I knew I wanted to be a writer at a young age, and never dreamed of doing anything else. My love of writing was born when a grade-school teacher encouraged me to try my hand at fiction. I took her advice, but quickly gave up make-believe stories for the real thing.
I got involved with my high school newspaper before double majoring in journalism and English.
I graduated in 2002 and landed my first newspaper job within six months. I spent eight years at The Enterprise newspaper in Plainfield, where I developed my passion for community journalism.
When a coworker pointed me in the direction of Patch.com, I jumped at the chance to be part of the future of local news.
Man charged in burglary, robbery at high school | Rollover crash snarls traffic | Whistleblower cop sues | Burger-throwers on camera
Charges are pending against a juvenile suspect, police said, as well as additional charges in connection with a home invasion in Lemont.
Cop guilty of taking bribe | Bearded dragon saved from fire | Would-be robber enters high school through window | Former coach dies
Police commander charged with domestic battery retires | Lawsuit filed after cop fatally shot by partner | Fake ID used to buy car
Armed home invasions | Man accused of threatening child with knife, leaving scene of crash | Missing man's car found.
2 elderly people stabbed, man charged | Border Patrol agent accused of sexually assaulting women | Congress candidate is sex offender
Concealed carry holder shoots teen who broke into car: Cops | Police car flips after crash | $30K reward in drowning homicide |
Plus: "Major uptick" in check washing, truck stop fire, woman dies in crash with USPS truck, charity scam, friends tee up a dream.
Dog killed, woman hurt in crash | Masked man steals meds | Missing woman found dead | Hunt for hit-and-run driver | Hepatitis fears
No evidence famous actress was drugged, cops say | Freight train derails | Baby Jesus zip-tied in church's Nativity
'Superhero' cop dies 9 years after being shot | 3 dead after car hits bridge support | Building collapse under investigation
Worker killed as train hits snow removal equipment | DUI suspect crashes into Burger King | Woman dead after falling in front of bus
Cold-related death | Tips from 1,500 potential victims of accused chiropractor | Grave site robber found thanks to tracking device
Silver Alert activated for missing man | $1.5M embezzling trial delayed | Northwestern pays $75M | Share your holiday lights
Fatal hit-and-run after argument | Man crushed by vehicle | Images of teen takeover shooter released | Settlement for teen punched by cops
Inmate dies in jail cell fire | Dangerous TikTok trend prompts warning | Search party for man who went missing after crash
Police said the man was stabbed in the back during a robbery on Thanksgiving.
Worker killed supervisor in murder-suicide: PD | Bar shooter dated victim, tracked her online | Teen killed by robbery accomplice: police
Plus: Causes of death released for supervisor and employee, teen fatally shot outside Walmart, "lights in the heights."
Morgan Geyser, now 23, told police in Illinois she had "done something really bad," and that they could "just Google" her, officials said.
