Ann McAdams
Investigative Reporter
Wilmington, NC
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/raycom/15e70198-3d52-48ab-a083-55e872d30af7.png)
Ann McAdams has worked in the Wilmington television market for more than 20 years. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a BS in Business in 2000, and accepted a job that summer as a general assignment reporter at WWAY. She later went on to serve as the station's evening anchor and investigative reporter.
In 2011, Ann joined the WECT news team as an investigative reporter and fill-in anchor.
Ann was born and raised in Winter Haven, Florida, but made North Carolina home after coming here for college. She is a mother of two.
When she is away from work, Ann enjoys tennis, reading, cooking, and getting together with family and friends. She and her family attend Wrightsville United Methodist Church. She loves to travel, and favorite destinations (so far!) have included Switzerland, Denmark, The Czech Republic, New York City, and Yellowstone National Park.
If you want to reach Ann, email her at: amcadams@wect.com
If you have a story you'd like WECT to investigate, e-mail: Investigate@wect.com
Awards:
8 RTDNAC Division II 1st Place Awards:
Investigative: 2021 (Cover Up Culture), 2015 (CFCC President Resigns), 2014 (Police Stingray Investigation), 2012 (Legislative Prison Transfer Requests), 2010 (Sen R.C. Soles Saga)
Consumer/Economic: 2021 (WECT Investigates: Private Elevator Accidents)
Social Reform: 2021 (Racist Letter Brings Neighborhood Together)
Education: 2020 (WECT Investigates: Late School Buses)
4 Associated Press Division II 1st Place Awards:
Investigative: 2009 (Sen. R.C. Soles Saga), 2004 (Crowded School Bus)
General News: 2004 (HOA Fines Family for Christmas Decorations)
Spot News: 2001 (Crew Survives Being Stranded at Sea)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LHXZ3J2JE5DMFLUNSIZXK4PRPY.jpg)
Judge Gorham ruled that the school system’s failure to disclose that Kelly had previously been investigated for claims of sexual misconduct effectively stalled the clock from starting on the statute of limitations until 2019.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SFF4IWNQ55GMJN6FDCZUF3TISI.bmp)
To keep the case from going to court, the Sheriff has agreed to train officers on an annual basis to help officers recognize and best respond to certain dog behavior. As part of the settlement agreement, the department will also pay Benson $12,500, the approximate cost to acquire and train a new dog similar to Astro.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SXW7VS6BTRBL5DCSDFXWRJDBH4.jpg)
Attorneys for the victims are opposed to any further delay, saying that the wait for justice has already been far too long for these young men. To underscore that point, they shared a video compilation with several of the former students who say Kelly abused them, and the mothers of two victims.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GDHLRUV6UVAJNIMVCSMPZHQHXY.bmp)
The court found juvenile offenders must have "the opportunity to seek an early release afforded by the prospect of parole after serving no more than forty years of incarceration."
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/T7TCXXSWVBARLDKAE7JRR4EHBA.bmp)
Thursday afternoon, hospital officials expanded on a previous statement responding to claims that a woman had died in the Emergency Room lobby after waiting for hours to be seen.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EIFTDZA6ARHQFCBLZV2NODQBGQ.bmp)
Sources tell WECT the problem is not necessarily a shortage of beds at the hospital, but a shortage of nurses to staff those beds. Nurses say entire halls in the hospital have been blocked off for use because of staffing shortages.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SHFUHS4EXJFPPK3UFKI7FPEWOM.png)
Decades after consuming contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, victims who suffered adverse health effects may be allowed to recover monetary damages from the US Government. Federal lawmakers are trying to pass legislation to help former residents and workers on the Marine base who developed illnesses linked to tainted well water they consumed while living there.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/M4UYRN2S4JALBLQUUXBYIXYDME.jpg)
We’ve received a number of emails from employees at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, who are worried after hearing the hospital is terminating its contracts with travelling nurses at the end of this month.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/A2HEVJIRXNDELDU2P2PDBETBBQ.JPG)
A law enforcement officer is being sued in federal court by the family of a person he killed while working as a Sheriff’s deputy in Duplin County. The same deputy, Jhon Dragocastano, later went on to shoot and kill a man after taking a job with the Pender County Sheriff’s Department.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BVZOPOMBAZATFD6VYWNTDGQ7YM.jpg)
To hold the former police chief or other town officials criminally responsible for Cinotti’s actions, prosecutors would have to prove intent. Specifically, that they knew Cinotti was not qualified to be an officer and intentionally placed him in that role anyway.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PBHAI3J5ONBAPB5B6OT6JU73B4.jpg)
Eric Cinotti is now a convicted felon. Cinotti maintains his innocence, and entered an Alford Plea, allowing him to resolve the charges without admitting guilt.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UWXJK7VZBFAPBK5KJIZM5G4TCY.jpg)
The district officially started fingerprinting new hires as part of its background check process. This comes at a time when the district is being sued for failing to stop teachers from sexually abusing students, despite warning signs and complaints from parents about concerning behavior by some teachers.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/I4F5HJCU7ZEEPL7IIWGIH7F55Q.bmp)
Repeated vehicle collisions involving Pender County Sheriff’s patrol vehicles are putting a strain on an already limited fleet at the Sheriff’s Office. It’s also prompting questions about deputies’ driving skills, and the cost that all of these collisions are creating for tax payers.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/J2YXOONPKJFIJNF343SP4LGFUA.jpg)
