The Rx Defense

Summary

Podcast Summary: 48 Hours — "The Rx Defense"

Release Date: February 9, 2026
Host: CBS News (Narrated by CBS correspondents, including Tracy Smith)

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Overview of the Episode

This episode of "48 Hours" investigates the disturbing case of Connor Hilton, a Texas teenager who shot two of his close friends, Ethan Riley and Benjamin Bleak, during a gathering at his home in December 2023. Initially appearing as an act of inexplicable violence, the defense offers a contentious explanation: Connor's actions, they claim, were driven by a psychotic break induced by the acne medication Accutane (isotretinoin). The episode explores the investigation, the emotional toll on all families involved, the controversial medical defense, and the courtroom outcome, raising critical questions about mental health, medication side effects, accountability, and justice.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Night of the Shooting (00:16–06:00)

• Frantic 911 Call:
  Connor Hilton calls 911 in a state of distress after shooting his friends, Ethan and Ben. The first officers on the scene find Connor and quickly detain him. Both victims have gunshots to the head.

  • Quote:

    "Two teenage males. Okay. Inside... I think they're deceased." — Connor Hilton (01:01)

• Initial Chaos:
  A 15-year-old boy at the scene, who was in the bathroom during the shooting, recounts how quickly the violence erupted. Connor expresses regret almost immediately.

  • Quote:

    "And Connor was like, 'What have I done? What have I done?' and started crying..." — 15-year-old witness (05:44)

The Aftermath and Family Impact (06:00–12:00)

• Shocked Families:
  Connor's parents, Johnice and Neil Hilton, react with disbelief, describing Connor as a mild, well-behaved child with no history of trouble.

  • Quote:

    "We knew that our son, not in a million years in his right mind would do that." — Johnice Hilton (21:45)

• Victims’ Families:
  Ben survives after life-threatening injuries and a long, grueling recovery. Ethan Riley succumbs to his injuries on Christmas Eve 2023.

Confession and Interrogation (12:00–16:00)

• Evolving Stories:
  During police interrogation, Connor initially claims self-defense, then insists the shootings were accidental, and finally admits he had long-term homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had planned the shooting, and pressured his mother to buy the gun.
  • Quote:

    "I've had suicidal, homicidal thoughts for so long. ... The idea of murder is just super interesting for me. I don't know why." — Connor Hilton (14:06)

  • Quote:

    "I convinced my mom to buy that gun for me so I could either shoot myself or shoot somebody." — Connor Hilton (14:09)

The "Rx Defense": Accutane and Its Alleged Role (21:58–34:44)

• Defense’s Argument:
  The defense, led by Adam Brown, J.L. Carpenter, and Rick De Toto, focus on Connor's use of Accutane, which is known to have some possible psychiatric side effects. They recruit Dr. Doug Bremner, an Emory University psychiatrist specializing in Accutane’s impacts.

  • Quote:

    "I think he became psychotic on Accutane and he had recurrent homicidal ideation that he was not able to control." — Dr. Doug Bremner (26:29)

  • Quote:

    "These thoughts did not occur before he took Accutane. He went off the drug and those thoughts went away. ... That’s considered to be proof basically of a causal effect between a drug and a symptom." — Dr. Doug Bremner (26:38)

• Prosecution Pushback:
  Lead prosecutor Kayla Allen dismisses the "Accutane defense" and highlights Connor’s awareness of wrongdoing and his calculated actions before and after the crime. She emphasizes evidence of premeditation from Connor’s online activity.

  • Quote:

    "I think that he just wanted to see what it felt like to kill someone. And that had nothing to do with the acne medication." — Kayla Allen (30:35)

• Contradictory Evidence:
  The prosecution presents evidence that Connor expressed fascination with murder before taking Accutane, citing social media posts and interest in true crime. They also introduce a study disputing increased psychiatric risk from isotretinoin.

• Courtroom Ruling:
  Judge restricts Dr. Bremner’s testimony to the punishment phase only, shutting down the argument for the guilt/innocence phase.

Plea, Sentencing, and Impact Statements (35:57–42:15)

• Plea Deal:
  Facing the risk of a life sentence, Connor accepts a plea deal: 50 years in prison, eligible for parole at age 43.

  • Quote:

    "I don't want the families to have to go through that." — Connor Hilton on why he pled guilty (36:35)

• Victim and Family Statements:
  Ben Bleak delivers a powerful impact statement:

  • Quote:

    "First of all, stop sniveling, stop crying. You did this to yourself. … I will never forgive you." — Ben Bleak (38:51)

  Ben’s mother, Shannon, blames Connor’s mother for providing her son with a gun:

  • Quote:

    "Shame on you." — Shannon Bleak (39:31)

  Johnice Hilton, Connor’s mother, expresses regret but denies intentionally buying the gun for Connor:

  • Quote:

    "I’m so sorry that this happened. And I do feel responsible. I wish I could go back and change everything." — Johnice Hilton (40:58)

  Ethan Riley’s father gives a heartfelt speech remembering his son’s kindness.

