Hilda Marcela Cabrales: Architect's American dream tragically cut short | Forensic Files

Hilda Marcela cabrales was a 26 year old architect who moved from Mexico to Los Angeles to start her dream job in
interior design do you remember when she said she wanted to go to Los Angeles and
how did you feel when she told you that I feel very happy for her but very sad for me because we are very
close no one was surprised that the summa laude graduate of the prestigious University in Monterey
Mexico was thriving in LA I was Marcella's best friend she was looking for the American dream I guess
Fernanda contasani and Alan Bettencourt who called her Marcella or Marseille were two of her closest friends in
Monterey she was very determined she also knew how to have a good time she loved to dance she loved to dress up
every single person that met her loved loved Marcella including her dog a Weimaraner named
Tomas Hilda left him with Alan when she moved to LA she planned to call for him after she got her bearings that call
never came four months after moving to La Hilda was in a coma fighting for her life her frantic parents and sister
Fernanda raced to her side I received the phone call in the middle of the night saying that she was so ill
she was very bad she was intubated and I thought when we are there things will change she will
she will wake up Hilda and her friend Christy Giles had both suffered a drug overdose
toxicology reports revealed that she had cocaine ecstasy and elevated levels of fentanyl in her system but her friends
and family were sure that this health-conscious young woman would never have willingly taken such a toxic
cocktail of drugs when you heard overdose you immediately thought drugged yeah drugged I was sure someone did this
to her Hilda and her friend Christy were enjoying a night out in LA and had attended a warehouse party after
midnight the next day Christian Hilda were both dumped at different hospitals in La clinging to their lives
and then like obviously all our law balls are going off in our heads when both girls are dropped off at two
different hospitals two hours apart like something terrible happened that night Hospital staff told investigators a
black Prius without license plates pulled up to the ER entrance and said they found Hilda passed out on the curb
somewhere nearby and left without providing their names or phone numbers Barry Tellis an LAPD homicide detective
in CBS News consultant said nothing about the story made sense he just dropped somebody off and say hey by the
way we're driving down the street we found this girl passed out on the sidewalk as police investigated Hilda
spent two weeks on life support although what were your final moments with your daughter
they were so hard you know and I just was asking God to not let her suffer more I told her maybe
when I was away I will see you again and I gave you a big hug a kiss the family decided to donate Hilda's
organs her mom remembers the hospital staff lining the Halls as the family accompanied Hilda to the or the medical
team was clapping to honor her to say thank you for giving life to others Hilda Marcela cabrales was
pronounced dead one day before her 27th birthday back in Monterey Mexico her friends
gathered to remember her all dressed in white at her favorite Park we broke her favorite thing to drink and her favorite
cake at first we were crying but at some point we put her favorite music on and we just started dancing and we were
laughing and hugging and it was beautiful I felt like she was there [Music]

Hilda Marcela Cabrales, 26, left her Weimaraner, Tomás, with a friend when she moved to Los Angeles from Mexico. She planned to call for her beloved dog when she got her bearings — but tragically, that day never came.

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Brief Summary

Hilda Marcela Cabrales, a young architect, died from a drug overdose in LA, raising questions about her tragic circumstances.

Key points

Hilda's Dream Job. Hilda Marcela Cabrales moved to LA to pursue her dream in interior design.
Tragic Overdose. Hilda and her friend suffered a drug overdose, leading to a fight for her life.
Final Goodbye. Hilda's family made the heartbreaking decision to donate her organs after she was declared brain dead.
Celebrating Hilda's Life. Friends gathered in Monterey to remember Hilda, celebrating her life with music and laughter.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I feel very happy for her but very sad for me.

Reflecting on Hilda's move to LA.

0:15WatchApr 15, 2023

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