The Leonard Files

Nick Reiner -- charged with murdering his parents Rob and Michele Reiner -- lost his private legal defense team at a hearing this week. But the judge also discussed an ongoing defense investigation that may suggest where the criminal case is headed. Plus -- moment by moment of what happened in court, and what the lawyers said outside.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

The LAPD is ending 2025 with two key numbers going the wrong way: officers have used their guns far more often on duty than in recent years, and the number of officers employed by the City of LA is shrinking. Also, some new text messages exchanged by California State Parks employees could shed light on what happened in the days before the Palisades fire, when firefighters were mopping-up from a much smaller brush fire that continued to smolder.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intri...

Cops called out bad information circulating on the investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas-Hernandez, the teen whose remains were found in the Tesla sedan registered to the singer D4vd. Also, why the defense lawyer for the man accused of causing the Palisades fire is very interested in the lawsuit filed by Palisades fire victims against the City of Los Angeles.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. ...

An unusual hearing was held this week in federal court in Downtown LA – when a judge was asked to disqualify the acting US Attorney for Southern California. Former state assemblyman Bill Essayli first served as the interim US Attorney, now described as an, ‘acting,” US Attorney – raising questions about whether his tenure is lawful under a variety of laws. Could the judge’s decision affect criminal cases in LA? Also, the latest on the man accused of causing the Palisades Fire, and the arrest of a former LAPD officer who was once cleared in the on-duty killing of a man in Venice...

After months of investigation the ATF announced this week that agents had arrested a 29-year-old man on a federal arson charge – and accused him of causing the Palisades Fire. Jonathan Rinderknecht is being held in Florida with no bail, after fire investigators concluded the January 7th Palisades Fire was a reignition of a January 1st brush fire in the same area. Rinderknecht is charged with igniting the January 1st fire, and federal prosecutors say more charges are likely.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and int...

Why did so many news outlets blast out headlines – that an arrest had been made in the death of Celeste Rivas? No such arrest was made – we explain the confusion and have updates on another murder investigation tied to remains in a car, plus -- why a family’s lawsuit could renew a criminal investigation into an in-custody death at LA’s Twin Towers jail.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard ...

The body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, missing since April 2024, was discovered in the trunk of a Tesla registered to musician D4vd. Police are investigating the case as a homicide, though no charges have been filed. In this episode, we break down the latest details, the investigation’s focus, and what comes next.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswi...

We run down some of the unusual crime stories we followed this week, including a home invasion robbery in Woodland Hills, the discoveries of the bodies of 2 people inside cars at LA tow yards, and consider why the California Attorney General has suddenly taken legal action against LA County, after years of complaints about poor living conditions inside jails.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplec...

The US Attorney’s Office in Southern California filed a civil lawsuit against Southern California Edison in federal court, seeking to hold the utility liable for the cost of fighting the Eaton Fire and for the damage it caused to the Angeles National Forest. More than 5,000 fire victims have already filed suit in state court for the deaths of loved ones and the loss of homes and businesses. We consider the implications of the new federal case with attorney Mike Artinian, who’s firm already represents hundreds of Eaton Fire victims in lawsuits against SCE.   Thanks for listening to The Leona...

Erik & Lyle Menendez’s defense lawyer Mark Geragos says he’s going to court to challenge the decision last week to deny parole for the brothers, but it’s a difficult legal path. Criminal justice professor and parole attorney Bruce Zucker talks about the reality of the decisions last week and the prospect of a successful legal challenge.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

The last of 6 men accused of taking part in the 2008 murder of LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Abel Escalante was returned to Southern California from Mexico this week, as part of a negotiated agreement between the US Justice Department and Mexican justice officials. Roberto Salazar was charged in 2011 but wasn’t located until March, 2025. Deputy Escalante’s murder led to one of the largest organized crime prosecutions of a street gang in Southern California – that helped transform the Cypress Park neighborhood where Escalante was killed.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigati...

We update a few stories we’ve been covering: arrests in burglary of actor Brad Pitt’s home in Los Feliz, an information vacuum in the hoax bomb threat made by LA Mayor Karen Bass’ former deputy mayor for public safety, and new allegations against already-accused LA City Councilman Curren Price.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

The ATF and LA County Sheriff’s Department continue to examine what caused the hand grenade explosion that claimed the lives of Detectives Victor Lemus, William Osborn, and Joshua Kelley-Eklund. The grenade that detonated – had been examined and x-rayed and was believed to be inert. But what if the x-ray was inaccurate? The latest on the ongoing investigation.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

More questions have been raised about the LAPD’s response to the home of an American Idol music supervisor and her husband, who were worried about security in the neighborhood, and were murdered when they walked-in on a burglary in progress. Police had been at their doorstep minutes earlier, but newly-public court records suggest the couple was never made aware of the prowler investigation and were shot to death.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the...