Lives After the Crime (42:15–43:12)

• Ben’s Recovery and Outlook:
  Ben undergoes significant rehabilitation and displays remarkable resilience, with his mother supporting him. He focuses on moving forward rather than anger.
  • Quote:

    "It is very difficult, but pouting about it is not going to get Ethan back. Just gotta keep going." — Ben Bleak (42:38, 42:54)

Wider Issues Raised

• Medication, Mental Health, and Criminal Justice:
  The episode underscores the complexities of assigning culpability when mental health and pharmaceutical side effects are at play. The case raises questions about the legal system’s ability to handle emerging scientific knowledge in the courtroom and challenges listeners to consider where blame and responsibility should reside in such tragic scenarios.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker/Context | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | 01:01 | "Two teenage males. Okay. Inside. I think they're deceased." | Connor Hilton — calling 911 | | 14:06 | "I've had suicidal, homicidal thoughts for so long. ... The idea of murder is just super interesting for me. I don't know why." | Connor Hilton — confession | | 21:45 | "We knew that our son, not in a million years in his right mind would do that." | Johnice Hilton, Connor's mother | | 26:29 | "I think he became psychotic on Accutane and he had recurrent homicidal ideation that he was not able to control." | Dr. Doug Bremner, defense expert | | 30:35 | "I think that he just wanted to see what it felt like to kill someone. And that had nothing to do with the acne medication." | Kayla Allen, prosecutor | | 38:51 | "First of all, stop sniveling, stop crying. You did this to yourself. … I will never forgive you." | Ben Bleak to Connor in court | | 39:31 | "Shame on you." | Shannon Bleak to Johnice Hilton | | 40:58 | "I’m so sorry that this happened. And I do feel responsible. I wish I could go back and change everything." | Johnice Hilton | | 42:54 | "Just gotta keep going." | Ben Bleak |

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Crime Scene & Confession:
  00:16–06:00 – 911 call, scene discovery, and initial police actions
  12:14–16:21 – Police interrogation and emotional confession

• Victims' Families and Recovery:
  08:34–09:13 – Ben’s mother finds out he’s been shot
  19:25–21:33 – Ben’s hospital recovery and adjusting to life after injury

• Legal Proceedings & "Rx Defense":
  22:20–34:44 – Development of Accutane defense, interviews with Dr. Bremner, and prosecution’s counterarguments

• Courtroom & Resolution:
  35:57–39:31 – Plea hearing, victim impact statements, addressing of the gun purchase

• Aftermath & Moving Forward:
  42:15–43:12 – Ben’s resilience and focus on recovery

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Tone and Style

The episode is sobering, emotional, and investigative, blending the forensic detail and moral questioning "48 Hours" is known for. Victims' suffering, family grief, legal disputes, and ethical dilemmas are interwoven, creating a nuanced picture of a modern American tragedy amplified by the intersection of youth vulnerability, prescription medicine risks, and insufficient support systems.

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This summary condenses the episode’s content, focusing on the case details, legal strategies, and human stories without including commercials or unrelated segments. For those who have not listened, this outline provides a clear view of the tragedy, the "Rx Defense" argument, the court's response, and the ongoing impact on all lives touched by the events.

Transcript

[Connor Hilton]

Friends with 911. What's the location of your emergency? I heard two guns fired. Please hurry. They're both Shaw. Both of my friends. I think the killer's thrown out, so I don't know. He's my friend, though. The one with the gun, what's his name? Kyle. 17 years of age, I believe. What's going on? Is somebody hurt? Who's hurt?

[Narrator/Reporter]

People.

[Connor Hilton]

Where are they at?

[Narrator/Reporter]

When police get to the scene, the first person that they come upon is Connor. And they're trying to figure out what happened.

[Connor Hilton]

Two teenage males. Okay. Inside.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Okay.

[Connor Hilton]

I think they're deceased.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The officers aren't exactly sure when they walk into the house what they're gonna see. And what did the police see? Ethan first. And then you see Ben. They were both shot in the head.

[Connor Hilton]

I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. I'm just gonna detain you, okay?

[Narrator/Reporter]

They immediately turn around and they say, detain him. Talking about Connor.

[Connor Hilton]

Why did I. He's gonna buckle you up.

[Narrator/Reporter]

All right?

[Connor Hilton]

I have your son in the backseat of the patrol car because he's indicated to us that he took two people's lives today in your house. Okay. Dear God. I'm going to help.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He never had a temper. Always very mild, laid back. Had he ever been in trouble?

[Connor Hilton]

No, never. My son. He's a good boy. He's a good kid. It's okay. Relax. Okay? That was not him that night. I know that was him physically. But mentally, that was not him. Set a seat in here for me, okay? That nod, he was just like, why would I do this, you know? Those were my friends.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Can you tell me anything about your friends? About Ethan and Ben?

[Connor Hilton]

I'm sorry. All I'm gonna say is that they were very good friends to me. That's all I'm gonna say. So evil.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He talked about that. It was evil what he did. He knew what he was doing. He wanted to pull that trigger, and he did.

[Connor Hilton]

Hey, listen to me, brother. Taking some deep breaths, okay?

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor's accused of shooting two friends. He admits that he did it. What am I missing here? Why take this case on?

[Connor Hilton]

Well, because we wanted to get to the truth of what happened.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The whys, it is baffling to me.

[Connor Hilton]

Out of the blue, a extremely incredible act of violence was committed.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After our research, we realized that there was a reason.

[Connor Hilton]

Do you take any prescribed medications? Yes, sir, I do. What do you take?

[Narrator/Reporter]

An expert with a defense saying the.

