He was the face of New York mornings. If you lived in the Tri-State area a decade ago, you definitely knew the name. Rob Morrison, the polished, square-jawed anchor for WCBS-TV, seemed to have it all—the high-profile career, a $300,000 salary, and a marriage to fellow journalist Ashley Morrison. Then, it all vanished in a single weekend.
People still search for rob morrison news anchor because the fall was just so jarringly public. It wasn't just a career ending; it was a total collapse of a public persona. Honestly, when someone goes from reporting the news to being the lead story on the 11 o'clock broadcast, the internet never really forgets.
The Night That Changed Everything
It happened in Darien, Connecticut. February 17, 2013. Most of us were sleeping, but the Darien police were responding to a domestic dispute at the Morrison home around 1:30 a.m. The details that leaked out were grim. We’re talking about allegations of second-degree strangulation and threatening.
Police reports at the time claimed Ashley had red marks on her neck. But the most "TV-movie" part of the whole thing? Allegations that Morrison told officers he would "kill" his wife once he was released. He denied the choking, of course. He even tried to frame the night as "quiet" in later interviews. But the damage was done. Three days later, he resigned from WCBS.
He said he needed to focus on his family.
The station likely didn't give him much of a choice.
A Career Built on the Front Lines
Before the mugshot became his most famous photo, Rob Morrison was actually a heavy hitter in journalism. He didn't just sit behind a desk reading teleprompters. He was a combat correspondent in the U.S. Marine Corps. He reported from Iraq and Qatar during the Second Gulf War. He was embedded with Marines in Afghanistan in 2001.
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He had the "it" factor for New York news.
- WNBC (1999–2008): He co-anchored Today in New York.
- The Blog Era: After NBC, he wrote "Daddy Diaries" for The Huffington Post. It was his attempt at a "stay-at-home-dad" pivot.
- WCBS (2009–2013): This was his big comeback, leading the morning and noon newscasts alongside Mary Calvi.
It's weird to think about now, but he was once the guy people drank their coffee with every morning. He was reliable. Until he wasn't.
The Legal Aftermath and the "100 Calls"
If you think the story ended with his resignation, you've got it wrong. The legal saga dragged on for years. In July 2013, he pleaded guilty to threatening and breach of peace. The strangulation charge? That was eventually dropped in 2014 after he completed some court-mandated family violence programs.
But then, the wheels fell off again.
In June 2014, he was back in handcuffs. Why? He allegedly called his estranged wife over 100 times in a single weekend. Specifically, 121 times over Memorial Day weekend. That's not just "kinda" obsessive; that’s a felony violation of a protective order. He eventually pleaded guilty to harassment and got six months of probation.
Where is Rob Morrison Now?
Basically, he's a ghost in the industry. You won't find him on any major network in 2026. While his ex-wife, Ashley, moved on to work for stations in Miami and continues her career in journalism, Rob’s path back to the anchor desk was effectively blocked by the digital footprint of his arrests.
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There were rumors of a "tell-all" book. He wanted to "set the record straight." He claimed he never laid a hand on his wife. But in the world of TV news, perception is reality. When you're charged with threatening to kill a fellow journalist—who also happens to be your wife—the industry tends to close its doors. Permanently.
The Reality of the "Comeback"
A lot of people wonder why some disgraced anchors get a second chance and others don't. Honestly, it comes down to the nature of the "scandal." Financial crimes or even some workplace indiscretions sometimes get forgiven after a decade. Domestic violence involving strangulation and death threats? That’s a different category of "unhirable."
Actionable Takeaways from the Morrison Saga
Looking back at the rob morrison news anchor timeline, there are a few things we can actually learn about the intersection of celebrity and the law:
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- Digital Permanence: In 2026, your "news" follows you forever. A "not guilty" or a dropped charge doesn't erase a mugshot from Google Images.
- The "Lying" Factor: Sources at WCBS at the time said management was more "livid" about Morrison allegedly lying about facial scratches than the initial incident. In corporate environments, the cover-up is often what gets you fired before the crime does.
- Protective Orders are Literal: Violating a "no contact" order—even via phone calls—is a fast track to a felony. Many people think "no contact" just means no physical hitting. It doesn't.
If you're researching this for a media ethics class or just because you remember him from the morning news, the lesson is pretty simple. Professional standing is fragile. You can spend 20 years building a reputation as a brave combat correspondent and lose it all in a 1:30 a.m. 911 call.
For those looking into the legal specifics of the 2013 Darien case, you can still find the public records through the Connecticut Judicial Branch. It serves as a stark reminder of how quickly the person reading the headlines can become the one making them.
Check the Connecticut Judicial Branch website for specific case dockets if you're looking for the exact dates of his probation completion. Use the "Criminal/Motor Vehicle" search tool to see how these charges are classified today.