Federal agents and homicide detectives are working to find out – how 3 members of the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson and Explosives Detail, also known as the Bomb Squad, were killed July 18 when something they were examining detonated in the parking lot of the unit’s headquarters near East LA. Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn were killed. Now, investigators are tracing the origin of the items that caused the explosion.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you do...

Mid-year crime data suggests LA is safer now – than last year. Like most other major cities in the US the number of violent and property crimes reported to police continue to decline, following major drops in 2023 and 2024. Historically the number of police shootings trend down along with the violent crime rate, but in the City of LA, they’ve increased in the first 6 months of 2025.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leon...

The cause of the January 7, 2025 Palisades Fire remains a mystery, at least to the public, as fire investigators from the ATF and local agencies have said little about what’s been discovered. We’ve picked up a few clues in recent weeks, that appear to suggest the case is focused on what ignited a much smaller brush fire in the Palisades Highlands that burned a week earlier. Fire experts have told us it’s possible, but unlikely, that something left smoldering from the first fire re-ignited in the intense winds on the morning of January 7.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard...

New court documents show federal authorities had considered the possibility in early June that the man accused of being an accomplice in the Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing might try to harm himself. Daniel Park was found unresponsive in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Downtown LA Tuesday morning and died at a hospital. The LA County Medical Examiner says he died by suicide.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard...

Police and federal agents announced 2 significant arrests this week in high-dollar jewel heists. Detectives in Simi Valley say they caught 4 members of a safecracking crew – a few weeks after a jewelry store was the target of a tunnel-in blowtorch burglary. Separately, federal prosecutors announced an indictment of 7 people accused of pulling-off – what authorities say – was the single-largest jewelry heist in US history: the theft of more than $100-million in valuables from a secure transport trailer at a truck stop along the I-5 freeway.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s m...

A key clue collected near the scene of the 2022 murder of 81-year-old Ok Ja Kim in Woodland Hills – may have helped investigators connect that case with the recent arrest of a man charged with murdering 53-year-old Menashe “Manny” Hidra in Valley Village in April. Newly amended criminal charges also accuse the man of a stabbing during a home burglary in San Fernando in 2022 – where the victim survived.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of...

Here’s what we know about the murder of a man in Baldwin Park, California on Saturday, May 31, 2025 – that led to the ambush-killing of Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros and a gunfight between officers and the suspected killer. A second officer was wounded and survived. The accused killer was publicly identified by authorities, and detectives are still trying to piece together all that happened.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leon...

Here’s what we know about the murder of a man in Baldwin Park, California on Saturday, May 31, 2025 – that led to the ambush-killing of Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros and a gunfight between officers and the suspected killer. A second officer was wounded and survived. The accused killer was publicly identified by authorities, and detectives are still trying to piece together all that happened.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leon...

Thieves hit at least 2 Southern California jewelry stores this week, possibly taking advantage of the holiday weekend when more businesses would be closed. Both stores are small, family-owned businesses that say they lost more than $1-million each in jewelry, valuables, and cash. Are the break-ins connected? And what about a number of other massive jewel and cash heists that are still unsolved?   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. ...

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have announced that former deputy mayor Brian Williams has agreed to plead guilty to a charge related to a hoax bomb threat made at LA City Hall last Fall. Williams, who was Mayor Karen Bass' manager of public safety issues — and her liaison with outside law enforcement agencies, will admit he staged the call and reported a false threat to police, according to a plea agreement filed in court last week. Still a mystery — why did he do it?   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of...

The tragic death of a 21-year-old LA County Sheriff’s deputy in a car crash this week raised renewed questions about how mandatory overtime shifts have exhausted some of the Department’s workforce. Dep. Daniel Chavira died at a hospital after he was airlifted from the scene of the crash. He was driving home after working a double shift at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, and within hours we heard from some of his colleagues, who told us the, ‘relentless,’ required overtime has left thousands of deputies weary and in need of sleep (as of this recording the cause of...

Federal agents scouring online profiles that appear tied to the man who blew up a fertility clinic in Palm Springs — include some videos of explosive experiments in the desert! Some of the videos, which have since been taken-down from YouTube and other sites, show specific chemicals used in some of the tests.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.c...

