Los Angeles, CA — In a gripping case that highlights the darker corners of Los Angeles nightlife, Detectives Jonathan Vander Lee and Calvin You were thrust into the limelight following the mysterious deaths of two young women, Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales, who were left at different hospitals by unidentified men in November 2021. The case unraveled as a sinister plot involving drugs, assault, and fatal irresponsibility.
The initial breakthrough came when hospital surveillance footage captured the moment two masked men dropped the unconscious bodies of the victims at the hospitals. The serious nature of their conditions and the suspicious circumstances under which they were left prompted an urgent investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Giles was declared dead on arrival due to a drug overdose, while Cabrales fought for her life in the ICU before succumbing two weeks later.
Detective Vander Lee described the onset of the investigation as a race against time to piece together the events leading up to the women’s deaths. The urgency was compounded by the challenge of collecting digital evidence and surveillance footage before it could be erased.
Christy Giles, a 24-year-old model, and her friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales, a 26-year-old architect, had reportedly been out partying the night before their tragic end. According to Jan Cilliers, Giles’ husband, the pair had planned a girls’ night out which included visits to exclusive clubs and private parties. The last known communications from them painted a picture of a night that started with fun and frivolity but ended in tragedy.
The detectives learned that both women had last been seen with David Pearce, a 39-year-old man with a dubious background, who had become a central figure in the investigation. Pearce, along with two accomplices, Brandt Osborn and Michael Ansbach, were later arrested in connection to the deaths. Evidence suggested that Pearce had drugged Giles and Cabrales which eventually led to their overdoses.
As the investigation furled, sordid details emerged about Pearce’s history of alleged assaults and deceit. Testimonies and digital evidence suggested that he used his supposed status as a Hollywood producer to lure his victims. His home, rigged with narcotics and suspicious paraphernalia, became the primary crime scene.
The case took on a new dimension as more victims of Pearce’s alleged assaults came forward, prompted by widespread media coverage and public appeals by prosecutors. The overwhelming response underscored the predatory pattern of Pearce’s interactions with young women, many of whom were drugged and assaulted under the guise of party invitations.
In a heart-wrenching narrative, the families of Giles and Cabrales narrated their agonizing journeys of loss and their quest for justice. Both families were propelled into advocacy, warning against the dangers present in seemingly glamorous settings and advocating for greater safety measures among young individuals in party circuits.
The trial of David Pearce and his accomplices brought to the forefront the devastating impact of their actions. Surveillance videos, text messages, and witness testimonies painted a chilling scenario of the final hours of Giles and Cabrales. The trial, filled with emotional testimonies and forensic evidence, concluded with Pearce being found guilty of first-degree murder and multiple sexual assaults.
This harrowing case sheds light on the vulnerabilities associated with modern urban nightlife and has prompted calls for stricter safety regulations and more vigilant awareness practices. As the city grapples with the aftermath, the legacy of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of criminal predation and the enduring spirit of families seeking justice.