The Leonard Files

We look at two separate court battles involving Nick Reiner: whether grand jury transcripts will remain sealed and whether he can access money from his parents’ trust to fund his defense. we also report on pretrial rulings and new evidence questions ahead of the Palisades arson retrial, including a key lighter test and the judge’s limits on AI-generated images. Thanks for listening to The Leonard...

LA has again put the brakes on plans to expand the use of automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, in the City. The LAPD has approved plans to use them in cars, and test a system that places cameras on the tops of existing street lights. Also, a former LAPD detective convicted of murder is up for parole, the LAPD and Feds announced an anti-drug operation on Skid Row, and moments from the sentenc...

Los Angeles is about to get more license plate cameras, and some of them could be mounted directly on streetlights. So what will LAPD collect, who can search the information, and what safeguards are in place? We take a deeper look at LAPD's plans to expand automated license plate readers, the department's proposed $235 million Axon agreement, and new rules officials say are intended to restrict ac...

Crime rates continue to fall across Los Angeles, but is the city really getting safer? We’ll look at the latest LAPD crime statistics, gang violence trends, police shootings, traffic fatality data, and nationwide crime patterns. Plus, prosecutors have re-indicted former LAPD officer Clifford Proctor in the 2015 shooting death of Brendan Glenn, and another court appearance for D4vd aka David Burke,...

A Los Angeles judge is weighing whether Nick Reiner -- accused of murdering his parents Rob and Michele Reiner -- can access more than $550,000 from his family's trust while awaiting trial. We look at the legal fight, California's Slayer Statute, and why the outcome could determine whether Reiner can hire a private defense attorney. Plus: New developments in the Palisades arson retrial and why fed...

The secret grand jury indictment against Nick Reiner in the murders of his parents, Rob and Michelle Reiner, was unsealed this week. We'll look at how it could dramatically accelerate the path to trial. Plus, federal prosecutors are revising their case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of starting the fires linked to the devastating Palisades Fire. What do the new charges mean after a...

We'll look at three unusual events — why an LAPD officer who claimed he exposed racism, misogyny and homophobia inside the department is now facing criminal charges over secret recordings. More than a year after the devastating Eaton Fire, investigators finally released their official cause report. The findings weren't surprising. The timing was. And - federal and local authorities are treating an...

As the pop singer known as D4vd heads into a critical preliminary hearing - we look at a new defense motion, the depth of the prosecution's case, and what the defense might do at the hearing. D4vd, who's legal name is David Burke, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say he killed her because she was threatening to expose their year-long sexual relationship and...

LAPD surveillance technology, police pursuit policies, and California's wildfire recovery fund are all under new scrutiny. We look at the latest police watchdog findings on license plate cameras and car chases, more accountability questions, and what they could mean for Los Angeles. Also, hundreds of millions - more - fire relief dollars have been released by the state for the Eaton and Palisades...

First, an NBC4 investigation into California’s $2.5 billion wildfire relief package announced after the January 2025 fires. Records show only a portion of the fund has been spent — with much of the money routed through state agencies, and significant amounts still untouched more than a year later. We examine where the money went, why fire victims say they haven’t seen more direct aid, and new ques...

Prosecutors are weighing possible charges in the sheriff’s grenade explosion that killed three deputies—but time may have run out. We break down new investigative findings, the statute‑of‑limitations problem, and a separate LAPD gang unit misconduct case involving body‑camera violations.   Thanks for listening to The Leonard Files – Stay with us as we uncover the investigations from some of LA’s m...

In this episode of The Leonard Files we break down a busy week in court with new filings, delays, and revelations in three major Southern California criminal cases. Celeste Rivas Hernandez: defense lawyers for the singer knowns as D4vd (David A. Burke) asked to delay proceedings, as they review 'terabytes' of potential evidence in advance of a preliminary hearing. Jonathan Rinderknecht: federal pr...

Everything we know about the arrest of singer D4vd, also known as David A. Burke, now charged in the killing of 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, after her remains were found inside Burke’s Tesla. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his defense lawyers are pushing for a speedy preliminary hearing, where the public might get its first look at the evidence in the case.   Thanks for listening to The...

Federal aviation officials imposed new helicopter restrictions after last year’s disastrous collision between an airliner and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. The announcement mentioned a recent ‘conflict’ between a plane and helicopter near Hollywood Burbank Airport — an incident that turns out to involve NewsChopper4. Plus, new developments in the deadly LA County Sheriff’s bomb squad e...

The latest information on the investigation into the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who’s body was found inside a Tesla registered to the pop singer D4vd, appeared in Texas, where D4vd’s family tried to block an LA court order. Plus, documents released by the LA Fire Department show their intricate plans to try to control news coverage of the Palisades fire after action report, and...

New developments in stories from years past: a jury has reached a decision about the death of LAPD Officer Houston Tipping, who suffered a catastrophic spinal injury during training, and the State Bar of California moves to punish a former top LA City Attorney’s Office official for his role in the lawsuits that followed the DWP’s over billing mess. Plus, the arson trial for the man accused of caus...

How did federal agents catch Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian snowboarder facing indictment in Los Angeles for allegedly trafficking tons of cocaine through the U.S. to Canada? The FBI says he was caught after a decade-long manhunt; authorities in Mexico say Wedding walked into a US embassy and surrendered. Plus - the LAPD is handed a court order that’s changed the ‘less-lethal’ weapons officers...

Finally we have some insight into whether firefighters communicated their concerns -- that the smaller brush fire blamed for causing the Palisades fire -- had been fully extinguished. New court documents provide our clearest window into what evidence may exist. Plus - the City of LA has recorded its fewest murders since 1966. How is this possible when the LAPD has shrunk to its smallest size in mo...

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 w...

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 mu...

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...

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 crimina...

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 ignit...

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...

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 investi...