MK True Crime — January 21, 2026

"Bombshell Evidence in Busfield Case, Nick Reiner’s Conservatorship, and Defense Delay Tactics in Tyler Robinson Trial"

Host: Dave Aronberg
Co-Host: Ashley Merchant
Guest: Joel Waldman, Surviving the Survivor podcast

Episode Overview

In this episode, the panel dives into three highly publicized cases:

1. Tyler Robinson's defense strategies and delay tactics in the murder of Charlie Kirk
2. Developments in the indictment of Dr. Michael McKee in the double homicide of Spencer and Monique Tepe
3. Nick Reiner’s mental health conservatorship and its legal strategy implications, plus explosive new evidence in the Timothy Busfield sexual abuse case

Special guest Joel Waldman joins to offer legal and media perspective, sharing insight from his work covering the Reiner and Busfield cases.

Tyler Robinson Trial: Defense Delay Tactics & Prosecutor Disqualification

Key Discussion Points

• Defense's Motion to Disqualify Prosecutors
  • Defense claims a conflict of interest due to an 18-year-old child of a prosecutor being present at the crime scene and texting their parent—a county attorney about it.
  • The motion argues the prosecution team is “serving two masters” (State of Utah and their own interests) [04:05].
• Possible Delay Tactic
  • Ashley Merchant: “Even as a defense lawyer, I can't help but think that this is a delay tactic... delay is a strategy in death penalty cases.” [04:44]
  • Dave Aronberg (host, ex-prosecutor): “This seems to be so bogus... defense grasping at straws.” [05:38]
• Prosecution’s Response
  • They call the motion an “ambush,” and another stalling tactic [05:16].
• Camera/Lip Reading Incident
  • Defense objected to courtroom cameras showing defendant’s side conversations, which were lip-read by TV experts. Judge barred future focus on Robinson, “the camera shall not photograph Mr. Robinson at all” [07:19].
• Roommate Lance Twiggs and Witness Reluctance
  • Discussion of FBI protection ending for key witness/roommate; witness’s family confirms police “have the right person in custody” but reveal hesitance in cooperation [09:55–11:05].
• Victim’s Bill of Rights & Right to Speedy Trial
  • Utah allows victim’s family (Erica Kirk) to invoke speedy trial—a right unique compared to many states [12:32].
  • Merchant: “I love the fact…they can ask for speedy trial.” [13:27]
• Meta-Discussion on Victims’ Rights
  • Aronberg: “Victims are not mentioned not once in our US Constitution… that’s why state constitutions… need to have some sort of victims rights.” [14:24]
  • Merchant points out complexity and ambiguity in defining “victim” status.

Notable Quotes

• Ashley Merchant (on delay tactics):

  “I had a death penalty attorney tell me once that we are oncologists when we have death penalty cases. We're just trying to keep the patient alive as long as possible.” [04:44]

• Dave Aronberg:

  “Anyone with common sense knows that this is the right person. I mean, he has a confession. I mean, this was. This was the guy.” [11:42]

Timestamps:

• Prosecutor disqualification motion: [02:34–05:38]
• Lip reading/camera issue: [06:49–08:20]
• Witness discussion: [09:46–11:42]
• Victims’ rights debate: [12:32–15:38]

Dr. Michael McKee & The Tepe Murders

Key Discussion Points

• Indictment of Dr. McKee
  • McKee indicted for the murders of his ex-wife Monique and her husband Spencer Tepe; no forced entry, children left unharmed, no theft.
  • Panel agrees ex-spouse status suggests common motive, but surprised given the long (2017) gap since divorce [19:47].
• Allegations of Silencer Use
  • Silencer may indicate calculated effort; debate on whether it reflected self-preservation or a twisted compassion for the children [19:47].
• Motive
  • TikTok ex-girlfriend shares McKee’s story of “devastating” post-divorce loss and abandonment, framing a possible long-boiling resentment [21:37].
• Legal Mechanics
  • Four counts of murder (for two deaths): prosecutors charge multiple ways (e.g., premeditation, actual intent) to cover all bases [22:40].
  • Death penalty unlikely, not sought even though aggravators (multiple victims, premeditation) exist [23:25–24:37].

Notable Quotes

• Ashley Merchant:

  “As soon as I found out that they were divorced, I thought, there's gotta be some link there. But...the time...their divorce was...years ago. Typically, you would see some type of violence like this after the divorce was recent, you know, raw...” [19:41]

• TikTok Ex-Girlfriend:

  “What he told me was…he came home…and Monique had vanished. Like she took everything…He was just left very stunned because he didn't see this coming.” [21:37]

Timestamps:

• Tepe case discussion: [19:06–23:25]
• TikTok ex-girlfriend segment: [21:37]
• Legal strategy on charges/death penalty: [22:24–24:37]

Nick Reiner’s Conservatorship & Mental Health Defense

Key Discussion Points

• Loss of High-Powered Defense
  • Attorney Alan Jackson withdrew from case; family apparently cut financial support. Panel agrees money is “bottom line” [30:55–32:07].
• Insanity vs. Competency
  • Reports that Reiner is in a “childlike state”; debate over whether insanity or diminished capacity is viable, especially if motive (rage at conservatorship) is shown [31:32–32:46].
• Family Ties & Drug Use Impact
  • Evidence of meth and possible medication switch before double homicide; complex interplay of voluntary intoxication and “true” mental illness [34:02–34:51].
• Public & True Crime Community Reactions
  • Waldman: His audience, many of them survivors or recovery advocates, largely takes a hard line, “you've gotta distinguish between right and wrong” [35:13].
• Legal Prognosis
  • “At the bottom of it, he's not going home…he's not walking free.” (Merchant) [34:51]
  • Waldman: “This is the mega case...almost everyone knows someone with mental illness or drug addiction. And so this has really, really hit home for a lot of people.” [37:07]

