WBUR Staff

Deborah Becker

Host/Reporter
Deborah Becker

Deborah Becker is a reporter and host at WBUR.  Her reporting focuses on mental health, criminal justice, crime and education.

Deb also helps produce and organize various WBUR special programs and series. She has received numerous awards from Radio Television Digital News Association (RTNDA), Public Radio International, National Education Writers Association, Associated Press, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Parent/Professional Advocacy League and United Press International. She also completed journalism fellowships on addiction studies, juvenile justice and journalism and the law.

Deb studied journalism at St. Bonaventure University. She lives with her family in central Massachusetts.

Recent stories

Mass. High Court To Consider Drug Lab Case Procedures

May 09, 2013

BOSTON — Both prosecutors and defense attorneys are asking the high court to provide clarity on the process of reviewing criminal convictions jeopardized by the state drug lab crisis.

Funeral Home Director: Mother Wants Bomb Suspect’s Body Back In Russia

May 06, 2013
Ruslan Tsarni, right, uncle of killed Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, in front of the Graham, Putnam, and Mahoney Funeral Parlor in Worcester on Sunday. (Steven Senne/AP)

WORCESTER, Mass. — But Peter Stefan says he doesn’t think Russia will take the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev and is working on other arrangements.

Despite Protests, Worcester Funeral Home Intent On Burying Bombing Suspect

May 04, 2013
A protester holds a sign with "Bury the garbage in the landfill," referring to the body of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev. (Deborah Becker/WBUR)

WORCESTER, Mass. — The owner of the Worcester funeral home holding the body of accused marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev expects to find a cemetery to bury Tsarnaev by Monday.

Marathon Bombing Case May Prompt Student Visa Reform

May 02, 2013
This undated photo added on April 18, 2013, to the VK page of Dias Kadyrbayev shows, from left, Azamat Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev, from Kazakhstan, with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Times Square in New York. (VK/AP)

BOSTON — Federal Homeland Security officials are promising reform of the student visa system, after the two friends of a Boston Marathon bombing suspect overstayed their visas.

Rep. Keating On Bombings: ‘This Will All Go Under A Microscope’

May 02, 2013

BOSTON — Massachusetts U.S. Rep. William Keating says lawmakers have long been concerned about the threat of so-called “homegrown” terrorists.

Investigators Collect DNA Sample From Widow Of Bombing Suspect

April 30, 2013

BOSTON — Investigators collected the DNA to compare against female genetic material found on bomb fragments at one of the explosion sites.

As Investigation Continues, Boston Police Detail End To Manhunt

April 24, 2013
Boston police Superintendent William Evans, right, speaks at news conference in Boston on Tuesday. (Elise Amendola/AP)

BOSTON — The investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings is continuing on many fronts. Boston Police officials offered new details on Tuesday.

Media, Take Note: ‘The Race To Be First Often Results In The Race To Be Wrong’

April 20, 2013

BOSTON — NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik analyzed the news coverage of the marathon bombings and Friday’s manhunt.

Former Mass. Police Officer Assesses Manhunt

April 20, 2013

BOSTON — Robert Long, a former state police lieutenant who now does high-level security, shared his insight.

Marathon Bombing Suspect To Be Interrogated By High Value Target Unit

April 20, 2013

BOSTON — Boston Marathon bombings suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is expected to be questioned by a special interrogation team. A former CIA interrogator joined us to talk about that that could entail.

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