Michael Gargiulo
Encyclopedia
Michael Gargiulo is an American
alleged serial killer
who may have killed as many as ten women.
He is a native of Glenview, Illinois
, a suburb of Chicago
, where in 1993 he allegedly killed 18 year-old Tricia Pacaccio. He later referred to the murders of other women before moving to Los Angeles
in 2000.
His alleged killing spree in Santa Monica
started with Ashley Ellerin, a former girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher
. Gargiulo's alleged killing spree in Los Angeles lasted from 2001-08. He was charged with killing Maria Bruno of El Monte
in 2005, and, with the attempted murder
of Michelle Murphy of Santa Monica, California
who survived the attack. This led to Gargiulo's capture in 2008. He is currently held at Los Angeles County Jail awaiting trial.
Gargiulo was dubbed the "Chiller Killer" since he worked as a air conditioning
repairman in Los Angeles. He is also known as the "Hollywood Ripper".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alleged serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who may have killed as many as ten women.
He is a native of Glenview, Illinois
Glenview, Cook County, Illinois
Glenview is a suburban village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 41,847...
, a suburb of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where in 1993 he allegedly killed 18 year-old Tricia Pacaccio. He later referred to the murders of other women before moving to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 2000.
His alleged killing spree in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
started with Ashley Ellerin, a former girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
. Gargiulo's alleged killing spree in Los Angeles lasted from 2001-08. He was charged with killing Maria Bruno of El Monte
El Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
in 2005, and, with the attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
of Michelle Murphy of Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
who survived the attack. This led to Gargiulo's capture in 2008. He is currently held at Los Angeles County Jail awaiting trial.
Gargiulo was dubbed the "Chiller Killer" since he worked as a air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
repairman in Los Angeles. He is also known as the "Hollywood Ripper".