Before moving across the country to North Carolina, I previously served as a multimedia journalist and weekend evening anchor in both Shreveport, Louisiana, at KSLA, and Columbia, Missouri, at KOMU. I've also interned at ABC 7 Chicago, created content for Cheddar News and written for the Columbia Missourian. My next venture: getting to know North Carolina and the East Coast as a multimedia journalist!

I'm a journalist who believes in telling stories with compassion and fairness.

In 2020, I graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor's of Journalism with an emphasis in Convergence Journalism. I also have minors in Spanish and sociology.

<h2>Hobbies, interests, community involvement:</h2>

I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I also love reading, singing musical soundtracks and cheerleading!

I have two sisters and a brother. My parents are enjoying being empty-nesters!

<h2>Favorite books, movies, podcasts, videogames:</h2>

I love a good, sappy romance story - that goes for both books and movies. That said, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han, and "The Selection" by Kiera Cass are some of my favorites. I'm also a big Sarah Dessen fan. I also enjoy thrillers/suspense! I am ALWAYS open to book recommendations! When it comes to movies, I really enjoy "The Notebook", "The Fault in Our Stars" and "ATL."

<h2>Likes best about North Carolina:</h2>

I love that I can experience a little bit of everything. Here in Raleigh alone, there's a bit of a city feel, a bit of a suburban feel, and a bit of a country feel. On top of that, we're just a few hours away from mountains, beaches and everything in between!

-As police were looking for a shooting suspect, seconds before my live shot, gunfire rang out. My photographer and I got video of the whole thing.

-In Louisiana, during segregation, there was group of students who, weeks before their graduation, were forced to integrate to a new school. During that switch, they were not included the yearbook. More than 50 years later, I had the honor of sharing their stories and making sure they were not erased from history.

-Historic winter storms hit Louisiana and Texas in 2021, leaving millions without power and water for weeks.

-I also covered the early trials for Jonathan Irons. He later married Maya Moore, the WNBA star who helped clear his name and get him out of prison.

Destinee Patterson

On Tuesday evening, Wake County public schools decided that schools would be in remote learning another day due to lingering ice from a weekend winter storm.

<p>TEMPERATURES ONLY IN THE UPPER 30'S THIS AFTERNOON. &gt;&gt; AMY, THANK YOU. JAYSON OTHER REMOTE LEARNING DAY FOR MANY STUDENTS IN OUR AREA AND HERE IN WAKE COUNTY DISTRICT LEADERS MADE THE CALL AROUND 7.30 LAST NIGHT AND SOME PARENTS WERE A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BY THAT SAYING IT HAPPENED SO LATE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS TOUGH TO KIND OF MAKE PLANS FOR TODAY KNOWING YOUR KIDS WERE GOING TO BE AT HOME. WRAL'S. ASHLEY PATTERSON IS LIVE AT A PACKED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. &gt;&gt; CAN RUN A GOOD MORNING. I MEAN, THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THEY SENT OUT THIS NOTICE LAST NIGHT, AS YOU SAID, JUST ABOUT 7.30, AND THEY NOTED SOME OF THE LINGERING IMPACTS FROM THAT WINTER WEATHER THAT WE SAW OVER THE WEEKEND. YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT HERE IN THE PARKING LOT. SKY 5 ALSO FLEW OVER SEVERAL AREAS WITHOUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WHERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE ICY PATCHES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO EVEN GET DOWN THE STREET IN SOME INSTANCES. &gt;&gt; WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE STUFF TO DEAL WITH A WINTER STORM HERE. SO HE'S GOT TO ROLL WITH IT. &gt;&gt; NOW THAT HEARING THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM, SHE WASN'T VERY BOTHERED BY WHEN THIS ALERT WENT OUT, BUT SOME OTHER PARENTS, WE'RE FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE TIMING OF WHEN THIS DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT AGAIN, AFTER 7 O'CLOCK. SO I REACHED OUT TO THE DISTRICT ASKING WHY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ANNOUNCED THE DECISION AFTER 7 AND WHAT FACTORS MAY HAVE TAKEN EXTRA TIME IN GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO PARENTS. I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK BUT WAKE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY TOLD US THAT THEY TRY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BY 9 O'CLOCK THE NIGHT BEFORE. OF COURSE, WILL KEEP PRESSING SCHOOL LEADERS TO GET SOME ANSWERS HERE AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HEAR BACK. DESTINY, PATTERSON, WRAL, NEWS LIVE IN WAKE COUNTY. THANK YOU. GESTURE DAY. I KNEW A LOT OF PARENTS US INCLUDED BEING A SCRAMBLING A BIT THIS MORNING AND IT BRINGS US TO TODAY'S LIVE POLL IS THE 3RD DAY IN A ROW NOW OF REMOTE LEARNING FOR MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU LIKE IT OR DISLIKE IT, SCANNED THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN. HEAD TO WRAL DOT COM SLASH YOUR VOICE TO WEIGH IN. &gt;&gt; YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU</p>

Mark Bergin

Jendaya Fleming

Wake County parents adjust to remote learning due to lingering icy conditions

Cary police are investigating after a two-month-old died after falling asleep in a baby lounger. WRAL's 5 On Your Side has reported extensively on the risks of baby loungers. Experts now share tips on safe sleep practices. 

SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN WAKE COUNTY COURT NEXT MONTH. WOW, OK, QUITE THE DEVELOPMENT, BRIAN. NEW TONIGHT, KERRY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A 2 MONTH OLD, ACCORDING TO SEARCH WARRANT, THE BABY HAD FALLEN ASLEEP IN A BABY LOUNGER. 5 ON YOUR SIDE HAS REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THE RISKS OF BABY LOUNGERS WRAL'S DESTINY. PATERSON TALKED TO EXPERTS ABOUT SAFE SLEEP PRACTICES. >> ACCORDING TO A SEARCH WARRANT CARRY BABY WAS PLACED ON HER BACK IN A BABY LARGER ON THE TOP OF A KING SIZED BED. DOCUMENTS SAY THE MOTHER FELL ASLEEP NEXT TO THE BABY. AND LATER WOKE UP AND FOUND THE BABY HAD TURNED ON HER SIDE AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT WASN'T NAME TO POLICE RECORDS TO INDICATE THAT LOUNGERS ARE INTENDED FOR SUPERVISED A WAIT TIME. ONLY THEY LEAD TO UNSAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENTS. SUFFOCATION HAZARDS HAVE ON YOUR SIDE HAS COVERED SEVERAL BABY LOUNGER RECALLS OVER THE YEARS AND WARNED OF THE RISKS OR YUNSHAN IS THE MANAGER OF SAFETY ADVOCACY WITH CONSUMER REPORTS CLOSED IS ALSO A MOM HERSELF >> IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE LIKE THE NEED TO BE PROTECTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT MEANS PUTTING HIM INTO A BASSINET AND IT'S PAINFUL. I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS, ESPECIALLY BABY. CAN'T SLEEP WITHOUT YOU. >> EACH YEAR IN NORTH CAROLINA, MORE THAN 100 INFANTS DIE AND UNSAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENTS TO A FAMILY BACKS THEIR CHILD. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND. DOLLING SINGLETARY FROM WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT IT SAYS THEY'RE VERY, VERY SMALL COMPARED TO ADULTS. SO WHEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT, THE CLOSENESS OF THE CHILD WAS SLEEPING WITH A PERIOD, ALTHOUGH IT COULD BE THERE A BONDING TIME. IT ALSO CAN BE A DANGEROUS. SHE SAYS PARENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THE ABC'S OF SAFE SLEEP BABY SHOULD SLEEP ALONE ON THEIR BACKS AND A CRIB CREATED AS THE NICELEY HAVE TO BE YOUR WINNING KOREA. BUT THE MATCH IS A GREAT COULD BE A BESSON. A COULD BE A PACK AND PLAY. >> SHE SAYS THE MAIN THING IS THAT THESE STEPS CAN HELP ENSURE THE BABY'S AIRWAYS ARE AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE. >> MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY AT THIS TIME. NO ONE IS FACING CHARGES IN THE BABY'S DEATH. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE WILL DETERMINE THE OFFICIAL CAUSE WRAL'S 5 ON YOUR SIDE HAS REPORTED ON COUNTLESS BABY LOUNGER RECALLS FOR YEARS. WE KEEP A RUNNING LIST OF THEM AND ANY RECALLS YOUR FAMILY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT. JUST GO

Keely Arthur

Keith Baker

Sydney Ross

Police investigate baby lounger sleep concerns in Cary infant's death

mattress

Months after a WRAL Investigation uncovered fines at the Wake County Animal Shelter, we're getting a closer look at how it plans to improve for the future.

