True Crime Obsessed – Episode 458: Sin City Clickbait (Deadly Influence S1E1)
Release Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Patrick Hines & Jenny Benzavalli
Episode Overview
In this lively recap, Patrick and Jenny dive into the first episode of Hulu’s “Deadly Influence”—focusing on the rise and violent fall of Ash Armand, a Las Vegas sex worker turned reality star and self-styled influencer. The hosts dissect how influencer culture, male escorting, Vegas nightlife, and unchecked ego combine in a tale of deception, drugs, and ultimately, murder. With TCO’s signature blend of sass, empathy, and pop-culture references, they explore how the lure of Sin City’s excesses can end in tragedy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The World of Male Escorts & ‘Cowboys for Angels’
- The episode opens with discussion around Cowboys for Angels, a male companion service catering to women (03:00).
- Jenny: “It’s a boyfriend experience with no strings attached.” (02:55)
- Patrick jokes about wishing there was a grinder for foot rubs (03:41).
- Discussion about the website’s all-female staff offering comfort and the legal gray area around sex work in Vegas (03:16-10:08).
- The hosts emphasize destigmatizing sex work, with both supporting the right to safe, consensual adult transactions.
2. Ash Armand’s Reality TV Stardom
- Ash (real name Akshaya Kubayak) is scouted for the agency and quickly cast on the Showtime series “Gigolos”—a reality show following male escorts in Vegas (11:17).
- Described as a “spiritual Zen warrior” with a unique look (“They keep comparing him to Fabio”; 06:20-06:25).
- The show creates personas for each performer: “Nick Hawk was the bad boy... Vin Armani the intellectual... Ash Armand, the spiritual Zen warrior.” (11:34)
- Jenny: “Zen and warrior don’t really go together.” (11:54)
- By season three, Ash is a fan favorite, booking tons of appointments thanks to his new celebrity (12:17).
3. The Emergence of Influencer Culture
- With Instagram’s boom in 2012, Ash expands his reach, building a hypersexualized online persona (14:17-17:59).
- Brent Holmes: “He’s trying to build himself up as a brand.” (16:19)
- Discussion of influencer privilege—gaining free entry to clubs, restaurants, gifts, travel (18:12).
- Jenny: “Building his brand. Business is booming… this is where we know everything is about to go to sh*t.” (16:33)
4. The Vegas Social Scene & Tucci Cash
- Ash starts dating Tucci Cash, a powerful Vegas-based influencer with millions of followers, becoming a “Vegas power couple” (20:04).
- Jenny: “She is the more famous one… they were a Vegas power couple.” (21:00-21:52)
- Ash becomes a “kept man,” reliant on Tucci for status and opportunity (24:32).
5. Ash’s Downward Spiral
- After Tucci ends their relationship due to Ash’s controlling nature and jealousy, Ash’s career unravels (29:32-30:50).
- Jenny: “She doesn’t have time for a jealous nightmare.” (29:32)
- He’s dropped from Cowboys for Angels and the reality show is canceled (33:26-33:45).
- Ash desperately tries to save his fading influence through increasingly erratic behavior: starting his own company, losing gigs due to unreliability, and fueling steroid use (36:12-39:47).
- He begins using social media for desperate spiritual branding (“...only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness… infinite power of our light.” - Jenny, 37:47).
6. New Relationships & Mushrooms
- Ash finds a new girlfriend, Tia Evans, another influencer (39:10), and explores psychedelics as “spiritual healing.”
- Allegedly grooms Tia into microdosing mushrooms (41:43).
- By 2020, Ash reinvents himself as a shaman-like wellness guru, offering “spiritual healing” and mushroom ceremonies to vulnerable clients (42:26-43:24).
7. The Tragic Fate of Harleen Dulay
- Harleen, a lonely cancer survivor seeking healing, books a session with Ash (43:37).
- They take psychedelics together and travel on “spiritual retreats,” with unclear boundaries between service and romance (50:49-51:50).
- Jenny: “He’s still really upset about his career… lots and lots and lots and lots of mushrooms and steroids… just a controlling, jealous nightmare.” (51:22)
- Ash’s drug use (mushrooms + steroids) leads to frightening hallucinations and psychosis (52:12).