Notable Quotes

• Ashley Merchant:

  “These are difficult cases. So while you might be able to lower your fee on some cases, cases with mental health defense are by far the most exhausting. Mentally, physically, emotionally, everything.” [32:46]

• Joel Waldman (on the scope):

  “Of all the cases we've covered, you know, this is the mega case...almost everyone knows somebody with mental illness or drug addiction.” [37:07]

Timestamps:

• Introduction and attorney withdrawal: [27:52–32:07]
• Insanity/motive debate: [32:07–34:02]
• Community reaction: [34:51–37:51]

Timothy Busfield Abuse Charges: Legal & Public Opinion Perspectives

Key Discussion Points

• Allegations & Studio Investigation
  • Busfield faces multiple serious sexual abuse charges involving minors; industry investigation yielded mixed findings, some witnesses allegedly scared to testify due to Busfield’s power [40:45].
• Twin Victims and Changing Stories
  • Initial police interviews with alleged twin victims have them deny abuse—“No, he's never touched me.” [43:20]; later reports claim admissions after therapy.
• Admissibility of Past Allegations
  • Busfield previously faced allegations in 1994 and 2012 (17 and 20-year-olds); questions if these prior acts are admissible in his defense of current charges [44:20].
  • Merchant argues significant legal differences between assaults on ‘of age’ women vs. prepubescent boys.
• Impact of New Allegations
  • Additional report of abuse by Busfield of another minor raises ire—especially at the alleged victim's father (a therapist) for not reporting at the time [46:01–46:45].
• Assessment Results
  • Busfield passed a sexual risk (Abel) assessment and a polygraph; these findings could be admissible [48:12].
• Mother’s Motive Questioned
  • Some evidence that mother of the twins threatened Busfield's reputation after her sons were dropped from a show [50:05].
• Battle of Attorneys
  • Waldman highlights that Busfield’s lawyers are “the best in the state” and “coming with, you know, boatloads of evidence” [50:42].

Notable Quotes

• Ashley Merchant (on past allegations):

  “I would argue those aren’t similar. And so they shouldn’t come in against a case where...it’s young boys that are being, you know, alleged to have been molested.” [44:20]

• Joel Waldman:

  “If you bring in the 16-year-old girl, it could be game over for Timothy Busfield.” [48:01]

• Dave Aronberg (on victim's parent):

  “They were more upset to the father who's a therapist for not reporting it.” [46:37]

Timestamps:

• Allegations & public reaction: [39:57–51:29]
• Audio of twins’ interview: [43:00]
• Legal strategy on similar acts: [44:20]
• New victim report: [46:01]
• Evidence assessments: [48:12]
• Parent’s possible vendetta: [50:05]

Legal Career Advice (Listener Question)

Key Points

• Advice for Law Grads:
  • Merchant: “Go hang out at the courthouse...start learning things…Watch trials, talk to different lawyers, see if maybe they need help...Courthouse is where the lawyers hang out.” [56:08]
  • Aronberg: “It’s all about connections. Go to a bar event...showing up.” [56:51–57:36]

Closing Arguments

Ashley Merchant

• Reframes mental health defenses:
  • “I would not want an insanity defense…It is so difficult. Jurors just, they think your client’s lying…you’re just going to go to a treatment facility…you’re just in a jail for those who are suffering from mental illness.” [57:56–60:00]

Dave Aronberg

• Football metaphor for legal progress:
  • “Sometimes we get it right…maybe we’re doing things better now than in the so-called good old days…lesson for law, too.” [60:06–63:50]
• Personal note on Miami football heartbreak and system improvement.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Merchant on Death Penalty Defense:

  “We are oncologists...just trying to keep the patient alive as long as possible.” [04:44]

• Waldman quoting his mother:

  “Savla nut...patience in Hebrew. She says it is happening [regarding the Adelson indictment], but I have no idea.” [28:48]

• Defense strategy explained lucidly for laypersons
• Insight into how victims’ rights laws differ across states

Final Thoughts

• The episode provides in-depth analysis on legal strategies, the complexities of high-profile cases, and how media coverage, victim rights, and defense tactics shape outcomes.
• Joel Waldman’s guest segment adds media and psychological context—plus humor and candor—when untangling why public and media perceptions matter.
• The show maintains a conversational, sometimes irreverent tone, mixing legal expertise with true crime storytelling.

Notable Timestamps

• 02:34 – Tyler Robinson prosecutor disqualification
• 06:49 – Courtroom camera/lip reading
• 11:42 – “Anyone with common sense knows this is the right person”
• 19:47 – Tepe/McKee case and silencer debate
• 21:37 – TikTok ex-girlfriend
• 27:52 – Nick Reiner, attorney withdrawals
• 32:07 – Motive vs insanity defense debate
• 40:45 – Busfield case details
• 43:00 – Twin victims' original denials
• 56:08 – Law student advice
• 57:56 – Merchant’s closing on mental health defenses

(Summary reflects episode tone—candid, insightful, sometimes light—and provides a roadmap for listeners to revisit any segment in detail.)