CA CA/IL - Michael Gargiulo: The Hollywood Ripper [Archive]

View Full Version : CA CA/IL - Michael Gargiulo: The Hollywood Ripper

Dark Knight

08-30-2008, 07:17 AM

DNA evidence has linked an air conditioning repairman to the stabbing deaths of three women, including a former girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher, police said Friday.

Michael Gargiulo, 32, of Santa Monica has been in custody since July for a separate knife attack and could face murder charges as soon as next week, police said.

Santa Monica police Lt. Darrell Lowe said DNA collected from a crime scene last spring helped link Gargiulo to the stabbing deaths of women from Los Angeles, suburban Chicago and Monterey Park.

One of the cases involves 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, Kutcher's former girlfriend, who was found dead in February 2001 in her Hollywood Hills home.

Kutcher, who starred in the television series "That '70s Show" and is married to actress Demi Moore, told police he went to pick up the fashion student-model for a post-Grammy Awards party, but she did not answer the door. He checked a back window and spotted what he thought were red wine stains on the carpet and then left. Her body was discovered the
next day by a friend.

Kutcher's agent, Stephanie Simon, said the actor had no comment.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles police are using DNA evidence to track down another suspected serial killer in Southern California. A special police task force has linked the fatal shootings of 10 black women prostitutes and one black man in South Los Angeles to one assailant who has been killing since 1985. Police said they have no known suspect because the DNA does not match any sample in national crime databases.

One victim survived an attack in 1988, giving police the only description they have of the suspect: a black man in his 30s driving an orange Ford Pinto.

The last killing in the series occurred in January 2007 with the discovery of 25-year-old Janecia Peters' body. DNA tests showed she was killed by the same assailant as the others.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080830/ap_on_re_us/serial_killings&printer=1;_ylt=Agg9kfqWG9O0OcuR7Xe9zbhH2ocA

Malapoo

08-30-2008, 08:23 AM

I like this part:

Salerno (his lawyer) acknowledged Gargiulo will possibly be charged with murder for the three slayings. He said that Gargiulo lived near the four victims at the time of the attacks and a garment of his was found in one of the victims' homes. But, he said, that does not make Gargiulo guilty.

Maybe he was dating that one? Or maybe they both used the same laundromat? Yes, I'm sure that's it. :bang:

fmw63

08-30-2008, 02:31 PM

One victim survived an attack in 1988, giving police the only description they have of the suspect: a black man in his 30s driving an orange Ford Pinto.

A Pinto? How many of them were still around in '88? The newest of them would only have been 8 years old, but they should have been able to check dmv records to narrow it down a bit...:waitasec:

MeoW333

08-31-2008, 10:16 AM

So pretty much this one serial killer has been loose for over 25 years in L.A.?
At least they caught the one.

Filly

08-31-2008, 10:23 AM

Can you imagine that you went to pick up your girlfriend for a date and she didn't answer the door. You check a window and see red stains, and then go to the scheduled event and the next morning you find out your girl was murdered?

That has to be an awful thing for that guy to live with. Not because of his celeb or anything, but I feel very sorry for him. That's something will haunt you for life I'm sure.

One lousey freak murdering innocent women. Now he'll live out his days in prison where he'll be able to e-mail friends and family.:furious:

chicagofa13

07-07-2011, 09:52 PM

This is the same guy that killed 3 others (and maybe more?) in California. See this WS story: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69895&highlight=gargiulo

He was high school age in 1993. Maybe if the cops had been more on top of it, other women would be alive. The family is quite angry and I don't blame them. The DNA has been available to them for years. I know they need "more" for a conviction, but I think they dropped the ball to begin with in 1993...

There are quite a few articles at the chicagotribune.com today. Here are 3 of them:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-us-womenstabbed,0,3250508.story

CHICAGO— A man charged in the stabbing deaths of two California women, including the onetime girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher, and with slashing another has been charged in the 1993 slaying of an teenage girl who lived in his suburban Chicago neighborhood, prosecutors said Thursday.

Michael Gargiulo, who has been in custody in California since 2008, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said at a news conference.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-charges-expected-in-1993-slaying-of-glenview-teen-20110706,0,5427082.story

The parents of a Glenview teen killed in 1993 lashed out at prosecutors today for waiting years after a DNA match in the case before finally charging a primary suspect with their daughter's murder.

Prosecutors have said the DNA in 2003 was not enough evidence to charge Michael Gargiulo, 35, with the murder of Tricia Pacaccio, a Glenbrook South High School graduate. An arrest warrant was filed against Gargiulo this week after two witnesses came forward.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-cracking-1993-glenview-slaying-took-time-hard-work-and-luck-20110707,0,6061081.story

The man on the phone sounded friendly enough, and more importantly, willing to help with Cook County Sheriff Det. Lou Sala's case.

