Karyn Spencer

Karyn Spencer is an investigative reporter with the Omaha World-Herald. Her projects have included how Nebraska's antiquated death-investigation system lets people get away with murder; how a conman stole millions while sidestepping serious punishment; and how the state foster-care system failed a toddler who was shaken to death by her mother.

Spencer was one of the paper's lead writers when a mentally ill young man killed eight people and himself at the Von Maur Westroads Mall in Omaha in December 2007. She currently is covering mental health issues in the wake of the mall slayings.