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Michael Gargiulo

This article is about the serial killer. For another person, see Michael Gargiulo (journalist).

Michael Thomas Gargiulo (born February 15, 1976)[1] is a convicted American serial killer. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021. As of April 2023, he was incarcerated in the California Health Care Facility;[2] in September 2024, he was extradited to Cook County, Illinois, to face trial for a 1993 murder.

Michael Gargiulo
Mugshot (July 2008)
Born
Michael Thomas Gargiulo

(1976-02-15) February 15, 1976 (age 48)[1]
Glenview, Illinois, U.S.
Other namesHollywood Ripper
Chiller Killer
The Boy Next Door Killer
Conviction(s)First degree murder with special circumstances (2 counts), attempted murder
Criminal chargeFelony murder
PenaltyDeath
Details
Victims3–10; 1 survived
Span of crimes
1993–2008
CountryUnited States
State(s)Illinois, California
Date apprehended
June 6, 2008

Crimes

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Gargiulo is a native of the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois, where he stabbed his neighbor, 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, to death on her back doorstep. Her father found her body the next morning on August 14, 1993.[3][4] Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of the police in Illinois,[5] and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.

On February 21, 2001, he murdered 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, stabbing her 47 times 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 her wounds 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 murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor Ashton Kutcher; when she did not answer the door, Kutcher looked through the window and saw what he thought was simply spilled wine on the floor.[7]

On December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed to death his neighbor, 32-year-old Maria Bruno, at her home in El Monte, California.[8] She was stabbed 17 times.[6]

Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old Michelle Murphy, 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

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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 was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link him to any other murders.[3] Gargiulo allegedly told authorities in the Los Angeles County Jail that just because ten 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" and 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.[17][18][19][20] On October 18, 2019, a jury rendered a verdict of death for Michael Gargiulo after several hours of deliberation,[21] but sentencing for Gargiulo in California continued to be delayed by defense motions. On July 16, 2021, Gargiulo was sentenced to death.[22][23][24]

Gargiulo was extradited to Illinois on September 6, 2024 to face trial for the 1993 killing of Tricia Pacaccio.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "LASD Inmate Information Center - Inmate Search". lasd.org. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "CDCR Public Inmate Locator Disclaimer". inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "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. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Smith, Bryan. "Did Alleged "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo Kill Tricia Pacaccio?". Chicago magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Man accused of murdering Ashton Kutcher's date goes on trial". www.cbsnews.com. May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – El Monte" archive. TruTv. Original retrieved August 3, 2012. Archive retrieved March 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Richards, Tori (undated). "Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – ". TruTV. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  10. ^ "Santa Monica — Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper — Crime Library". Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  11. ^ 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.
  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. ^ a b "Ashton Kutcher appears in 'Hollywood Ripper' trial". BBC News. May 30, 2019.
  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". Associated Press. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via NBC News.
  19. ^ "'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo found guilty of double murders". BBC News. August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  20. ^ Lloyd, Jonathan (August 15, 2019). "Michael Gargiulo Convicted in Brutal 'Hollywood Ripper' Killings". KNBC. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  21. ^ Waldrop, Theresa; Moon, Sarah (October 18, 2019). "Los Angeles jury recommends death penalty for the 'Hollywood Ripper'". CNN. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  22. ^ CBSLA Staff (July 16, 2021). "'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo Sentenced To Death". KCBS-TV. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  23. ^ KNBC Staff and wire reports (July 16, 2021). "'Hollywood Ripper' Sentenced to Death for Killing, Mutilating Women". KNBC. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  24. ^ Dalton, Andrew (July 16, 2021). "'Boy Next Door Killer' gets death for murders of 2 women". Associated Press. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  25. ^ "Convicted California Serial Killer Returned to Cook County to Face Charge for 1993 Murder" (Press release). Cook County Sheriff's Office. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.

Further reading

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