Classic suspect & evidence board
Polaroid pins for suspects, witnesses, and evidence — connected with red string for the relationships that matter.
Best for
True-crime enthusiasts and amateur sleuths.
Use case
Investigation & Evidence Board
Free, visual investigation boards for journalists, true-crime fans, researchers, and writers. Pin suspects, evidence, and timelines — then connect the dots with string.
Starter ideas for your investigation board
Six layout ideas you can recreate on your own board after signing up.
These are starter ideas to spark your board — PintoPin doesn't yet ship pre-built templates. After signing up you'll build your own board from a blank canvas in a few minutes.
Investigative journalism map
People, organizations, money flows, and documents laid out on one canvas with source links on every pin.
Best for
Reporters and researchers untangling complex stories.
Timeline of events
Horizontal timeline of incidents with branching pins for context, motive, and consequence at each point.
Best for
Court case prep, historical research, and incident reviews.
Conspiracy / theory map
Lay out competing theories side by side, with evidence pins supporting or contradicting each branch.
Best for
Podcasters, hobbyists, and discussion clubs.
Crime scene reconstruction
A map background with pins for evidence locations, witness positions, and key moments.
Best for
Mystery writers and tabletop game masters.
Background research board
One pin per person of interest with photo, bio, known associates, and a strings-attached network view.
Best for
Background checks, due diligence, and OSINT learners.
How to build an investigation board
Six steps from a single question to a fully connected case board.
- 1
Define the question you're investigating
Write the core question on one central pin: 'Who killed X?', 'How is Y funded?', 'What really happened on Z?'
- 2
Create a free PintoPin account
Sign up and open a new private board. Investigation boards stay private until you choose to publish.
- 3
Pin every person, place, and piece of evidence
One pin per entity. Add a photo, a one-line description, and any source links you have so far.
- 4
Connect the dots with string
Draw colored string between related pins: red for confirmed links, dashed for suspected, yellow for unverified leads.
- 5
Annotate with notes and sources
Use the notes widget on each pin to capture quotes, dates, and source URLs so your reasoning is traceable.
- 6
Share with collaborators or publish
Invite co-investigators with a private link, or publish the board to share your findings with an audience.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an investigation or evidence board?
- A visual layout where people, places, and evidence are pinned and linked with string connections to make complex relationships obvious at a glance.
- Is PintoPin free for investigation boards?
- Yes. You can build and share investigation boards for free. Paid plans only raise per-board pin limits.
- Can I keep my board private?
- Yes. New boards are private by default. Share with specific people or keep it just for yourself.
- Can I attach sources, documents, and links to each pin?
- Yes. Pins support rich widgets including links, images, audio, video, maps, and long-form notes for sourcing.
- Can I collaborate with other researchers?
- Yes. Share the board link and others can react and comment as the investigation evolves.
Ready to crack the case?
Create a free PintoPin account, open a blank board, and start pinning the evidence.
Get started — it's free