Michael Gargiulo

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Not to be confused with television director Mike Gargiulo or his son, television news anchor Michael Gargiulo (journalist).

Michael Gargiulo
MichaelGargiulo.jpg
Mugshot
Born
Michael Thomas Gargiulo

(1976-02-15) February 15, 1976 (age 45)[1]
Glenview, Illinois, U.S.
Other namesHollywood Ripper
Chiller Killer
The Boy Next Door Killer
Conviction(s)Murder
Criminal penaltyDeath[2]
Details
Victims3–10; 1 survived
Span of crimes
1993–2008
CountryUnited States
State(s)Illinois, California
Date apprehended
June 6, 2008

Michael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer[3] and rapist. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and has been nicknamed The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021.[4]

Description of crimes[]

Gargiulo is a native of Glenview, Illinois, where he may have stabbed his neighbor, 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, to death on her backdoor step. Her body was found by her father the next morning on August 14, 1993.[5][6] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of police in Illinois,[7] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.

On February 21, 2001, he stabbed 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin 47 times to death in her home in Hollywood. Ellerin's injuries included a neck wound that nearly severed her head, and deep punctures to the chest, stomach, and back. Some of them were up to six inches deep.[8] According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece."[8] On the night she was murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher.[9]

On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno, his neighbor, to death at her home in El Monte, California.[10] She was stabbed 17 times.[8]

Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old Michelle Murphy, in her home in Santa Monica on April 28, 2008.[11] She fought off the attack, and blood matching Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.[12]

Arrest and prosecution[]

Gargiulo was arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department on June 6, 2008. On July 7, 2011, the Cook County State's Attorney charged Gargiulo with the first-degree murder of Tricia Pacaccio.[13] Although Gargiulo is charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police have not linked him to any other murders.[5] Gargiulo allegedly told authorities in the Los Angeles County Jail that just because 10 women were killed — and his DNA was present — does not mean he murdered anyone, leading investigators to believe that there are more victims.[5]

Media in Los Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" as well as the "Chiller Killer."[13][14] Gargiulo was held at Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting a capital murder trial.[15] A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017, in Los Angeles Superior Court with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017.[16] After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019.[9][17] In May 2019, actor Ashton Kutcher testified about the crimes.[17][18]

On August 15, 2019, Gargiulo was convicted on all counts. The penalty phase of his California trial started on October 7, 2019. He faced either a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole.[19][20][21][22] On October 18, 2019, a jury recommended the death penalty for Michael Gargiulo after several hours of deliberation,[23] but sentencing for Gargiulo in California continued to be delayed by defense motions. On July 16, 2021, Gargiulo was sentenced to death.[24][25][26] Gargiulo is now expected to be extradited to Illinois for the 1993 killing of Tricia Pacaccio in his Illinois hometown. If extradited and convicted in Illinois, he will face a sentence there of 25 years to life.[27]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "LASD Inmate Information Center - Inmate Search". lasd.org. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "'Hollywood Ripper' sentenced to death in US". The Straits Times (Singapore). July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Ashton Kutcher testifies in trial of serial killer suspect Michael Gargiulo". Los Angeles Times. May 29, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "'Hollywood Ripper' sentenced to death in US". The Straits Times (Singapore). July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "LA detective: Suspect could have killed 10 women". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014.
  6. ^ Staff (July 7, 2011). "Man Charged with Murder in Cold Case Featured on "48 Hours Mystery". 48 Hours. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  7. ^ "Michael Gargiulo to Be Charged with Killing Tricia Pacaccio". Chicago magazine. July 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Smith, Bryan. "Did Alleged "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo Kill Tricia Pacaccio?". Chicago magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Man accused of murdering Ashton Kutcher's date goes on trial". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  10. ^ Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – El Monte" archive. TruTv. Original retrieved August 3, 2012. Archive retrieved March 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – ". TruTV. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ a b Pelisek, Christine (November 25, 2010). "The Chiller Killer – Michael Gargiulo, Accused of Killing Ashton Kutcher's Girlfriend and Other L.A. Beauties, Got Close as the Helpful Air-Conditioning Repairman". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Staff (November 18, 2010). "Family Says 'Hollywood Ripper' Killed in Chicago Area First". CBS News (via WBBM-TV). Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  15. ^ Staff (undated). "Michael Gargiulo Under Arrest". CBS News. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "Serial Killer Who Allegedly Murdered Ashton Kutcher's Former Girlfriend Ashley Ellerin to Begin Trial". June 13, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Ashton Kutcher appears in 'Hollywood Ripper' trial". BBC News. May 30, 2019.
  18. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (May 10, 2019). "What to know about the 'Hollywood Ripper' 'thrill killer' trial of Michael Gargiulo". ABC News. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  19. ^ ""Hollywood Ripper" trial: Michael Gargiulo found guilty of murder and attempted murder". CBS News. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "Jury finds Michael Gargiulo guilty in California serial killing case". Associated Press. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via NBC News.
  21. ^ "'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo found guilty of double murders". BBC News. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  22. ^ Lloyd, Jonathan (August 15, 2019). "Michael Gargiulo Convicted in Brutal 'Hollywood Ripper' Killings". KNBC. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  23. ^ Waldrop, Theresa; Moon, Sarah (October 18, 2019). "Los Angeles jury recommends death penalty for the 'Hollywood Ripper'". CNN. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  24. ^ CBSLA Staff (July 16, 2021). "'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo Sentenced To Death". KCBS-TV. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  25. ^ KNBC Staff and wire reports (July 16, 2021). "'Hollywood Ripper' Sentenced to Death for Killing, Mutilating Women". KNBC. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  26. ^ Dalton, Andrew (July 16, 2021). "'Boy Next Door Killer' gets death for murders of 2 women". Associated Press. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  27. ^ Granda, Carlos (July 16, 2021). "'Hollywood Ripper' serial killer sentenced to death for murdering, mutilating 2 SoCal women". KABC-TV. Retrieved July 17, 2021.

Further reading[]

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