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

Hilda Marcela Cabraales 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 we are very close. No one was surprised that
the kumlady graduate of the prestigious university in Monterey, Mexico, was thriving in LA. I was Marcela's best
friend. She was looking for the American dream. I guess Fernanda Kasani and Alan
Bettincourt, who called her Marcella or Marseilles, were two of her closest friends in Monteray. 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 Marcela, including her dog, a Wymer runner named
Tomas. Hilda left him with Allan when she moved to LA. She planned a call for him after she got her bearings. That
call never came. 4 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 uh 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 fentinyl in her system. But her friends
and family were sure that this healthconscious 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, Christy and Hilda were both dumped at different hospitals in LA, clinging to their
lives. And then like obviously all our alarm bells are going off in our heads when both girls are dropped off at two
different hospitals 2 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 Telus, an LAPD homicide detective
and CBS News consultant, said nothing about the story made sense. He just dropped somebody off and said, "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. Hilda, 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 pass away, I will see you again and I give 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 O. The medical team was clapping to honor her, to say thank you
for giving life to others. Hilda Marcela Cabraales 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 brought 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 start dancing and we 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 Cabraales's tragic overdose in LA raises questions about foul play and celebrates her vibrant life and legacy.

Key points

Hilda's Dream. Hilda Marcela Cabraales moved to LA to pursue her dream as an architect.
Tragic Overdose. Hilda and her friend Christy suffered a drug overdose under mysterious circumstances.
Final Goodbye. Hilda's family made the heartbreaking decision to donate her organs.
A Beautiful Tribute. Friends gathered in Monterey to celebrate Hilda's life with music and dance.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

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

Reflecting on Hilda's move to LA.

0:14WatchMar 26, 2025

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