MK True Crime Podcast – Episode Summary

Title: Could Diddy Get a Trump Pardon, Remains of Beauty Queen Found, Halloween Prank Pushes the Limits
Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Matt Murphy (B)
Contributors: Dave Aronberg (D), Mark Geragos (C)

Overview

This episode of MK True Crime delves into three major cases:

1. The controversial possibility of a Trump pardon or commutation for Sean “Diddy” Combs.
2. The disturbing developments in the murder of beauty queen Kada Scott in Philadelphia.
3. New evidence and legal maneuvering in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case (body in a Tesla).
   The panel, composed of former prosecutors and prominent defense lawyers, provides inside legal, political, and procedural insights, with spirited debate on prosecutorial strategy, public safety, and criminal justice reform.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Could Diddy Get a Trump Pardon or Commutation?

[01:34 – 12:59]

• Case Status & Context:
  • Diddy’s lawyers have notified the court they plan to file an appeal.
  • Rumors (via TMZ) that President Trump may commute Diddy’s sentence soon.
  • Diddy was acquitted of major charges but convicted under the Mann Act, facing a lengthy sentence, considered unusually harsh for this charge.
• Insider Connections:
  • Mark Geragos’s daughter was part of Diddy’s defense team; Geragos is also friends with key people at TMZ.
• Legal & Political Analysis:
  • Trump isn’t running for reelection, but has previously shown leniency—especially toward celebrities (“Trump has a soft spot in his heart for celebrities or people with money. That’s Diddy.” – Dave, 04:42).
  • Panelists agree Diddy’s sentence is unusually long for the Mann Act, suggesting prosecutorial overreach and weaponization (“…anybody who was an objective observer of Diddy’s prosecution would say it was weaponized.” – Mark, 06:03).
  • The leaking of hotel video footage of Diddy, which influenced public opinion and the outcome, is seen as pivotal.
• Possible Motives for Trump:
  • Personal animosity towards James Comey and his daughter (one of the prosecutors).
  • A move to undermine Comey’s “win” could influence Trump’s decision (“…he wants to bury Comey’s daughter. He got her fired. And he also notices that she was one of the lead prosecutors here on the Diddy case. So it definitely helps Diddy’s cause.” – Dave, 10:32).
• Notable Moment:
  • Debate on whether Diddy should parallel his case with Trump’s own legal troubles, making appeals to the idea of “weaponized prosecution.”
  • “All Diddy should or could say is, look, I’ve seen now what happens when you’re in New York and they…want to take you out. I’ve seen how they weaponize the criminal justice system. By the way, who else has been the victim of weaponization at the hands of New York prosecutors but Donald Trump?” – Mark, 11:31

Memorable Quotes

• “Trump has a soft spot in his heart for celebrities or people with money. That’s Diddy.” – Dave (04:42)
• “Anybody who was an objective observer of Diddy’s prosecution would say it was weaponized.” – Mark (06:03)
• “If you talk about a constituency, who is Santos’s constituency?...I don’t think there’s any love, loss for Santos, but I think Trump feels for people when they get jobbed…” – Mark (06:03)
• “The leaking of that video…was front and center in the prosecution. That video is what turned the public against him.” – Mark (08:41)

2. The Remains of Beauty Queen Kada Scott Found; Prosecutorial Decisions Under Fire

[13:47 – 25:46]

• Case Recap:
  • Remains of missing beauty queen Kada Scott were found in Philadelphia.
  • A suspect with a history of violence against women was arrested.
  • The same DA’s office had previously dropped charges after a key victim failed to appear in court.
• Breakdown of Systemic Failures:
  • Dave points out the consequences of criminal justice reform: the accused was released on bail, which likely frightened victims from cooperating (“Because he was out, that…is the reason why the first victim refused to cooperate because she was so scared.” – Dave, 13:57).
• Prosecutorial Perspective:
  • The panel discusses how, with independent evidence (a telling video), prosecutors should move forward regardless of victim cooperation.
  • Mark voices skepticism about prosecutors’ tendency to “cloak themselves” in victim advocacy, arguing such claims are sometimes used to justify personal or political goals (18:16).
• Public Policy Debate:
  • The discussion morphs into a critique of “Soros-backed” (progressive) DAs, particularly Larry Krasner (Philadelphia) and George Gascon (Los Angeles), and their perceived focus on defendant’s rights at the expense of public safety (“These progressive prosecutors are essentially advocating for the bad guys…the system becomes rigged.” – Matt, 49:34).
• Notable Quotes:
  • “When you have somebody who’s obviously dangerous, as this guy was, you’ve got to do what you can. They failed and a young woman died.” – Matt (19:31)
  • “When you wrap yourself up in the mantel of the vict—literally, this year have, I think, shown that that is nothing more than a proxy for whatever the prosecutor wants.” – Mark (18:16)
• Memorable, Tense Exchange:
  • Mark challenges the other panelists’ emotional reactions, calling Matt a “snowflake”—then both dig into the difficulties and failures of criminal justice reform in high-stakes cases.

