Michael Gargiulo, a serial killer known as the “Hollywood Ripper” and the “Boy Next Door Killer,” has been extradited to Illinois to face charges for the 1993 murder of 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio. Gargiulo, who was a friend and classmate of Pacaccio’s brother, lived one block away from the victim’s family in Fairview, Illinois. While Gargiulo was originally a suspect in the case, he was not linked to the crime through DNA until after he had moved to California where he committed two more murders in 2001 and 2005.
In addition to Pacaccio’s murder, Gargiulo was convicted for the murders of Ashley Ellerin in 2001 and Maria Bruno in 2005 in Southern California. Actor Ashton Kutcher testified at Gargiulo’s trial for Ellerin’s murder, revealing that he was supposed to pick her up for a date the night she was killed. Ellerin had been stabbed 47 times, and Gargiulo allegedly attempted to murder another woman in Los Angeles in 2008. After these murders, witnesses came forward indicating that Gargiulo had confessed to killing a girl in Chicago in the late 1990s.
Prosecutors revealed that witnesses known as “Witness A” and “Witness C” had provided information about Gargiulo’s involvement in the murders. Witness A stated that Gargiulo had admitted to being afraid that the police were after him and had asked for help disposing of knives. Witness C recalled a conversation in which Gargiulo claimed to have buried the victim, only to later say that he had left her for dead on a step. Gargiulo was charged with Pacaccio’s murder in 2011 but was not extradited until after his sentencing in California.
Gargiulo is currently being held without bond in Illinois and is due back in court on September 20. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has not yet responded to inquiries about the case. Gargiulo, who has been described as someone who “liked to watch death” after inflicting pain on his victims, has a history of brutal and senseless murders. The extradition to Illinois marks a significant step in bringing the “Hollywood Ripper” to justice for the string of violent crimes he has committed over the years.
The heinous nature of Gargiulo’s crimes has shocked and horrified communities in both California and Illinois. The details of the murders, including the brutal stabbing of Ashley Ellerin and the mutilation of Maria Bruno, have left a lasting impact on those who have followed the case. With witnesses coming forward to provide crucial information about Gargiulo’s involvement in the crimes, prosecutors have built a strong case against the killer. As the legal proceedings continue in Illinois, the hope is that justice will ultimately be served for the victims and their families who have suffered at the hands of the “Hollywood Ripper.”
