Bennett Haeberle is an investigative reporter with NBC 5 Investigates. He joins NBC Chicago after most recently serving as Chief Investigative Reporter at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio.
Prior to that, Bennett was an investigative reporter and fill-in anchor at WISH-TV in Indianapolis. He also spent 10 years reporting and anchoring the news in his home state of Kentucky, working at both WDRB-TV in Louisville and WTVQ-TV in Lexington.
Bennett is most proud of his investigative stories that have been credited with effecting change. His years’ worth of reporting on the abuse of Ohio children in congregate care facilities led to increased inspections - and later - the closure of one troubled facility. Child advocates have cited his work in a national campaign, which later served as a backbone for legislation being considered in Congress that would extend protections to those in care.
His reporting on failures within the Ohio parole system helped exposed how the state failed to adequately track ex-prisoners even while they were wearing GPS monitors. The reporting by Bennett and his colleagues led to a governor's task force being formed to investigate the inadequacies. State lawmakers also changed state law to create tougher sentencing guidelines for people convicted of violent crimes.
Bennett has been honored with two National Headliner Awards, several regional Emmys and a regional Edward R. Murrow award. He was also part of a news team honored with a National Edward R. Murrow for spot news for reporting on a commercial plane crash.
Bennett holds a B.A. in journalism and history from Indiana University.
When he's not reporting, you can find Bennett spending time with his family and friends – and probably running, swimming or cycling. He most recently qualified for and completed the Boston Marathon. He looks forward to qualifying for more.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bennett has friends and family here in the Chicago area.
He and his wife Sarah have two daughters. They look forward to exploring all Chicago has to offer and becoming part of the community.
If you have an investigative story idea, you can email Bennett at bennett.haeberle@nbcuni.com or Facebook.com/BennettHaeberle-reporter
The Latest
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Report: Slain Chicago police officer sustained gunshot wound to face; SUV stolen and recovered
When Chicago police officers discovered fellow off-duty Officer Luis Huesca shot early Sunday morning, the officer’s glasses and cell phone were found next to him – but his grey Toyota SUV wasn’t.
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Officer Luis Huesca was 8th officer to die by gunfire in Illinois since 2020
Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca’s death Sunday marked at least the eighth time a police officer in Illinois has died by gunfire since 2020, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a national non-profit that keeps data on law enforcement deaths.
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Left for Dead: NBC 5 sues Chicago police, OEMC for records on unsolved fatal hit-and-run
NBC 5 has filed two lawsuits to obtain records on an unsolved hit-and-run crash after the victim’s daughter says Chicago police have not updated her on the investigation in the 11 months since her father was killed.
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Chicago Public Schools staff member removed after students' mouths duct taped in classroom
A Chicago Public Schools employee has been removed from the classroom after students – including one as young as five years old – had their mouths duct taped during a classroom incident, NBC 5 Investigates has learned. The March 18 incident happened at Carter G. Woodson South Elementary School in Bronzeville. An internal investigation is underway within Chicago Public Schools,…
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Nearby police surveillance camera wasn't working at time of deadly shooting of Dexter Reed
NBC 5 Investigates has learned a Chicago Police Department surveillance camera, located just feet from where police fatally shot 26-year old Dexter Reed following an exchange of gunfire last month, wasn’t working at the time of the deadly encounter.
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Chicago's migrant website obscures details on where $300 million was spent
Despite a City of Chicago website dedicated to tracking how nearly $300 million was spent on the migrant crisis, many aspects of the migrant crisis remain shrouded in secrecy – most notably how migrant shelter sites are selected and how much building owners are profiting off the migrant crisis.
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NBC 5 Investigates files lawsuit against Johnson administration seeking public records related to migrants
NBC 5 Investigates filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court Friday against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, alleging the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications has withheld certain public records related to the migrant crisis.
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Lurie Children's Hospital investigating claims that stolen data was sold online
Lurie Children’s Hospital says it is investigating claims that information reportedly stolen during a recent cyberattack against the hospital was sold online, NBC 5 Investigates has learned.
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Measles case involving migrant child highlights challenges in providing health care
Chicago public health officials confirmed Friday that a child at the city’s largest migrant shelter had contracted and since recovered from a case of measles, raising questions about when the child became infected and when city officials – and the shelter’s operator Favorite Healthcare Staffing – learned of the case.
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No plans to extend March 16 date for migrants to leave Chicago shelters, Johnson says
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration suggested this week it has no plans to postpone enforcement of its 60-day shelter stay policy, meaning scores of migrants could soon be forced to leave city’s shelters starting on March 16.
