Professional experience:

Prior to becoming investigative reporter at WRAL, Sarah was the station's Durham Reporter for nearly seven years. Before that, she worked as a multimedia journalist at FOX8 in High Point, NC and at News 12 in New York City.

2020: Emmy award winner, “Breaking News” category for reporting on Hurricane Florence.

2020: Regional Edward R. Murrow award winner, “breaking news” category for coverage of the April 2019 Durham gas explosion

2015: Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas Multimedia Journalist of the Year, First Place.

News reporting is as much about the process as the product. I believe in building meaningful, authentic relationships with people in the communities I cover.

2018-Present: M.A. Duke University ’23 (expected)

Majors: Spanish and Latin American Studies, International Comparative Studies

Certificate: Policy Journalism and Media Studies

I was born in New Braunfels, Texas, and spent time living in Burundi, Botswana, and England as a child.

Hobbies, Interests and Community Involvement:

I have lived in Durham for about 10 years total, and I love it. After work and on weekends, you’ll find me trying out the newest restaurant, at the farmer’s market, patronizing one of our wonderful local businesses, or running on our local trails and greenways. I enjoy hiking, and head to the western part of our state when I can! I love traveling. Some of my favorite places I have visited are South Africa, Colombia and Ireland.

In the evenings, you may find me in a classroom, as I’m working toward a Master’s Degree at Duke.

I also spend time volunteering for the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties.

I met my husband, Will, a North Carolina native, while we were on a summer service program in Cape Town, South Africa, as Duke undergraduates. We got married in 2015.

In January 2021, we adopted a golden retriever, Boone, named for our (and his!) love of the mountains.

After <a href="https://www.wral.com/story/unraveling-the-stigma-behind-miscarriage-wral-reporter-shares-story/19747444/">a tough journey</a>, we welcomed baby boy Brooks in December 2021.

Likes Best About North Carolina:

Also – the food, the fall colors, the mountains, and the devoted people who are committed to making their communities the best they can be.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a reporter (as a child, I would leave out interview questionnaires for Santa and the Tooth Fairy!). Telling your stories is a great responsibility I never take lightly. I’m thrilled to be able to tell them at WRAL, in an area I know and love.

Sarah Krueger

It's a big issue that law enforcement is trying to get a handle on. Thousands of cars have been stolen across our area in recent months, and only a fraction of the crimes are getting solved. WRAL Investigates' Sarah Krueger is asking law enforcement why.

70 IN THAT AREA FACING SEVERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING THOSE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, BRIAN. KIDS STEALING CARS. IT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THOUSANDS OF CARS HAVE BEEN STOLEN IN OUR AREA IN RECENT MONTHS, ONLY A FRACTION. THESE CASES HAVE BEEN SOLVED. THE BUREAU INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER IS ASKING LAW ENFORCEMENT WHY? >> THE LATEST DATA FROM THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS MORE THAN 1100 CARS STOLEN. THAT'S IN 2025. THROUGH SEPTEMBER. AND IT SHOWS A SOLVE RATE OF ONLY ABOUT 6 AND A HALF PERCENT. WELL, IT MAY BE A PROPERTY CRIME ON PAPER. THE VICTIM SAY THE DAMAGE IS VERY PERSONAL. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAUGHT THE SUSPECTS IN THE ACT. >> SHOWING A CAR VANISHED FROM THIS SOUTH DURHAM DRIVEWAY. AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. I MEAN, CRUSHING. WE CRIED FOR A WEEK OVER IT. >> THE CAR BELONGED TO ROBBIE WEBB AND HIS FIANCE, NIKKI SAWYERS WHO SAY THEY WORKED REALLY HARD AND OVERCAME MANY CHALLENGES TO BUY IT. THAT'S ALL A CAR THAT AND THEY SAY THIEVES FIRST CAME DECEMBER 13TH AND STOLE A PURSE FROM THEIR CAR, WHICH THEY HAD ACCIDENTALLY LEFT UNLOCKED. WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE HADN'T LEFT A SET OF KEYS AND THE BOTTOM OF HER POCKETBOOK. 2 DAYS LATER, THEY SAY THE THIEVES USE THOSE KEYS TO COME BACK AND DRIVE OFF WITH THE WHOLE CAR SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. WEBB'S DAUGHTER GOT SHOWS THE SUSPECTS USING THEIR WHITE SUV TO DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TAKING THINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S CARS. AND THIS ONE IS MY DAD'S CAR. A LEXUS WEBB SAYS LATER THAT NIGHT POLICE FOUND IT CRASHED IN A DITCH. IT WAS COMPLETELY TIED. OUR SMELL LIKE WEED POLLEN. YOU COULD TELL I WAS JUST HAVING A BIG GUY. HE SAYS THERE WERE SEVERAL WALLETS, ALL KINDS OF KNIVES, SCREWDRIVERS, A BATON AND EVEN A BAG AND LAPTOP LABELED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. I ACTUALLY TRIED TO CALL THE GENTLEMAN HE WAS TRYING TO BOOST MALE WITH THIS IS SUCH AS HOMELAND SECURITY. POLICE BELIEVE JUVENILES ARE BEHIND THIS CRIME AND OTHERS LATER CHARGING 2 KIDS WITH A COMBINED 156 COUNTS. I WANTED TO ASK DPD RIDE. THESE CRIMES HAVE SUCH A LOS ALL GREAT AND WHAT POLICE ARE DOING TO PREVENT THE THEFTS. THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW WHILE THE COUPLE'S GRATEFUL THE SUSPECTS WERE FOUND, THEY TELL ME THE JUVENILES HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED. THEIR FAMILY WANTS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. WE'VE ALL BEEN YOUNG ONES AND WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. BUT THESE ARE MISTAKES THAT ARE AFFECTING OTHER PEOPLE. SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE CONSEQUENCES FOR

