Jessica Willey
Since joining the Eyewitness News Team in 2000, she has reported from Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Mexico and Italy, as well as from across the country on some of the biggest stories in the world. World Series wins, Osama bin Laden's killing, Hurricane Katrina, Pope John Paul II's death and the War in Iraq have been some of the most memorable. In 2013, Jessica was the first local reporter "live" from Boston hours after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. Additionally, she has had a front-row seat to all the major hurricanes and tropical storms that have hit Texas and Louisiana in her more than two decades with ABC13.
Jessica has been honored for her work. She has won several regional Emmy awards for her work on documentaries and daily reports. The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association has recognized her for her reporting and the American Women in Radio and Television awarded her a national Gracie Award for a program about a controversial museum exhibition from Germany.
Jessica came to ABC13 from FOX25/KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City. She started her career in Denison, Texas. Jessica graduated from Boston University. During college, she spent a semester abroad in England and was a member of BU's Varsity Crew Team. Now she challenges herself by running marathons and half marathons. She has qualified for and finished the Boston Marathon twice!
Over the years, Jessica has held board positions for several charitable organizations. She and her husband, a native Houstonian, have three children and two dogs who keep them very busy outside of work and other commitments.
Jessica's Stories
Warrant: 2 Houston police officers under criminal investigation over secret tracking device
A warrant shows Texas Rangers have launched a criminal investigation into two Houston police officers who were allegedly involved in secretly placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect's vehicle without a warrant.
Ken Paxton wins GOP runoff for US Senate, ousting John Cornyn, AP projects
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn, the Associated Press projects.
HPD officer resigns, sergeant suspended after investigation into unauthorized surveillance: Sources
An HPD sergeant was suspended, and another officer resigned after an investigation into allegations that they secretly placed a tracking device on a suspect's vehicle without a warrant, according to sources.
Federal indictment adds new victims to case against ex-Houston park ranger
Federal prosecutors have expanded the case against a former Houston park ranger, adding four new alleged victims and bringing the total to 12 in a superseding indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Murder suspect accused in deadly crash vanishes days before retrial, records show
A Harris County murder suspect accused of causing a deadly crash while fleeing deputies is on the run after authorities say he removed his GPS ankle monitor and failed to appear in court.
Judge rules that children of man accused of murdering wife will stay with grandparents in Texas
The parents of Christa Gilley asked for a judge to bar Lee Gilley's parents from seeing the couple's children due to the belief that they helped him flee to Italy.
2 middle school boys injured while helping woman during alleged assault at park in SW Houston
Two middle school boys are being praised for stepping in to help a woman deputies say was being assaulted by her boyfriend at Burnett Bayland Park in southwest Houston.
Mother charged after cocaine was found in 2 toddlers who drowned, HCSO says
On Friday, Laura Nicholson, 23, was charged with two counts of injury to a child, according to HCSO. Further investigation determined that both children had cocaine in their systems at the time of their deaths, HCSO said.
Harris County criminal court judge sanctioned over handling of child sex crime cases
A Harris County judge has been publicly warned by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct over her handling of four child sex crime cases and other conduct the commission said violated judicial ethics rules.
Arrest made in cold case 40 years after teen girl's murder in Montgomery County, authorities say
Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the 1986 rape and murder of a teenage girl, a case that has haunted investigators for decades.