Desiree Montilla
Reporter

Desiree Montilla is happy to call Richmond home. Desiree joined NBC12 in February 2021 as a Reporter.
Before moving to Richmond, Desiree worked at CBS19 News in Charlottesville. She started as a reporter in December of 2017 and became the weekend anchor, reporter and producer a year later. In Charlottesville, she covered the aftermath and anniversary events of the Unite the Right Rally, Charlottesville City Council, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Desiree is a native of Orlando, Florida. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She can also speak Spanish.
In her free time, Desiree loves to watch Broadway shows, travel to new places, and get the scoop on new foods to try.
Updated: Nov. 29, 2023 at 7:32 PM EST
|By Desiree Montilla
Since making the post on Tuesday morning, over 350,000 people have viewed the post and hundreds have reached out to Sarah Blanks asking how they can help.
Updated: Nov. 20, 2023 at 4:49 PM EST
|By Desiree Montilla
17-year-old Cion Carroll was found dead in a shallow grave in Lunenburg County in November 2022.
Updated: Oct. 23, 2023 at 5:02 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Firefighters battled a 2-alarm fire at an apartment complex in Chesterfield late Sunday.
Updated: Oct. 12, 2023 at 9:11 AM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
The Humane Society of the United States said the breeding operation received more than 50 violations since March.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2023 at 3:48 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
A girl is in the hospital after being stabbed at a bus stop in Henrico Thursday morning.
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023 at 4:51 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
The "Tommie Fund" was created in 2019 to help cover emergency care costs for animals in need.
Updated: Aug. 8, 2023 at 5:17 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Court documents reveal the 6-year-old who shot is first-grade teacher has admitted to the January shooting.
Updated: Jul. 20, 2023 at 1:40 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
On July 11, shortly after 7 p.m., officers responded to Cogbill Road for a possible drowning.
Updated: Jul. 18, 2023 at 5:37 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
AAA estimates one car is stolen every 32 seconds nationwide.
Updated: Jun. 26, 2023 at 4:43 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Chesterfield Police Department is investigating a drowning in the Swift Creek Reservoir.
Updated: Jun. 19, 2023 at 2:15 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
RACC steps in after more than 100 horses are seized from Virginia farm in Shenandoah County.
Updated: Jun. 15, 2023 at 12:43 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Funeral services were held for the two men who died in a mass shooting near the Altria Theatre Thursday.
Updated: Jun. 11, 2023 at 9:41 AM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
Datrell Glover will never forget how her nephew, Shawn Jackson, lit up a room with his smile.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2023 at 6:11 AM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
Witnesses recount hearing nearly a dozen shots ring out following the high school graduation ceremony for Hugenot High School.
Updated: Jun. 1, 2023 at 5:16 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
Takai Crute was found in the woods alone with a garbage bag of clothing and no identification.
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 5:31 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
On Monday, Petersburg Police also tweeted out an alert about a bear sighting near the Henry William Townhomes.
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 2:07 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
In the last seven years, Watson has been working to regain his mobility and independence while continuing his education.
Updated: May. 9, 2023 at 11:34 AM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
The rebuild of Fox Elementary School continues after a fire gutted the building in February 2022.
Updated: May. 4, 2023 at 2:54 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
An inmate who escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville was found in Mexico.
Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 7:12 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Richmond police say an officer responded to the shooting one minute after the call came in at 12:02 p.m.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 3:56 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
The skeletal remains were found in different parts of Central Virginia between 1988 and 2020.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2023 at 7:02 PM EDT
|By Jessica Redwood and Desiree Montilla
Lego expects to spend $1 billion building the facility at the Meadowville Technology Park and plans to have it up and running in two years.
Updated: Apr. 12, 2023 at 5:50 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Police say a vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed on Old Gun Road West when it lost control.
Updated: Mar. 28, 2023 at 8:52 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Police investigating shooting in Henrico
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 3:24 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
A student at Boushall Middle School was found with a weapon at school Monday afternoon.
