Friday, April 18, 2025
They called themselves gun-toting, crime-fighting “P.I. Moms,” making headlines across the country with their bold claims of juggling motherhood and undercover investigations.
But was it all a carefully crafted lie? In this explosive episode, Dr. Phil revisits the scandal that rocked the media after Chris Butler’s all-female private investigation team—once featured on Dr. Phil, People magazine, and The Today Show—was exposed as a possible hoax.
When one of Butler’s own employees blew the whistle, the facade began to crumble. Were the investigations staged for publicity? And how much of what was shown to the public was actually real? Dr. Phil confronts former members of the P.I. Moms team and demands answers about the scandal that derailed their rising fame.
Then, meet Carl—the whistleblower who turned informant, wore a wire, and says he risked his life to uncover a dark web of corruption. His investigation ultimately helped bring down Butler and former narcotics task force commander Norm Wielsch, both now facing serious charges including drug trafficking.
Plus, 48 Hours correspondent Maureen Maher and Diablo magazine’s Peter Crooks join Dr. Phil to break down the shocking twists in this story of deception, betrayal, and criminal activity. Don’t miss this jaw-dropping episode that pulls back the curtain on a scandal that fooled the nation.
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