[Connor Hilton]

Shooting was driven by psychosis caused by.

[Narrator/Reporter]

A popular acne medication. You think the acne medication puts you in a mental state where you could commit murder?

[Connor Hilton]

Yes, ma'. Am. Tracy Smith reports.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The RX defense. It was just before 9pm on December 23, 2023 when police arrived on scene in Friendswood, Texas.

[Connor Hilton]

I screwed up so bad. Somebody hur this hurt. Where are they at in the house? Where are your friends at? They're in the walkway. They're in the walkway.

[Narrator/Reporter]

When police entered Connor Hilton's home.

[Connor Hilton]

Oh.

[Narrator/Reporter]

They found 18 year old Ethan Riley and 19 year old Benjamin Bleak lying on the floor, each with a gunshot wound to the head.

[Connor Hilton]

Hello? Hello? Who's. Who's in here?

[Narrator/Reporter]

They also discovered the boy who called 91 1. He was 15.

[Connor Hilton]

Open the door.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Let me see your hands.

[Connor Hilton]

Let me see your hands. It's just me. I don't even crush this. Pull your shirt up. Pull your shirt up. Let me see the back. Turn around.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Because he's a minor, we're blurring the face of the 15 year old.

[Connor Hilton]

Is there anybody else supposed to be in the house?

[Narrator/Reporter]

No. How many?

[Connor Hilton]

Four total.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It was four total. The teen told police officers how quickly everything unfolded as we literally 10, not.

[Connor Hilton]

Even two minutes of being in the house. We come in, he's on the couch or something. He stands up.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I walk right to the bathroom.

[Connor Hilton]

I have to pee.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And then I heard two loud gunshots.

[Connor Hilton]

And everybody was quiet and I felt.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Like I could hear laughing. But I think it was just them breathing.

[Connor Hilton]

And Connor was like, what have I done? What have I done? And started crying. And I don't know where y' all found him, but I thought he was going to shoot through the door or.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Something in the house. Unbelievably, paramedics saw signs of life in Ben and Ethan and worked to keep them alive.

[Connor Hilton]

Where's the gun at? But I really have no survive.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Outside, police bagged Connor's hands to preserve evidence before putting him into a squad car.

[Connor Hilton]

I need to be put in a mental hospital.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor at first claimed he fired the gun in self defense.

[Connor Hilton]

We got into an argument, okay. And Ethan tried to. He tried to come at me and he tried to come at me and I had reached out and he tried to grab from my throat. Uh oh.

[Narrator/Reporter]

At the time of the shooting, Connor's mother, Johnice Hilton was at home. I got a message from my neighbor that said, hey, something's going on at your house. And I was already on my way home. You pulled up and what did you see? Yellow tape, police cars everywhere.

[Connor Hilton]

I'm gonna talk to you. Something that's gonna be very hard to.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Talk about the police had me sit in a car, and he told me.

[Connor Hilton]

I cannot believe this. This is insanity.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What was going through your mind? I just was like, how could this happen? I was just there 45 minutes ago, and he was perfectly fine. It wasn't long before Connor's father, Neil Hilton, received word. Johnice and Neal divorced. Back when Connor was a toddler.

[Connor Hilton]

Never in a million years would you think you would get. I would get that kind of phone call just knowing, you know, just knowing my son.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Ben and Ethan were taken to area hospitals where they were fighting for their lives. Nick McCandless, then a detective with the Friendswood Police Department, was tasked with calling Ben's mom, Shannon Bleak.

[Connor Hilton]

I get her phone number through dispatch and call her up, and I said, look, your son has been injured, and I need you to come up here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I just got in the car and I just started praying. And what happened when you got to the hospital? Nick met me outside the doors, and he told me that Ben had been shot.

[Connor Hilton]

And I remember falling to my knees, and he, you know, he was like.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Come on, let's go upstairs and wait in the waiting room and let's find.

[Connor Hilton]

Out what's going on.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Eventually, a doctor came out to speak with them. He said that Benjamin had been shot in the head. It was all very surreal. It just didn't make any sense. I just kneeled on the floor and just prayed. What did you say in that prayer? I just asked that he be with Ben and that he please get us through this. While Ben underwent surgery.

[Connor Hilton]

Where am I being transported to? Friendswood.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor Hilton was taken to the Friendswood Police Department.

[Connor Hilton]

I know this isn't a time to be bringing this up, but are you having a good Christmas? Officer?

[Narrator/Reporter]

Nothing about that night was making sense.

[Connor Hilton]

Listen, what I gotta do is renew my Miranda rights. I have the right to attorney. Well, yeah, but I got one more. I'm gonna read them.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Man, you are. Soon Connor would end up in an interrogation room with an entirely new story to tell.

[Connor Hilton]

He just got straight to the chase. He literally just kind of opened up, right? And it was an emotional roller coaster. You know what? I need to be honest with you guys. I just need to be. Oh, my God.

[Narrator/Reporter]

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[Connor Hilton]

But the good news is, if you.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Owe $10,000 or more in credit card debt, financial relief options are now available.

[Connor Hilton]

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[Narrator/Reporter]

Relief designed to reduce what you owe.

[Connor Hilton]

And put you on the fast track to becoming debt free. If you qualify for debt relief, you.

[Narrator/Reporter]

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[Connor Hilton]

Earning thousands of five star reviews and.