A detective for the Pender County Sheriff’s office is off the job tonight, after being criminally charged by Jacksonville Police.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/L2CHWOSRHVFNJBN3SFCJJQ6EHI.bmp)
A wrongful death lawsuit against a Wilmington assisted living facility has been resolved outside the courtroom. In April 2021, the family of Garland Garrett filed suit against Spring Arbor after he was beaten so severely in his sleep that he died. The man who killed him was a fellow Spring Arbor resident suffering from dementia.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LRUPY6ADRFGUJLHETJZKAI3K5A.bmp)
The New Hanover County School Board Chair is having to crack down on people who exceed their time limit to talk during the public comment portion of school board meetings. Tuesday night, a woman who has repeatedly voiced critical comments about the school board - was removed from the meeting by deputies.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MYOCD3UOZZA2JG344CPOV7OVZQ.JPG)
New Hanover County School leaders are responding to criticism about a survey they conducted polling students on their experience with sexual harassment. The district wanted to get a better grasp on how often students were experiencing harassment in the wake of a teacher sex scandal.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QP24CBUUJNEGVHD4ZDEN6GGSXI.jpg)
On Thursday, the NCDOL confirmed to WECT that 45-year-old William Walker is the employee who died on March 10th after being hit in the chin by the handle of a sledgehammer while working at the Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) plant.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DNTU5LBAKVGIVAMTR256C7DVXA.bmp)
The Sheriff told the Department of Labor that no hazard exists due to the ongoing use of the K-9 vehicle as a backup patrol vehicle. He blames the escape on a lack of supervision by deputies, not inadequate equipment.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LNIV6JSDURG6NL56STFJIY5SHU.bmp)
Proutey was a Cape Fear Community College student, hoping to someday become an officer in the Marine Corps. On December 13, 2012, he was leaving work when three young men approached him in the parking lot demanding cash. He gave it to them, but they killed him anyway.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4M7XPGJGFBFFRFIVAW6DSQANHQ.bmp)
Attorneys for the embattled chemical company Chemours are pushing back against a GenX Chemicals Toxicity Assessment issued last fall by the Environmental Protection Agency. The company says the EPA’s science is “flawed,” that GenX is being used to produce products that help the environment, and that GenX is essential to modern manufacturing.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2FJ3Q5XQLVD3XBI22MI5BPCPLA.jpg)
Despite the renewed concerns, there appears to be little to no progress in the plans to permanently fix the problem.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NNGELOXOF5FOVEIXPTRHQ5KX2E.bmp)
Days after WECT reported on a botched arrest that led to a suspect’s escape, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) wrote a letter to Pender County Sheriff Alan Cutler, asking him to review the use of K-9 vehicles to detain suspects.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/33RLX74GMJA2NGKVWWPKLGU2BA.jpg)
Shallotte Police have released the name of the woman found shot to death in her car on the side of the road March 25. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Porsha Marie Lloyd. Police are still waiting for results from the State Crime Lab before they close the case, but are investigating the possibility the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IYJ6XA6MKNGUDH4OMAQA5SFNC4.bmp)
“I thought I was safe. I already had all my belongings packed, they were sitting in an apartment in Eugene. All they had to do is come pick it up and then deliver it. I never ever, ever perceived that I would lose my entire family history. Gone. Everything,” Zimmerman said.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/F2HQ2MKRHNB4TCJJPERW4J3P2U.bmp)
Two deputies are out of a job after an arrest in Hampstead went terribly wrong. Deputies say they were not given proper equipment to do their job, putting them in a dangerous position and setting the stage for the detainee to escape. The sheriff says this wasn’t an equipment issue, but a failure by the deputies to properly supervise the suspect.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5Q6A65QMTNCKTCXPOIV4LXLGUQ.bmp)
What started out as a beautiful Sunday morning bike ride in April of 2011 turned deadly when David and Trey Doolittle were run over by a man who’d been on an all-night bender.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NUBAY4FACVADTM7DGVQ3RWYKGI.bmp)
To accommodate repair work being done on the bridge, the Department of Transportation (DOT) closed one lane for drivers coming onto the island. Even in the midst of winter, the lane closure has already caused significant traffic backups.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VJZVPNEKG5GCJFWGHRKOXH7ETA.JPG)
The County never announced the theft, but WECT discovered court filings from February 22, 2022 that detail how the scheme unfolded.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LL6DLHXNNNERRGGGCZ5MTBO5SU.jpg)
The County and State Board of Elections do not believe there are any concerns related to elections or voting systems, and characterized this as a personnel matter.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/AU6VUBC3PZH5FARSZ7W6GS3I54.bmp)
For a year after the hospital sale closed in February 2021, employees say they were able to keep the same health insurance plan they had through New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC). Now that year is up, some employees are experiencing sticker shock.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3KUGQNFZJRFNNK3FHYG7IZUTQM.jpg)
