Find Beairshelle's most recent reports, showcasing her investigative, data, & feature journalism.
When people are in danger, they may call the police; when people are sick, they probably call the doctor. But when there’s a mental health crisis, who should Hoosiers call?
It seems everyone agrees on who shouldn’t pick up the line. Beairshelle finds out why then police still have to answer the call.
Authorities ignored her, judges couldn't protect her, and an abuser, armed with kerosene, set her home on fire with her newborn inside. The domestic violence victim reached out for help from Beairshelle, who pressed officials about how the lack of investigation into previous domestic violence reports nearly killed the Jones'.
In this Emmy-nominated report, Beairshelle spent months exploring if one thing could explain the concerning, new rise in gun violence, which impact the city's youth the most. Indianapolis saw a dramatic spike in accidental, deadly shootings, twice the city's 5 year average. As local youth became the biggest victims, She learns why a police chief, state police superintendent, and a former undercover agent all say one new law and an amendment could be the current threat to Central Indiana's public safety.
In 49 states it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana!
That’s how the saying goes, and Beairshelle learned how the Hoosier state has embodied this phrase since the late 1800s.
“After the first game in Crawfordsville, there were several newspaper reporters that covered that game and one of them wrote, ‘If the turnout tonight is any indication, this sport has the potential to really be something’, and we’ve often said that’s the greatest understatement of the world in terms of sports."
In a 3-part Emmy award-winning series, FOX59's Beairshelle Edmé explores several health disparities and how they exasperate the Covid-19 pandemic. In the 1st report, she learns Hoosiers of color made up the majority of early coronavirus deaths, though these Hoosiers make up a small segment of Indiana's population. She asks local hospital systems if and how they'll address this racial disparity.
In the 2nd report, she identifies the three things leading to Indiana's rural healthcare limitations.
In the 3rd and final report, she discovers lawmakers failed to act on their promise to address pharmacy deserts. Her questions led to a renewed commitment for legislation in the next General Assembly session. 4 months after this report, the senator she pressed for answers filed SB319 to tackle pharmacy deserts. Lawmakers are now debating it.
Statewide opioid deaths are climbing in 2021, most harshly in Central Indiana. Fox59's Beairshelle Edmé speaks to a new mom who overdosed. The Hoosier explains what temptations the pandemic has brought on for her and others in recovery. Beairshelle also presses the state's drug czar for its plan to address this growing community crisis. Exclusive digital mental health questionnaire & web extra: https://fox59.com/news/pandemic-fuels...
Cost of Excessive Force:
$16 Million & Counting
FOX59's Beairshelle Edmé investigates what local taxpayers pay for Indianapolis Metro Police Department's excessive force. After a FOIA for 5 years of every IMPD settlement & research of 117 cases, she learned Hoosiers pay 6X more than the city budgets for these settlements. Hear from a 2020 excessive force plaintiff & the police chief on policy changes. The investigation also includes digital, exclusive profiles of IMPD's top 12 settlement cases from 2015-2020.
INVESTIGATIVE/RESEARCH DOCUMENTS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folder..
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES:
A Deadly 9-1-1 Crisis
Response; A Suicide
FOX59's Beairshelle Edmé explores a former deputy's claim that a local man's suicide was preventable, but that officers failed him. She asks IMPD brass why dispatched officers left without assisting, which is department protocol. Her questions reveal holes in both state law and the department's understaffed mental health team. She also speaks to family who were on scene minutes before this suicide.
Why Shooters Shoot?
Examining Indianapolis
Record Crime
In two reports, FOX59's Beairshelle Edmé explores Indianapolis' most deadly year for homicides. In this 1st investigation, she learns why shooters shoot by asking Hoosier ex-felons that question. A local sociologist, once a former law enforcement officer, also describes the one commonality among Indy shooters as homicides hit an all-time record in 2021
'It's terrifying!' Far east side residents talk record-breaking gun violence
In two reports, FOX59's Beairshelle Edmé explores Indianapolis' most deadly year for homicides. In this 2nd report, she goes to the far Eastside where Indianapolis Hoosiers are in the crossfires of bullets the most. She goes one-on-one at four Hoosiers' homes & finds out why their councilwoman says preventing crime, 'isn't her role.'