A 44-year-old man dubbed the ‘Hollywood Ripper’ appeared in Los Angeles court and pleaded with the judge to spare his life.
Michael Garguilo from Illinois was found guilty of murdering two women during his trial in 2019. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of another victim in 2008.
According to reports, he stabbed 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin 47 times in 2001. Ellerin had planned a date with actor Ashton Kutcher on the night she was murdered.
On December 1, 2005, the killer reportedly stabbed 32-year-old Maria Bruno 17 times at her home in El Monte, California.
Gargiulo also attempted to murder Michelle Murphy in her Santa Monica home on April 28, 2008.
The jury recommended the death penalty during his 2019 trial but on Friday, Garguilo’s attorney argued that his life should be spared.
Attorney Dale Michael Rubin argued that Garguilo should be spared execution due to his age. If given a life sentence, he said that his client would eventually die behind bars.
Gargiulo spoke once during the hearing when then the judge asked if he understood what was going on, to which he replied yes.
Reports reveal that Gargiulo’s first victim was 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio. After the murder, he moved from Illinois to Los Angeles, where he met Ellerin.
After murdering Ellerin, Gargiulo moved to a gated complex apartment in El Monte where he took the life of Bruno.
In 2008, he tried to kill Michelle Murphy, who was 26 at that time, but she managed to fight back.
The chain of events led to the arrest and charges against the Hollywood Ripper.
Gargiulo will be sentenced at his next hearing in July, almost two years since the conclusion of his 2019 trial.
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Replaced!