Jamie Munden

Joseph Ochoa

WRAL Investigates: Thousands of cars stolen, few cases solved

Durham Public Schools superintendent Anthony Lewis addresses criminal indictments against three district administrators.

THIS RALLY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ERIC. NEW TODAY WE'RE HEARING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER 3 ADMINISTRATORS THERE WERE INDICTED ON FELONY CHARGES. >> POLICE SAY THEY WERE NOT TRUE FOR ALL ABOUT THE ALLEGED ABUSE OF A STUDENT. WRAL INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER DETAILS. THE CHANGES THEY SAY THEY'RE MAKING IN RESPONSE. >> THE SUPERINTENDENT DELIVERED A STATEMENT HERE REITERATING THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND ALSO OUTLINING WHAT DPS IS DOING. SEPARATE FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION. WHEN OUR MEALS. >> FOUNDATIONAL AND FUNDAMENTAL JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS. >> OUR SAFE SUPERINTENDENT ANTHONY LEWIS, READ A STATEMENT DURING THE NEWS CONFERENCE SAYING DPS HAS HIRED A LAW FIRM TO CONDUCT ITS OWN REVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED AND IS GIVING ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO STAFF. WE'RE ESTABLISHING SYSTEMS TO STANDARDIZE HOW WE LOVE THE IN-STORE LEGAL DOCUMENTS. HOW WE CREATE AND MANAGE INVESTIGATIVE FILES. THE DISTRICT SAID DR LEWIS WOULD NOT TAKE QUESTIONS BY DR. LEWIS, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU CAN'T TAKE QUESTIONS THAT WOULD IDENTIFY PERSONNEL THAT CAN I ASK YOU QUESTION THAT WOULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PERSON OUT. >> WRAL INVESTIGATES FIRST REPORTED LAST YEAR ON AN INVESTIGATION AT, YOU KNOW, VALLEY ELEMENTARY WHERE POLICE SAY AN EDUCATOR USED A ROPE. >> TO TIE A 6 YEAR-OLD WITH AUTISM TO A CHAIR THIS WEEK. PRINCIPAL TANYA WRIGHT, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TANYA GIOVANNI AND A SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AISHAH HUNTER WERE CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE. NONE OF THE EDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE ALLEGED INCIDENT ARE FACING CHARGES YET. DPS TELLS US ALL HAVE RESIGNED. POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. YESTERDAY A CLERK GAVE BONDS TO ALL 3 OF THE WOMEN CHARGED RANGING FROM 5,000 TO $10,000. ALL 3 OF THOSE WOMEN DID POST THOSE BONDS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH THEM. I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

Ryan Bisesi

Durham schools says it's committed to student safety after elementary school scandal

Eno Valley Elementary School

Police say the criminal accusations stem from the abuse of a 6-year-old student with special needs and then not telling the truth about what happened. WRAL Investigates the new information uncovered. 

