Hollywood producer David Brian Pearce has been sentenced to 146 years to life in state prison following his conviction for the murders of model Christy Giles and her friend Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, as well as multiple sexual assaults spanning more than a decade.
Pearce, 42, was found guilty in February on two counts of first-degree murder tied to the 2021 fentanyl overdose deaths of Giles, 24, and Cabrales-Arzola, 26. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday, October 29, per People.
Case Background and Timeline
According to prosecutors, Pearce met Giles and Cabrales-Arzola at a warehouse party in East Los Angeles in the early morning hours of November 13, 2021. Around two hours later, the women accompanied Pearce and others to his Beverly Hills apartment.
There, prosecutors said Pearce administered GHB and fentanyl to the women. Cabrales-Arzola reportedly ordered a rideshare roughly 35 minutes after arriving at the apartment, but prosecutors noted she never left the residence to take it.
Hours later, authorities said Pearce and his roommate, actor Brandt Osborn, dropped the women outside separate Los Angeles-area hospitals. Giles was left outside a Culver City hospital and was later pronounced dead. A combination of cocaine, fentanyl, ketamine, and GHB was found in her system.
Cabrales-Arzola was discovered unconscious outside Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center. She was placed on life support but later died after suffering multiple organ failure. KNX News reported that her toxicology showed cocaine, ecstasy, and other undetermined substances.
Pearce was first charged in connection with the drug-related deaths in July 2022. His case proceeded to trial, drawing widespread attention and reigniting conversations about safety within social and nightlife circles tied to the entertainment industry.
The Trial, Verdict, and Sentencing
During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Seth Carmack told jurors that Pearce drugged the women “to facilitate the sexual assault,” per KNX News. “The defendant is a rapist and now he is a murderer.”
In addition to the two murder convictions, the district attorney’s office confirmed that Pearce was found guilty of rape and other sexual assaults against seven other women, crimes that occurred between 2007 and 2021. The additional convictions underscored a documented pattern of predatory behavior, prosecutors argued, and contributed to the length of the sentence.
The jury’s decision followed weeks of testimony detailing how Pearce targeted women and used intoxicants to incapacitate them. Prosecutors tied those actions directly to the fatal overdoses of Giles and Cabrales-Arzola, establishing a timeline that began at the East Los Angeles party and ended with the women being abandoned outside medical facilities.
On October 29, a judge imposed a sentence of 146 years to life in state prison. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence to People, closing a major chapter in a case that has been closely watched by the public, the media, and the entertainment community.
The ruling offers a measure of accountability for the families of Giles and Cabrales-Arzola, who have advocated for justice since the night the women were found. The sentence also reflects the severity of the charges and the breadth of Pearce’s criminal conduct as determined by the court.
Accessory Charges and What’s Next
Osborn, Pearce’s roommate, was charged with two counts of being an accessory, according to ABC7. A judge previously declared a mistrial in his case, and he now awaits a possible retrial. No new trial date has been announced as of this writing.
While Pearce’s sentence is final following his conviction, the accessory case involving Osborn remains unresolved. The potential retrial will likely revisit aspects of the night in question, including the events leading up to the women being dropped at hospitals.
The legal proceedings surrounding the case have prompted renewed discussions around consent, party culture, and accountability in spaces adjacent to Hollywood, where social gatherings and late-night events are common.
Families’ Reactions and Community Impact
In the aftermath of the deaths, Giles’ mother, Leslie Giles, described the devastating call she received from hospital staff. Speaking to CBS’ 48 Hours, she recalled being told her daughter was “dropped off at our hospital on the outside, kind of like a bag of garbage,” and that she had not survived.
Her account, along with the courtroom testimony and evidence presented, has underscored the human toll behind the charges and verdict. As the case progressed, it became emblematic of broader concerns about how predators weaponize substances and exploit social situations to commit violent crimes.
For many within the entertainment and nightlife communities, Pearce’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures, vigilant bystander intervention, and swift reporting. It also highlights the role of law enforcement and the courts in addressing patterns of harm that can exist in entertainment-adjacent environments.
With Pearce now sentenced and Osborn’s case potentially moving forward, the focus for the families of Giles and Cabrales-Arzola remains on remembrance and accountability. Their pursuit of justice has helped shine a light on the systemic issues that allowed these crimes to occur—and the legal steps necessary to prevent them.
