterns and neighborhood dynamics ensures more efficient surveillance.
Yes, we specialize in high-level skip tracing for individuals evading service of process in Key West. We combine access to proprietary, non-public databases with tactical field research to track down witnesses or missing persons across Monroe County and the State of Florida.
Under Florida law, we legally conduct surveillance from public vantage points where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. We strictly adhere to Florida Statute §810.145 to ensure all evidence gathered in Key West is obtained lawfully and remains admissible in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
The timeline depends on the scope of the case. A straightforward background check in Key West may be completed in 48 to 72 hours, while complex corporate fraud investigations involving multiple surveillance shifts in Monroe County can take several weeks.
Yes. Every investigation concludes with a professional, chronological report that serves as a permanent record. These reports are supported by time-stamped media and can be converted into sworn affidavits for use in Monroe County legal proceedings.
We utilize professional-grade tools including 4K high-resolution cameras, night-vision optics, and covert body-worn equipment for indoor environments in Key West. We also use specialized software for lawful asset tracking to ensure the best possible evidence for your case.
Yes. While we are based in South Florida, our reach extends globally. Many of our Key West cases involve connections in Latin America or the Caribbean. We coordinate investigations across international borders for our global clients from our regional operations hub.
The process begins with a 100% confidential consultation. During this call or meeting, we will discuss your objectives, assess the feasibility of the case, and develop a strategic investigative plan tailored to your specific needs and budget.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, we provide private investigation services across South Florida, the Treasure Coast, and the Florida Keys, including:
