An Emmy award-winning journalist finds himself on the wrong side of the law, facing accusations of secretly filming individuals as they changed clothes at a television station in Oklahoma. The shocking allegations have sent ripples through the local media community.
Darrell Lee Vannostran, aged 40, was arrested and charged with using photo or video equipment in a clandestine manner within a private setting. Known for his work as a photographer and editor, Vannostran had recently garnered multiple Heartland TV Emmy Awards, adding a layer of surprise and disbelief to the situation.
As reported by The Oklahoman, the unsettling discovery came to light when janitorial staff stumbled upon two video cameras in the dressing room areas of KWTV News 9’s premises, located in downtown Oklahoma City.
The arrest of Vannostran took place at his residence in Moore, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, further deepening the scandal that has left many questioning the trust and security within the station.
While it remains unclear whether the recordings captured guests or station staff, authorities, upon reviewing the footage, noted that the individuals were found in “various states of undress,” according to the report by The Oklahoman.
Investigators revealed that the cameras had been discreetly affixed using Velcro beneath clothing racks, a tactic that suggests a premeditated effort to evade detection.
“A review of the extracted video footage confirmed the cameras had been active and had recorded multiple subjects who used the dressing room areas in private settings,” the affidavit states, according to The Oklahoman.
News 9’s main office and studios are located in the Century Center building in downtown Oklahoma City at 100 W Main St. The building, as pictured on July 18, 2025, is at the corner of Sheridan and Robinson. (Jessie Christopher Smith/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
According to The Oklahoman, following the discovery of the hidden cameras, police launched an investigation and began analyzing the video.
Investigators discovered the cameras were repositioned on two different occasions and accessed multiple times that were timestamped, the outlet reported.
The timestamps and dates allowed police to narrow down to one suspect – later identified as Vannostran.
Authorities, the outlet said, allege that Vannostran was inside the news station when not scheduled to work, entering the building and staying less than 45 minutes and allegedly making connections to the hidden cameras within the timeframes under investigation.
Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma. (iStock)
On Tuesday, Vannostran was arrested at his home in Moore, Oklahoma. He was still in custody at the Oklahoma County jail on Tuesday on a $25,000 bond.
“Griffin Media is aware of the arrest of our former employee Darrell Vannostran,” Houston Hunt, the vice president of marketing at Griffin Media, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our priority is the safety and privacy of our employees.”
“When the devices were discovered, we immediately contacted the police and have been cooperating fully with their investigation. We are very appreciative of the dedicated, hard work by the members of the Oklahoma City Police Department. Because this is a personnel matter, we can’t comment further.”
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