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: 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 4:20 PM EDT
|By WECT staff, Mara McJilton and Jordan Gartner
A man was involved in a deadly shooting with police after reportedly going on a crime spree in the area.
Updated: Jun. 29, 2023 at 5:08 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton and Jordan Gartner
Two families say their lives changed in just minutes after a trip to the beach turned deadly.
Updated: Jun. 18, 2023 at 2:58 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton, WECT Staff and Andrew McMunn
It was a normal day when things took a turn for the worst after two people got caught in a rip current about 50 yards from the shore.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2023 at 6:13 PM EDT
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
Thankfully for Enzor, the incident didn’t scare him but instead taught him a lesson for the next time he comes back to the beach.
Updated: Apr. 7, 2023 at 6:40 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“I was happy,” Jyquavion said excitedly.
Updated: Apr. 6, 2023 at 7:52 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
A few weeks ago, these men and women did a similar technical rescue training exercise, so their skills were up to par.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 12:42 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton and Debra Worley
A home inspector in North Carolina uncovered more than just potential structural issues or code violations this week.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 11:23 AM EST
|By Mara McJilton
How the gator got in the attic is anyone’s guess, but Brown said he thinks a door was left open to the house over the weekend, and the gator snuck in then climbed the built in stairs to the attic.
Updated: Dec. 16, 2022 at 10:29 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“I want to try to do my best to inspire young women to follow their dreams and achieve their goals as much as they can. Because, I mean, you know, you can do anything.”
Updated: Jul. 22, 2022 at 9:44 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Donations have dropped off lately--even more so than in the height of the pandemic. She says people are paying about 20% more for trucking the food and 40% more for the food they’re buying directly from the store.
Updated: Jul. 6, 2022 at 9:15 AM EDT
|By Zach Solon, Mara McJilton and Debra Worley
According to the National Lightning Safety Council, this was the third lightning-related death in the United States this year.
Updated: Jul. 3, 2022 at 3:32 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
There was a fatal drowning just after 2 p.m. on Sunday in Oak Island.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 10:02 AM EDT
|By Amanda Alvarado and Mara McJilton
Parents are concerned after a group of Proud Boys showed up a children's library event.
Updated: Feb. 15, 2022 at 9:04 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
O’Brien says the importance of this guide is saving lives with the rise in opioid overdose deaths.
Updated: Feb. 14, 2022 at 6:12 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
“I hate that such a wonderful life has been taken in such a tragic way,” said Jessica Russ. “She didn’t deserve to out like that, just breaks my heart.”
Updated: Jan. 17, 2022 at 5:22 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
In the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine being administered, there was little to no research about the effects the vaccine would have on pregnant women, or those who were planning a pregnancy and those who recently had a baby and might be breastfeeding. Now, research shows that getting the vaccine is a safe bet for soon-to-be or new mothers.
Updated: Dec. 17, 2021 at 5:01 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
There may also be instances where supply levels prompt us to temporarily postpone select non-emergent procedures in order to ensure adequate reserve supply for patients in need of emergent care.”
Updated: Dec. 17, 2021 at 1:11 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton and Debra Worley
Two elementary students in North Carolina were dropped off at the wrong bus stop Monday without much of an answer as to why from the school system.
Updated: Nov. 12, 2021 at 9:07 PM EST
|By Mara McJilton
For some perspective, Kathryn was air lifted to NHRMC on July 28th, and put on ECMO on August 6th. Kathryn went into a coma that day and didn’t wake up until September 3rd.
Updated: Nov. 5, 2021 at 6:07 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Moore is a nephrologist and has seen about 30% of his COVID-19 patients have had some sort of kidney failure or damage. “COVID, to me, has been reliably unpredictable. You know, some people will have a very severe illness, and others do pretty well,” Moore said.
Updated: Oct. 15, 2021 at 5:30 PM EDT
|By WECT Staff and Mara McJilton
The animal was spotted near Jesse Mae Monroe Elementary School in Ash.
Updated: Sep. 26, 2021 at 7:54 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Over the years hundreds of residents have been tested in New Hanover and Brunswick County--specifically those who use Cape Fear Public Utility Authority water.
Updated: Sep. 11, 2021 at 6:58 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
“20 years ago, I was in the pentagon, I had just reported for work,” said Hardison.
Updated: Sep. 10, 2021 at 6:40 PM EDT
|By Mara McJilton
Many veterans are recalling traumatic events during their time of service, but local VA officials are pushing for those veterans to reach out for help.