MK True Crime Podcast Summary

Episode Title: High Profile Lawyer Quits Nick Reiner Case, with Maureen Callahan, Plus Motive Questions in Dentist Double Murder and Uvalde Massacre Trial
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Mark Eiglars (with Jonna Spilbert and guest Maureen Callahan)

Overview

This episode of the MK True Crime podcast, hosted by Mark Eiglars with co-host Jonna Spilbert and guest Maureen Callahan, covers three high-profile cases:

1. Uvalde Massacre Trial: Criminal charges against former school district officer Adrian Gonzalez, scrutinizing the precedent of prosecuting police for failure to intervene in mass shootings.
2. Dentist Double Murder Mystery (Tepe Murders): Analysis of the unsolved killing of Spencer and Monique Tepe and speculation about motives.
3. Nick Reiner Parricide Case: Discussion on the high-profile exit of attorney Alan Jackson, speculation on the reason behind it, and the legal strategy going forward.
4. Brief Segment on Corey Richards "Fentanyl Moscow Mule" Murder Case: Pre-trial issues and a look at expert testimony.

The episode is marked by candid legal analysis, sharp banter, and memorable commentary—balancing empathy for victims with deep skepticism of prosecutorial overreach and court theatrics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UVALDE MASSACRE TRIAL – CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST ADRIAN GONZALEZ

(Main Segment: 00:34–25:39)

• Case Overview: Adrian Gonzalez, a former Uvalde school police officer, faces 29 counts of child endangerment after failing to confront the gunman during the Robb Elementary School shooting (May 2022).
• Precedent Tie-In: The case mirrors the earlier prosecution of Florida school officer Scott Peterson, whom Mark defended to an acquittal. Both were criminally charged for perceived inaction during school shootings.

Key Topics

• Criminalizing Police Inaction:

  • Mark Eiglars: “He’s being charged with being criminally negligent. Criminally negligent for his inactivity.” (03:06)
  • Jonna Spilbert: “What was a bit new, in my opinion, was the fact that you had resource school officers...now being charged criminally because of someone else’s crime.” (04:55)

• Role of Politics:

  • Both Mark and Jonna argue that political pressure, not evidence, drove these prosecutions.
  • Mark Eiglars: “Politics played such a role...The shit’s hitting the fan with the police chief. So he goes, okay, I need someone to sacrifice.” (07:15)

• Actual Facts on the Ground:

  • Both officers (Peterson and Gonzalez) were in confusion and did not know the shooter’s location.
  • Mark Eiglars: “Tremendous confusion on the scene...he doesn’t know [where the shooter is].” (08:26)

• On Prosecutorial Sympathy & Courtroom Tactics:

  • Discussion of the prosecutor crying in opening, use of autopsy photos—both viewed as playing to jury sympathy.
  • Jonna Spilbert: “I don’t think...I’ve seen a prosecutor cry in opening statement. So my first thought, Mark, is this guy’s full of crazy. He’s acting.” (15:26)
  • Mark Eiglars: “If the defense is going to stipulate that they died, what’s the relevance [of autopsy photos]?” (19:18)

• Emotional Toll and Legal Precedent:

  • Jonna Spilbert: “It will set a horrible precedent...These police officers...are very good. And this man, Mr. Gonzalez, who’s standing trial, he took an oath to protect and serve. You don’t think he’s dying on the inside, too[?]” (24:24)
  • Mark Eiglars: “Getting it wrong, meaning making mistakes, doesn’t mean that you committed a criminal act. Cops cannot be held up to perfection.” (25:07)

Notable Quotes

• “You don’t do justice for the victims by doing an injustice against decent, honorable officers.”
  –Mark Eiglars (09:11)

• “Wrong case, wrong politics, wrong everything. And, yes, I feel for the families.” –Mark Eiglars (09:23)

• “It’s almost like wash, rinse, repeat of what happened in Florida.”
  –Jonna Spilbert (12:43)

2. DENTIST DOUBLE MURDER (TEPE CASE – COLUMBUS, OHIO)

(27:33–35:27)

• Victims: Spencer Tepe (dentist) and his wife Monique, executed in their home, no forced entry, two young children present but unharmed.
• Motive & Suspects: No leads, speculation about love triangles, houseguests, or murder-suicide quickly ruled out for lack of murder weapon.