[Narrator/Reporter]

An A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

[Connor Hilton]

You're stronger than your credit card debt.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Let today be the day you start turning things around. Take the first step and visit nationaldebtrelief.com to see what debt relief you may qualify for.

[Connor Hilton]

That's national debt relief.com kids, they grow up so fast.

[Narrator/Reporter]

One day they're taking their first steps and the next they don't fit into.

[Connor Hilton]

The tiny sneakers they took them in.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You blink your eyes and their princess dress is two sizes too small and.

[Connor Hilton]

Their dinosaur backpack isn't cool anymore.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But don't cry because they're growing up. Smile because you can profit off of it for real. There are a bunch of parents on depop looking for the stuff your kid just grew out of. Download depop to start selling.

[Connor Hilton]

Hey man, how are you doing? Good. How are you? Good, man. I'm taking a seat over as his.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Two friends were in the hospital fighting for their lives.

[Connor Hilton]

Do you know my parents are here? Yeah, I think your mom and dad.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor Hilton was in a Friendswood Police department interrogation room so that detectives could start to unravel the truth of what happened.

[Connor Hilton]

How you doing, sir? This is Detective McCandless. I knew nothing about him. I kind of went in blind and so I had no idea if he was going to be aggressive towards me. I don't know you, man. You know what I mean? I'm trying to get to know you, right? Just trying to understand. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. No sir.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Very polite.

[Connor Hilton]

Very polite. Not who I normally would sit across from and interview right after a shooting. Just go straight to the chase.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It appeared the 17 year old didn't want to waste any time. He launched into a story and this time he didn't mention an argument. Instead he said it was an accident.

[Connor Hilton]

I don't know, it just all kind of happened. It just all happened. Tell me how the gun goes off. It happened so fast. I had it in my hand. I really don't know. I was just standing next to Ethan. I don't know. But I heard it come off. I'm letting him stick with a story about it just went off, right? Self had the stupid finger on the trigger. So I'm like, okay, well how did it go off the second time. And so I looked at Connor. I've got two guys that are, that have both been shot in the head. Right. So you know what I mean? Like, how does that happen as an accident? That's what I want you to explain to me.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That's when Connor Hilton broke down.

[Connor Hilton]

It's like his whole personality, everything changed.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And so did his story yet again.

[Connor Hilton]

You know what, I need to be honest with you guys. I just need to be. Oh, my God. Okay. I've had suicidal homicidal thoughts for so long. I've. I went up, I went up to Ethan and just. I'm sorry for like, you guys. I'm really sorry.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And Hilton didn't stop there.

[Connor Hilton]

I convinced my mom to buy that gun for me so I could either shoot myself or shoot somebody. Oh, this feels so much better.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Hilton told the detectives that he hadn't told anyone, including his mom, that he'd been experiencing those suicidal and homicidal thoughts.

[Connor Hilton]

What did you think you were going to be able to achieve to help you by doing this tonight? Was it something you felt you had to do to be able to get this pressure off of you? Yes. You said it right there. Those are the exact words. I know it's gonna sound really like psychopathic and just like straight up disgusting. It's weird, but the idea of murder is just super interesting for me. I don't know why. I don't know why. That interview was probably one of the most honest interviews I've ever had with a suspect in a case where literally they just poured everything out on the table and like you could see the sigh of relief.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So walk me through what Connor said happened.

[Connor Hilton]

Connor says that he had planned this. His plan all along was to shoot his friends for planning it for so long.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But he said he had no specific target in mind. He'd invited a whole group of friends over that night. Ethan and Ben just happened to be the ones who showed up.

[Connor Hilton]

I was convinced maybe he was going to try to kill me too.

[Narrator/Reporter]

As for that 15 year old who went to the bathroom as soon as he got there, he simply got lucky.

[Connor Hilton]

I think he closed the bathroom door. I thought it was risky to either shoot through the door or go because he locked the door. Okay. And I'm really glad. I'm really, I'm so, so glad that he closed the door and I didn't kill him.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Before the interview ended, Hilton made yet another admission.

[Connor Hilton]

What I did was wrong. I need to do the punishment. I know that. But I also need help. I need really, really I need. I could tell he was struggling that night with. I knew this is what I felt. I knew this is what I wanted to do, but how I got here, I don't know.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor Hilton was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury. That night in jail, Hilton was allowed to make a phone call to his mother.

[Connor Hilton]

I need help. I need like, like mental, like, mentally help. I know, sweetheart. It's okay. We'll get it for you, okay? I did a very bad thing.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The next day, Christmas Eve, Connor Hilton was released on bond. We got him home and then he just lost it. Fell on the floor. Did he tell you what happened? I couldn't hear any of it. Mentally, didn't want to hear. The Riley family spent their Christmas Eve in the hospital and were there when their son Ethan died.

[Connor Hilton]

Somebody spotlight these windows.

[Narrator/Reporter]

On Christmas night, officers were back at Conner Hilton's door to arrest him on a murder charge.

[Connor Hilton]

I look out the window and there's a SWAT truck outside.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Johnny.

[Connor Hilton]

Hey. Is he here? They came in, they came in. Where's he at? Where's he at?

[Narrator/Reporter]

He's right there.

[Connor Hilton]

Hands, hands, hands.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Show me your hands.

