The images are hard to scrub from your mind once you've seen them. Two men, faces obscured by masks, pulling up to separate Los Angeles hospitals in a black Prius with no license plates. They didn't stick around. They didn't give names. They basically dumped two unconscious young women—Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola—on the sidewalk and vanished into the night. It’s the kind of nightmare that sounds like a Hollywood thriller, but as the David Pierce 48 Hours episode titled "Dead Girls Don’t Talk" laid bare, it was a cold, calculated reality.
For a long time, the man at the center of this, David Brian Pearce (often referred to as David Pierce in search queries), was a ghost in the L.A. nightlife scene. He called himself a "Hollywood producer." He bragged about his connections. But honestly? It was all a front for something much darker.
The Night Everything Went Wrong
It started on November 12, 2021. Christy, a 24-year-old model from Alabama, and Hilda, a 26-year-old architect from Mexico, were looking for a fun night out. They hit up a warehouse party in East L.A. after starting their evening at the Soho House. By all accounts, they were having a blast. They were young, successful, and full of life.
Then they met David Pearce and his friend, Brandt Osborn.
Around 5:00 a.m., the girls went back to Pearce’s Beverly Hills apartment. Within thirty minutes, things turned south. Digital evidence is chilling here: Hilda actually tried to call a rideshare. She knew they needed to leave. But they never made it out that door on their own. Instead, they stayed in that apartment for nearly twelve hours while Pearce and his associates reportedly watched them succumb to a lethal cocktail of fentanyl and GHB—the "date rape drug."
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Behind the Producer Persona
The investigation into the David Pierce 48 Hours case revealed that Pearce wasn't who he claimed to be. He lived a life of total fabrication. Detectives Jonathan Vander Lee and Calvin You found that he used his "producer" status as bait. He’d lure women in with promises of career help or exclusive parties, only to trap them.
When police finally knocked on his door, the lights went out. He tried to hide. He later told police his license plates had been stolen, but detectives found them lying on the ground right next to his Prius. Inside the apartment, the scene was even more suspicious:
- Beds had been stripped of their linens.
- The washing machine was still wet from a fresh load.
- A safe contained "baggies" that Pearce hilariously claimed were for "arts and crafts."
But it wasn't just about drugs. As the investigation widened, a terrifying pattern emerged.
The Trial and the Survivors
One of the most powerful parts of the David Pierce 48 Hours coverage was seeing the "Jane Does" come forward. This wasn't an isolated incident. Pearce had been a predator for years. Seven other women testified at his trial, describing sexual assaults dating as far back as 2007. One victim testified that Pearce had drugged and raped her while she was unconscious in 2020.
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The defense tried to argue that Christy and Hilda took the drugs willingly. They called it a tragic accident. But the jury didn't buy it. How do you explain the masks? Why did they wait twelve hours to get help? Why drop them at two different hospitals miles apart?
In February 2025, David Pearce was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. The courtroom was heavy with the weight of justice finally catching up to a man who thought he was untouchable.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that this was just a "party gone wrong." It wasn't. The prosecution proved it was "fentanyl-induced sexual assault." Pearce didn't just provide drugs; he used them as weapons.
Another detail people often miss is the role of Brandt Osborn. While Pearce was the primary predator, Osborn was right there with him. However, his part of the story is still a bit of a legal mess. His trial ended in a mistrial because the jury couldn't agree on a verdict for accessory after the fact. As of late 2025, he’s still facing retrial.
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The Sentence That Changed Everything
In October 2025, Judge Eleanor Hunter handed down a sentence that basically ensured Pearce will never see the outside of a prison cell again: 146 years to life.
It’s a staggering number. But for the families of Christy and Hilda, it’s the only number that makes sense. District Attorney Nathan Hochman was pretty blunt about it, calling Pearce a "serial rapist" and a "fentanyl poisoner."
Actionable Takeaways for Personal Safety
While this story is extreme, it highlights real dangers in modern nightlife and dating. If you’re heading out, keep these practical steps in mind:
- The Buddy System is Non-Negotiable: Christy and Hilda stayed together, which is usually the gold standard. But if one person wants to leave and the other doesn't, that’s where the risk spikes. If your gut says go, both people should go.
- Verify the "Producer" Types: In cities like L.A. or NYC, everyone is a "producer." If someone is using their career to lure you to a private location, do a quick background check. Real professionals rarely conduct business at 5:00 a.m. in a private apartment.
- Watch Your Drinks & Your Friends: GHB and fentanyl are being found in more than just "hard" drugs. Even if you think you're just doing a bit of ketamine or drinking a cocktail, the risk of lacing is at an all-time high.
- Use Location Sharing: Jan Cilliers, Christy’s husband, was able to track her location to Pearce's apartment because of phone sharing. This digital trail was the smoking gun that led police to the front door.
The David Pierce 48 Hours case is a reminder that the "glitz" of Hollywood can sometimes be a mask for something truly predatory. Justice took years, but for the victims who survived and the families of those who didn't, the 146-year sentence is a definitive end to Pearce's reign of terror.
If you or someone you know has been affected by similar circumstances, you can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE. Knowing your rights and the resources available is the first step in staying safe.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to look deeper into the digital evidence used in this case, you can search for the "Christy Giles Timeline" which maps out the specific text messages sent in the final hours. You might also want to look up the status of the Brandt Osborn retrial scheduled for late 2025 to see how the secondary charges are proceeding.