Key Topics

• Strange 911 Call (April 15, 2025):

  • Female caller, “just having a little argument with my man,” hangs up, seems to be crying; police did not dispatch officers.
  • Wife’s brother-in-law insists that wasn’t her on call—raises questions of infidelity or third-party involvement.

• Speculation:

  • Jonna Spilbert: “There had to be some sort of love triangle...that’s why there are more bullet holes in the husband than in the wife.” (34:46)
  • Mark Eiglars: Suggests possible misattributed 911 call due to cell tower ambiguity.

Notable Moment

• “What’s weirder is that dispatch 911 didn’t send a cop to the location. She’s crying, hesitating...In the abundance of caution, you send someone, right?”
  –Jonna Spilbert (31:53–32:06)

3. PARALLEL SEGMENT: NICK REINER PARRICIDE CASE—LAWYER WITHDRAWS, FAMILY DRAMA, INSANITY DEFENSE

(37:45–57:45, with Maureen Callahan guesting)

• Headline: Alan Jackson, high-profile attorney, abruptly withdrew from defending Nick Reiner (Rob and Michelle Reiner’s son), citing “circumstances beyond our control.” The public defender was appointed.
• Speculation: Financial reasons (“Mr. Green not showing up”—no payment), amplified by Nick’s siblings refusing to spend family trust money on the defense.

Key Topics

• Lawyer Withdrawal — Behind the Scenes:

  • Maureen Callahan: “They’ve decided there’s no way in hell their parents' trust is going to fund their murderous brother’s defense. Alan Jackson...requires like a million-dollar retainer.” (40:36)
  • Jonna Spilbert: “I’m embarrassed for Alan Jackson. I’m embarrassed that he came out...and then all of a sudden, when the money doesn’t arrive, it’s like, oh, wait...You didn’t get paid...” (42:10)

• Legal Posturing – “Not Guilty” vs. “Innocent”:

  • Jackson says: “Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that. Print that.” (46:04)
  • Hosts observe this as legalese—“Not guilty doesn’t mean innocent.”
  • Maureen Callahan: “He’s such a drama queen…pursuant to the laws of California.” (46:59)

• Discussion on Insanity Defense:

  • Nick’s schizoaffective disorder is documented; the defense’s only hope is an insanity plea.
  • Maureen Callahan: “He could be suffering from schizophrenia...and piece together all the video evidence we’ve seen...very calmly walking away...[It] speaks of premeditation.” (51:27)
  • Jonna Spilbert: “He is going to be found guilty of the killing...The question...is what level will it be mitigated because of his, his mental illness?” (53:11)

• Likelihood of Plea Deal:

  • Spilbert: “99%...Rob Reiner’s kids are going to say we don’t want our brother to go to trial. We [want him to] take a deal.” (56:29)

• Family Dynamics:

  • Public airing of family “secrets” is a risk for public trial—a plea may shield reputations.

Notable Quotes

• Maureen Callahan:
  “They’re not going to want to sully their parents’ reput[ation] with a trial. That was a very, very sick house...” (57:01)
• Jonna Spilbert:
  “He doesn’t want his departure to look bad...He’s grandstanding.” (50:15)

4. OTHER CASE UPDATES: COREY RICHARDS “MOSCOW MULE FENTANYL” MURDER

(57:46–64:20)

• Background: Richards accused of killing husband with fentanyl-laced drink, then writing a children’s book about grief.
• Pre-trial Hearings:
  • Debate over expert testimony (handwriting analyst, “pathway to violence” model, domestic violence expert).
• Hosts’ Take:
  • Skepticism over “pathway to violence” expert (“Never heard of it in 33 years…” –Mark Eiglars, 59:13).
  • Jonna Spilbert: Such expert testimony is mostly normal courtroom maneuvering, not a big win/lose for either side.

