241:. 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. According to detective Tom Small, one stab wound "actually penetrated the skull and took out a chunk of skull like a puzzle piece." On the night she was murdered, Ellerin had planned a date including dinner and drinks with actor
40:
234:, 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. Gargiulo moved to Los Angeles in 1998, allegedly to escape the scrutiny of the police in Illinois, and committed two murders and an attempted murder in Southern California between 2001 and 2008.
271:
on June 6, 2008. On July 7, 2011, the Cook County State's
Attorney charged Gargiulo with the first-degree murder of Tricia Pacaccio. 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. Gargiulo allegedly
291:
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. On October 18, 2019, a jury rendered a verdict of death for Michael Gargiulo after
283:
while awaiting a capital murder trial. A pre-trial hearing was held on June 9, 2017, in Los
Angeles Superior Court, with his trial scheduled to begin in October 2017. After delays, his trial began on May 2, 2019. In May 2019, actor
440:
594:"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"
530:
1057:
397:
1047:
292:
several hours of deliberation, but sentencing for
Gargiulo in California continued to be delayed by defense motions. On July 16, 2021, Gargiulo was sentenced to death.
564:
798:
882:
1012:
504:
309:
938:
276:
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.
1072:
1007:
910:
448:
476:
314:
1067:
997:
711:
210:. 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
1052:
739:
1062:
106:
969:
1037:
1027:
686:
245:; when she did not answer the door, Kutcher looked through the window and saw what he thought was simply spilled wine on the floor.
547:
826:
421:
407:
1032:
1022:
1002:
633:
304:
130:
943:
211:
268:
568:
854:
20:
650:
612:
337:
102:
1017:
295:
Gargiulo was extradited to
Illinois on September 6, 2024 to face trial for the 1993 killing of Tricia Pacaccio.
256:
280:
273:
279:
Media in Los
Angeles dubbed Gargiulo the "Hollywood Ripper" and the "Chiller Killer." Gargiulo was held at
1042:
259:
on April 28, 2008. She fought off the attack, and blood matching
Gargiulo's DNA was found at the scene.
238:
215:
651:"Serial Killer Who Allegedly Murdered Ashton Kutcher's Former Girlfriend Ashley Ellerin to Begin Trial"
992:
426:
249:
248:
On
December 1, 2005, Gargiulo stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno, his neighbor, to death at her home in
237:
On
February 21, 2001, he murdered 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, stabbing her 47 times in her home in
231:
70:
402:
593:
937:
915:
743:
110:
939:"Convicted California Serial Killer Returned to Cook County to Face Charge for 1993 Murder"
255:
Gargiulo attempted to murder another neighbor, 26-year-old
Michelle Murphy, in her home in
712:""Hollywood Ripper" trial: Michael Gargiulo found guilty of murder and attempted murder"
285:
242:
986:
687:"What to know about the 'Hollywood Ripper' 'thrill killer' trial of Michael Gargiulo"
203:
120:
769:
667:
367:
531:"Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – El Monte" archive
177:
96:
39:
598:
565:"Santa Monica — Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper — Crime Library"
345:
774:
755:
716:
637:
616:
173:
859:
620:
477:"Did Alleged "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo Kill Tricia Pacaccio?"
227:
206:. He moved to Southern California in the 1990s and gained the nickname
827:"Los Angeles jury recommends death penalty for the 'Hollywood Ripper'"
740:"Jury finds Michael Gargiulo guilty in California serial killing case"
883:"'Hollywood Ripper' Sentenced to Death for Killing, Mutilating Women"
537:. Original retrieved August 3, 2012. Archive retrieved March 6, 2021.
770:"'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo found guilty of double murders"
422:"Man Charged with Murder in Cold Case Featured on "48 Hours Mystery"
973:
799:"Michael Gargiulo Convicted in Brutal 'Hollywood Ripper' Killings"
551:
534:
19:
This article is about the serial killer. For another person, see
887:
803:
979:
Murnick, Carolyn "The Hot One," Simon & Schuster Paperbacks
831:
548:"Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper – "
505:"Man accused of murdering Ashton Kutcher's date goes on trial"
613:"Family Says 'Hollywood Ripper' Killed in Chicago Area First"
441:"Michael Gargiulo to Be Charged with Killing Tricia Pacaccio"
911:"'Boy Next Door Killer' gets death for murders of 2 women"
855:"'Hollywood Ripper' Michael Gargiulo Sentenced To Death"
668:"Ashton Kutcher appears in 'Hollywood Ripper' trial"
183:
167:
159:
149:
141:
136:
126:
116:
94:
78:
49:
30:
825:Waldrop, Theresa; Moon, Sarah (October 18, 2019).
398:"LA detective: Suspect could have killed 10 women"
202:(born February 15, 1976) is a convicted American
338:"LASD Inmate Information Center - Inmate Search"
392:
390:
388:
310:List of death row inmates in the United States
881:KNBC Staff and wire reports (July 16, 2021).