[Connor Hilton]

I was kind of like in the back of the house sort of, and I just had my hands up. Turn around. Face away from me.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And they had their guns drawn.

[Connor Hilton]

Yes, ma'.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Am.

[Connor Hilton]

You're under arrest for murder. Okay. Bo, May I give him a hug? No hug.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Go.

[Connor Hilton]

Oh, no.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Let's go.

[Connor Hilton]

No hug. Hey, we love you. Connor. Connor, we're working on it, okay? Be strong.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Hilton was booked into jail, but again, the stay was short lived. He was eventually given a bond and his family posted it. As Connor's parents began grappling with what their son had done. Shannon Bleak was still in the ICU with her son Ben. His head was bandaged significantly. She'll never forget the moment she was first allowed to see him. I saw him and I started to hyperventilate and a nurse grabbed me and hugged me. I composed myself and I walked over. I said, benjamin, Ben, Momma's here. And Ben opened his eyes and kind of like, I hear you, you know, if there is any good news in this story, Ben, are you comfortable with walking over here? It's that Ben Bleek survived. How are you feeling today?

[Connor Hilton]

Good.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He has shown more resilience and more grit than any person I could ever even know. It's just like he's on a mission to get better and he just does it. Shannon Bleek believes it's a miracle her son Ben survived. Both Bone flaps were removed, meaning the two big parts of the the skull. He had a tracheotomy put in to breathe, and he had a feeding tube put in to eat. And he was paralyzed on the right side. Following the shooting, Ben spent more than three weeks in the hospital before being transferred to an inpatient rehab. Not long after arriving there, remarkably, he was up and walking. He was working six so hard. So hard. According to Shannon, Ben would stay in that rehab for over a month. Excellent job. He had to learn to swallow again.

[Connor Hilton]

I mean, everything.

[Narrator/Reporter]

During that time, Shannon shielded her son from the details of the shooting. Ben doesn't remember anything from that night. It wasn't until he came across an article on his mom's phone that he learned his friend Connor Hilton pulled the trigger and that his best friend, Ethan Reilly, was killed.

[Connor Hilton]

I was really sad.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What was Ethan like?

[Connor Hilton]

He was just an outstanding guy. He looked on things with a positive life.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You learned that this guy that you were friendly with was the one who shot you and shot Ethan.

[Connor Hilton]

I was furious.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But Ben forced himself to stay focused on his recovery. At that point, Connor Hilton was out on house arrest awaiting trial. His parents say they were still dumbfounded.

[Connor Hilton]

We knew that our son, not in a million years in his right mind would do that. We knew that.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You think he wasn't in his right mind?

[Connor Hilton]

Oh, yeah, he definitely in his right mind. He would never do this. He's always been the sweetest, loving boy ever.

[Narrator/Reporter]

In search of an explanation, Connor's father, Neil, began researching a prescription acne medication his son had been taking called Accutane. The drug label warns of risk of, quote, depression, psychosis, suicide, and aggressive and or violent behaviors. Neil encouraged his son's lawyers to look into it.

[Connor Hilton]

Something happened here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Adam Brown.

[Connor Hilton]

Something happened. It's an emotional case.

[Narrator/Reporter]

J.L. carpenter.

[Connor Hilton]

These type of cases are a challenge.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And Rick De Toto make up Connor's defense team.

[Connor Hilton]

Connor had no trouble with the law, no trouble with school. This doesn't make sense. Something changed the kid, changed. What changed it? What it came down to in our.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Research was the acne medication. And my research led me to Dr. Bremner.

[Connor Hilton]

My name is Dr. Doug Bremner. I'm a professor of psychiatry and radiology at Emory University School of medicine.

[Narrator/Reporter]

His CV is 96 pages long.

[Connor Hilton]

We didn't play around when we had our expert. I don't think there's another human being on this earth who knows more about this topic than Dr. Douglas Bremner.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Dr. Bremner says he's done extensive research on isotretinoin the generic version of Accutane. The drug is sold under several brand names. He also gets paid to testify in cases.

[Connor Hilton]

It's a very strong medication. There's a large number of people throughout the world that have experienced side effects from it, including psychiatric side effects.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Why is it still on the market?

[Connor Hilton]

Well, it's a great treatment for acne, especially severe acne.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That's cystic, and that's what Connor Hilton says he has.

[Connor Hilton]

Ever since I was little, I've always had these bumps on my bottom, sometimes on my armpit. They would be extremely painful. I couldn't even walk. That's how bad they were. We tried all sorts of medicine to make it go away. And then one day we went to the dermatologist and they said, hey, we're going to give you Accutane.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That was in late July 2022, about a year and a half before the shooting. Connor was 15 at the time. His mother signed this document acknowledging the risks, according to court admitted dermatology records. About a month later, Connor reported that he stopped taking the medication because he was, quote, feeling symptoms of depression.

[Connor Hilton]

I was feeling real down and didn't really feel like doing anything.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But Dr. Bremner interviewed Connor at the defense's request, and Conner told him that he wasn't completely honest back then. He said that it was after he started on the medication that he began experiencing homicidal thoughts, too. Did you tell anybody that you were having these thoughts? Did you try to get help?

[Connor Hilton]

I was scared to tell people of my actual thoughts because I didn't want to go to a mental hospital and people think I'm crazy.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Connor told Dr. Bremner that when he stopped taking the medication, the thoughts subsided.