3. Celeste Rivas Hernandez – Remains in a Tesla, New Evidence & Investigative Ethics

[27:12 – 38:34]

• Case Details:
  • Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s decomposed remains were found in the trunk of singer David’s Tesla, months after she disappeared.
  • The private investigator claims new evidence—potentially about who last parked the Tesla—has emerged.
  • Allegations of possible sadistic or ritualistic intent, unverified and speculative.
• Legal Insight:
  • No direct smoking gun against David yet; he has “lawyered up,” canceled public appearances, and moved assets to his mother.
  • Discussion on legal distinctions: “principal” vs. “accessory after the fact,” with a focus on the vastly different penalties in California (up to 18 months) vs. Florida (up to 30 years).
• Media & Investigative Conduct:
  • Dave criticizes investigators who speak to media mid-investigation, recalling the Dalia Dippolito case, where public exposure complicated prosecution (33:57).
  • “Never benefits the prosecution to have people speaking out while an investigation is pending.” – Dave (33:57)
• Notable Moment:
  • SOT from a private investigator alluding to “scary, sadistic stuff” (28:42)—participants critique the vagueness and potential prejudice such leaks have on possible prosecutions.

4. Halloween Prank Pushes the Limits of Homeowner Rights

[39:30 – 41:05]

• Incident Overview:
  • Viral video: Individuals in disguise bang on a family’s door, acting out “your worst nightmare.”
  • The hosts discuss the severe, almost tragic implications if this occurred in a “stand your ground” state (“If this had happened in Florida, they would have likely been shot. My goodness…” – Dave, 40:05).
• Legal Commentary:
  • Entry and threatening behavior could legally count as a burglary, thus justifying self-defense or even lethal force.
• Key Takeaway:
  • The panel underscores the real danger and recklessness of such “pranks,” warning potential copycats.

5. Nature vs. Nurture: Are Criminals Born?

[43:54 – 47:02]

• Listener Question:
  • Are criminals “born” or “made”?
• Panel Response:
  • Dave references cultural works (“Natural Born Killers,” “Clockwork Orange,” “Silence of the Lambs”) and sides with the need for rehabilitation, especially in juvenile justice.
  • Matt agrees, but draws a hard line: “You reach a point where I don’t care what their motivation is…Some people need to go to prison and not get out…” (45:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Politics and prosecutorial power are always a toxic cocktail.” – Judge Greg Jones, quoted by Matt (49:34)
• “There are certain people who need to be in prison and not get out, because as long as they continue to draw breath, they pose a danger.” – Matt (45:24)
• “Never benefits the prosecution to have people speaking out while an investigation is pending.” – Dave (33:57)
• “If this had happened in Florida, they would have likely been shot. My goodness…” – Dave (40:05)
• “Beautiful young woman should be alive today, and she’s not because of the policies of the far left Philadelphia District Attorney.” – Matt (49:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------| | 01:34 | Introduction, Diddy’s case overview | | 03:02 | Mark Geragos on Trump’s possible pardon | | 04:09 | Dave Aronberg: Trump’s motivations | | 06:03 | Discussion on political and legal repercussions | | 08:41 | Leaked video, public perception | | 13:47 | Kada Scott murder case recap | | 16:04 | Discussion of incriminating video evidence | | 18:16 | Debate on prosecutorial “victim advocacy” | | 27:12 | Celeste Rivas Hernandez/Tesla case opens | | 28:42 | PI’s vague, sensational interview | | 33:57 | Risks of investigators/media exposure | | 39:30 | Halloween prank video, homeowner rights | | 43:54 | Listener Q: Criminal nature vs. nurture | | 47:02 | Closing arguments / Rants | | 49:34 | Toxic mix of politics and prosecution |

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, sometimes combative, but always rooted in deep experience and legal insight. The hosts use dark humor, anecdotal wisdom, and plain language to dissect complex justice issues, often relating debates to personal cases and well-known failures or controversies in the field.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of MK True Crime highlights the enduring tension between criminal justice reform and public safety, the complexities of high-profile prosecutions, and the unpredictable influence of politics and media on the American justice system. Whether debating a theoretical Trump pardon for Diddy, dissecting DA failures in Philadelphia, or decrying reckless Halloween pranks, the panel’s inside-baseball style and legal backstories provide an absorbing window into the world of real-life crime and punishment.