Why Did the FBI Get Involved in a Cruise Ship Death? The Anna Kepner Case

Tuesday marks a turning point in the Nick Reiner case. The 32-year-old son of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner will stand before a judge and, for the first time, enter a plea on two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances.Everyone watching knows what's coming. Defense attorney Alan Jackson has spent three weeks telegraphing it. "Very complex and serious issues." A sealed mental health order. A client who appeared in court in a suicide smock after failing to receive medical clearance the day before.Not guilty by reason of insanity.But what does that defense actually require in California? It's not enough to be mentally ill. It's not enough to have schizophrenia, which sources confirm Nick was diagnosed with years ago. Under the M'Naghten standard, the defense must prove he either didn't understand the nature of stabbing his parents to death, or didn't know it was wrong.That's a high bar. And prosecutors have ammunition. Nick's own words — recorded on podcasts — show a man who knew how to manipulate systems and people. Seventeen rehab programs gamed. Parents convinced to ignore experts. A calculated campaign to remain in their lives despite every warning.Can you claim insanity for a single night while demonstrating strategic thinking for seventeen years?Bob Motta joins True Crime Today to break down the legal mechanics of what's coming. The two-phase trial process. How psychiatric testimony works. What happens if the defense actually wins — and whether Nick Reiner could ever walk free.The arraignment is just the beginning. Here's what it sets in motion.#NickReiner #RobReiner #MicheleReiner #TrueCrimeToday #InsanityDefense #AlanJackson #Arraignment #CaliforniaLaw #TrueCrime #JusticeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 20min

True Crime Today brings in former FBI special agent Robin Dreeke to analyze the behavioral patterns documented in the Charity Beallis case — patterns that paint a far more complicated picture than initial media coverage suggested.December 3rd, 2025. Bonanza, Arkansas. Deputies find Charity Beallis and twins Eliana and Maverick dead from gunshot wounds inside their home. Over a month later, no arrest has been made. No suspect has been named. No official cause of death has been released.The easy narrative is domestic violence. The documented record suggests something harder to categorize.Randall Beallis pled guilty to third-degree battery after allegations he choked Charity. But Charity had her own documented history — a 2013 arrest for allegedly pointing a firearm at a man at the same house where Randall's previous wife died, allegations from her own father that she endangered her child, and according to a 2021 police report, an alleged confession to her father regarding Shawna Beallis's death.Robin Dreeke spent over three decades in federal law enforcement, including years running the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Program. He knows how to read documented behavior without jumping to conclusions. In this interview, he examines what the evidence shows about both parties — the escalation indicators, the patterns, and the questions investigators are likely asking.The only certainty is that two six-year-olds are dead. Everything else remains under investigation.Content on this site is based on publicly available information and reflects commentary and opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nothing published here constitutes legal, medical, or professional advice.#TrueCrimeToday #CharityBeallis #RobinDreeke #FBI #ElianaAndMaverick #RandallBeallis #BonanzaArkansas #BehavioralAnalysis #TrueCrime2025 #CrimeAnalysisJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 19min

The murder trial of Sarah Grace Patrick — the Carroll County, Georgia teenager charged with killing her mother and stepfather — has been delayed from January 5th, 2026 to August 3rd, 2026. The delay came after prosecutors indicated they would need time to review a defense neuropsychologist's evaluation and potentially prepare a rebuttal.Sarah Grace Patrick was 16 when Kristin Brock, 41, and James Brock, 45, were found shot to death in their bed on February 20th, 2025. Their young daughter discovered the bodies. Sarah called 911. She was arrested five months later after the Sheriff's Office announced they had "mountains of evidence" against her.But what evidence has actually been disclosed? No murder weapon has been produced. No firearm was found at the scene. Defense attorney LaToya Williams previously filed for a continuance citing incomplete discovery — that motion was denied. Yet when the prosecution needed more time to respond to defense preparation, Judge Dustin Hightower granted a seven-month delay.Sarah's grandfather Dennis Nolan maintains her innocence. He says there's no physical evidence connecting her to the murders. The prosecution has made claims about cameras being disabled before the killings — but those remain unproven allegations in court filings.Sarah Grace Patrick has been held without bond since July 2025. She is being tried as an adult on two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault.We examine what's been disclosed, what's missing, and why a prosecution claiming overwhelming evidence couldn't proceed to trial as scheduled.#SarahGracePatrick #CarrollCounty #GeorgiaMurder #TrueCrime #KristinBrock #JamesBrock #MurderTrial #August2026 #TrialDelay #CriminalJusticeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 31min