[Connor Hilton]

They slowly disappeared. I was feeling more energetic, more like will to do stuff. But I was also in pain because of the bumps. They got worse again because I wasn't taking Accutane.

[Narrator/Reporter]

In January 2023, after several months of being off the medication, Connor's dermatology records show that he went back on it. This time he was given a lower dose than initially prescribed. Were you at all apprehensive? Like, oh, this has messed with my mind the first time. Maybe I shouldn't go back on this stuff.

[Connor Hilton]

The bumps were so painful. I. I just needed something to cure because it was so. It was just unbearable.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Did the thoughts come back?

[Connor Hilton]

Yes, ma', am, slowly. But, yes, it did. Suicidal and homicidal thoughts.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Conner told Dr. Bremner that the thoughts eventually became consuming.

[Connor Hilton]

It just amplified the longer I was on it.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But he never reported any issues to his dermatologist again. Connor would continue taking the medication on and off for the next 11 months up until the time of the shooting. Conner told Dr. Bremner that on that day he took double his prescribed dose.

[Connor Hilton]

He said that he had missed the dose the day before. So instead of taking two pills, he took four pills.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After pulling the trigger that night, Connor said he stopped taking Accutane and never experienced homicidal thoughts again. After speaking to Conner and reviewing the evidence in the case, Dr. Bremner formed an opinion. Why do you believe Connor Hilton shot his friends that night?

[Connor Hilton]

I think he became psychotic on Accutane and he had recurrent homicidal ideation that he was not able to control.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Dr. Bremner is firm in his opinion.

[Connor Hilton]

These thoughts did not occur before he took Accutane. He went off the drug and those thoughts went away. And then he started the drug again and the thoughts came back. So that's considered to be proof basically of a causal effect between a drug and a symptom.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You know, that people are going to look at this and say, this is just a family looking for an excuse for the horrible thing that their kid did.

[Connor Hilton]

Well, I think that, you know, there was no motivation. There was no history whatsoever of conflict. This person was psychotic.

[Narrator/Reporter]

JG Pharma, the distributor listed on the box of Accutane that Conner Hilton was taking at the time of the shooting, did not respond to our request for comment. But Connor's defense attorneys would build their entire case around Dr. Bremner's opinion, even though they were unaware of any other homicide case in which an Accutane defense worked.

[Connor Hilton]

You see this kid, you see how upset he is, you see how remorseful he is. It's not just some young man deciding, I'm just going to go on this rampage. That's not what we have here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But prosecutors wouldn't be so convinced it's not Accutane. He was evil. Hi, I'm Katie Ring, and welcome to Crime House 24. 7. Throughout the day, we bring you up to the minute crime coverage as stories break with daytime episodes hosted by Vanessa Richardson. Keeping you informed on the cases unfolding right now. And at night, I take you deeper with Night Watch episodes, examining the facts, the evidence, the people at the center of today's biggest cases. New episodes of Crime House 24.7drop every weekday. Listen to and follow Crime House 24.7, available now wherever you you get your podcasts. In August 2025, just weeks before Connor Hilton's murder trial was Scheduled to begin, a hearing was held to determine whether defense expert Dr. Doug Bremner would be allowed to testify.

[Connor Hilton]

He's the most qualified expert I've ever had on a case.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Defense attorney Rick De Toto had to convince a judge that the doctor testimony was reliable and relevant.

[Connor Hilton]

What we're arguing is that through the expert, Connor was in psychosis from the Accutane and he could not control himself. Murder has got to be done intentionally and knowingly. You could not control his behavior, and that takes out the element of intentionally and knowingly in murder.

[Narrator/Reporter]

At the hearing, Dr. Bremner testified that it was his opinion that Hilton was suffering from a medication psychotic disorder on the night of the incident.

[Connor Hilton]

Why did I do this?

[Narrator/Reporter]

He pointed to a study he conducted which found that isotretinoin, the generic version of Accutane, impacts a part of the brain that regulates emotion.

[Connor Hilton]

There's the brain on the left before treatment. And then after three months of treatment, you can see there's a visible decrease in function in the upper part of the brain.

[Narrator/Reporter]

See the reddish area on the left? It's not on the right. Dr. Bremner says that illustrates the brain on Accutane has less activity.

[Connor Hilton]

Why is that important to what we've been talking about? Because we know that that part of the brain is involved in depression and also impulsivity. It is a bunch of horse.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Ben Bleek and his mother were in the courtroom. It was very convincing listening to that gentleman speak.

[Connor Hilton]

And then once questions were asked on.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The prosecution side, have you ever performed.

[Connor Hilton]

A brain scan of Connor Hilton?

[Narrator/Reporter]

No, it just fell apart. What was your reaction when you heard that their defense was going to be that this acne medication caused psychosis? Well, I thought it was ridiculous. Kayla Allen is the lead prosecutor on the case. I don't think a jury was going to buy the Accutane made me do it. Defense. At the Hearing, prosecutors argued Dr. Bremner's testimony should be excluded. And they introduced a more recent study that found that, quote, isotretinoin users do not have an increased risk of suicide or psychiatric conditions. For Allen, the case is simple. I think that he just wanted to see what it felt like to kill someone. And that had nothing to do with the acne medication he. I don't believe it did, no. She argues Connor Hilton was in his right mind at the time of the shooting and points to that statement he made on scene as proof. He tried to make a statement.