8:
970:"Michael Gargiulo: Alleged Hollywood Ripper"
588:
586:
315:List of serial killers in the United States
1058:Prisoners sentenced to death by California
332:
330:
214:; in September 2024, he was extradited to
27:
1048:People convicted of murder by California
592:Pelisek, Christine (November 25, 2010).
368:"CDCR Public Inmate Locator Disclaimer"
326:
1013:American prisoners sentenced to death
662:
660:
7:
1073:Violence against women in California
499:
497:
470:
468:
466:
1008:American people convicted of murder
797:Lloyd, Jonathan (August 15, 2019).
218:, to face trial for a 1993 murder.
14:
685:Hutchinson, Bill (May 10, 2019).
909:Dalton, Andrew (July 16, 2021).
305:Capital punishment in California
38:
1068:Serial killers from Los Angeles
998:21st-century American criminals
634:"Michael Gargiulo Under Arrest"
212:California Health Care Facility
1053:People from Glenview, Illinois
269:Santa Monica Police Department
1:
853:CBSLA Staff (July 16, 2021).
288:testified about the crimes.
267:Gargiulo was arrested by the
252:. She was stabbed 17 times.
21:Michael Gargiulo (journalist)
944:Cook County Sheriff's Office
623:). Retrieved August 3, 2012.
226:Gargiulo is a native of the
1063:Serial killers from Chicago
976:. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
640:. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
611:Staff (November 18, 2010).
602:. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
554:. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
447:. July 2011. Archived from
430:. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
1089:
1038:Criminals from Los Angeles
968:Richards, Tori (undated).
546:Richards, Tori (undated).
529:Richards, Tori (undated).
18:
1028:Criminals from California
372:inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov
193:
90:
37:
272:told authorities in the
86:The Boy Next Door Killer
1033:Criminals from Illinois
1023:American serial killers
1003:American male criminals
281:Los Angeles County Jail
274:Los Angeles County Jail
200:Michael Thomas Gargiulo
54:Michael Thomas Gargiulo
420:Staff (July 7, 2011).
263:Arrest and prosecution
16:American serial killer
451:on September 23, 2015
410:on February 20, 2014.
216:Cook County, Illinois
107:special circumstances
250:El Monte, California
208:The Hollywood Ripper
946:. September 6, 2024
151:Span of crimes
103:First degree murder
44:Mugshot (July 2008)
232:Glenview, Illinois
71:Glenview, Illinois
942:(Press release).
778:. August 15, 2019
746:. August 15, 2019
720:. August 15, 2019
632:Staff (undated).
403:Chicago Sun Times
197:
196:
64:February 15, 1976
1080:
1018:American rapists
956:
955:
953:
951:
941:
934:
928:
927:
925:
923:
916:Associated Press
906:
900:
899:
897:
895:
878:
872:
871:
869:
867:
850:
844:
843:
841:
839:
822:
816:
815:
813:
811:
794:
788:
787:
785:
783:
766:
760:
759:
753:
751:
744:Associated Press
736:
730:
729:
727:
725:
708:
702:
701:
699:
697:
682:
676:
675:
664:
655:
654:
653:. June 13, 2017.
647:
641:
630:
624:
609:
603:
590:
581:
580:
578:
576:
571:on March 7, 2014
567:. Archived from
561:
555:
544:
538:
527:
521:
520:
518:
516:
501:
492:
491:
489:
487:
481:Chicago magazine
472:
461:
460:
458:
456:
445:Chicago magazine
437:
431:
418:
412:
411:
406:. Archived from
394:
383:
382:
380:
378:
364:
358:
357:
355:
353:
344:. Archived from
334:
185:Date apprehended
170:
145:3–10; 1 survived
111:attempted murder
99:
82:Hollywood Ripper
79:Other names
67:
63:
61:
42:
32:Michael Gargiulo
28:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1078:
1077:
983:
982:
965:
963:Further reading
960:
959:
949:
947:
936:
935:
931:
921:
919:
908:
907:
903:
893:
891:
880:
879:
875:
865:
863:
852:
851:
847:
837:
835:
824:
823:
819:
809:
807:
796:
795:
791:
781:
779:
768:
767:
763:
749:
747:
738:
737:
733:
723:
721:
710:
709:
705:
695:
693:
684:
683:
679:
674:. May 30, 2019.
666:
665:
658:
649:
648:
644:
631:
627:
610:
606:
591:
584:
574:
572:
563:
562:
558:
545:
541:
528:
524:
514:
512:
509:www.cbsnews.com
503:
502:
495:
485:
483:
474:
473:
464:
454:
452:
439:
438:
434:
419:
415:
396:
395:
386:
376:
374:
366:
365:
361:
351:
349:
348:on May 29, 2016
336:
335:
328:
323:
301:
265:
224:
186:
168:
152:
117:Criminal charge
95:
85:
83:
74:
68:
65:
59:
57:
56:
55:
45:
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1086:
1084:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
985:
984:
981:
980:
977:
964:
961:
958:
957:
929:
901:
873:
845:
817:
789:
761:
731:
703:
677:
656:
642:
625:
604:
582:
556:
539:
522:
493:
475:Smith, Bryan.