Updated: Mar. 12, 2023 at 5:11 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla and Andrew McMunn
Dion Jones thought he lost his pet python until a U-Haul manager found the snake.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 11:54 AM EST
|By David Hylton and Desiree Montilla
The U-Haul manager said the previous driver of the box truck didn’t know anything about the snake or how it got there.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 3:43 AM EST
|By Desiree Montilla and Gray News staff
The boy's parents are hoping to spearhead change to prevent others from experiencing their heartbreak.
Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 3:49 PM EST
|By Desiree Montilla and Andrew McMunn
A family in Virginia welcomed a new child into the world inside their car at an intersection in late January.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 5:43 PM EST
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
The sheriff’s office says on Jan. 15, six puppies were found discarded in a wooded area off Cedar Fork Road.
Updated: Dec. 2, 2022 at 5:46 PM EST
|By Desiree Montilla
Shipping companies are bracing for the holiday mailing rush, but urge shoppers to send out their packages with enough time to spare.
Updated: Nov. 28, 2022 at 7:05 PM EST
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Police say Austin Lee Edwards, traveled from Virginia to Riverside to meet up with a teen girl he met online.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2022 at 1:35 PM EST
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Police confirm that six people are dead and multiple others are wounded after a shooting at a Chesapeake Walmart Tuesday night.
Updated: Nov. 21, 2022 at 6:58 AM EST
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Police have arrested a man in connection to a shooting that killed one woman and three children inside a Chesterfield home Friday morning.
Updated: Oct. 12, 2022 at 3:49 PM EDT
|By Ashley Hendricks and Desiree Montilla
Emergency crews were called to the school just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Updated: Oct. 4, 2022 at 5:54 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
The Red Cross is looking for as many people as possible who speak Spanish to help with their relief efforts.
Updated: Oct. 3, 2022 at 6:59 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
From Tuesday until Saturday, the Richmond SPCA is holding an adoption special, where people can name their price to adopt an adult dog.
Updated: Sep. 26, 2022 at 6:27 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
Keeshae Jacobs was last seen at Chimborazo Park on Sept. 26, 2016.
Updated: Sep. 1, 2022 at 6:32 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
The campaign, formerly known as “Checkpoint Strikeforce,” aims to prevent alcohol-related fatalities on the roads.
Updated: Aug. 19, 2022 at 7:30 PM EDT
|By WWBT Staff, Desiree Montilla and Jordan Gartner
A Virginia zoo says it has already had a record-setting year regarding new cheetah cubs at the facility.
Updated: Aug. 19, 2022 at 3:17 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
These presentations will go over the definition of hazing and bystander intervention as part of a new state law.
Updated: Aug. 18, 2022 at 7:16 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
The Metro Richmond Zoo welcomes nearly 20 cheetah cubs that were born this year.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
On Saturday morning, Jonah Holland was killed and Natalia Rainer was seriously hurt after police said a drunk driver hit them while riding their bikes in the area of Osbourne Turnpike and Village Field Lane.
Updated: Jul. 8, 2022 at 6:49 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
AAA said the recent dip in gas prices comes as the price tag for crude oil barrels goes down below $100.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 11:18 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
Starting July 1, a list of new laws will take effect in Virginia, including a bill passed through General Assembly to toughen the punishment for catalytic converter thefts.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 1:13 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
Officials said inmates Corey Branch, Tavares Graham, Lamonte Willis and Kareem Shaw “walked away” in the early hours of June 18
Updated: Jun. 1, 2022 at 7:06 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
After months of deadlock and negotiations, Virginia lawmakers reached a compromise and passed a budget Wednesday that will now head to Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Updated: May. 5, 2022 at 6:16 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
AAA said a recent announcement by the European Union and increasing prices of crude oil are playing a part in the rising prices we're seeing at the pump.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2022 at 7:01 PM EDT
|By NBC12 Newsroom and Desiree Montilla
The West End Islamic Center in Glen Allen has experienced a second act of vandalism within the past six months. The most recent attack occurred during the holy month of Ramadan.
Updated: Apr. 5, 2022 at 6:05 PM EDT
|By Desiree Montilla
A recent $104 million gift looks to advance research on liver disease and help future patients.