Melanie Woodrow
I have a passion for digging into stories and following them all the way through, sometimes for years. While at ABC7, I've covered the kidnapping of Denise Huskins that Vallejo police mistakenly called a hoax. I broke several stories around the case including the lead detective being named Officer of the Year. In Vallejo, I also extensively covered the police shooting of Sean Monterrosa by an officer who fired from the backseat through the windshield of an unmarked police vehicle. I exposed that the Vallejo Police Department waited 38.5 hours to announce Monterrosa's death, even though he was pronounced dead one hour after the shooting.
More recently, I've investigated the Fire Victim Trust, which was created to pay PG&E victims of the 2015 Butte Fire, 2017 North Bay Wildfires and deadliest 2018 Camp Fire. At the time the report aired, the Trust had spent more than $51 million, including hefty salaries for those in charge of the Trust while only 334 fire victims, less than half of 1% of fire victims had received a 30% partial payment of their total claim.
Prior to joining ABC7 News, I worked as an investigative reporter for KTVU. I moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles where I was an investigative reporter and producer for the nationally syndicated daytime medical talk show "The Doctors." I've also worked at CBS Newspath in Los Angeles. Before making the move west, I was a reporter/weekend anchor at Wavy News 10 in Norfolk, Virginia and a morning anchor/reporter at WHAG in Hagerstown, MD. I got my start in the business as a production assistant at MSNBC. Previously I worked at an investment bank in NYC. Sept. 11, 2001 was my first day of work at the bank. Shortly thereafter I realized I wanted to be a reporter and after finishing a 2-year analyst program at the bank I made the career switch. I graduated from Cornell University where I was Valedictorian of Cornell's College of Human Ecology.
When I'm not reporting, you can usually find me practicing or teaching yoga. I'm thrilled to be a member of the ABC7 News I-Team. My best story tips come from you! You can reach me on Facebook, Twitter or over email at melanie.woodrow@abc.com.
Melanie's Stories
Defendant Nima Momeni spars with prosecutor over details leading up to Bob Lee's death
Several times during testimony on Thursday, Momeni sparred with Prosecutor Talai, at times asking him questions or saying things such as, I'm sorry if my answer doesn't satisfy your expectations.
Bob Lee murder trial: Defendant Nima Momeni testifies that he acted in self-defense
Momeni testified that he was defending himself from the CashApp founder who attacked him with a knife for making a bad joke. "I just wanted to control the hands, I was afraid for my life, I didn't know know what he was going to do," Momeni said.
Khazar Momeni 'has no right to make herself a victim,' Bob Lee's ex-wife says
The Cash App founder's ex-wife has strong words for Khazar Momeni, the sister of the accused killer, after Momeni testified that she had been threatened by the Lee family through text following the murder of Bob Lee. "Our family was the one that got murdered. She can go f**k herself," Krista Lee said.
Accused killer's sister describes Bob Lee as 'aggressive,' high on drugs during cross-examination
During cross-examination Tuesday, Khazar Momeni testified that Bob Lee was using cocaine and ketamine in the days prior to his murder, and was "all over the place" and "aggressive."
Bob Lee murder trial: Sister of accused killer details heavy drug use, alleged sex assault
Khazar Momeni's testimony focused on the days leading up to Bob Lee's death, where she claims the Cash App founder introduced her to Jeremy Boivin, the "drug dealer" who she says sexually assaulted her.
Thousands participate in the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's
More than 2,000 people participated in the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's at Pier 27 in San Francisco on Saturday including members of the ABC7 family.
Khazar Momeni takes stand in Bob Lee murder trial, testifies brother did not kill Cash App founder
Khazar Momeni was soft-spoken initially, placing her Valentino clutch and oversized sunglasses on the witness stand. When asked when she learned her brother killed the Cash App founder, she responded, "My brother has not killed Bob Lee."
Whippits, bowl of drugs: Bob Lee's friend takes stand, details what he saw night of murder
The murder trial of Cash App found Bob Lee entered its third day Wednesday where the prosecution's star witness detailed what he saw the night the tech executive was fatally stabbed.
Bay Area SunPower solar customers claim they're out thousands amid company's bankruptcy
SunPower Bay Area customers say they're out thousands of dollars for solar systems that either aren't working properly, weren't fully installed, or had installations that caused damage to their homes.
83-year-old East Bay woman loses nearly $50K in Coinstar, Coinme scam
"They just destroy people's lives. They're despicable people." An 83-year-old East Bay woman says the scam started when she received a call about her grandson being in legal trouble but that wasn't the case. Now, she's out nearly $50,000.