Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com
This story originally aired on April 15, 2023.
Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia, a physician from Durango, Mexico, was accustomed to facing critical medical situations. However, the distressing call she received about her firstborn daughter, Hilda Marcela Cabrales, was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: I received the phone call in the middle of the night saying that she was so ill, she was very bad, she was intubated.
Her daughter, 26-year-old Hilda Marcela Cabrales, an architect and interior designer, had recently relocated to Los Angeles. “It was a dream come true for her to be there, pursuing her passion,” remarked Fernanda Cantisani, her best friend.
In the ICU at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles, Hilda Marcela Cabrales fought for her life.
Jonathan Vigliotti: As a doctor, what thoughts crossed your mind during this agonizing time?
Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: What happened? How did it come to this?
Meanwhile, across the country in Alabama, another mother received devastating news. Dusty Giles learned that her daughter, Christy, had been admitted to another hospital in Los Angeles, the Southern California Medical Center.
Dusty Giles: I was told, “I’m very sorry to inform you, Ms. Giles…she was dropped off outside the hospital like a bag of garbage, and she didn’t survive.”
Dusty Giles: I couldn’t comprehend how this could happen. I was distraught.
Christy Giles, who was just 24 years old, was a fashion model from Alabama, known for her adventurous spirit. “She traveled the world for work and had incredible experiences,” her husband, Jan Cilliers, recalled. “She was genuinely a free spirit.”
Her abrupt death from a drug overdose raised immediate suspicions among investigators, particularly because of the circumstances of her being left at the hospital.
Witnesses reported that a black Prius without license plates had dropped her off, with two unidentified men claiming they found her passed out nearby. They left the premises without providing any contact information.
Barry Telis: The entire situation was troubling.
Barry Telis, a former LAPD homicide detective, expressed disbelief at the account. Barry Telis: People do not simply abandon individuals and depart without further inquiry.
Christy’s vibrant personality was a stark contrast to the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. “When Christy entered a room, it felt alive. She was a whirlwind of energy and positivity,” recalled her sister, Misty Weldon.
Christy’s adventurous life included activities like skydiving and camel riding in Morocco, and modeling for Wilhelmina in Los Angeles. A text exchange from the night prior had captured her excitement as she updated her family about her life in the city.
Though her life appeared to flourish, an unexpected turn manifested when she eloped with Jan Cilliers, who was 17 years her senior, after just a few months of dating. They met at an art gallery during the Burning Man festival.
Jonathan Vigliotti: Were you surprised to hear about her marriage?
Jan Cilliers: Not really; it felt right at the time.
The couple soon planned a celebratory wedding in Alabama. The journey led Christy to develop a friendship with Hilda Marcela, who was also finding her footing in Los Angeles after moving from Mexico to pursue her dreams in interior design.
Hilda, a promising graduate from a renowned Mexican university, received daily updates from her father, Luis Cabrales, who cherished their close relationship.
Despite her achievements and global travels, Hilda’s life quickly spiraled into tragedy when she fell into a coma just months after her arrival in Los Angeles, prompting her family to rush to her side.
FENTANYL-LACED OVERDOSES AND THE DATE RAPE DRUG
The vibrant young woman who loved to dance and travel was unrecognizable when her family arrived at the hospital. Hilda’s father described the heartbreak he felt upon seeing his daughter in such a critical state.
Luis Cabrales: My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I witnessed my baby fighting for her life.
Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: I wondered whether this was real. I took her hand and said, “Mom’s here with you. You’re not alone.”
Tragically, toxicology reports revealed Hilda had ingested a dangerous combination of cocaine, MDMA, and high levels of fentanyl, surprising everyone who knew her, as she was known for her healthy lifestyle.
Jonathan Vigliotti: What did you think when you heard about the overdose?
Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola: I believed someone had drugged her.
In Christy’s case, her autopsy showed she had cocaine, fentanyl, and GHB in her system—GHB being often associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault. Jan became determined to uncover the truth behind the events leading to Christy’s demise.
Jan Cilliers: I needed to know the circumstances of that night.
As Jan pieced together a timeline, he discovered that Christy had enjoyed a beautiful sunset and had wanted to share the moment with him through photos before heading out for a night on the town with Hilda and another friend.
After a night spent dancing and enjoying the VIP section of a warehouse party, the pair was spotted leaving with David Pearce, a man they had recently met.
Jonathan Vigliotti: It seems David Pearce’s presence lent him an air of credibility.
Barry Telis: Exactly, which was likely his strategy to attract young women.
Shortly thereafter, Hilda texted Christy about using cocaine in the kitchen, demonstrating the active drug use taking place that evening. Witnesses later reported seeing Pearce giving the two women what appeared to be cocaine.
As the night progressed, they left the party with Pearce, who was reported to have a reputation for predatory behavior. As per police reports, surveillance videos captured the last moments of the women alive entering Pearce’s apartment but also displayed unusual behavior prior to their presumed incapacitation.
The police investigation revealed a disturbing timeline regarding the events that transpired inside the apartment, shedding light on a night that took a horrifying turn.
Several hours after Hilda and Christy were dropped off at different hospitals, alarming reports began to emerge about Pearce’s past, which included claims of drugging women in similar circumstances.
Following Christy’s funeral in Alabama, and while Hilda remained in the hospital, authorities began arresting suspects related to the women’s deaths.
Eventually, investigators arrested David Pearce alongside Brandt Osborn and Michael Ansbach, while Pearce faced charges related to Hilda and Christy’s deaths.
This case highlighted a pattern of behavior, with claims from multiple victims emerging against Pearce. As evidence mounted, the prosecution announced that Pearce was being charged with murder, claiming he intentionally provided the women with lethal doses of fentanyl.
Mary Fulginiti: They will have to prove intent, demonstrating that he knew the drugs could be lethal.
As the prosecution prepared for the trial, the complexities of the case shifted focus on the broader epidemic of drug-facilitated sexual assault, as well as the systematic failings of the justice system highlighted by Pearce’s history of alleged misconduct.
If found guilty, Pearce could face extensive prison time. The trial will also explore if Pearce’s past actions fueled the tragic outcomes of that fateful night.
Jonathan Vigliotti: What is currently known about the ongoing trial?
Mary Fulginiti: David Pearce faces multiple charges, including murder and sexual assault, making this a deeply disturbing and multifaceted case.
As the families of both women brace for what lies ahead, their stories resonate with loved ones who continue to seek justice, emphasizing the dangerous realities surrounding drug use and sexual predation in society.
Misty Weldon: Knowing that he had been arrested before and released is simply tragic.
Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: The loss is immense, and such a tragedy demands we honor their lives by living with purpose.
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