We have a full account of the statements Lyle and Erik Menendez made in court this week just before a judge reduced their prison terms and opened the door to possible release on parole. Parole hearings are often scheduled months in advance, and it wasn’t clear when a hearing would happen. Then, late this week California prison officials announced a previously scheduled June 13, 2025 clemency suitability hearing would be “converted” to an initial parole hearing for the brothers.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intrigu...

Erik & Lyle Menendez will argue this week that they deserve to have their life-without-parole prison terms reduced after spending decades behind bars. A resentencing hearing, delayed repeatedly for a variety of reasons, is finally scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 13. The LA County District Attorney's Office says it will oppose it, after unsuccessfully trying to intervene to stop the proceeding entirely.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simp...

Journalist Dexter Thomas joins the pod to explain who made those (obviously) fake videos of the Hollywood sign on fire – that spread rapidly across social media on the day the Palisades and Eaton Fires burned through Southern California. It turns out those fake videos earned the creator quite a bit of real money! And now – the person behind some of the imagery is selling an online course to teach others how to do it.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so yo...

In the latest development in the Menendez brothers’ saga — California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office says there’s no reason their resentencing can’t go ahead with prosecutors from the LA County District Attorney's Office. Erik and Lyle Menendez have asked the court to boot the DA, alleging the elected DA and the entire office are biased against their bid to receive reduced sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now s...

The judge considering whether or not Erik and Lyle Menendez deserve to have their life-without-parole prison terms reduced is expected to decide this week - whether the LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman should be removed from the case. Menendez defense lawyer Mark Geragos says the DA himself is too biased to be fair, and that means all of the office’s employees should be booted as well. What’s the legal standard for a removal like this? The state Supreme Court set some criteria and gave trial judges the power to decide.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay wi...

Nearly a month after LAPD officers shot and wounded Jillian Shriner in Eagle Rock — prosecutors still haven’t decided whether or not to file criminal charges. The LAPD says Shriner, who’s married to Weezer bassist Scott Schriner, fired a shot at officers while they were searching backyards for three people who fled from a freeway crash. Shriner was wounded when two officers returned fire, but recovered and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe n...

An odd side-story to the recovery from the Palisades and Eaton Fires: the LAPD has been collecting and cataloging hundreds of guns found in the ashes of burned homes. They’re trying to make sure government records show guns burned up in the fire are listed as destroyed, or returned to the legal owners.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://p...

Defense lawyers for the Menendez brothers have filed a request with the court to remove the LA County District Attorney from the case. Not just the prosecutors in the courtroom — but the entire DA’s office, based on the idea that the elected District Attorney is so biased against them that the proceeding cannot be fair.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

The giant drinking water reservoir in the Pacific Palisades highlands, that many Palisades fire victims believe could have supplied enough water to save their homes had it been filled in January, had to be drained again this month. Repairs to tears in its protective cover were made in March, 2025, but more leaks were found as the Santa Ynez Reservoir was refilled in the last weeks. The DWP says the next round of repairs should be quick and the reservoir back in service in May. Still unclear — is whether a full reservoir could have changed the outcome on January 7, when 3 smaller hi...

The Menendez brothers’ efforts to have their life-without-parole sentences reduced has been derailed again, this time because of new risk assessment reports produced by the state, and the brothers’ new demand that the LA County District Attorney’s Office be removed from the case for bias. Now the resentencing is temporarily off the table while the judge considers these legal issues.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Sim...

Deputy District Attorney Brock Lunsford considers what’s happened in the months since he and a former colleague authored the recommendation — that Erik and Lyle Menendez should receive a resentencing hearing that brings the possibility of a reduced prison term and release on parole. Lunsford says he was transferred out of the resentencing unit when the new LA County DA took over, and says he believes the transfer was retaliatory.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the...

With roughly 8735 officers on its roster — the LAPD is far smaller than it was a few years ago, and its struggling to recruit and train enough new officers to reach the City’s target of a 9,300 officer-force. The Department has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new online ad campaign, aimed at the ‘smartphone generation,’ but will it produce the results the City needs? City Councilman John Lee joins the pod to discuss.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now...

Now that a judge has denied the LA County District Attorney’s request to stop the resentencing proceedings for Erik and Lyle Menendez, the brothers will get to make their case this week - that they’re deserving of a reduced sentence, and in all likelihood, release from prison. The DA still says he’s opposed to their release, and apologized for his deputy showing in court, without warning, a graphic crime scene photo that showed Jose and Kitty Menendez’s bodies after they were blasted with shotguns in the family’s living room in 1989.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Fil...