Defense attorney Bob Motta provides legal analysis on the Sarah Grace Patrick case after the murder trial was delayed from January 2026 to August 2026.Sarah Grace Patrick, now 17, faces two counts of murder in the deaths of her mother Kristin Brock, 41, and stepfather James Brock, 45. The couple was shot in their bed in Carroll County, Georgia on February 20th, 2025. Patrick was arrested in July 2025 after authorities announced they had "mountains of evidence" against her. She has been held without bond since her arrest.The January 5th, 2026 trial date was vacated after prosecutors indicated they would need time to review a forensic neuropsychologist's evaluation prepared by the defense and potentially retain their own expert. Judge Dustin Hightower moved the trial to August 3rd, 2026, but warned there would be "slim to none" chance of another delay.Bob Motta discusses the implications of this delay for both sides. He examines why the prosecution's need for additional time raises questions about the strength of their case. He addresses the earlier denial of the defense's continuance motion and whether the court is applying different standards.Motta also analyzes the evidence questions that remain unanswered — no recovered murder weapon, no publicly disclosed forensics, and prosecution claims about disabled cameras that have not been proven. He offers perspective on how social media behavior is being used to build a narrative against a teenage defendant and whether that constitutes actual evidence.What should we expect between now and August? Bob Motta breaks it down.#SarahGracePatrick #TrueCrimeToday #BobMotta #LegalAnalysis #CarrollCounty #GeorgiaMurder #KristinBrock #JamesBrock #CriminalTrial #DefenseAttorneyJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 25min

Two major cases are moving through the system right now, and both hinge on questions that haven't been publicly answered.Sarah Grace Patrick's murder trial begins today. She's seventeen, accused of shooting her mother Kristin and stepfather James Brock while they slept in their Carroll County, Georgia home. The five-year-old sister found them. Sarah dialed 911 and then spent five months posting emotional videos, contacting true crime podcasters, and grieving publicly in ways that made investigators suspicious. They arrested her in July, claiming mountains of evidence. But no murder weapon has been confirmed. No motive has been disclosed. Her defense says they're still waiting on discovery. Her grandfather—who buried his own daughter—says the case against Sarah doesn't hold up. The prosecution's key witness? The little sister, now six years old.In California, the D4VD grand jury continues building toward a potential indictment. Celeste Rivas Hernandez's body was found in the trunk of his Tesla after decomposing for over a month. The cause of death remains deferred. But prosecutor Beth Silverman isn't waiting for the medical examiner to make this easy. She's grinding through witnesses—including D4VD's manager, who reportedly testified for days and was overheard saying his priority after learning about the body was keeping the tour running. A female witness failed to show and now faces a body attachment. D4VD has allegedly transferred properties, broken his lease, and gone completely silent.FBI veteran Jennifer Coffindaffer breaks down both cases with the precision of someone who's built these investigations from the ground up.#TrueCrimeToday #SarahGracePatrickTrial #D4VDGrandJury #CelesteRivas #FBIAnalysis #MurderTrial #BreakingCrime #JenniferCoffindaffer #GeorgiaMurder #LosAngelesCrimeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 55min

Jason Duck, Captain of the Department of Public Safety, took the stand in the trial of former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales, who faces 29 counts of child endangerment over his response to the Robb Elementary massacre.Prosecutors allege Gonzales was first on scene and failed to engage despite knowing the shooter’s location. The defense says he’s being used as a scapegoat. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022. The trial is expected to last two weeks.#TrueCrimeToday #AdrianGonzales #UvaldeTrial #RobbElementary #Testimony #Uvalde #TexasTrial #Justice #SchoolShooting #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 15min

Jason Shae with the Texas Rangers, took the stand in the trial of former Uvalde school officer Adrian Gonzales, who faces 29 counts of child endangerment over his response to the Robb Elementary massacre.Prosecutors allege Gonzales was first on scene and failed to engage despite knowing the shooter’s location. The defense says he’s being used as a scapegoat. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022. The trial is expected to last two weeks.#TrueCrimeToday #AdrianGonzales #UvaldeTrial #RobbElementary #Testimony #Uvalde #TexasTrial #Justice #SchoolShooting #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 1h 20min

Nick Reiner told the world exactly who he was. In 2016 interviews, he admitted he hated getting sober, chose homelessness over rehab, and met his heroin dealer through connections he made in treatment. He called himself "a spoiled, white, rich kid from a Hollywood family" and said he had "resistance every time they tried to reach me." His father Rob Reiner acknowledged they ignored Nick when he said the programs weren't working because they trusted the professionals over their own son.Eighteen rehab stints by age twenty-two. Facilities costing up to $70,000 per month. A wilderness program in Utah where Nick says the seed of his heroin addiction was planted. And through it all, the money kept flowing. Ten thousand dollars a month in allowance. A guest house on the Brentwood estate. Every bill paid.Now Rob and Michele Reiner are dead, allegedly stabbed by Nick in their bedroom on December 14th. And according to sources, their estate is funding Nick's defense. His attorney is Alan Jackson, the high-powered lawyer who represented Kevin Spacey and got Karen Read acquitted. Jackson's fees run into the millions. Nick has never worked.Nick is off suicide watch and faces arraignment tomorrow. The defense will likely argue mental illness — Nick was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia and his meds were changed weeks before the killings. But this isn't just a story about mental health. It's about seventeen years of checks that bought everything except accountability. And one final check, signed from beyond the grave.#NickReiner #RobReiner #MicheleReiner #AlanJackson #Rehab #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeToday #Addiction #BrentwoodMurder #HollywoodMurderJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

7 Jan 35min