Eric Faddis On Sealed Subpoenas, Ballistic Evidence, And Why Monique Tepe's Divorce Records Show Nothing
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3.3 • 910 Ratings
🗓️ 17 January 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Attorney Eric Faddis breaks down the legal landscape across two major cases — and exposes where the system works, where it fails, and what happens next.
In the Nick Reiner case: Alan Jackson issued ten sealed subpoenas before withdrawing. He declared Nick "not guilty of murder" on the courthouse steps. There's a sealed medical order. Nick appeared in a suicide prevention smock. His medications aren't stabilized. Eric examines the competency question, what those subpoenas might reveal, and why the gas station surveillance footage showing Nick "calm" after the murders cuts both ways.
In the Tepe case: Police announced a preliminary NIBIN ballistic link connecting a weapon from Dr. McKee's property to the murders. Surveillance footage captured a vehicle traced to McKee arriving before and leaving after. Charges were upgraded to premeditated aggravated murder — death penalty eligible. Eric breaks down what "preliminary" ballistic evidence means, whether it can be challenged, and what defense strategies remain.
Then there's the domestic violence angle. Monique Tepe's family says she was emotionally abused. But the divorce records show no DV allegations, no protection orders — just "incompatibility." Eight years after the divorce, court activity brought McKee and Monique back together. Six months later, she was dead.
Eric examines why victims choose not to document abuse, how the legal system treats emotional abuse versus physical abuse, and whether court filings can be weaponized to force contact with an ex-spouse.
For anyone watching who recognizes their own situation in Monique's story, Eric offers legal advice on what steps victims can take to protect themselves — and where the system's limits are.
#EricFaddis #NickReiner #MichaelMcKee #MoniqueTepe #SpencerTepe #HiddenKillers #InsanityDefense #Ballistics #DomesticViolence #TrueCrime
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Hidden Killers Live with Tony Brewski, Stacey Cole, and Todd Michaels. |
| 0:09.8 | The Nick Reiner case took a dramatic turn in the last days when high-profile defense attorney |
| 0:16.2 | Alan Jackson, fresh off his Karen, Rita Quiddell, withdrew from representing Nick what was supposed to be his arraignment. |
| 0:23.0 | Jackson said he was legally and ethically prohibited from explaining why, citing circumstances beyond our control and, more importantly, beyond Nick's control. |
| 0:37.1 | But then he walked outside the courthouse |
| 0:39.4 | and told reporters pursuant to the law in california nick riner is not guilty of murder print that |
| 0:44.3 | take that to the bank nick is now represented by deputy public defender kimberly green arraignment has |
| 0:50.0 | been uh pushed now to february 23rd and there's a sealed medical order that sources say relates |
| 0:55.8 | to his mental health treatment. |
| 0:58.1 | He's charged a two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, multiple murders |
| 1:02.4 | with use of a deadly weapon, which means the DA can seek the death penalty or life without parole. |
| 1:08.3 | In this conviction, I want to break down what's actually happening now legally and what the road |
| 1:15.9 | ahead looks like to help us do that. |
| 1:17.5 | Eric Fattis is with us, defense attorney and former prosecutor. |
| 1:21.7 | Eric, welcome. |
| 1:23.3 | Let's start with Alan Jackson's withdrawal. |
| 1:26.3 | He said he was legally and ethically prohibited from explaining why, but then walked outside to more cameras and declared Nick Ryder not guilty of murder under California law. |
| 1:36.9 | What sort of circumstances would force a high-profile attorney to withdraw from a case while simultaneously continuing to make public declarations about it. |
| 1:45.6 | What does it tell you about where this case is headed, where this defense is headed? |
| 1:50.3 | So there are a number of potential reasons why an attorney would have to legally and ethically |
| 1:55.7 | withdraw. You know, when you're meeting with your client, you're receiving information from |
| 2:00.1 | them, and that is confidential and it's privileged, and you're meeting with your client, you're receiving information from them. |
... |
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