It was 2002 and since 2000 Sala had been assigned to investigate the killing of Tricia Pacaccio, a 18-year-old girl repeatedly stabbed outside her Glenview home in 1993.

PS...Cubby, please feel free to move this thread to the appropriate location. :)

Cubby

07-07-2011, 10:01 PM

This is the right place. I'm not moderating anymore :) but am happy to help where I can.
When there are official charges the mods can move it to currently awaiting trial. Just hit alert to request it be moved or send believe09 a pm with the link to this thread asking it be moved. She is the current moderator for this forum.

I'm glad an arrest has finally been made in this case. Disappointed it took so long.

chicagofa13

07-07-2011, 10:19 PM

Thanks!! I didn't know you weren't a mod.

I can't believe there wasn't a thread here already. I've seen the reports on this creep before. I hope they have all his crimes, but I have a bad feeling there are more. A true serial killer who started early.

Winward1

07-15-2011, 04:45 PM

http://glenview.patch.com/articles/video-prosecutor-grilled-about-long-awaited-murder-charges-in-tricia-pacaccio-stabbing#video-6917499

Winward1

07-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Also known as the Hollywood ripper:

http://laist.com/2011/07/07/the_hollywood_ripper_heads_to_windy.php

JeannieC

07-30-2011, 02:25 PM

May 14, 2011 10:58 PM Is Michael Gargiulo the serial killer next door?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/14/48hours/main20062675.shtml

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 01:49 PM

Ashley Ellerin, left, Tricia Pacaccio, center, and Maria Bruno. The three young, beautiful woman all met the same tragic fate 15 years apart.

Last spring, "48 Hours Mystery" reported on the 1993 murder of a young woman named Tricia Pacaccio. Now, because of that broadcast, we can report that there is finally a breakthrough for a family that has been waiting nearly two decades for justice.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door/

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 01:49 PM

Last spring, "48 Hours Mystery" reported on the 1993 murder of a young woman named Tricia Pacaccio. Now, because of that broadcast, we can report that there is finally a breakthrough for a family that has been waiting nearly two decades for justice.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door/

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 01:55 PM

Ashley Ellerin, left, Tricia Pacaccio, center, and Maria Bruno. The three young, beautiful woman all met the same tragic fate 15 years apart.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door/

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 02:40 PM

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/05/13/victims_620x350.jpg

Ashley Ellerin, left, Tricia Pacaccio, center, and Maria Bruno. The three young, beautiful woman all met the same tragic fate 15 years apart.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door/

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 02:45 PM

Michael Gargiulo: A Hollywood Ripper

http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/trutv.com/graphics/photos/serial_killers/predators/michael-gargiulo/michael-gargiulo.jpg

"My family and I lived 3 houses down from Mike and his family. He always was the odd one out from his family, who were all very nice people. He was just always angry, and taking it out on others, usually by bullying them."

And this: "My older brother remembers Michael...and remembers him as being quite angry and violent."

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/michael-gargiulo/7-who-is-michael-gargiulo.html

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 02:57 PM

Michael Gargiulo Could Have Killed 10 Women, L.A. Police Say

On Wednesday, a Los Angeles detective told the Chicago Sun-Times that Gargiulo may have killed 10 women. Gargiulo has been in the Los Angeles County Jail since 2008, when he was charged in the 2001 and 2005 murders of two California women--including actor Ashton Kutcher's ex-girlfriend. He was also charged in a 2008 knife attack in which the victim survived--ultimately leading to his arrest.

Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide detective Mark Lillienfeld told the Sun-Times that Gargiulo referenced the murders of 10 women while in prison, which puts even more heat on Cook County for failing to charge him earlier.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/michael-gargiulo-could-ha_n_897055.html

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 03:11 PM

By Tori Richards
Unfinished Business

Gargiulo was arrested for the Murphy attack on June 6, 2008. While sitting in jail, he plotted an escape, according to court files.

Ten days after his arrest, he snapped off the head of a plastic spoon that had been given him for a meal. He whittled the straight piece down to a point with his teeth and tried to unlock his handcuffs. This episode was videotaped.

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/michael-gargiulo/11-unfinished-business.html

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 03:15 PM

Longtime Suspect Charged in North Suburban Teen's 1993 Murder

Updated: Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 9:38 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 12:17 PM CDT

By Bob Sirott, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - It has been 18 years since a Glenview father found his 18-year-old daughter stabbed to death on the front steps of their home.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/tricia-pacaccio-michael-gargiulo-murder-teen-1993-illinois-20110707

wenwe4

03-11-2012, 03:55 PM

Thanks mysteriew for posting that link. I was not aware of these cases previously . . . there might be hope that they could solve more cases between Calif. and Illinois if there was more known about this guy.

