'Hollywood Ripper' trial: Jury recommends death penalty for serial killer Michael Gargiulo

Saturday, October 19, 2019
Jury recommends death penalty for convicted 'Hollywood Ripper'
A Los Angeles jury has recommended the death penalty for "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo, who was convicted of killing two women and attempting to murder a third.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Los Angeles jury has recommended the death penalty for the man dubbed "The Hollywood Ripper" who was convicted of the killings of two women and the attempted murder of a third.

The jury's decision in the case of 43-year-old Michael Gargiulo was read in court Friday afternoon.

In August, the same jurors convicted Gargiulo of the killings including the 2001 murder of Ashley Ellerin on a night she was to go out with actor Ashton Kutcher, who testified at the trial.

A Los Angeles jury has recommended the death penalty for "Hollywood Ripper" serial killer Michael Gargiulo.

The surviving victim and Gargiulo's teenage son were among those who testified in the penalty phase.

Prosecutors also assigned Gargiulo the "Boy Next Door Killer" moniker because he lived near all the victims and watched them.

MORE: Jury hears disturbing details of murder of young women, including Ashton Kutcher's date

Disturbing details were revealed in the murder trial of alleged serial killer Michael Gargiulo, accused of murdering several young women, including one who was set to go on a date with actor Ashton Kutcher. Warning: Details in this story may be disturbing.