Melissa Cooney joined NBC Connecticut in July 2024 as a weekday dayside reporter.
She began her career at WCAX in Burlington, Vermont, where she covered the education beat on topics such as developments in the state surrounding standardized testing, restraint and seclusion, school safety, and COVID-19.
Melissa has also covered severe weather, including the historic July 2023 flooding that tore through Vermont and was on site to cover the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
Melissa is originally from Long Island, New York, and is a proud alumna of Wake Forest University. She holds a B.A. in communication media studies and has a strong foundation in journalism and studio art. Her academic background has equipped her with the skills and knowledge to excel in her reporting career.
She is thrilled to be in Connecticut and is eager to explore the state while indulging in her love for running and skiing.
The Latest
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Claims commissioner weighs access to DCF records in Connecticut captivity case
During a hearing Monday, attorneys for the man known as “S” argued they need more information from DCF before they can adequately respond to the state’s effort to dismiss his claim.
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8 vehicles involved in crash on I-291 in Connecticut; 3 people seriously injured
Eight vehicles were involved in a serious crash on Interstate 291 West in South Windsor on Monday morning, leaving three people with serious injuries, firefighters said. There were nine people total in the vehicles involved in the crash, according to officials. Three people suffered serious injuries, three had minor injuries, and three declined medical attention, according to the South Windsor…
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Warrant says Somers, Conn. man broke through sliding door, fatally shot man sleeping upstairs
A Somers man accused of breaking into a home and shooting and killing a man appeared before a judge Wednesday as an arrest warrant revealed new details about what police say led up to the shooting. Joshua Freitag, 33, is charged with murder, home invasion, and risk of injury to a child. Police said his two children were inside the...
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1 person dead, 1 detained after suspicious incident at Somers, Conn., home
A homicide investigation on South Road in Somers has been active since around 4 a.m. Tuesday, as police work to determine the circumstances that led to one person being killed with apparent gunshot wounds and another being detained. Police arrested 33-year-old Joshua Freitag in front of the home on South Road upon arrival. The 9-1-1 caller said that Freitag forced...
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New details released in death of 1-year-old found unresponsive in car in Connecticut
The East Windsor Police Department has released new details about the death of a 1-year-old boy who was found unresponsive after being left alone in a car in East Windsor over the weekend. The boy’s father, 47-year-old Kevin Pell, appeared in Hartford Superior Court on Monday after being charged with risk of injury to a child. He is out on...
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Bethany, Conn. man sentenced in sexual assault case involving 5 girls
A Bethany man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison, suspended after four years, in a yearslong sexual assault case involving five girls who were between the ages of 9 and 11. Anthony Mastrangelo, 27, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a minor and five counts of risk of injury to a child in connection with...
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Police investigation underway in Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield police have been investigating an area of Moody Road since around 6:45 a.m. on Thursday. Moody Road is closed between North Maple Street and Elm Street due to the active investigation, police said. Police said there is no immediate danger to the public and encourage drivers to seek alternate routes. The closure is expected to last for an extended...
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Report: Waterbury, Conn. ranked No. 1 city for worst drivers in the country
A new report from The ConsumerAffairs Journal of Consumer Research ranks Waterbury as the city with the worst drivers in the country. The report’s criteria for “worst drivers” include aggressive, careless, and wrong-way driving, among other factors. According to the report’s methodology, the research team uses crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System....
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Waterbury woman accused of holding her stepson captive plans on rejecting plea offer
An offer is on the table for the Waterbury woman accused of holding her stepson captive for over two decades. The judge offered Kimberly Sullivan 30 years behind bars, suspended after ten, with five years of probation. Sullivan’s defense told us that the offer is a nonstarter. “I don’t anticipate this case ending with anything involving incarceration,” said Ioannis Kaloidis,...
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Family and community gather to honor 12-year-old Enfield, Conn. girl found dead in March
Family members and community supporters gathered outside the courthouse Tuesday to honor a 12-year-old girl who was found dead in her Enfield home in March as her stepfather appeared in court on sexual assault charges. The girl’s stepfather, Anthony Federline, who is charged with sexually assaulting the girl, had his court appearance continued until October. There have been multiple search warrants at...