EMPLOYEE IN STYLE. &gt;&gt; 3 DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE NOW FACING CRIMINAL ACCUSATIONS. POLICE SE. THIS STEMS FROM THE ABUSE OF A 6 YEAR-OLD STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEN NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS. WRAL INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER HAS NEW INFORMATION UNCOVERED TODAY. &gt;&gt; THIS INVOLVES HIGH RANKING DPS OFFICIALS, THE ABUSE ALLEGATIONS ARE DISTURBING ENOUGH. AND THEN THERE IS WHAT POLICE DESCRIBED AS A COORDINATED EFFORT TO FABRICATE AND CONCEAL. &gt;&gt; A LENGTHY SEARCH WARRANT FROM DURHAM POLICE OUTLINES THEIR INVESTIGATION WHICH SPANNED MORE THAN A YEAR WRAL PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ON THE ALLEGATION AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL THAT AND, YOU KNOW, VALLEY ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT TIED UP A 6 YEAR-OLD WITH AUTISM USING A ROPE. &gt;&gt; BACK IN NOVEMBER 2024, THIS WEEK, 3 PEOPLE WERE INDICTED IN RELATION TO THAT. THAT INCLUDES PRINCIPAL TANYA RIGHT, AS WELL AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TANYA GIOVANNI AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AISHAH HUNTER. &gt;&gt; EACH IS FACING SEVERAL COUNTS OF FELONY OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. RIGHT? AND HUNTER FACE ADDITIONAL ACCUSATIONS OF PERJURY. ALL HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED WITH PAY THE SEARCH WARRANT STATES, GIOVANNI AND HUNTER ENGAGED IN A COORDINATED EFFORT TO DEFLECT LIABILITY. IT ALSO SAYS SIGNIFICANT INCONSISTENCY ZEROS REGARDING THE TIMELINE. NOTABLY ONLY ONE OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE NAMED IN THE WARRANT WAS CHARGED AND HER CHARGES WERE DISMISSED. THE WARRANT INDICATES THERE WAS CONFLICTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS THERE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. AND IN TERMS OF HOW ALL OF THIS EVEN CAME TO LIGHT, THE FIRST PLACE, THE WARRANT SAYS IT WAS THANKS TO A CUSTODIAN. SHE APPARENTLY SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. DISCREETLY TOOK PHOTOS OF IT AND ELEVATED THIS ALL THE WAY UP THE CHAIN. &gt;&gt; SARAH KRUEGER, WRAL NEWS IN DURHAM AND COURT RECORDS SHOW GIOVANNI WAS IN COURT TODAY AND HUNTER AND RIGHT ARE SET TO APPEAR IN EARLY FEBRUARY. &gt;&gt; WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THEM TODAY. IN A STATEMENT, DPS SUPERINTENDENT ANTHONY LEWIS WROTE ANY CONCERN INVOLVING STUDENT SAFETY MUST BE HANDLED WITH URGENCY, CARE AND FULL COOPERATION. THE BOARD AND I AGREE THAT RESPONSIVENESS

Emily Walkenhorst

Sydney Ross

WRAL Investigates: Three Durham Public Schools officials indicted 

New reports show juvenile crime centers are full. WRAL Investigates shares new data from the state and the plans to fix these numbers.

