Lileana Pearson
Lileana spent 2019-2021 reporting for WOWT in Omaha, NE. During her time in the Midwest, she interviewed nearly a dozen presidential candidates for 2020 Iowa caucus season, covered a historic flood of the Missouri River, and interviewed the first Americans to contract COVID-19 as they were transported to receive treatment at Omaha's biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medicine.
Lileana received her undergraduate in media studies at Lindsey Wilson College in her hometown of Columbia, Kentucky before moving on to earn a master's degree in broadcast and digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Lileana was born in Washington State but has lived in Washington, Rhode Island, Kentucky, New York, Nebraska, North Carolina and now Texas. She did most of her growing up in rural Kentucky, so she calls that home.
She is thrilled to have landed in the Lone Star State and looks forward to many new, exciting adventures here in Houston and around the state. In her off time, you can find her walking her dog Lentil, enjoying the outdoors, or getting creative in the kitchen.
If you have a story, issue, or concern, reach out to Lileana on her social media or at Lileana.x.pearson@abc.com. She looks forward to telling your stories!
Lileana's Stories
Cy-Fair ISD becomes latest district to announce special education consolidations
Cy-Fair ISD is the latest public school district to make changes to its special education programs as student populations shrink.
Oak Ridge North police officer, honored for work fighting against drunk driving, arrested for DWI
The police officer who's earned department, community, and county recognition for his work to keep drunk drivers off the road was arrested and charged with a DWI after allegedly showing up to work drunk.
2 families say their student at Spring charter school should be named valedictorian over GPA dispute
The battle over the valedictorian title began in January, when court documents revealed that Nathan Olivarri was named top of the class, but that honor was short-lived.
Trinity River Authority responds to concerns about Lake Livingston Dam after viral video
The team in charge of the Trinity River Dam issued a lengthy statement reassuring everyone that the dam is safe after a YouTube video with half a million views called its structural integrity into question.
Wharton man accused of sexual assault involving juveniles, possessing child porn, police say
The 61-year-old man is behind bars on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of possession of child porn, the Wharton Police Department said.
Police push safety message after 11-year-old boy drowns at Surfside Beach over Memorial Day weekend
Surfside Beach police are urging beachgoers to follow safety guidelines following the tragic drowning of an 11-year-old Joshua Lahai over Memorial Day weekend.
Former Pct. 3 constable awarded $1.7 million settlement in wrongful termination lawsuit
A former Harris County Constable Precinct 3 K-9 handler told ABC13 it's justice after a jury awarded him nearly $1.7 million of taxpayer money in a lawsuit against his former employer.
Recovery search underway for child swept away by wave at Surfside Beach, police say
Officials said the boy was at the beach with his youth football team, playing in the water, when he was washed away by a big wave, while his family watched.
How emergency crews trace odd odors and determine if they're safe
The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office explains how hazmat crews trace odd odors and determine whether there is danger to the community.
Mother in jail, accused of trying to cover up girlfriend's alleged abuse of children, records say
A mother is in the Harris County Jail, and her girlfriend is wanted after being accused of abusing a two-year-old and a three-year-old, and then trying to conceal it from law enforcement, records show.