Thanks JeannieC for all the rest of the links.

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 04:15 PM

How the case against Michael Gargiulo was built

July 08, 2011|By Andrew L. Wang, Tribune reporter

The man on the phone sounded friendly enough, and more importantly, willing to help with Cook County sheriff's Detective Lou Sala's case.

It was 2002, and Sala was investigating the killing of Tricia Pacaccio, 18, who was stabbed outside her Glenview home in 1993. Strong leads were few, and Sala was calling a list of people that previous detectives had spoken to when he found Michael Gargiulo, a former neighbor of Pacaccio's who had moved to Los Angeles.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-08/news/ct-met-cold-case-sidebar-20110708_1_dna-sample-tricia-pacaccio-ashley-ellerin

wenwe4

03-11-2012, 04:18 PM

Are there unsolved murders that beautiful women (large breasts?) have been stabbed "ripper-style" between Calif & Illinois circa 1993 - 2008? ( think he has been incarcerated since then)

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 04:28 PM

Do you know her? Police seek woman cuddling up to 'serial killer' charged with the 2001 murder of Ashton Kutcher's girlfriend

Police in Los Angeles are seeking the whereabouts of a young woman seen in photographs with a suspected serial killer.
The woman in the pictures is hugging and kissing Michael Gargiulo, who is facing court over the knife murders of three women and the attempted murder of a fourth.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15823C00000578-634_306x423.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15824000000578-662_634x561.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387431/Michael-Gargiulo-case-Police-seek-woman-seen-cuddling-photos-suspected-serial-killer.html

believe09

03-11-2012, 05:34 PM

You know what bothers me about the pictures? I dont think she looks particularly thrilled to be kissing him. She looks uncomfortable. JMO.

believe09

03-11-2012, 05:37 PM

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15823800000578-348_306x423.jpg

:please: I hope she is OK.

JeannieC

03-11-2012, 05:46 PM

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/05/13/gargiulo.jpg

Michael Gargiulo at the time of his arrest in the summer of 2008. On Sept. 4, 2008, while already in jail charged with attempted murder for an attack in Santa Monica, Gargiulo was indicted on two additional charges - this time for the murders of Ashley Ellerin and Maria Bruno.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18559_162-10007761.html?tag=recommended;galleryLiRecommended

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 09:17 PM

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15823C00000578-634_306x423.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15824000000578-662_634x561.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387431/Michael-Gargiulo-case-Police-seek-woman-seen-cuddling-photos-suspected-serial-killer.html

IMO from the eyes and the makeup I would say Middle Eastern or Indian heritage possibly.

And what is the deal about him possibly being at a certain address? And they don't have a date for the contact? So what is that about?

Is anyone seeing this anywhere else other than the Daily Mail? You would think it would be in LA papers..... Ok figured this part out. The link is from May 2011.

Fairy1

03-11-2012, 09:19 PM

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 09:33 PM

Thank you for posting this! I was watching it last night but fell asleep.

If you get a chance to see it again, do. It was one of their better ones.

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 09:55 PM

6 page article from 2010 about Gargiulo. I haven't read it yet, but it also contains the pictures of the unidentified woman.

All of the alleged killer's California victims were young, gorgeous and lived near Gargiulo or in Gargiulo's own building as he moved from neighborhood to neighborhood around Southern California. A self-proclaimed forensic expert, he allegedly bragged to friends that if he were ever made to answer questions about a crime, he'd "lie, lie until you die."
http://www.laweekly.com/2010-11-25/news/the-chiller-killer/

Good background article and presents things from the LA viewpoint

passionflower

03-11-2012, 10:10 PM

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/15/article-0-0C15823800000578-348_306x423.jpg

:please: I hope she is OK.

ditto
and she doesn't look 'into it'.........like she doesn't want to be kissed by him...
who took the pix?
well, what makes this guy tick?
another monster, so many anymore!:banghead:

Dewey2Me1MoThyme

03-11-2012, 10:30 PM

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 10:40 PM

4 pg article from Chicago 2011
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2011/Did-Alleged-Hollywood-Ripper-Michael-Gargiulo-Kill-Tricia-Pacaccio/

Good background article and presents things from the Chicago viewpoint

mysteriew

03-11-2012, 10:42 PM

I thought she looked in pain, like he was twisting her arm behind her back or something forcing her to do his will.

Kinda odd you would put it like that. While you were posting I was reading about Tricia Pacaccio in the above article. Her arm was twisted and broken.....

Dewey2Me1MoThyme

03-11-2012, 10:49 PM

Kinda odd you would put it like that. While you were posting I was reading about Tricia Pacaccio in the above article. Her arm was twisted and broken.....

