Michael Gargiulo

Michael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer[2] and rapist. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and has been nicknamed The Hollywood Ripper.

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

Michael Gargiulo
Mugshot
Born
Michael Thomas Gargiulo

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

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.[3][4] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of police in Illinois,[5] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.

On February 21, 2001, he stabbed 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 that in some cases were up to six inches deep.[6] According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece."[6] On the night she was killed, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher.[7]

On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed his neighbor to death at her home in El Monte, California.[8] She was stabbed 17 times.[6]

Gargiulo attempted to murder his neighbor in her home in Santa Monica on April 28, 2008.[9] She fought off the attack, and blood matching Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.[10]

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.[11] 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.[3] 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.[3]

Media in Los Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" as well as the "Chiller Killer."[11][12] Gargiulo was held at Los Angeles County Jail while awaiting a capital murder trial.[13] A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017 in Los Angeles Superior Court with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017.[14] After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019.[7][15] In May 2019, actor Ashton Kutcher testified about the crimes.[15][16]

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. Once he is sentenced, Gargiulo faces extradition back to Illinois to face the first-degree murder charge relating to Tricia Pacaccio. If convicted in Illinois, he will face a sentence of 25 years to life.[17][18][19][20] On October 18, 2019, a jury recommended the death penalty for Michael Gargiulo after several hours of deliberation,[21] but as of March 2020, sentencing for Gargiulo in California continued to be delayed by defense motions.

See also

References
  1. "LASD Inmate Information Center - Inmate Search". lasd.org. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  2. "Ashton Kutcher testifies in trial of serial killer suspect Michael Gargiulo". Los Angeles Times. May 29, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  3. "LA detective: Suspect could have killed 10 women". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014.
  4. Staff (July 7, 2011). "Man Charged with Murder in Cold Case Featured on "48 Hours Mystery". 48 Hours. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  5. "Michael Gargiulo to Be Charged with Killing Tricia Pacaccio". Chicago magazine. July 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  6. Smith, Bryan. "Did Alleged "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo Kill Tricia Pacaccio?". Chicago magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  7. "Man accused of murdering Ashton Kutcher's date goes on trial". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  8. Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – El Monte". TruTv. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  9. Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – ". TruTV. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. 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.
  12. Staff (November 18, 2010). "Family Says 'Hollywood Ripper' Killed in Chicago Area First". CBS News (via WBBM-TV). Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  13. Staff (undated). "Michael Gargiulo Under Arrest". CBS News. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  14. "Serial Killer Who Allegedly Murdered Ashton Kutcher's Former Girlfriend Ashley Ellerin to Begin Trial". June 13, 2017.
  15. "Ashton Kutcher appears in 'Hollywood Ripper' trial". BBC News. May 30, 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  16. Hutchinson, Bill (May 10, 2019). "What to know about the 'Hollywood Ripper' 'thrill killer' trial of Michael Gargiulo". ABC News. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  17. ""Hollywood Ripper" trial: Michael Gargiulo found guilty of murder and attempted murder". CBS NEWS. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  18. "Jury finds Michael Gargiulo guilty in California serial killing case". NBC NEWS. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  19. "'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo found guilty of double murders". BBC. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  20. "Michael Gargiulo Convicted in Brutal 'Hollywood Ripper' Killings". NBC Los Angeles. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  21. "Los Angeles jury recommends death penalty for the 'Hollywood Ripper'". CNN. October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.

Further reading
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