Meet Virginia
Hello there! Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by! My name is Dr. Virginia Braden and I am delighted to "meet" you! I am passionate about answers and about being the voice of those who can no longer speak for themselves. To understand why this matters to me so much, here is a little about my background.
I am the eldest of six children. We grew up in a cult and in an incredibly violent and abusive home. My father was an elder in the cult and very well respected as a spiritual leader but behind closed doors he was someone very different. Violence was a part of our everyday world and I grew up with the awareness things are not always what they seem on the surface. This has served me very well as an investigator. As I neared college age I focused on escaping the violence and the abuse by going to college. I believed that my future, that safety, would be found there. That hope was shattered when in my freshman year I was kidnapped and raped by a man I had never met before. That man told me again and again that I would die that night, and I believed him. He had all the power that night and I believed I would never see another sunrise, never see my family again. What I could not wrap my mind around was not being around to tell what had happened, not being able to tell others how it had all come about that night, what my attacker looked like and what kind of car he drove.
Clearly I did survive that night. That experience, though tragic and devastating, became the motivation for the work I now do and. have dedicated my life too. I believe I survived to tell the stories of those who can no longer tell their stories, whether they are murdered or missing, or silenced by a system that refuses them a voice. Viktor Frankl said suffering that finds purpose ceases to be suffering and that has certainly been true for me. It is my distinct honor to work daily to provide hope, healing, support, and answers to individuals who have for too long been fighting on their own. I work tirelessly to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced. I, and my team, are relentless as we stand with and fight for victims of violence and of injustice, and their loved ones, to provide them with the answers they deserve and for so long have been denied.
I wear quite a few hats and I am passionate about applying my time and talents to changing the outcome. Currently, I am a Licensed Private Investigator, Behavioral Analyst, Consultant, Certified Hostage Negotiator, Chaplain, the Founder of The Braden Institute for Leadership and Community Engagement, LLC, an Author, and a part time Professor at the University of Louisville! I have been working and studying in the field of violent crimes for over two decades. I have a Ph. D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville. As an investigator and profiler I have served the private sector as well as law enforcement and government officials both in the United States and abroad. My primary areas of focus are violent crimes investigations, behavioral profiling and analysis, cold cases, and wrongful convictions.
I am active in the community as a lecturer and professional encourager helping people of all backgrounds find hope and tools for healing. Drawing on my unique insights into human behavior, as well as my own personal experiences in navigating through significant trauma and loss, I endeavor to provide a road map for being who it is we came here to be. If you are interested in learning more about my community engagement opportunities or for more information on my conference appearances, professional development trainings, or investigative services click below and let me know how I can best serve you!
If you would like to be a part of speaking for those who can no longer speak for themselves and fighting for justice on behalf of victims and their families, please consider donating to the work and efforts of Braden Investigations & Consulting, which often is offered free of charge or at a reduced rate. Your donation will make a genuine difference in bring truth to light and hope to those who are suffering. Your generosity makes miracles possible! Any and all amounts are appreciated!