Cheryl Mercedes

Cheryl Mercedes is a former WAFB anchor and investigative reporter. She left the station in 2018 to join KHOU in Houston, Texas.

Cheryl was born and raised in the New Orleans area. She grew up watching local news with her family every evening and knew at a very young age that she would become a journalist. She graduated from St. Francis Cabrini High School, where she won her first journalism award for her work as yearbook editor. She went on to study broadcast journalism at Southeastern Louisiana University. After earning her Bachelor's degree there, she went on to pursue a Master's Degree at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

While attending graduate school, Cheryl landed her first television reporting job at Lafayette CBS affiliate, KLFY-TV. She spent three years there before moving to Baton Rouge and accepting a job at WAFB-TV in 2006.

Cheryl has covered several major breaking news stories that have made national headlines including the ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement officers and the murder trials of Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. Her six-month investigation of unsafe and unsanitary conditions at a local government-run apartment complex earning her an Emmy. Cheryl has also covered several major hurricanes to hit the Gulf Coast including Hurricane Katrina. Cheryl also traveled to Miami to cover the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

When Cheryl is not chasing down the latest news tip, you'll likely find her running around the LSU Lakes, biking River Road or swimming laps at a local pool. As a triathlete, Cheryl has successfully raced Ironman Texas, Ironman New Orleans and Ironman Augusta. Her podium finishes at local races earned her spots at national championships in Omaha, NE and Cleveland, Ohio.