True Crime Podcast 2025 - REAL Police Interrogations, 911 Calls, True Police Stories and True Crime Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) Documentary - Ashton Kutcher Girlfriend
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) Documentary - Ashton Kutcher Girlfriend
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) Documentary
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 gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021
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 her wounds 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 was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link 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
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo Hollywood Ripper Documentary Ashton Kutcher Girlfriend
True Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls True Police Stories Podcast
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo (Hollywood Ripper) Documentary
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 gained the nickname The Hollywood Ripper. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on July 16, 2021
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 her wounds 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 was charged in the two California murders as well as the Pacaccio murder in Illinois, police did not link 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
Serial Killer Michael Gargiulo Hollywood Ripper Documentary Ashton Kutcher Girlfriend
True Crime Podcast 2024 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls True Police Stories Podcast