After a day-long hearing in Van Nuys a judge has decided that prosecutors have not provided enough of a ‘legitimate reason’ to stop the planned resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez. Hear all the detail from inside the courtroom!   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adverti

The Menendez brothers’ chance for resentencing - and potential release from prison on parole — could hinge on a 2023 state appeals court ruling, that limits when a newly-elected District Attorney can change course in court. A judge wil consider whether to allow LA County DA Nathan Hochman to withdraw the resentencing motion first filed under form DA George Gascon, and, if so, whether the resentencing should happen anyway.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episod...

The family of 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez wants to know why a soccer coach — now charged with murdering the boy — wasn’t prosecuted before the murder? Two other teens accused the coach of sexual assaults, one in 2022 and another in 2024, but no charges were filed in those cases until last week.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

LA prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges against a soccer coach — now accused of murdering a 13-year-old boy. Oscar Omar Hernandez vanished after he went to visit the coach March 28, and now authorities say they fear there are other children and teens who’ve been victimized by the same man.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information...

The California Supreme Court has reversed the conviction and death sentence of Timothy McGhee, the one-time leader of a violent street gang in Atwater Village. The justices found a juror was improperly dismissed from the trial in 2007 after other jurors made complaints about the juror’s statements during deliberations. Could this mean a new trial?   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https...

Rick Caruso says the City isn’t moving fast enough, and says with or without official approval — he’s trying to solve the problems facing fire victims. From organizing wholesale purchases of construction supplies to developing engineering plans for underground power lines, Caruso says he’s committed to rebuilding faster than many expected.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com...

Paradise, California says it’s making progress restoring the town that was wiped-out in the 2018 Camp Fire, but the mayor, who visited Altadena this week, says it could take 20 years to fully rebuild. Also, LA’s City Attorney sues alleged price-gouging landlords, and LA Mayor Karen Bass’ text messages from January 7 were ‘re-discovered’ by her office.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See http...

The City of LA has struggled to nab thousands of drivers who cause hit and run collisions each year. Although the number of serious hit and runs declined in early 2025, including those that caused deaths, data from the LAPD shows fewer than 2% of hit and run reports lead to arrests.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for inf...

Hundreds of Pacific Palisades fire victims have joined lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power. The cases, in general, seek to blame the DWP for the failure of the water system and the resulting loss of their homes and businesses. One case makes a new accusation — that there were multiple sources of ignition during the Palisades Fire.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leona...

How will the city of Los Angeles stay afloat in 2025? Amid a massive budget deficit, the city is considering layoffs, spending millions on fire recovery and planning to spend even more money rebuilding the Los Angeles Fire Department after years of under-funding its infrastructure.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

LAPD officers were involved in more vehicle pursuits in 2024 than anytime in recent years, and with them, so have the number of innocent motorists and pedestrians injured by accidents caused by the pursuits. The LAPD and its Board of Police Commissioners has been mulling over the data for years, considering adding more restrictions on when officers are allowed to chase suspected criminals.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of The Leonard Files. ...

Palisades Fire victims are being urged to make decisions about debris cleanup ASAP, and attorney Mike Artinian, of the law firm BRIDGFORD, GLEASON & ARTINIAN, discusses why new court-approved inspections of the electrical equipment in Eaton Canyon may reveal new evidence of the cause of the Eaton Fire. Artinian represents the lead plaintiff, a fire victim, in the now-consolidated lawsuits that say Southern California Edison should be liable for the damage caused by the Eaton Fire.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subsc...

Federal prosecutors say an alleged leader of a multi-generational gang in South Los Angeles ran a “mafia-like” organization that was tied to a variety of crimes. A criminal complaint made public this week accused Eugene Henley, Jr., known as “Big U,” redirected hundreds of thousands of dollars out of his non-profit groups — and into his personal bank accounts. Henley, Jr. denies it, and surrendered to authorities Wednesday.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you don’t miss the next episode of T...

Why weren't those high-voltage transmission lines switched-off — on the night of the Eaton Fire? The frequency of wind speed measurements in Eaton Canyon may have played a role in Southern California Edison's decision -not- to de-energize high voltage transmission lines on the night the Eaton Fire ignited. A state agency had suggested minute-by-minute monitoring, so utility operators could determine if gusts threatened the safety of power equipment. Edison says its standards are in compliance with state rules: "Safety and continuous improvement are key values at SCE, so when those issues were flagged by OEIS in 2022, we worked to mitigate them. OE...

