Mara McJilton
Multimedia Journalist
Wilmington, N.C.
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Mara joined the WECT team in May of 2021 as a multimedia journalist/reporter.
Mara grew up outside of Atlanta in Dunwoody, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a B.S. in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Journalism & Electronic Media. While in college, Mara interned with WATE.
In her free time, she loves to spend time on the beach, with family and friends, cooking in the kitchen, or cheering on Pittsburgh sports teams!
Story idea? Email Mara at mara.mcjilton@wect.com, or you can find her on Facebook or Twitter.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2023 at 11:40 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
But King says this doesn’t mean that you need to throw out everything in your medicine cabinet.
Updated: Sep. 25, 2023 at 5:21 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton and Ashley Balsavias
One person was seriously injured in the incident and transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medial Center.
Updated: Sep. 23, 2023 at 10:05 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Wilmington police responded to a crash on S College Road near the Oleander Drive intersection on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Updated: Sep. 23, 2023 at 9:11 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Fire officials say a faulty air conditioning unit was the cause of the fire.
Updated: Sep. 23, 2023 at 6:54 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
BCSO along with the Bladen County District Attorney’s Office and State Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating this incident.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2023 at 11:23 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
A new report shows that insurance premiums could be going up across the Cape Fear region—in some cases 100%.
Updated: Sep. 20, 2023 at 7:45 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Cameron says the board recently finalized their strategic plan with a focus on social and health equity, education, community safety and community development.
Updated: Sep. 18, 2023 at 5:12 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Investigators say someone hit a pedestrian near Carolina Beach Road and Sunnyvale Drive. EMS transported the victim to Novant Health NHRMC where he later died.
Updated: Sep. 18, 2023 at 11:38 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton and WECT Staff
The manager of the gun range described the explosion as a “freak accident.”
Updated: Sep. 18, 2023 at 12:26 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Elliot says all he could smell was gun powder and there were pieces of concrete flying everywhere, hitting his hand and landing in their bags.
Updated: Sep. 15, 2023 at 8:49 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Former New Hanover County commissioners Woody White and Pat Kusek are among 10 people who have applied for the two open positions on the board.
Updated: Sep. 14, 2023 at 10:46 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Lyle says now that temporary relief programs shut down—people are still submitting applications to WARM NC from Hurricane Florence damage.
Updated: Sep. 13, 2023 at 11:30 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
School officials are reassuring students that campus is safe to return to.
Updated: Sep. 10, 2023 at 7:18 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The responding NCSHP Trooper says he believes speed was a factor in this crash.
Updated: Sep. 10, 2023 at 7:06 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
A spokesperson for WPD says a 16-year-old boy is being treated for a gunshot wound.
Updated: Sep. 7, 2023 at 11:54 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The State Department of Labor’s website does not show any updated inspections on the elevator since July, when inspectors found it was not up to code.
Updated: Sep. 3, 2023 at 4:16 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
There is no word yet on a suspect.
Updated: Sep. 1, 2023 at 7:33 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Hope Downs says the Rapid SOS program allows dispatchers to ping the caller’s location and give first responders the general area of where the call is coming from.
Updated: Aug. 31, 2023 at 11:15 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Some residents say they think the flooding gets worse and worse every time a bad storm or heavy rain comes through.
Updated: Aug. 27, 2023 at 8:20 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
If you have any information you are asked to contact the Wilmington Police Department at (910) 343-3609 or submit a tip via Tip 411.
Updated: Aug. 26, 2023 at 3:49 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
No injuries have been reported.
Updated: Aug. 25, 2023 at 11:25 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Judy Justice said the news from Stein’s office is disappointing.
Updated: Aug. 25, 2023 at 10:52 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The Wilmington Police Department announced that 74-year-old Walter Daniel Stuart has been located.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2023 at 11:18 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“I now get to sit on my balcony and look at these trucks. But it’s not only the trucks or the view, it’s the fact that there is so much traffic on 421."
Updated: Aug. 23, 2023 at 11:08 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
This year they will be using the ‘I Love U Guys’ foundation safety protocols.
