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Michael Thomas Gargiulo is accused of stabbing the death of two Los Angeles women and of trying to murder a woman from Santa Monica.
By Sam Catanzaro
The opening statements began this week in the trial of a 43-year-old serial killer from Santa Monica, charged with death with the stab of two Los Angeles women and an attempt to murder of a woman in Santa Monica.
On Thursday, prosecutors described Michael Thomas Gargiulo, the Hollywood Ripper of Santa Monica, as a methodical predator who stalked victims before forcibly entering their homes.
Gargiulo is suspected of murdering 22-year-old fashion designer Ashley Elleri in her Hollywood Hills home in 2005, and Maria Bruno, 23, in her El Monte apartment. Elleri was then Ashton Kutcher's girlfriend. In addition, Gargiulo faces charges of attempted murder against a neighbor in 2008 at his home in Santa Monica. Illinois prosecutors also sued in 2011 for the murder of 18-year-old Glenview 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, who was stabbed several times in front of her home on August 14, 1993. .
The murder charges against Gargiulo include allegations of special circumstances of murder by waiting.
"What you will hear is that Michael Gargiulo has been watching, for almost 15 years, always and always," said Attorney Daniel Akemon. "And her hobby was to prepare an ideal opportunity to attack women with a knife in and around their homes."
In the Santa Monica case, Gargiulo's DNA was found in bloodshed at the scene of the crime. The victim, Michelle Murphy, was reportedly bedridden in her home on Euclid Street when she woke up with a knife in her skin. Murphy repelled the attacker and survived the incident.
Prosecutors have described Gargiulo as a serial killer of thrills and seek to obtain the death penalty.
The trial is expected to last about six months and bring together about 250 witnesses, including perhaps Kutcher. Gargiulo pleaded not guilty.
Gargiulo should be extradited to Illinois at the end of the Los Angeles lawsuit.
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