For the main course, we have plenty to chew on. Jay J. Armes PI has created quite a persona for himself, but we are going to attempt to break it down in to fact and fiction.
Fiction or mostly fiction:
Helicopter pilot (no record of a license for him)
Graduated from several prestigious universities (no records for him)
Appeared in multiple movies (no records for this)
Speaks seven languages including 33 dialects of Chinese
2000 agents around the world working for him (record of 0 agents working for him)
Top secret undercover jobs in China and Cuba (unverifiable)
13 attempts on his life (unverifiable)
Has rescued untold numbers of kidnapped people without losing one and never accepting payment (unverifiable; additionally, he has been accused on numerous occasions of being paid for work and then turning in bogus reports)
But before you write him off as a nutter, some of his truths are pretty wild.
Fact:
Born: Julian Armas in 1932 and he is still alive.
He was born to a poor family, lost his hands in an explosion at age 11, subsequently adopted hooks for hands.
Left to go to California to make his fortunate and returned as Jay J Armes.
He was involved in finding Marlon Brando’s son, who had been kidnapped. This is what brought him to national attention.
The movie Break Out with Charles Bronson is said to be based on a Jay J Armes case.
He appeared in an episode of Hawaii Five O.
His home had a “Nairobi Village” which he furnished with exotic plants and 22 species of imported animals.
He is still working as a private investigator. He is also a peace officer. His son operates a surveillance sales business.