462:
432:
413:
384:
359:
325:
324:
322:
319:
318:
317:
312:
307:
300:
297:
286:Ashton Kutcher
264:
261:
243:Ashton Kutcher
223:
220:
195:
194:
191:
190:
187:
184:
181:
180:
171:
165:
164:
161:
157:
156:
153:
150:
147:
146:
143:
139:
138:
134:
133:
128:
124:
123:
118:
114:
113:
100:
92:
91:
88:
87:
84:Chiller Killer
80:
76:
75:
69:
53:
51:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
31:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1085:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1043:Living people
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
990:
988:
978:
975:
971:
967:
966:
962:
950:September 10,
945:
940:
933:
930:
918:
917:
912:
905:
902:
890:
889:
884:
877:
874:
862:
861:
856:
849:
846:
834:
833:
828:
821:
818:
806:
805:
800:
793:
790:
777:
776:
771:
765:
762:
757:
745:
741:
735:
732:
719:
718:
713:
707:
704:
692:
688:
681:
678:
673:
669:
663:
661:
657:
652:
646:
643:
639:
635:
629:
626:
622:
618:
614:
608:
605:
601:
600:
595:
589:
587:
583:
570:
566:
560:
557:
553:
549:
543:
540:
536:
532:
526:
523:
511:. May 2, 2019
510:
506:
500:
498:
494:
482:
478:
471:
469:
467:
463:
450:
446:
442:
436:
433:
429:
428:
423:
417:
414:
409:
405:
404:
399:
393:
391:
389:
385:
373:
369:
363:
360:
347:
343:
339:
333:
331:
327:
320:
316:
313:
311:
308:
306:
303:
302:
298:
296:
293:
289:
287:
282:
277:
275:
270:
262:
260:
258:
253:
251:
246:
244:
240:
235:
233:
229:
221:
219:
217:
213:
209:
205:
204:serial killer
201:
192:
188:
182:
179:
175:
172:
166:
163:United States
162:
158:
154:
148:
144:
140:
135:
132:
129:
125:
122:
121:Felony murder
119:
115:
112:
108:
104:
101:
98:
97:Conviction(s)
93:
89:
81:
77:
72:
66:(age 48)
52:
48:
41:
36:
29:
26:
22:
948:. Retrieved
932:
920:. Retrieved
914:
904:
892:. Retrieved
886:
876:
864:. Retrieved
858:
848:
836:. Retrieved
830:
820:
808:. Retrieved
802:
792:
780:. Retrieved
773:
764:
754:– via
748:. Retrieved
734:
722:. Retrieved
715:
706:
694:. Retrieved
690:
680:
671:
645:
628:
607:
597:
573:. Retrieved
569:the original
559:
542:
525:
513:. Retrieved
508:
484:. Retrieved
480:
455:November 11,
453:. Retrieved
449:the original
444:
435:
425:
416:
408:the original
401:
375:. Retrieved
371:
362:
352:November 11,
350:. Retrieved
346:the original
341:
294:
290:
278:
266:
257:Santa Monica
254:
247:
236:
225:
207:
199:
198:
189:June 6, 2008
109:(2 counts),
25:
993:1976 births
838:October 18,
987:Categories
810:August 16,
782:August 16,
750:August 16,
724:August 16,
321:References
230:suburb of
178:California
60:1976-02-15
599:LA Weekly
377:April 23,
239:Hollywood
155:1993–2008
922:July 17,
894:July 17,
866:July 17,
775:BBC News
756:NBC News
717:CBS News
691:ABC News
672:BBC News
638:CBS News
617:CBS News
575:March 7,
427:48 Hours
342:lasd.org
299:See also
174:Illinois
169:State(s)
860:KCBS-TV
696:June 3,
621:WBBM-TV
228:Chicago
160:Country
142:Victims
137:Details
127:Penalty
515:May 2,
486:May 2,
222:Crimes
73:, U.S.
974:TruTv
619:(via
552:TruTV
535:TruTv
131:Death
105:with
952:2024
924:2021
896:2021
888:KNBC
868:2021
840:2019
812:2019
804:KNBC
784:2019
752:2019
726:2019
698:2019
577:2014
517:2019
488:2019
457:2015
379:2023
354:2015
50:Born
832:CNN
989::
972:.
913:.
885:.
857:.
829:.
801:.
772:.
742:.
714:.
689:.
670:.
659:^
636:.
615:.
596:.
585:^
550:.
533:.
507:.
496:^
479:.
465:^
443:.
424:.
400:.
387:^
370:.
340:.
329:^
176:,
62:)
954:.
926:.
898:.
870:.
842:.
814:.
786:.
758:.
728:.
700:.
579:.
519:.
490:.
459:.
381:.
356:.
58:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
