Pilar Melendez

Senior National Reporter

Pilar Melendez is a senior national reporter with The Daily Beast, where she primarily covers crime, justice, legal news, and high-profile trials, including Harvey Weinstein, R. Kelly, and Alex Murdaugh. She holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and previously worked at MSNBC and CNN. Her work has been featured on Max, Netflix, 20/20, 48 Hours, Peacock, Discovery Channel, MSNBC, HLN, Dateline, and multiple podcasts.Send her tips: pilar.melendez@thedailybeast.com or tips@thedailybeast.com. You can also use our anonymous document submission system, SecureDrop. Click here to find out how.

‘TIP OF ICEBERG’

Teacher Sex Image Probe, Suicide at Elite School for Scandal

A lawyer for the family of a student who died by suicide says the elite private school in New York has long operated under a veil of secrecy.

Kate Briquelet

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

Karen Read Mistrial Adds Fuel to Fire of True-Crime Thriller

Read’s plight not only fissured the town of Canton, the Boston police force, and a rabid community of sleuths and supporters. Jurors couldn’t reach a consensus either.

Pilar Melendez