Loni Coombs grew up in Southern California, the third of seven adopted children. She attended Brigham Young University, graduating at the age of nineteen with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in philosophy and music.
Work as a Prosecutor
In 1988, after graduating from Pepperdine Law School, Loni began her legal career as a criminal trial prosecutor for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Her numerous felony trials ranged from murders to sex crimes and DUIs.
In 1996, Ms. Coombs worked in the “Crimes Against Peace Officers” unit, prosecuting criminals who seriously injured or killed police officers. One of her most notable cases was the murder trial of Julie Cross, the first female Secret Service agent killed in the line of duty. Loni received personal commendations from President William Clinton and US Secret Service Director L.J. Bowron for this death penalty verdict.
In 2001, as Deputy in Charge of the District Attorney's Malibu Office, Loni handled several cases that involved high-profile celebrities, such as Nick Nolte, Nicole Richie, Kim Delaney, Rod Stewart's son Sean Stewart, and the stalking case of a man who believed he was married to Meg Ryan.
From 2003 to 2005, Loni headed up the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Unit, monitoring discrimination cases throughout the county and training law enforcement agencies.
Work as a Broadcaster
In 2006, Ms. Coombs transitioned into the broadcast world as a legal analyst for national and local broadcast outlets, including CNN, Court TV (now TruTV), Extra, The View, Entertainment Tonight, and KTLA. Loni covered various trials including Phil Spector, OJ Simpson, Mel Gibson, Warren Jeffs, and Casey Anthony.
Her daily coverage of the Phil Spector trial on KTLA.com earned her an AP award.
Loni anchored newscasts (KTLA’s Prime News, KDOC’s Daybreak OC), co-hosted talk shows (KTLA’s 9 am Morning Show, Fox’s San Diego Living), and reported from the field (KTLA’s Morning News and Prime News).
Loni appears as a regular contributor on “Dr. Phil”, “The Doctors”, and "Dr. Drew".
Loni is an avid reader, a movie buff, and a fitness fanatic. She loves to watch the Food Network and then create her own culinary concoctions. Loni is married and the mother of one son, four stepchildren, one daughter-in-law, one stepson-in-law, and one awesome (his favorite word) grandson.
