Hollywood producer David Pearce jailed 146 years for murders
Hollywood producer David Pearce sentenced to 146 years for drugging and killing model Christy Giles and friend Hilda Cabrales-Arzola.
A Hollywood producer once known for rubbing shoulders with celebrities will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. David Brian Pearce, 42, has been sentenced to 146 years to life in prison after being convicted of drugging and murdering model Christy Giles and her friend, architect Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, in Los Angeles. The sentencing marks the end of a case that shocked Hollywood and sparked outrage across the U.S. over how predators exploit the city’s nightlife scene.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Pearce was found guilty earlier this year on two counts of first-degree murder for the 2021 deaths of Giles, 24, and Cabrales-Arzola, 26. But that was not all — jurors also convicted him of rape and sexual assault involving seven other women between 2007 and 2021, revealing a long history of predatory behavior.
Deputy District Attorney Seth Carmack described Pearce during the trial as “a rapist and now a murderer,” saying he used drugs to incapacitate women before assaulting them. “He drugged women to facilitate sexual assault,” Carmack told jurors, emphasizing how Pearce preyed on women’s trust and used his status in the industry as a weapon.
The fatal night that led to Giles and Cabrales-Arzola’s deaths began at a warehouse party in East Los Angeles on November 13, 2021. The two friends, both vibrant young women with promising careers ahead, were seen enjoying the night before leaving with Pearce and his associates. Investigators said Pearce took the women back to his Beverly Hills apartment, where he allegedly administered a dangerous combination of GHB — a drug often referred to as a “date-rape drug” — and fentanyl.
Within hours, the night turned deadly. Giles was found unresponsive and abandoned outside a hospital in Culver City. Cabrales-Arzola was discovered the same way outside Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, barely clinging to life. She died days later in the hospital. Surveillance footage later revealed that both women had been dumped by men driving a black Toyota Prius.
Police identified those men as Pearce and his roommate, actor Brandt Osborn, who was later charged with being an accessory to the crimes. Another roommate, cinematographer Michael Ansbach, was also investigated but ultimately not charged. The horrific details of the case — two young women left outside hospitals like discarded objects — captured public attention and led to renewed calls for better safety protections for women in Los Angeles nightlife.
Friends of Christy Giles described her as fearless and full of life. A model and social media personality, she was known for her charisma and adventurous spirit. Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, originally from Mexico, was an ambitious architect who had moved to Los Angeles to chase her dreams. Their families spoke of the unbearable grief and the shock of losing their daughters in such brutal circumstances.
Prosecutors argued that Pearce had a clear pattern: using drugs and alcohol to render women vulnerable, then assaulting them. Testimonies from several other victims painted a chilling picture of a man who believed his status and money could shield him from consequences. “He thought he was untouchable,” one of the victims said during the sentencing hearing.
The jury’s decision and Pearce’s lengthy sentence have been hailed as a victory for survivors of sexual violence. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement that the case “underscores the importance of holding predators accountable, no matter how powerful or well-connected they may appear.”
While Pearce’s defense tried to argue that the women had willingly taken drugs, prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence that GHB and fentanyl were administered without consent. Forensic reports confirmed the presence of both substances in the victims’ systems, and text messages recovered from Pearce’s phone showed he had discussed “party favors” with friends before that night.
As the verdict was read in court, family members of both Giles and Cabrales-Arzola broke down in tears. “This is the justice Christy and Hilda deserved,” said Cabrales-Arzola’s mother, speaking outside the courthouse. “No sentence will bring our daughters back, but at least this man will never hurt another woman again.”
The case has left a deep scar on Los Angeles’ entertainment and nightlife circles — a grim reminder that beneath the glamour, there can lurk danger. For now, justice has prevailed, but for the families and friends of Christy Giles and Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, the pain of their loss will never truly fade.