The investigation into the cause of the Eaton Fire is circling-in on the possibility an unused, or "decommissioned," power line in the Angeles National Forest, might have become momentarily energized during the high winds on the night the fire ignited. Clues from cell phone and security video, along with official statements from Southern California Edison, seem to raise the possibility. We talk with NBC Bay Area investigative reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken about the electrical theory, the history of electrically-caused wildfires in California, and why unused power transmission circuits are still suspended across high-fire-danger areas.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard F...

How much is an empty lot worth following the Eaton Fire, that leveled neighborhoods in Altadena. Real estate agent Jim Tripodes, who’s served Altadena and Pasadena for decades, was among the first to assist fire victims with selling their properties. He discusses the decisions his clients have made, how he began to establish the value of land, and why he thinks those with the time and means to rebuild will benefit financially.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intriguing moments. Subscribe now so you...

One of the latest lawsuits filed against Southern California Edison was brought by the family of a man who died in the Eaton Fire. The Nickerson family has generations of ties to Altadena and Southern California. Also, a key deadline is approaching for fire victims to decide how they plan to clear the debris from their properties, and an insurance expert discusses how fire victims can resolve disputes over their claims. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this NBCLA original podcast "Leonard Files," Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard takes a closer look at critical issues following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires as well as important...

Criminal charges have been brought in 3 cases of fire relief fraud, federal prosecutors announced in LA on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, LA County officials say they’re waiting for the results of an outside report before placing blame — on who failed to send out evacuation alerts as the Eaton Fire burned through neighborhoods, and an Altadena council woman says she’s hopeful her neighborhood can recover and retain its sense of community, even though some residents who lost homes may not be able to afford to rebuild.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some...

The failure of the water system during the Palisades Fire may have led to threats against the general manager of the LA Department of Water and Power, but the agency's oversight board has declined to spend $700,000 on security just yet. Plus, repairs have begun at the Santa Ynez reservoir, a year after it was drained. Lawsuits say water from the reservoir could have saved homes in the Palisades, had it been filled before the fire ignited. Also - the Boys and Girls Club in Pasadena is another non-profit community group that's been flung into the role of providing relief to...

Two months after the Palisades Fire the number of fire victims suing the City of Los Angeles continues to grow. Several cases, now involving dozens of plaintiffs, allege the LA Department of Water and Power failed to keep water flowing during the firefight on January 7 and 8, and say the DWP should have refilled a reservoir close to the neighborhoods that burned. Also, how much will it cost to move the power lines in the Palisades underground? In this NBCLA original podcast "Leonard Files," Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard takes a closer look at critical issues following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires...

Blake Mallen planned to raise his kids in a hilltop home in the Pacific Palisades that was destroyed on January 8. He recounts how the fire first approached his street, his all-night hose and bucket fight to snuff out embers, efforts to rally firefighters — who had no water — to help him, and the unstoppable flames returning. Blake’s photos and video recordings from the night of the fire went viral by accident, and says he’s now on a mission of recovery, resilience, and rebuilding.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’...

The LA Department of Water and Power has announced that drinkable water has been restored to Pacific Palisades residents. Water supplies have been repaired, but it was unsafe to drink until now. Also, the DWP says it has long term plans to move all of the electrical lines in the Palisades underground to reduce fire danger. Plus, an update on Mayor Karen Bass’ response to the former fire chief’s appeal to the city council, and more information on lawsuits filed by LA County, Sierra Madre and Pasadena over the Eaton Fire.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us...

LA County has joined dozens of victims of the Eaton Fire in suing Southern California Edison, alleging the power utility’s transmission lines or equipment were responsible for igniting the fire on Jan. 7. Also, more help for fire victims looking to rebuild quickly, the aftermath of LA City’s former fire chief’s failed effort to return to her job, and how a foster agency in Altadena is regrouping after a lengthy evacuation. In NBCLA original podcast "Leonard Files," Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard takes a closer look at critical issues following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires as well as important storie...

Tuesday’s meeting of the LA City Council was former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley’s opportunity to convince Council members that she has to keep her job, following the Mayor’s criticism of preparations for and the response to the Palisades Fire. In NBCLA original podcast "Leonard Files," Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard takes a closer look at critical issues following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires as well as important stories affecting Southern California. Send us news tips regarding the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of L...

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley will speak publicly for the first time on Tuesday since being dismissed by Mayor Karen Bass. As she appeals her termination to the LA City Council, will she have enough votes to get her job back? In NBCLA original podcast "After the Flames," Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard takes us behind the scenes following the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles. Send us news tips regarding the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s most challenging and intri...