Victims and community members are still waiting to find out if school administrators will be held criminally liable for failing to report suspected sexual abuse of their students.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EHT4HWO6O5GPHIUYP2IUGOWQ3U.bmp)
Some of the intersection improvements outlined above had been scheduled to begin years ago, but had to be pushed back due to funding issues. The primary dilemma is skyrocketing construction costs.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/TF7QDP237FB7FNLR4J37R77PXA.JPG)
Brunswick County Director of Elections Sara LaVere says after elections conclude, her office regularly cross references the list of people who voted with other databases, such as the North Carolina Department of Corrections offender list.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OECLZHD4OZA7BBWD66HJSWRFSQ.bmp)
Investigators call it a once-in-a-lifetime case, with seemingly insurmountable odds, But they were determined to find justice for a mother who never stopped looking for her son.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DM3KT7MZJVC6RDSSOMMQHDQZC4.bmp)
The North Carolina Dental Board is considering making sweeping changes to the way sedation dentistry is performed. The death of a well respected and greatly loved cardiologist in Wilmington during a routine dental procedure helped spur this movement.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NM7XOJGCTRFPJIRUXDOWJTUXL4.bmp)
As work progressed, red flags popped up that made the Zieglers wonder if they’d chosen the right contractor. The lining of the pool doesn’t fit the pool wall properly, leaving the inside of the pool with an odd, wrinkled look.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FTW5S5WEYREYBHOSFNI5SEQ6WY.bmp)
The State Auditor is asking the Brunswick County District Attorney to look into possible criminal charges surrounding a real estate deal in Ocean Isle Beach. The Auditor says Mayor Smith used inside information not readily available to the public for personal gain.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YIKCDLNAIRBGXLMMUKLV6CYLOU.bmp)
Some local apartment residents are experiencing sticker shock, after finding out their apartment complexes are raising their rent $300-$400 a month, without providing any additional amenities. Meanwhile, their paychecks haven’t changed.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JKPT62FLCFG6JK674ALHOFOHUU.bmp)
The potentially dire health impacts are a big reason people are upset with the ad campaign.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YBKPD76GCRCAXMFJE2H7NKCWVQ.jpg)
“They would wear ski masks, they would cut phone lines, they would kick in the front door and then they would find the people in the house who knew where things of value were hidden. Drugs, jewelry, guns, and obviously money,” District Attorney Ben David recalled. “And they would literally threaten the lives of the people inside those houses.... torture was frequently involved.”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QRFZOB6XEZACTAUV56NZOXCJS4.bmp)
Three children were entrapped in this way during the summer of 2021, including a seven-year-old boy who died while using the elevator in an Outer Banks vacation rental home. In other incidents, children have suffered multiple skull fractures, fractured vertebrae, traumatic asphyxia and other horrific and lifelong injuries.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UX4TAFAEAZA77AMYXVJ3265JO4.jpg)
A judge sentenced Peter Drutchal to 30 years in prison Wednesday, after Drutchal pled guilty to sex crimes he committed against Wilmington children. He also pleaded guilty to the aggravating factor of taking advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offenses. The crimes happened over a span of several years in the 1970s and 1980s, but the now-adult victims only recently came forward.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/R4IYRWXFMJDWHJST7DCP4DHBTQ.jpg)
The Village of Bald Head Island is now requiring all employees to sign a new Technology/Social Media Policy, prohibiting employees from using images of themselves in uniform on their personal pages, or making offensive posts that could interfere with the effective delivery of services by public officials,
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2VXKH7EOAZEDRBI6OU6JTRCCRM.jpg)
In some neighborhoods, not cooperating with police is part of the culture. Even though residents living in high crime areas are more likely to become victims of crime, or to be impacted by the crime around them, the “don’t snitch” mentality pervades.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JARIJNWNI5AZPPXG4MZW7V62DY.bmp)
On the surface, it’s a lawsuit about whether girls should be allowed to wear pants at a privately run charter school in Brunswick County. But it’s the potential far reaching impacts from this case that has over a dozen federal judges taking a very close look at the dress code at Charter Day School in Leland.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WZ4TH3WIVZGTNGJ3CMBSKMSHT4.jpg)
Both of the newer cases remain under investigation. One happened on Halloween in Terrapin Hall. Another was reported in the Cornerstone Hall dorm. That victim said she was assaulted in October, but did not report the crime until November 5.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QYMSK5OOEJGXPBBZVXH4G6MIBY.jpeg)
While there are no confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in North Carolina, experts believe it may already be here, or will be here within a matter of weeks.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BDEQT662G5GCPECEYCBONKIY4M.png)
“We believe this trial will take between four and six weeks. It is a big deal and it is very expensive and it’s really not good for anyone,” said Plaintiff's Attorney Joel Rhine.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YCMY5HHITBCNXONZH64KBHQGUM.bmp)
A Bald Head Island police lieutenant has removed a number of questionable social media posts from his Facebook account, after WECT questioned town leaders about the posts. A concerned citizen and fellow law enforcement officer first contacted WECT about the issue, saying the posts of this officer were damaging to the reputation of law enforcement officials as a whole.