Updated: Aug. 22, 2023 at 2:44 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
As of Tuesday, Aug. 22, the advisory has been lifted.
Updated: Aug. 21, 2023 at 6:32 PM EDT
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
Multiple agencies responded to the area of 1706 N. Lumina Ave in Wrightsville Beach on Friday at around 1 p.m.
Updated: Aug. 19, 2023 at 6:00 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The body of Karen Molta has been recovered.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2023 at 9:34 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“This is a significant change in what our options are to treat these patients,” Dr. Brandon Smallwood said.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2023 at 3:28 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Multiple local and federal agencies are involved in the search and rescue.
Updated: Aug. 12, 2023 at 4:46 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Updated: Aug. 12, 2023 at 4:28 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
"It’s just such an honor to hold the title of Senior Resident," Judge C. Ashley Gore said.
Updated: Aug. 5, 2023 at 5:51 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The incident happened near Raleigh Ave. and N. Lake Park Blvd. Investigators say Shala Davis attempted to cross N. Lake Park Blvd. where there was not a marked crosswalk.
Updated: Aug. 3, 2023 at 4:19 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
A notice of condemnation on the door notes bad condition of walls, defective construction, and decay as well as the roof leaking, flooding, and open electrical outlets.
Updated: Jul. 27, 2023 at 10:48 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
This move is something that County Commissioner Frank Williams and other local leaders have been pushing for for years.
Updated: Jul. 26, 2023 at 10:29 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“One way or another, whether you have an exhaust leak or port is bad, it’s causing those gases to leak out. And even though you think you’re in [an] open area [and] it’s leaking out into the air, it still has that capability of getting into the vehicle and sealing itself into the vehicle while you’re inside,” Bostic said.
Updated: Jul. 16, 2023 at 9:01 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
The Red Cross is assisting the resident.
Updated: Jul. 16, 2023 at 8:52 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
With the hot summer sun and humid days, it’s important to reapply about every two hours, but keep in mind, if you are sweating a lot or going in and out of water, you might need to reapply more often.
Updated: Jul. 14, 2023 at 10:44 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
In her case, the replacement drug makes her so sick that she and her doctors decided it’s best to take a break from the treatment.
Updated: Jul. 14, 2023 at 5:51 PM EDT
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
The facility, which is located at 55 Old Blossom Ferry Road in Rocky Point, includes dedicated classrooms for toddlers and pre-k students, offices for staff and a “nature scape” playground.
Updated: Jul. 13, 2023 at 10:44 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Lately, Belle says he has been helping many of his neighbors do simple tasks since they have no way to get downstairs.
Updated: Jul. 11, 2023 at 3:49 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton and WECT Staff
Students in the camp are learning about aerodynamics, airfield operations, flight simulators and air traffic control.
Updated: Jul. 6, 2023 at 10:25 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“I mean, there are concerns with any drug, but the research for the Alzheimer’s Association is going to continue," Lisa Roberts with the Alzheimer’s Association said.
Updated: Jul. 1, 2023 at 3:12 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“The surprise sound of fireworks will always bring back memories for many of them,” Gerald Decker, a Vietnam Veteran, said.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2023 at 3:59 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
You should also have enough life jackets for everyone on board. For kids 12 and under—they are required to have a life jacket on at all times—except for when the boat is docked or anchored down.
Updated: Jun. 29, 2023 at 9:37 PM EDT
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilmington has announced that it is taking legal action against the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC).
Updated: Jun. 28, 2023 at 10:42 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Jon Shackelford went in to rescue his 7-year-old son, Lucas, and his girlfriend’s 14-year-old daughter. But he didn’t make it out alive.
Updated: Jun. 26, 2023 at 6:26 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
A learning experience for new nurses so they can better care for their patients.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2023 at 7:28 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Kiscaden describes the scariest moment of her life--when her 19-month-old daughter, Josie, had stopped breathing and she didn’t know what was wrong.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2023 at 1:01 AM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
'I don’t know that I can ever get past 10:27 last Friday morning,' his stepmother, said.