[Connor Hilton]

We got into an argument that one.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Of the boys had come at him.

[Connor Hilton]

Ethan. He tried to Come at the end. He tried to grab from my throat.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He's working a self defense argument right from the beginning. Someone who's insane at the time they've committed a crime can't automatically start forming a defense for themselves. But by the time he got to the police station, it was like, look, I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm not going to lie to you anymore. I'm going to tell you the truth. And Allen says Connor's police interview is also key. He told police officers, officers that he had been planning it. He had acknowledged that he knew right from wrong, too.

[Connor Hilton]

I need to do the punishment. I knew what I did was wrong.

[Narrator/Reporter]

He knew by loading that gun and putting up to someone and pulling that trigger that he was going to kill them. That's what he wanted to do. These were his friends? Yes. Why would he shoot them? I don't know. Because there's no clear motive in this case. Doesn't that support the defense's argument that Connor went into some sort of a psychosis? I don't think it does. There's just people that are evil and do evil things. Allen argues Connor Hilton is one of those people. Had you ever seen Connor pull out this gun before?

[Connor Hilton]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Reporter]

His friends told detectives about things he'd said in the months leading up to the shooting. He would say, one day, I want to be important. I want to leave a legacy. And he would make comments about killing people. And detectives also pulled Connor's online activity on YouTube. He downloaded numerous videos about murder. His social media posts referenced it as well. Connor's friends reported this post was made just hours before the shooting. It contains the lyrics, murder one better run. Killing plenty is so fun, it's chemically induced. Connor's defense attorneys argue Connor became obsessed with murder after he went on Accutane. So all of that can be blamed on the acne medication.

[Connor Hilton]

Absolutely.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And they say the police investigation supports their case because several of Connor's friends told police they noticed a change in him during sophomore year, which was after he went on the drug. And when you say they noticed a change, what are they saying?

[Connor Hilton]

He was starting to isolate. He was getting more involved into true crime. He wanted to be a homicide detective.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But Allen insists Connor's behavior had nothing to do with Accutane. That's just what the defense wants the community to believe because it gives them an excuse. He was having problems already before Accutane was even introduced in his life. About not wanting to go to school.

[Connor Hilton]

School.

[Narrator/Reporter]

In fact, Connor was prescribed the antidepressant Prozac months before he started on Accutane. But Connor says he was only struggling with normal teenage anxiety then.

[Connor Hilton]

I was a freshman. I was nervous. Do I fit in? Do I not?

[Narrator/Reporter]

And during that freshman year, did you have suicidal, homicidal thoughts?

[Connor Hilton]

No, ma'. Am.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But after that hearing to determine whether Dr. Bremner would be allowed to testify, the judge dealt the defense a blow and ruled Dr. Bremner would only be allowed to testify during the punishment phase of the trial if necessary. So in Texas, we have two phases, guilt and innocence.

[Connor Hilton]

And then if there's a guilty verdict, the punishment phase.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So what will you do during the first phase of the trial, the guilt innocence phase? If you can't present your expert, there's.

[Connor Hilton]

Not much you can do. You just have to sit there and take it and wait till you get the punishment. And then we put on an aggressive case. Regarding the Accutant.

[Narrator/Reporter]

There was still a lot on the line because in Texas criminal court, Connor Hilton was considered an adult. And a jury could sentence him to as little as five years in prison, all the way up to 99 years or life. How high are the stakes here?

[Connor Hilton]

I don't think you get much higher. It's a kid's life.

[Narrator/Reporter]

When you take a sip of an ice cold Coke, zero sugar, you know you're getting real Coca Cola taste you love. And with zero sugar. It's so delicious, you can almost taste it with your ears. Hear those bubbles. Imagine them tingling on your tongue. Fizzy deliciousness. Listen to that cascading liquid. It's unmistakably tasty, all with zero sugar. Crisp, refreshing and ice cold.

[Connor Hilton]

Ah, Coke. Zero sugar.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Real Coca Cola taste, zero sugar. Two weeks before Connor Hilton was set to stand trial, a big development. Prosecutors offered him a deal. 50 years in prison if he pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He would also have to waive his right to appeal.

[Connor Hilton]

We know Connor would have never done this if it wasn't for the Accutane.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So you didn't want to take the plea deal?

[Connor Hilton]

I didn't.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You didn't want to take the plea deal? No. No. But Connor.

[Connor Hilton]

Well, he did.

[Narrator/Reporter]

What did Connor tell you?

[Connor Hilton]

I don't want the families to have to go through that.

[Narrator/Reporter]

They say their son didn't want Ethan Riley's family and Ben Bleak in his family to have to suffer through a trial. And he also didn't want to risk receiving a life sentence.

[Connor Hilton]

He was trying to get us on board with it. And I said, bud, I said, it's just A long time.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But ultimately the decision was Connors and he chose to accept the deal. Connor's defense attorneys say they didn't counsel him one way or the other, but they believe he made the right call.

[Connor Hilton]

I think the consensus between the three of us was there was a very strong possibility that he would get life. That body cam video walking in the house. It's a very difficult body cam video to watch.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But while Connor Hilton and his defense team had worried about the possibility of a life sentence, prosecutor Kayla Allen had worried about the opposite. My main concern was he was a young hip and I think that at times it hurts juries hearts to sentence a young kid to life. We did not plea the case because we were worried about the Accutane. It was more his age. She says she offered the deal only after confirming the victims families were on board.

