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‘Monstrous, Torturous Attacks’: Prosecutor Says ‘Similarities’ In Attacks On 4 Women Helped Nab Alleged Serial Killer

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Claire Smith Contributor
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A Los Angeles prosecutor claimed the killings of three women and attempted killing of one woman were all done by the same man after seeing similarities in the murders.

Michael Gargiulo, nicknamed the “Hollywood Ripper,” has been accused of the murders of Maria Bruno, Ashley Ellerin and the attempted murder of Michelle Murphy. He still awaits his trial in Illinois for the murder of  Tricia Paccacio, a woman who was killed in 1993. Gargiulo was friends with Paccacio’s brother, Associated Press reports.

Garrett Dameron, the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, claimed that Gargiulo was responsible for all four cases in his closing remarks Tuesday. (RELATED: Ashton Kutcher Heads To Court To Testify In ‘Hollywood Ripper’ Murder Trial)

Dameron began by bringing up the only surviving victim, Michelle Murphy, mentioning how her strength at fending the killer off in 2008 led to the charges against Gargiulo for three killings dating back to as early as 1993, Associated Press reports.

Dameron then claimed all the attacks were characterized by deep stab wounds, no evidence the victims put up a fight, no robbery or sexual assault, no murder weapon found and victims left in the same spot as they were attacked.

A prosecution slide of victims is displayed in the courtroom during closing statements in the capital murder trial of Michael Gargiulo (Photo by Lucy Nicholson / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images)

“Those similarities point to one man, one killer: Michael Gargiulo,” Dameron said.

“These were monstrous, torturous attacks, all four,” he continued. (RELATED: Notorious Serial Killer Ted Bundy Who Acted Helpless And Then Killed Women Was Executed 30 Years Ago)

He added that all the attacks happened at night and that the killer knew the patterns of the women, knew their residences and knew the surrounding areas well.

Dameron argued that although the evidence is overwhelming, Gargiulo’s expertise at covering his tracks leaves authorities with the task of connecting the murders in order to convict him.

When Gargiulo went to court in May, actor Ashton Kutcher testified in the murder trial after Gargiulo allegedly killed Ashley Ellerin before her date with Kutcher.