‘Hollywood Ripper’ Sentenced To Death

 

Michael Gargiulo sits during the penalty phase of his capital murder trial in Los Angeles Superior Court on October 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Serial killer, Michael Gargiulo, dubbed the “Hollywood Ripper,” has been sentenced to death. On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler delivered the sentence, noting the crimes as “vicious and frightening.”

Back in 2019, Gargiulo was convicted for the murder of Ashley Ellerin and Maria Bruno. Before sentencing, multiple individuals impacted by the crimes read statements describing the immense loss they felt and still feel due to Gargiulo’s actions.

The last person to see victim Ashley Ellerin alive was her apartment complex manager, Mark Durbin, who delivered an emotional testimony. Durbin described the guilt he felt and how he wished he could have done something different to save Ellerin.

Victim photos are shown as Michael Gargiulo appears in court for opening statements in his murder trial on May 2, 2019 in Los Angeles, Calif. Gargiulo is charged in the stabbing deaths of two women, one of whom dated actor Ashton Kutcher, and with attempted murder of a woman during a robbery at her home. (Al Seib-Pool/Getty Images)

“As children, we fear monsters hiding under our bed, but our parents are there because they don’t exist. I was steps away from that hiding monster and I was not able to save them,” said Durbin.

After being sentenced, Gargiulo continued to profess his innocence, claiming he had been framed by “tunnel-vision detectives.” However, a jury in Los Angeles found Gargiulo guilty of two felony counts of first-degree murder and one felony count of attempted murder.

The attacks occurred in the Los Angeles area between 2001 and 2008. In addition, Gargiulo is expected to be extradited to Illinois shortly to stand trial for his involvement in yet another murder in his hometown in 1993.