Professional Experience

2014 to present: Anchor for WINK News This Morning. Previously worked at KMGH-TV in Denver, WSJV-TV in South Bend, Ind., and KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Service

Enjoys participating in marathons and triathlons.

Education

The University of Missouri.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

As an island girl at heart, I'm thrilled to be back by the beach. While there are so many fantastic things about Southwest Florida, one of my favorites is Captiva, which holds a special place in my heart because that is where I celebrated my marriage.

Hometown

I don't have one. I've never lived anywhere longer than four years.

Family

Husband and two young children.

Memorable Assignments

Covering the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., and historic floods that destroyed parts of Colorado.

Interesting Fact

As the daughter of U.S. Navy parents, I've lived in 10 states, Guam and Sweden.

Woman almost loses $1,800 in Craigslist scam

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A warning from police before you sell used items online. Maya Thomas recently tried to sell her stepson’s bunk bed on the website Craigslist because he had outgrown the bed; however, she quickly realized she was being scammed. Thomas said after posted the bunk bed, a woman texted her saying she […]

ESPN personality Stuart Scott dies

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) – Stuart Scott, the longtime “SportsCenter” anchor and ESPN personality known for his enthusiasm and ubiquity, died Sunday. Scott was in his element, working a “Monday Night Football” game, when he was forced to leave for an appendix operation. Doctors discovered a tumor during surgery and Scott was diagnosed with cancer. But […]

Mourners say goodbye to NYPD officer killed

NEW YORK (AP) – Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton drew salutes from some officers Saturday as they were arrived at the wake of a second New York Police Department officer killed in an ambush shooting. The gesture of respect during the calling hours for Officer Wenjian Liu contrasted with the back-turning […]

Investigators still looking for suspect in deadly hit and run

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – 49-year-old Robert Colantonio from Fort Myers was killed Saturday evening while riding his motorcycle on I-75. Florida Highway Patrol initially reported the crash at 6:10 p.m. and stated it was a hit-and-run crash with injuries. FHP later released Colantonio died from his injuries. The report stated a car changed lanes behind Colantonio, who was […]

7-year-old sole survivor in plane crash, headed from Florida

KUTTAWA, Ky. (AP) – A 7-year-old girl who survived a plane crash in rural Kentucky had trekked about a mile without shoes in near-freezing temperatures in order to find help, a witness told The Associated Press on Saturday. Bloodied but free of major injuries, the girl knocked on the door of the first home she […]

Body of missing West Chester student found

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The body of a West Chester University student who disappeared on Thanksgiving after a night out with friends was recovered Saturday from the Schuylkill River, less than half a mile downstream from where he was last seen. Shane Montgomery’s parents say the body pulled from the water Saturday was his. Authorities had […]

19-year-old killed in Alva crash

ALVA, Fla. – Sari Alfadil from Fort Myers died Saturday afternoon after a three vehicle crash on SR 80 and Bateman Avenue. According to Florida Highway Patrol the crash happened at 2:20 p.m. The release stated a forklift and car were driving slow on the road, when a third car rammed into them. The driver of […]

Police lights crime

Collier man arrested for car theft, claimed he was 400-year-old Indian

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A Naples man is behind bars after bizarre behavior, which ended with him reportedly stealing a woman’s car out of her driveway. An arrest report from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office states 52-year-old Robert Pekar stole the car on New Year’s Day in the 1300 block of Ingraham Street. According to a […]

Disappointing loss for FSU

FORT MYERS, Fla. -Florida State University fans watched Thursday as their Seminoles lost to the Oregon Ducks in the first ever College Football Playoffs game. Fans gathered at Sidelines Sports Bar hopeful their undefeated team would pull out another win. “It’s great to be a part of college football history. We’re undefeated, we’re going into […]

Six hour lines at urgent cares

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Urgent care centers and emergency rooms are inundated with patients sick. A nurse supervisor at Lee Memorial Convenient Care told WINK News people wait until after the holiday to go to the doctor. Frank Garcia told WINK News he arrived at the urgent care Friday at 10:45 a.m. and was not […]