Judge sentences ‘Hollywood Ripper’ to death over home invasion killings

A Los Angeles judge sentenced the “Hollywood Ripper” to death on Friday over home-invasion murders, according to multiple reports.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler handed the sentence to Michael Thomas Gargiulo, 45, for the home invasion murders of two women, and the attempted murder of a third, The Associated Press reported.

Gargiulo was also dubbed by the media as “The Chiller Killer,” and Prosecutors called him “The Boy Next Door Killer” because he lived near the victims he stalked and attacked, according to AP.

“Everywhere that Mr. Gargiulo went, death and destruction followed him,” Fidler said. 

A jury convicted Gargiulo in August 2019 of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin in 2001 and 32-year-old Maria Bruno in 2005, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Ellerin’s case garnered national attention because she was killed just before she was supposed to go on a date with actor Ashton Kutcher.

According to the news outlet, Kutcher testified during the trial that he thought he saw wine stains on the carpet when he arrived at her home.

Gargiulo was also convicted of attempted murder for stabbing Michelle Murphy in 2008. He was caught because he cut himself during the attack on Murphy, leaving a blood trail.

The NBC affiliate reported that Murphy survived the attack and was present at Friday’s hearing.

The Hill has reached out to Gargiulo’s attorney, Daniel Nardoni for comment.

Meanwhile, Gargiulo is facing another murder charge for fatally stabbing an 18-year-old woman in Illinois in 1993, CNN reported.