I am honored to be in the just released show: Hidden Danger: Animal Cruelty Next Door
It was a reign of terror which would not stop! Who was attacking beloved neighborhood dogs? As a Navy veteran is brought to trial in this heartbreaking and terrifying case, I was inside the courtroom. The haunting question remained: Why did he do it? Was the reason to be found in childhood abuse? Or was it the effects of traumatic combat battle? Or was it something else? Please join me and psychologist Dr. Brian Alman as we discuss the David Herbert criminal trial and examine the why behind animal cruelty. Though disturbing, we can’t turn away if true solutions are to be found. Find out what you can do right now to help stop the abuse of innocents. We can stop animal cruelty if we all work together!
To learn more about this case, please read my story on my website, “A Navy Veteran’s Sentencing: Why Did He Torture His Neighbors’ Dogs?”
https://aleidalaw.com/a-navy-veterans-sentencing-why-did-he-torture-his-neighbors-dogs-2/
Here is the beginning of my story: It was three months of terror for the Morales family, which ended in an act so horrifying that two years later they are still reeling and in immense pain. Even before the courtroom doors opened, the tears began to fall. It all began in 2016 when they rented a house in Oceanside. Thrilled the owner allowed them to have pets, they happily let their two dogs, gorgeous Siberian huskies named Estrella and Cocuyo, run freely in the backyard. The days of bliss were short lived though, as they were soon the target of escalating attacks.
On December 16, 2016, the family returned from breakfast and found Estrella and Cocuyo in the backyard disoriented and lethargic. A veterinarian told them it appeared like marijuana poisoning. Two months later, their dog Cocuyo went missing. He was eventually found on the Camp Pendleton military base by a good Samaritan. On February 24, 2017, Maria Morales arrived home after dropping her children off at school and discovered the dogs crying in great distress and appearing wet. Someone had poured a chemical agent on them, causing intense burning. Following this attack, the Morales family decided they would keep their dogs inside. Throughout these months, they also found their tires repeatedly slashed on their vehicles. In one frightening instance, tires exploded while Mrs. Morales was driving, causing a near accident. Who hated them and why? But the worst was yet to come.
About Aleida K. Wahn, Esq.
I am an attorney, award-winning true crime writer, and legal analyst of criminal cases. I cover criminal trials and write stories and books about compelling, gripping, and unforgettable cases that impact our world. I take you into the courtroom in high-profile murder trials, rape cases, crimes of passion, cases involving mental illness, deviant behavior, and more. I have a deep passion for true crime, criminal law, and all aspects of the criminal justice system. I have appeared as an expert on true crime shows, including “48 Hours,” “Snapped,” and “The Dead Files,” and provided legal analysis on high-profile criminal trials on Court TV, the Law & Crime Trial Network, Fox 5 News, ABC 10 News, and KUSI News. I also create and host shows with the Del Mar Television Producers Group, addressing criminal justice and social issues in recent criminal trials.
I provided my insight and legal analysis on Court TV and the Law & Crime Trial Network of the high-profile trial of former NFL star Kellen Winslow Jr. It was a trial that captured the nation as the heralded ex-football star with fame, fortune, and a famous name stood accused of multiple rapes and other sex crimes involving five women. As the trial delved into shocking facts, complicated legal issues, and unexpected twists and turns, I was there for every minute. After the trial, I wrote a book on the case, going behind the headlines to share the extraordinary details of what happened inside the courtroom. Judging Winslow Jr.: From NFL Star to Serial Rapist? Inside the Shocking Rape Trial of Kellen Boswell Winslow II is now available on Amazon.
I am passionate about telling true crime stories, as these penetrating stories have the power to move us all, while highlighting societal issues which need to be addressed. I have personally seen the human devastation which is present in each trial and believe there is a lesson to be learned in every single case. It is through awareness and examining critical issues society can effect change and even make new laws. To learn more, please visit: https://www.aleidalaw.com.
Read about the gripping and unforgettable trials that I have covered in my latest books:
