Sole survivor of accused 'Hollywood Ripper' serial killer details terrifying ordeal
The sole survivor of the accused 'Hollywood Ripper' has detailed her terrifying ordeal after she woke to him stabbing her in bed.
An air conditioning repairman charged with murdering a Chicago-area teenager and two California woman, one the ex-girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher, is on trial for the crimes that occurred between 2001 and 2008.
A Los Angeles prosecutor said during opening statements on Thursday, Michael Gargiulo would "watch, stalk and hunt down" his victims before fatally stabbing them for sexual pleasure.
The 43-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and an attempted-murder charge stemming from attacks, including the death of Kutcher’s former girlfriend Ashely Ellerin.
Gargiulo was arrested in 2008 after DNA evidence linked him to one of the killings and a non-fatal attack.
Survivor Michelle Murphy has testified against Gargiulo with a chilling recount of the night she allegedly came face to face with him more than a decade ago.
The LA Times reports she told the courtroom in April 2008 she was stabbed half a dozen times and called police on a bloodied mobile phone.
She said she woke up to a man on top of her, stabbing her with a serrated knife in the chest and arm.
According to the LA Times, Ms Murphy kicked him after grabbing the blade of the knife with her hand and he ran away.
In a panic she called her now husband and police.
“I’m much more aware of anyone around me,” she told the court.
Los Angeles prosecutor Daniel Akemon said in his opening statements Gargiulo “was watching, always watching” for 15 years.
“And his hobby was plotting the perfect opportunity to attack women with a knife in and around their homes.”
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Ashton Kutcher is expected to appear as witness
Gargiulo’s trial is expected to take six months. Kutcher, who is married to Mila Kunis, is among the witnesses expected to take the stand.
Kutcher’s ex-girlfriend was found dead in 2001 in her Hollywood Hills home.
Kutcher told police he went to pick up the fashion student-model for a post-Grammy Awards party, but she did not answer the door.
He checked a back window and spotted what he thought were red wine stains on the carpet and then left. Her body was discovered the next day by a friend.
Another victim in the case, 32-year-old Maria Bruno, was found stabbed to death in her apartment in suburban El Monte in 2005. Her breasts had been cut off.
Gargiulo was a neighbour of each victim at the time of the attacks.
The teenager killed in Illinois, Tricia Pacaccio, lived just down the street from Gargiulo in suburban Glenview.
Gargiulo was a friend of her brother’s and 17 at the time Pacaccio was stabbed to death on her front porch.
Later police said DNA collected from Pacaccio’s fingernails matched Gargiulo.
With AP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