ID, THAT COULD BE TRICKY AS WELL. COMING UP, 5 ON YOUR SIDE'S KEELEY. ARTHUR WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO GET IT DONE. MONTHS AFTER WRAL INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED FINES AT THE WAKE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER. WE'RE GETTING A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW IT PLANS TO IMPROVE FOR THE FUTURE. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET WITHIN THE LAST FEW HOURS. THEY DISCUSSED THE NEW LOCATION FOR THE SHELTER. >> THEY ALSO EVALUATED BEST PRACTICES TO AVOID FUTURE ISSUES. WRAL'S YESTERDAY. PATTERSON JOINING US NOW LIVE WITH THE TIMELINE FOR NEXT STEPS. >> IT'S A FULL HOUSE HERE. IF WE COUNTY ANIMAL CENTER, WE HAVE BEEN LIKE AT CAPACITY OR OVERCAPACITY SENDS 2012, THAT'S WHY STAFF MEMBERS LIKE MEGAN FROSTY MEAN MORE SPACE. IF THAT'S NOT ALL IN NOVEMBER, WRAL INVESTIGATES REPORTING MAINTENANCE VIOLATIONS THAT LED TO A $1400 FINE FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER. PRETTY MUCH EVERY ROOM THAT I CAN TAKE YOU GUYS TO. THERE'S A MUCH REPAIR AND THAT ARE THESE REPAIRS ARE RESPONSE TO THAT FINE THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER? YES, SO ACTUALLY, THAT REPAIRS WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE WHEN THEY CAME IN TO DO THEIR INSPECTION FROM PREP FOR INTO CHIP TO PAINT IN THE KENNELS HERE, THIS FACILITY IS DEALING WITH MORE THAN $70,000 IN REPAIR COSTS DOWN FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS. WELL, THEY REMEDY THESE ISSUES AND STAFF HERE TELL ME THAT THEY HOPE THAT IT WILL HOLD THEM OVER UNTIL THEY GET A NEW FACILITY. IT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WHEN WE LEADERS A 57 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH. ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE BUILDINGS. >> THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE. A NEW PLACE COULD BE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE AND SQUARE FOOTAGE WITH SPACE FOR ROUGHLY 200 MORE ANIMALS. IT WOULD HAVE A DEDICATED ISOLATION SPACE FOR SICK ANIMALS IN DIFFERENT ENTRANCES FOR ADOPTIONS AND SURRENDERS. WE'VE GOT SUCH MUCH-NEEDED REPAIRS. >> THE TRAINING ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING, YOU KNOW, DOES HAPPEN WHETHER DOING REPAIRS, THEY ARE STILL DOING ADOPTIONS. YOU CAN STILL ADOPT DURING THIS TIME. BUT THE BUILDING WILL

Luke Notestine

Ryan Bisesi

The future of the Wake County Animal Shelter

Dog at Wake County Animal Shelter

WRAL Investigates obtained new documents that show a new investor is taking over millions of dollars in debt owed by the Raleigh institution. 

DEVELOPING STORY COMING UP ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS AT 6.30. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, BRIAN. BREAKING NEWS. AN AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY IS GETTING A NEW FINANCIAL LIFELINE, BUT ONLY IF IT SHAKES UP ITS BOARD. WRAL INVESTIGATES OBTAINED NEW DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW A NEW INVESTOR IS TAKING OVER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT. >> OWED BY THE RALEIGH INSTITUTION WRAL'S DESTINY. PATTERSON EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE UNIVERSITY AS IT BEGINS. A NEW SEMESTER >> AT THIS HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY, THE START OF A NEW SEMESTER ISN'T THEIR ONLY CHANGE IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW LENDER TO TAKE OVER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OWED BY SANTA DUSTIN'S UNIVERSITY. IT COULD BE A LIFELINE FOR THE SCHOOL FACING MOUNTING DEBT. DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND ACCREDITATION ISSUES. WRAL OBTAINED DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW GOFF ADVENTURES TRANSFERRED ALONE TO A FUN LED BY EXECUTIVES. A FAIR LENDING NONPROFIT SELF-HELP CREDIT UNION. I ALSO OBTAINED DOCUMENTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS OF A BIGGER FINANCING DEAL. ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT WAS THAT THE FORMER BOARD CHAIRS LEAVE THE BOARD. IT ECHOES SOME CALLS FROM ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE NO LONGER LISTS. BRIAN BULL WHEREIN JAMES PERRY AS BOARD MEMBERS WILL WEAR TELLS ME HE WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY REMOVAL. AND PERRY SAYS THAT HIS TERM EXPIRED. I ASKED THE SCHOOL SPOKESPERSON TO MARCUS WILLIAMS TO CONFIRM THE DEAL AND BULL WEARS REMOVAL WHILE HE ACKNOWLEDGED SOME CHANGES HE WOULDN'T SHARE SPECIFICS SAYING, QUOTE, THE UNIVERSITY HAS IMPLEMENTED GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP UPDATES. THE UNIVERSITY IS ADVANCING A STRATEGIC APPROACH, FOCUSED ON INSTITUTIONAL STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF EXPERIENCE PARTNERS, INCLUDING SELF HELP. NOW ALL OF THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THIS DEAL ADDRESSES 2 MAIN COMMUNITY CONCERNS BOARD LEADERSHIP AND WHAT SOME CALLED PREDATORY LENDING. >> THE INTEREST RATE AND COLLATERAL TERMS WITH THE GOTHIC DEAL. HAD SOME PEOPLE WORRIED THAT THE SCHOOLS LAND WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY, INCLUDING THE CEO OF SELF-HELP ARE NICE. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SO ONEROUS AND PREDATORY THAT IT PUTS THE INSTITUTION. >> SAYING GUESS TONS AT RISK. HE WAS OUTSPOKEN ABOUT HIS OPPOSITION TO THAT GOT THE DEAL IN 2024, HE DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE NEW DEAL WHEN I CALLED HIM WEDNESDAY, THE EARLY NEGOTIATION DOCUMENTS SHOW A LOWER INTEREST RATE AND NO PREPAYMENT PENALTY. SCHOOL'S PROPERTY IS STILL PART OF THE COLLATERAL FINAL TERMS OF THE NEW FINANCING HAVEN'T BEEN DISCLOSED IN AN EMAIL SENT BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE THE DEAL WAS APPROVED. THE CURRENT BOARD CHAIR SAID THE SELF-HELP DEAL WOULD ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND PAY ITS EMPLOYEES. THE SCHOOL ISN'T COMPLETELY OUT OF HOT WATER, THOUGH, BUT IT OFFERS SOME BREATHING ROOM FOR THE SCHOOL FIGHTING TO STAY AFLOAT. DESTINY PATTERSON, WRAL, NEWS,