Notable Quote

• Maureen Callahan:
  “She’s such a saint that she didn’t even want to kill her drug addict husband...He just did it himself. You know, it like strains [credulity]...don’t insult our intelligence, please.” (63:19)

Listener Mail & Closing Arguments

(67:30–77:28)

• Defense Attorney Ethics:

  • Q: Can you represent clients you know are guilty?
  • Spilbert: “It’s both [to get not guilty verdict and keep prosecution fair]...sometimes, not all the time.” (69:20)
  • Mark Eiglars: “A lot of the conduct of my clients repulses me...I look at those cases as a challenge for me to divorce myself from what they did...” (70:04)

• Positivity & Mindfulness:

  • Mark Eiglars: “In every single moment, I have a choice. I can choose to be miserable...or I can choose to be happy. Change your thoughts to change how you feel.” (71:11)

• Jonna’s Rant on Court Attire:

  • Entertaining critique of lawyers and defendants dressing down in court: “Show up looking like you just finished shoveling your driveway...Clients pay us big bucks...the least we can do is look the part.” (73:53)
  • “Dress for the job you want...when you’re an attorney in court...here’s a better idea—dress for the job you already have.” (77:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Uvalde Officer Charges & Legal Debate: 00:34–25:39
  • Prosecutor’s emotional opening: 13:14–17:02
  • Use of autopsy photos discussion: 19:18–22:14
• Tepe Dentist Double Murder Overview: 27:33–35:27
  • 911 call analysis: 30:26–33:38
  • Theories & speculation: 33:08–35:10
• Nick Reiner Case: Attorney Quits/Family Dynamics: 37:45–57:45
  • Alan Jackson withdrawal analysis: 40:36–43:45
  • “Not guilty” semantics: 46:04–47:57
  • Insanity defense debate: 51:27–55:18
  • Plea deal likelihood: 56:29–56:43
• Corey Richards Moscow Mule Murder – Pretrial: 57:46–64:20
  • “Pathway to violence” expert: 59:13–61:14
  • Domestic violence strategy: 62:44–63:52
• Listener Mail & Closing Arguments: 67:30–77:28

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Mark Eiglars: “You don’t do justice for the victims by doing an injustice against decent, honorable officers.” (09:11)
• Jonna Spilbert: “You don’t need to play on that level of emotion by showing autopsy photos of freaking children when it’s stipulated by the defense. Unless you don’t have additional facts on your side.” (20:03)
• Maureen Callahan: “They've decided there's no way in hell their parents' trust is going to fund their murderous brother’s defense. Alan Jackson...requires like a million dollar retainer.” (40:36)
• Jonna Spilbert: “I'm embarrassed for Alan Jackson...You didn't get paid and you don't know how to say [it] eloquently.” (42:10)
• Jonna Spilbert: “He is going to be found guilty of the killing of his parents. The question...is what level will it be mitigated because of his, his mental illness? And it probably will.” (53:11)

Tone and Language

• Candid, analytical, and witty. Moderates sympathy for victims with realpolitik legal skepticism.
• Sharp banter mixed with serious legal insights and humor, especially regarding courtroom theatrics and professional conduct.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

This episode delivers a deep legal dive into landmark cases at the intersection of criminal law, ethics, courtroom strategy, and public opinion. The show balances hard truths about victimhood and law enforcement with honesty about the limits of legal culpability, the realities of courtroom spectacle, and the sometimes unsavory business of legal defense. The episode is both engaging and accessible, providing meaningful context behind the headlines.

For more analysis, check out Maureen Callahan’s companion show, The Nerve, for extended pop-cultural and true crime commentary.