Trainwreck: PI Moms – who are the mothers and where are they now?
The streamer is adding another Trainwreck to its catalogue.
Next to join Netflix's growing list of Trainwreck documentaries is PI Moms, exploring a group of mothers turned private investigators.
In 2010, Lifetime commissioned a reality series about a private investigation agency and while everyone was convinced they had the next big thing on their hands, things soon fell apart.
This documentary is one of nine Trainwreck titles on Netflix, joining the previously released, Balloon Boy and The Real Project X.
So, who exactly were the PI Moms and the man behind it all?
Who were the PI Moms?
The PI Moms were a group of "soccer moms" who were recruited and trained as private investigators for Butler & Associates.
The aforementioned mothers included Michelle Allen, Charmagne Peters, Denise Antoon and Ami Wiltz, who had all been recruited by former police officer Chris Butler, who believed they were uniquely qualified for the job.
"Being a mom, I'm able to multitask. I'm also, you know, just naturally nosy and always trying to figure out what my kids are doing," Wiltz explained on joining the group.
The mothers rose to fame after appearing on an episode of the Dr Phil show, and were set to appear in reality series PI Moms, in which female investigators would catch cheating husbands red-handed.
Who is Chris Butler?
Chris Butler is a former police officer turned private investigator.
After leaving the force, he set up the now defunct Butler & Associates Private Investigations, recruiting the mothers to join.
As for why he decided to recruit four mothers as part of his agency, Butler explained: "They come into this field prepped for the type of work that they're gonna be encountering. They're very good listeners, they're probably more sensitive to people lying to them."
He said that he had trained the ladies in self-defence, investigative techniques and even firearms.
But things came crashing down when Butler was arrested on multiple felony charges. He, along with former law enforcement officer Norman Wielsch were accused of stealing police-confiscated crystal methamphetamine, anabolic steroids and marijuana.
Where is Chris Butler now?
In 2012, Butler pleaded guilty to seven federal charges, including robbery, extortion and conspiracy.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison – receiving a sentencing reduction for his cooperation with law enforcement and a $20,000 fine, making him eligible for release in 2020. But as of 2025, there is no public information about Butler's current whereabouts.
Where are the PI Moms now?
Following the scandal, the ladies – who were not involved in any illegality – withdrew from the public eye and returned to private life, with many of them featuring in the Netflix documentary.
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Trainwreck: PI Moms is available to watch now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
