Ashton Kutcher appeared at a Los Angeles courtroom this week to testify against a suspected serial killer who authorities believe murdered three women, including 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, who was dating the Ashton at the time.
Known as the Hollywood Ripper, Michael Gargiulo, plead not guilty to the charges of murder and an attempted-murder stemming from attacks in the Los Angeles area between 2001 and 2008, the year he was arrested after DNA evidence linked him to one of the killings and a non-fatal attack. His trial began earlier this month and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Ellerin, a part-time stripper and fashion student, was found dead in 2001 in her Hollywood Hills home. The night before, Kutcher had stopped to pick her up for a date.
Ashton explained how when he got to her home she didn’t answer the door.
he looked through a window and noticed it was messy inside, but didn’t think much of it because he knew she had recently moved in and had the housewarming party. He said he then noticed what he thought were red wine stains on a carpeted stairway. He said he then left.
Her roommate discovered her body the following morning. Prosecutors say Gargiulo stabbed Ellerin 47 times.
Kutcher’s testimony on Wednesday marked his first public comments about Ellerin’s killing.