On a chilly Tuesday afternoon, Dusty Giles, a 53-year-old mother from Alabama, sat outside a Los Angeles courthouse, her emotions raw after an incredibly difficult journey.
The day marked a pivotal moment in her fight for justice following the devastating loss of her daughter, Christy Giles.
The Guilty Verdict and Emotions of a Grieving Mother
Just moments earlier, 43-year-old David Pearce was found guilty of the brutal murders of Christy Giles and her friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola.
As Dusty sat on the concrete steps, she lit a cigarette, allowing the overwhelming hum of downtown Los Angeles traffic to drown out the thoughts racing through her mind.
Pearce, who was convicted of two counts of murder and several other charges, including rape and sexual assault on multiple women, was finally held accountable for his monstrous actions.
“I do believe he’s a monster. He’s a predator,” Dusty shared, reflecting on the man who had taken her daughter’s life.
Despite the pain, she expressed deep gratitude towards the jury and prosecution.
“I’m relieved he was found unanimously guilty,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
“I hope the man never sees the light of day again.”
Anxiety and Tension Amid a Divided Jury
While Dusty felt immense relief at Pearce’s conviction, the day was not without its tense moments.
Pearce’s roommate, actor Brandt Osborn, 43, faced charges as an accessory after the fact, but the jury could not come to a unanimous decision.
The judge declared a mistrial, and prosecutors will now decide if they should retry Osborn.
“It was a waiting game,” Dusty said, recounting the anxious moments leading up to the verdict. “My anxiety grew and grew.”
A Mother’s Message to the Killer
Dusty had strong words for the man who took her daughter’s life.
“You are not a master, you are not god,” she said of Pearce. ”
You ran scams to get your money because you’re too weak to work a day’s job.”
Dusty had long seen through Pearce’s façade.
She recalled his troubled past, including his involvement in porn and previous claims of drugging and raping women.
A Symbol of Christy’s Life: The Black Cherry Tree Memorial
Throughout the trial, Dusty wore a locket containing some of Christy’s ashes.
It was designed in the shape of a black cherry tree, a tree that had been one of Christy’s favorites.
“It blooms in spring, summer, and fall—it’s an evergreen,” Dusty explained.
She and her husband, Leslie, also planted a memorial tree on their 13-acre property in Alabama, where they can watch it grow as a living tribute to their daughter.
A Journey of Remembrance Across the Globe
As Dusty reflected on the impact of losing Christy, her husband, Christy’s father-in-law, Jan Cilliers, shared how he had honored Christy’s memory by scattering her ashes in some of her favorite places across the world.
From South Africa to Tanzania, Kenya, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal, Jan kept Christy’s spirit alive, sharing her presence in the places they had hoped to explore together.
Looking to the Future: Healing and Grieving
As Jan continues to grieve, he plans to leave Los Angeles for a while, seeking solace and fresh air.
“I’m going to get out of LA for a bit,” he said. “I need some fresh air.”
Pearce’s sentencing is scheduled for March 13, and while Dusty and her family continue to heal, the fight for justice offers them a measure of peace, knowing that Pearce has been held accountable for his heinous crimes.
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