The Leonard Files

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...

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 som...

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...

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...

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 –...

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 c...

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 t...

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 ch...

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.   Thank...

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...

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 surrendere...

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 determi...

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 wi...

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 reb...

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 disp...

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 reco...

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, h...

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 mov...

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 vira...

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 ap...

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 a...

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 w...

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 Angel...