[Connor Hilton]

All rise.

[Narrator/Reporter]

On September 2, 2025, a plea hearing was held.

[Connor Hilton]

To my understanding, you're here this morning to enter a plea on both of these charges. Is that correct? Yes. Yes, you, Honor. How do you plead to each of these charges? Guilty. He was crying because he was going through prison, not because he felt bad.

[Narrator/Reporter]

For what he did. Do you think that Connor's acne medication played anymore? No. We know a lot of people who've taken that medication and they don't have homicidal tendencies. Correct. Why do you think Connor pulled the trigger?

[Connor Hilton]

Because he wanted to murder somebody.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After Conner Hilton formally accepted the plea, Ben got the chance to make a victim impact statement. He made it clear to Conner how he felt.

[Connor Hilton]

First of all, stop sniveling, stop crying. You did this to yourself. Secondly, the grief you have caused deraillease and my own family. I will never forgive you.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Shannon addressed the court next. She turned her attention to Connor's mother. We are all living this nightmare because a mother chose not to tell her son no when he asked her to buy a gun. This mother put the gun in the hand of a child who should not have had it.

[Connor Hilton]

Shame on you.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Remember, Connor had told police his mother bought him the gun.

[Connor Hilton]

I convinced my mom to buy that gun for me. So.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And in the hours after the crime, johnniece also told that to police.

[Connor Hilton]

What was the reason for buying the gun? He wanted to get it. Okay.

[Narrator/Reporter]

But when we interviewed both Connor and Johnice Hilton, they denied that the gun was purchased for him. I purchased that for myself. Why did you tell the police that you did buy it for him?

[Connor Hilton]

I have no idea.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I don't even remember that they showed me the interview.

[Connor Hilton]

I don't Have.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I have no memory of that. Do you think you were covering for him? Why would you say that?

[Connor Hilton]

I have no idea.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Johnice Hilton has not been charged with any crime in connection with the case. And even though she bought the gun less than two months before the crime, she insists she had no idea her son was homicidal. There were these social media posts that he made about murder cases. He watched a lot of murder videos. Weren't these warning signs? No, I didn't think so. The Hiltons continue to blame the acne medication. You bought the gun in November. You didn't see any effects of the acne and medication. Psychologically, that would lead you to think, I shouldn't have a gun in the house.

[Connor Hilton]

I didn't.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I didn't. No. Still, Johnny says she lives with an enormous amount of regret.

[Connor Hilton]

I'm so sorry that this happened. And I do feel responsible. I wish I could go back and change everything.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And I wouldn't not have purchased the firearm.

[Connor Hilton]

I wouldn't have made him take the acne medicine.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The last person to address the court during Connor Hilton's plea hearing was Matthew Riley, Ethan Reilly's father.

[Connor Hilton]

I sit here with so much love, love in my heart for my son Ethan.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Ethan's. His mother, Tara Riley, stood behind him. They declined our request for an interview.

[Connor Hilton]

He's a beautiful soul, full of love and light. You can see that light in his eyes and hear it in his laughter.

[Narrator/Reporter]

After that, Connor Hilton was taken into custody. We spoke to him inside the Galveston County Jail the next day.

[Connor Hilton]

Just the feeling of loneliness yesterday was unbearable. I mean, don't get me wrong, I did it to myself. I'm the reason why I'm here. But it just. It sucks.

[Narrator/Reporter]

For Ben, bleak. Everyday life remains a challenge. He plays pickleball and basketball to help restore his mobility. But he says one person has helped him the most.

[Connor Hilton]

My mom. She's always there for me.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Can you explain how difficult this has been?

[Connor Hilton]

It is very difficult, but pouting about it is not going to get Ethan back.

[Narrator/Reporter]

So.

[Connor Hilton]

Just gotta keep going. Yeah.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Go easy on me, my friend. Whoops.

[Connor Hilton]

Oops.

[Narrator/Reporter]

See, my backhand is bad, too.

[Connor Hilton]

Yours is not as bad as my mom.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Oh, is that what we do?

[Connor Hilton]

Yeah. Good game. Good job, guys. Connor Hilton will be eligible for parole in August 2050. He will be 43 years old. It is my great honor to welcome.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You all to Starfleet Academy. There's never been a better time to.

[Connor Hilton]

Enroll in Star Trek.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It's our job to prepare you for the unimaginable. To the night cadet in high pressure situations. Positive reinforcement is crucial to 160. You're doing a great job.

[Connor Hilton]

This is what we train for. These friends of mine, they all live for something bigger than themselves.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Starfleet Academy new series now streaming on Paramount.

[Connor Hilton]

Plus at Pluto tv.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We're celebrating Black History Month with our.

[Connor Hilton]

Free curated collection of black entertainment. No ifs, ands or buts about catch.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Award winning films like Dreamgirls, Monsters Ball and Cell Coma.

[Connor Hilton]

We must make a massive demonstration.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Iconic hits like School Days and Set It Off.

[Connor Hilton]

Plus full seasons of shows like Tyler.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Perry's Sisters and Power.

[Connor Hilton]

I got you it. Star studded, brilliant black entertainment. And it's all free. It's getting good this month and always on Udo tv.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Stream now pay never.