AGAINST THOSE APPS SET TO MOVE AHEAD NEXT WEEK. OVERCAPACITY AND UNDERSTAFFED. THAT'S THE PICTURE PAINTED BY OUR STATE'S JUVENILE JAILS IN A NEWLY REPORTED STATE REPORT, WRAL INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER SHARES THOSE FINDINGS. &gt;&gt; THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF CHALLENGES. IT SAYS MORE KIDS ARE BEING SENT TO THESE FACILITIES AND THEY ARE OUT OF ROOM. THE REPORT FROM THE STATE COVERING 2024. ALSO NOTES THE KIDS SENT TO JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ARE SPENDING MORE TIME THERE THAN BEFORE AN AVERAGE OF 39 DAYS COMPARED TO 35 IN 2023 AND JUST 15 DAYS BACK IN 2015, THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE COMPLAINTS, THE EQUIVALENT OF CHARGES WAS ALSO UP TO MORE THAN 40,000 WITH THE MOST COMMON ISSUES BEING FIGHTS BREAKING INTO CARS AND STEALING CARS. AND WHEN YOU SAY FACILITIES OR OVER CAPACITY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TOO? RIGHT NOW? THAT MEANS THAT KIDS ARE SLEEPING ON DAY ROOM FLOORS ON CAUGHT INTO THE DAY ROOM. FLOORS ARE WHERE WE DO PROGRAMMING. THAT'S WHAT WE DO SCHOOL. IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO THE PROGRAMMING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. &gt;&gt; TO HELP TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. HE SAYS A FEW THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. HE BELIEVES STAFF NEEDS TO BE PAID MORE. THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY HELP WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION. &gt;&gt; HE ALSO SAYS THE STATE NEEDS ANOTHER JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND THE STATE HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO AT LEAST PLAN FOR ANOTHER ONE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ROOT CAUSES. HE SAYS THEIR RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT FOCUS ON PREVENTION ARE AFFECTIVE. SO HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY GOING TOWARD

Fighting juvenile crime: WRAL Investigates juvenile justice report findings

WRAL Investigates: Juvenile justice report findings

After a WRAL investigation found the number of animals being euthanized at shelters in our state is surging, some hope to be part of the solution. WRAL Investigates shares the change advocates are pushing for. 

EXPECTED TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY'S OBESITY MEDICINES. &gt;&gt; EUTHANASIA RATES AT SHELTERS ARE CLIMBING STATEWIDE. THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF A RECENT WRAL INVESTIGATION. NOW, WRAL INVESTIGATES SARAH KRUEGER SHARES EFFORTS FROM THOSE TRYING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. &gt;&gt; AFTER OUR STORY AIRED, I HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO BE PART OF A SOLUTION, INCLUDING SAVING GRACE RESCUE RIGHT HERE IN WAKE FOREST. THEIR FOCUS IS ON RURAL SHELTERS WHERE RESOURCES ARE MORE SCARES. THEY GO IN AND THEY SAVE DOGS. THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE EUTHANIZED. THEY'VE SAVED 50,000 IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE SAVING GRACE FOUNDER RECOGNIZES, THOUGH THAT RESCUES ARE A BAND-AID FOR A LONGER-TERM FIX. SHE WANTS TO SEE A CHANGE IN STATE LAW TO REQUIRE SPAY AND NEUTER. &gt;&gt; WELL, THEY NEED A LOT, BUT THEY ALSO NEED ACCESS TO IT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING DOGS IN OR CATS TO SURRENDER THEM. THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THEM FOR SPAY NEUTER IF THEY HAD A LOCAL PLACE. SO, YOU KNOW, FINDING THEM DOESN'T REALLY HELP US EITHER. IF YOU'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THEM TO DO SOMETHING THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEY'LL BE JUST MORE PETS SURRENDERED. TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE MORE OF WHAT THE ANIMAL RESCUE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE FROM STATE LAWMAKERS AND WHAT THOSE STATE LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING IN

WRAL Investigates: Rescues work to lower animal shelter euthanasia rates

Dog at Wake County Animal Shelter

Get ready for a warmer winter as La Niña makes a comeback, bringing below-normal snowfall to our area. 

La Niña returns: Expect warmer winter with below-normal snowfall for Triangle in 25-26

Michelle Mackonochie - familiar to WRAL viewers after five years as part of the morning news team - will anchor the 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts with Dan Haggerty, and the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Gerald Owens. 

Sarah Krueger

Recent Work

Watch · 2:37WRAL Investigates: Thousands of cars stolen, few cases solved

Watch · 2:01Durham schools says it's committed to student safety after elementary school scandal

Watch · 2:19WRAL Investigates: Three Durham Public Schools officials indicted

Watch · 2:24Fighting juvenile crime: WRAL Investigates juvenile justice report findings

Watch · 2:36WRAL Investigates: Rescues work to lower animal shelter euthanasia rates