Professional Experience

2016 to present: Investigative reporter, WINK News. Previously worked as a producer at KPRC-TV in Houston, WKMG-TV in Orlando and WINK News.

Awards & Recognition

  • Florida Associated Press Finalist for Investigative Reporting, 2018
  • Suncoast Regional Emmy Nominee for Crime News, 2017
  • Lonestar Emmy Awards, winner for Best Investigative Story, nominee for Best Business/Consumer Story, 2016.
  • Houston Press Club, first place for TV Consumer News, 2016.
  • Texas Associated Press Broadcasters, second place for news series, 2016.
  • National Press Club Award, third place for investigative reporting, 2012.
  • IRE/NICAR, Holly Wisenhunt Stephen Fellowship recipient, 2011.
  • Suncoast Emmy Awards, winner for Crime Story, 2008. Five-time nominee, 2010 - 2014.
  • Edward R Murrow Awards, 2008 and 2009 regional winner for Investigative Reporting.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Service

Cooking, fitness, running, yoga, scrapbooking,  reading the New York Times' travel section, dreaming about places to travel and sometimes going there, watching my husband golf, taking the dog to the beach, rooting for the Steelers and Nittany Lions, and spoiling my nieces and little ‘sister’. I'm also a Big Brothers & Big Sister mentor, volunteer at PACE school for girls and WGCU's radio reading for blind and visually impaired.

Education

Penn State University

Likes best about Southwest Florida

"The people."

Birthplace

Western Pennsylvania.

Fort Myers Police Department headquarters. (Credit: WINK News)

FMPD officer placed on leave after 2017 Freeh Report retires

An officer for the Fort Myers Police Dept. that has been collecting a paycheck since he went on leave over two years ago, has announced his retirement. Lt. Melvin Perry, who has worked at the FMPD for 30 years, turned in his letter of intent to retire last week. His retirement was on Oct. 9. […]

Is ICE using driver’s license photos to find undocumented immigrants?

Privacy advocates are raising red flags about the use of facial recognition software by federal law enforcement agencies. Documents obtained by Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy and Technology show that three states that allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses are also allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to search driver’s license photo databases using […]

Outside of the City of Fort Myers Police Department. Photo via WINK News.

Lawsuit against Fort Myers city and police officers dropped

A judge tossed the lawsuit filed against the City of Fort Myers and several current and former police officers Friday. The lawsuit centered around accusations of sex and tainted arrests. WATCH the video above for the full story from WINK News Investigative Reporter Lauren Sweeney who has new developments.

Former AC company employee admits to illegally notarizing customer signatures

A former employee at a prominent Southwest Florida air conditioning and home services company admitted to illegally notarizing documents for the company in a court filing. Detectives with the Cape Coral Police Department and the Florida Attorney General’s office served a search warrant on Bruno Total Home Performance in January as part of a criminal […]

FILE: Handgun. (Credit: WINK News/FILE)

Handgun stolen from undercover LCSO deputy’s vehicle

Twice in a week, guns were stolen from local law enforcement. First from an officer in Cape Coral and now an undercover deputy in Lee County. An expert in police procedure fears it will not be the last time we hear of this type of crime. “As you and I are having this conversation, somebody has […]

Cape Police and officer could be liable for stolen gun

A teen suspect was recently arrested for a crime spree that involved getting his hands on a police officer’s department-issued handgun. But our investigative team wanted to know why the young thief was able to get into a police car to steal the gun in the first place. On top of that, police have not […]

8-year-old girl in a hit-and-run crash Monday morning. (Credit: Aiken Family)

Hetherington’s girlfriend will not face charges, former prosecutor says

WINK News was first to get the court documents that show the suspect in a crash that killed 8-year-old Layla Aiken knew he was the suspect within hours. It took investigators month to make their case for an arrest. We’re told that Cape Coral police were staking out Logan Hetherington in undercover vehicles surrounding his […]

Group of teens hanging out as some text on their smartphones. (Credit: CBS)

CCSO seminar covers digital dangers to keep children safe

Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram – that is scratching the surface. Do you know how to talk to your children about staying safe while online? It is hard for any of us to live without our smartphones in our hands. We cannot expect our kids to be any different. On Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m. the […]

Outside of an Emergency Trauma Center. (Credit: WINK News)

Hospital price lists fail to shed light on true costs of care

A ride to work on his bike, turned into an eight and a half month fight that could have bankrupted him. “It turned my life upside down,” said Brian Gerke, who had recently relocated to Cape Coral from New York when he was hit by a car in September 2018. Gerke was also uninsured at […]