- Tia: “He told me the devil was trying to disguise himself as his loved ones…” (52:16)
8. The Murder of Harleen Dulay
- On July 16, 2020, Ash calls 911 in an unhinged, rambling state, claiming his friend (Harleen) is unresponsive after taking mushrooms (57:11-59:41).
- Patrick: “This call… is so premeditated. The tone.” (57:18)
- The autopsy reveals Harleen was brutally beaten to death, her jaw pulverized, and blood found throughout the apartment—even inside the washing machine (60:05-61:02).
- Brent Holmes: “There is pulverization of the jaw, teeth fragments found in the stomach.” (60:05)
- Hosts express horror at the violence and question the blame placed on mushrooms when evidence suggests steroids/mental unraveling were key contributors (61:42).
9. Aftermath & Reflections
- Ash is convicted of manslaughter and mayhem (malicious disfiguring) and sentenced to 8–20 years; eligible for parole in 2028 (63:27-66:18).
- Jenny: “It was a violent, aggressive, brutal attack and senseless.” (64:10)
- Tia reflects on her narrow escape: “It could have been me.” (62:55)
- Tucci moves on, thriving in her post-Ash career, now happily married and making OnlyFans content with her husband (65:32).
- Ash is rumored to be linked to “freak-off” sex parties involving Sean Combs (Diddy), per People Magazine reports (65:45).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Male Escorts:
- “Super boring. One thing that’s actually cool though… you will be working with our all-female staff… more comfortable for you if you’re talking to another woman.” – Jenny (03:01)
- “Can I just go on the record and say I’m in support of all of this? If you want to be able to pay for sex from a consenting adult, you should certainly be able to do it.” – Patrick (03:27)
On Fame & Vegas:
- “Vegas is exactly what it is. And it knows that. And that’s all it wants to be.” – Jenny (21:00)
- “It’s like Showgirls—Nomi could have gone anywhere. She went to Vegas, baby.” – Patrick (21:04)
On Social Media Influence:
- “He can go anywhere, which basically means, like, you can get into the clubs and restaurants… but because he has like hundreds of thousands of followers, he can...” – Jenny (18:31)
- “I think the influencer culture is so wild. I love scrolling and just being like, what are we talking about?” – Patrick (15:42)
On Ash’s Downfall:
- “He’s posting really, like, semi-pornographic pictures on his social… losing everything. So he’s doing everything he can think of to maintain… the followers and the money.” – Patrick (37:04)
- “He’s still not doing that great… lots and lots and lots and lots of mushrooms and then some more mushrooms. He’s also on steroids… the substances are not helping at all.” – Jenny (51:22)
On Violence and Aftermath:
- “There is pulverization of the jaw, teeth fragments found in the stomach.” – Brent Holmes (60:05)
- “It was a violent, aggressive, brutal attack and senseless.” – Jenny (64:10)
On Reflection:
- “It could have been me.” – Tia Evans (62:56)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Cowboys for Angels and the Male Escort World: 02:55–10:08
- Gigolos Reality Show, Ash’s Persona: 11:17–13:14
- Influencer Culture in Vegas: 14:17–18:12
- Tucci Cash and Power Couple Dynamics: 20:04–25:00
- Ash’s Downfall – Jealousy, Drugs, and Career Crash: 29:32–36:12
- Ash’s Spiritual “Wellness” Pivot and Harleen’s Arrival: 41:43–43:37
- Tragic Murder of Harleen Dulay: 57:11–61:42
- Legal Outcome and Closing Reflections: 63:27–66:18
Tone & Style
The hosts blend humor (often dark), compassion for victims, sharp media analysis, and rapid-fire asides referencing pop culture (Showgirls, The Spice Girls, Gilded Age TikTok). Despite their levity, they condemn violence and manipulative behavior, advocating for respect, safety, and skepticism toward “gurus" and wellness scams.
Final Takeaways
- Influence, when unchecked, can have deadly consequences—especially when intersected with fragile egos, drugs, and the performative nature of Vegas nightlife.
- Mental health struggles, steroid abuse, and a craving for fame left a devastating aftermath for Ash’s victims.
- Legitimate wellness practices must be clearly distinguished from exploitative, self-styled “healers.”
- The Vegas influencer scene, while glamorous, is fraught with competition, jealousy, and very real personal risk.
Closing:
True Crime Obsessed continues to bring heart, humor, and a shot of real talk to the darkest corners of true crime, making even Vegas’ wildest tales accessible and engaging for all listeners.