News Clips
Below you will find just a small selection of the work for which I am most proud.
I and photographer Doug Strickland accompany a woman who visited her fiancé's not-yet-marked grave the weekend that their wedding would have taken place. It was just two weeks after he was killed while trying to sell his Xbox in 2019. First-place winner of the Tennessee Press Association's 2020 "Best Single Feature" category.
A 16-year-old girl disappeared while walking home from a friend's house in the summer of 2022. Her skeletonized remains were found nearly six months later, and a police officer was the prime suspect. The case captured the public’s attention and placed a spotlight on the lack of trust some in the Latino community have in law enforcement. I spoke with the girl's mother in her native language (Spanish) to authentically convey the anguish she felt. Below is a an audio video I produced to accompany the story. Photos were taken by me.
This was my part of a long-term Solutions Journalism project, "Cost of the Crossfire," which looked at the monetary cost and long-term societal ramifications of gun violence in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It examined whether the city's violence reduction initiatives, modeled after programs launched in similar-size cities, had been implemented effectively. While I did not lead this investigation, I was heavily involved in the research of local homicide trends and police department and prosecutor’s office policies and practices, helping me become a subject matter expert on law enforcement and criminal justice. I also assisted with editing and fact-checking, and the project itself went on to win multiple awards.
After a rash of child shootings in metro Atlanta in 2022, I examined the legal and ethical complexities surrounding these incidents. The article looks at when and why parents or caregivers are criminally charged. Using specific case examples, interviews with prosecutors and legal experts, and comparative incidents with seemingly similar facts but different outcomes, the story highlights inconsistencies in charging decisions. It also situates those cases within broader trends, statistical data and Georgia’s legislative landscape on safe gun storage laws, highlighting how criminal negligence is interpreted on a case-by-case basis.
As Georgia law enforcement agencies increasingly used genetic genealogy to solve decades-old cold cases, I wanted to demystify the technology while addressing ethical concerns about constitutional rights to privacy and consent.
I researched and interviewed a local district attorney and a leader of one of the laboratories conducting advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy to translate technical, scientific concepts into clear, narrative explanations.
Using a small police department with a high rate of police pursuits as a case study, this two-part series takes a look at the factors officers must weigh when deciding whether to pursue a fleeing driver and why experts say it's often safer to use other means of apprehension.
Second part: Family mourns loss of Collegedale man killed after chase
Drawing on my experience covering the Chattanooga Police Department, I wrote about at a string of resignations, firings and criminal charges involving several high-profile police chiefs who previously rose through the Atlanta Police Department. Those officers' hardships in their new roles challenged the Atlanta department's reputation of touting itself as a leadership incubator.
Funeral services for Chattanooga police officer Nicholas Galinger, who was killed on duty in February 2019. Memorial services were held in Cincinnati, Ohio, where photojournalist Erin Smith and I traveled. Second-place winner of the Tennessee Press Association's "Best News Reporting" category in 2021.
Judge’s comments: "Compelling photography to complement compelling story. Thorough reporting. Balanced coverage. Good job not convicting suspect and instead allowed the police to do it. Reporter went above and beyond by attending funeral. ... The officer’s willingness to speak demonstrates the relationship between the publication and the department, which is essential for any newspaper. Layout added to attracting readers to the peice. Overall, amazing job! Good investigative series. Kudos!"
More samples will be provided upon request.