Thanks for the info, I read most of the first page, but me old peepers don't do well by end of the day, especially after having a headache.

ETA: I came up with that assumption both by the awkward angle they were standing at in relation to each other plus the look on her face.

mysteriew

03-12-2012, 12:42 AM

ditto
and she doesn't look 'into it'.........like she doesn't want to be kissed by him...
who took the pix?
well, what makes this guy tick?
another monster, so many anymore!:banghead:

He most likely took the pic. He is holding the phone or camera in the left hand.

Looking at the Daily Mail article there are 3 pics. One pic she is smiling and has her cheek against his chest. She is smiling. That is taken in front of a house. Second pic is them kissing. She is no longer smiling. Cropped to close to say for sure where it was taken except it is outside. Third pic, her hair is in front of her face. That looks like struggle. Eyes closed and face kinda scrunched like she is in pain. Again cropped too close to say for sure where it was taken.

These pics were put into media back in 2010 so it is very possible that LE knows who they are by now.

JeannieC

03-12-2012, 12:58 AM

I could be wrong but I think the picture on the poster with her smiling was taken at a different time. It looks like she wearing a black top and the others appear to be a white top. One picture looks like her left arm is up between them and her hand is in her hair. Very awkward pose. I think he was hurting her. moo

I wonder if she was an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend...........

mysteriew

03-12-2012, 02:19 AM

According to one of the articles I posted tonight he had a couple of baby mommas, and some ex girlfriends who showed up at a hearing. Some of them talked to media and let's just say they had a hard time. At least one had taken a restraining order out against him at one point.

Anybody else see a slight resemblance between the unknown girl and Maria Bruno? Like it isn't enough to confuse the two, but just a resemblance.
http://www.laweekly.com/2010-11-25/news/the-chiller-killer/2/

mysteriew

08-19-2012, 01:30 AM

Michael Gargiulo cases on 48 Hrs tonight

Since this story first aired, there has been a remarkable development in the Tricia Pacaccio murder investigation.

While watching that episode of "48 Hours Mystery," a viewer -- who years earlier had worked with Michael Gargiulo at a Los Angeles nightclub -- remembered that Gargiulo had once bragged to him and others that he had killed a young woman in Chicago. "48 Hours Mystery" put that witness, along with another co-worker, in touch with Chicago authorities and shortly thereafter, a Cook County grand jury finally indicted Michael Gargiulo for Tricia's murder.

Cook County press conference: "Late yesterday we filed a criminal complaint in court charging Michael Gargiulo with first degree murder in the brutal slaying of Pacaccio."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door

mysteriew

08-19-2012, 01:37 AM

While watching that episode of "48 Hours Mystery," a viewer -- who years earlier had worked with Michael Gargiulo at a Los Angeles nightclub -- remembered that Gargiulo had once bragged to him and others that he had killed a young woman in Chicago. "48 Hours Mystery" put that witness, along with another co-worker, in touch with Chicago authorities and shortly thereafter, a Cook County grand jury finally indicted Michael Gargiulo for Tricia's murder.

Cook County press conference: "Late yesterday we filed a criminal complaint in court charging Michael Gargiulo with first degree murder in the brutal slaying of Pacaccio."

It was an announcement the Pacaccio family had been waiting 18 years to hear... certainly welcome news and yet bittersweet.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18559_162-57393690/michael-gargiulo-the-serial-killer-next-door/?pageNum=5&tag=contentMain;contentBody

~n/t~

09-07-2012, 10:48 AM

Was this woman identified yet?

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/05/12/mysterywoman12.jpg

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18559_162-10007750-2.html?tag=page

I'm getting one of those "I've seen her before" moments. Now if only I know where and when. :sigh:

Lacyanna

09-13-2012, 07:43 AM

Oh...sick feeling. I was just over at 48 Hours Mystery watching a different video. I then stumbled upon a set of pictures (linked in the post above mine), which made both my heart and stomach sink.

Has anyone else looked at this set of pictures??

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18559_162-10007750.html

"Suspected serial killer Michael Gargiulo is seen in four photos with an "unknown" woman"

I would love to know if there is a group looking for this poor young lady.

Thanks all!

Lacyanna

Lacyanna

09-13-2012, 02:11 PM

There are a set of 5 pictures at the link given in my last post at 48 hours mystery. They are increasingly disturbing and remind me a bit of Rodney Alcala.

See the photo below, as shown at 48 hours:

http://i49.tinypic.com/1jq4nt.jpg

:sigh:
I don't like this at all. Is there anything we can do??

chicagofa13

09-24-2012, 05:35 AM

The special bulletin above is from LA. You could contact them and ask if she has been found.