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
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Husband of Michigan woman missing in the Bahamas released from police custody
The husband of a Michigan woman missing since potentially falling off a boat in the Bahamas spoke after he was released from police custody.
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Man arrested after Michigan woman's disappearance in Bahamas denies wrongdoing
The attorney representing a Michigan man whose wife reportedly fell overboard while boating in the Bahamas says her client denies any wrongdoing and has been cooperating with authorities. Bahamas-based attorney Terrel A. Butler told NBC 5 Investigates during a brief phone conversation Thursday that she expected her client Brian Hooker to be transferred to Grand Bahamas. As of Thursday morning,…
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Daughter of Michigan woman missing in Bahamas raises concerns about her disappearance
The daughter of a missing woman whose husband claims fell overboard from a boat in the Bahamas says she has more concerns and questions than answers.
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Daughter of Michigan woman missing in Bahamas raises concerns about disappearance
The daughter of a missing woman whose husband claims fell overboard from a boat in the Bahamas told NBC 5 Investigates’ Bennett Haeberle that she has more concerns and questions than answers.
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Complaints about near misses, communication issues long-running at LaGuardia
Pilots and air traffic controllers have raised alarms about near-misses and communication issues at LaGuardia for decades, records show.
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Lead paint discovery inside Google's future Loop HQ prompts OSHA investigation
The discovery of lead paint inside the former Thompson Center that is being transformed into Google’s new Chicago HQ sparked an OSHA investigation and blood tests for workers. NBC 5 Investigates’ Bennett Haeberle reports.
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Lead paint discovery inside Google's future Loop HQ prompts OSHA investigation
The discovery of lead paint inside the former Thompson Center that is being transformed into Google’s new Chicago HQ sparked an OSHA investigation.
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Bill aims to close ‘loophole' for those convicted of secretly videotaping minors
Illinois officials are seeking to close a loophole that doesn’t require those convicted of secretly videotaping children to register as sex offenders.