Saint Augustine's gets new financial hope, but under condition of new leadership

Saint Augustine's University

A Goldsboro mother told WRAL News her 13-year-old daughter was shot and killed on Sunday. Goldsboro police say three juveniles are suspects in her death. 

>> ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS. THIS IS WRAL. >> 3 TEENS ARE NOW CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION TO THE DEATH OF A 13 YEAR-OLD GIRL. POLICE SAY SHE WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN THIS WEEKEND IN GOLDSBORO AND WRAL'S TO STEVE PATTERSON IS WORKING TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE POLICE INVESTIGATION. A 13 YEAR-OLD JULIA TO WAS A 7TH GRADER AND POLICE HAVE CONNECTED TO 3 TEENAGE BOYS TO HER DEATH. >> STILL, THIS HANGS OVER THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN GOLDSBORO AS THEY GRAPPLE WITH THE LOSS OF 13 YEAR-OLD JULIA TO JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS >> WHITNEY, TO STOOD BEHIND CRIME SCENE TAPE SUNDAY NIGHT AS POLICE INVESTIGATED HER DAUGHTER'S DEATH. SHE WAS A GOOD KID. JENIN DESERT IS GOLDSBORO. POLICE SAID OFFICERS CHARGED A 15 YEAR-OLD AND 2.16 YEAR-OLDS WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND CONSPIRACY. THEY WOULDN'T SHARE THEIR NAMES BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER 18 UNDER STATE LAW. 16 YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF MURDER IS INITIALLY CHARGED AS AN ADULT. A COURT DOCUMENT IDENTIFIED THE 16 YEAR-OLD SUSPECTS IS GYRE SMITH AND JOSH JORDAN. POLICE WOULDN'T SHARE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING, INCLUDING HOW THE SUSPECTS MAY HAVE KNOWN THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE. >> IF AT ALL, ANY MOTIVES AND WHAT LED UP TO THIS SHOOTING. THEY DID SAY THAT IS THE SECOND HOMICIDE VICTIM UNDER THE AGE OF 18 THIS YEAR IN A STATEMENT, POLICE SAID, QUOTE, INCIDENTS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. >> THE GOLDSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO ACCOUNTABILITY, PREVENTION AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE CAN'T TURN A BLIND EYE AND FOR THIS, WE WANT TO WISH IT AWAY OR COLEBROOK IS A MENTOR HERE IN GOLDSBORO. >> AND WHILE HOMICIDES ARE DOWN IN THE CITY, HE SAYS IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE AND PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE INSTEAD OF SAYING THEM. >> OF THOSE KIDS, YOU HAVE TO SAY OUR KIDS INSTEAD OF PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAY, WHITNEY TUNE HAS TO THINK ABOUT A FUNERAL HOME. A BROKEN MY

Vinnie Boccanfuso

Three teens accused of shooting killing 13-year-old girl in Goldsboro

Mother says her 13-year-old daughter was killed in Goldsboro shooting

This year marks the 67th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.


WRAL Tower Lighting: WRAL lights the towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

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

Destinee Patterson

Professional experience:

News philosophy:

Education:

Birthplace:

Hobbies, interests, community involvement:

Family & pets:

Favorite books, movies, podcasts, videogames:

Likes best about North Carolina:

Most memorable assignments:

Recent Work

Watch · 2:34Wake County parents adjust to remote learning due to lingering icy conditions

Watch · 2:21Police investigate baby lounger sleep concerns in Cary infant's death

Watch · 2:06The future of the Wake County Animal Shelter

Watch · 2:45Saint Augustine's gets new financial hope, but under condition of new leadership

Watch · 1:58Three teens accused of shooting killing 13-year-old girl in Goldsboro