Phil Trexler is a regional Murrow and four-time Emmy winning executive producer of investigations for WKYC.
Phil joined the 3News Investigates staff in 2015 after 16 years as a reporter with the Akron Beacon Journal. A life-long resident of Northeast Ohio, he's also reported for the Lake County News-Herald and the Mansfield News Journal.
During more than 30 years in journalism, Phil has received over three dozen awards, including back-to-back first place finishes as Best News Writer by the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors.
In 2002, Phil uncovered a pattern of short prison sentences given to child rapists convicted in Summit County. His reporting directly led to changes in Ohio laws, signed by then-Gov. Bob Taft, that have brought life-long prison terms in child rape cases.
Most recently, Phil exposed the actions of a now-former Akron police officer who withheld video evidence from hundreds of defendants. The stories led to an exhaustive review of the officer's caseload and the subsequent dismissal of more than 100 misdemeanor and felony cases, some dating back more than a decade.
Phil's news coverage has focused on criminal justice matters beginning with his days at the Daily Kent Stater, KSU's student newspaper. He has worked at Kent State as an adjunct professor, teaching newswriting to aspiring journalists.
Over the years, Phil has also appeared on numerous networks, including NBC, Discovery ID, Oxygen and the History Channel, to discuss prominent true crime cases.
Growing up on Cleveland's near west side, where he attended St. Ignatius, West Tech, East High and Griswold high schools, Phil has rooted for and cried with the Guardians, Browns and Cavaliers.
He has also written two sports books for Publications International: The Cleveland Indians Yesterday & Today in 2009 and Ballparks in 2011.
In fact, Phil met his wife, Nancy, in 1998 while they were waiting separately in a beer line at Jacobs Field. Together, they have a son, Michael, and their "best friend" Max, the family's incredibly loud, but sweet, Schnauzer.
Have a news tip? Contact Phil at ptrexler@wkyc.com and follow him on Twitter.