Ashton Kutcher, most famous for his iconic role as Michael Kelso on "That 70's Show," testified in a murder trial this week against "Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo. Gargiulo is accused of stalking, killing and attacking multiple women over the past two decades, including Kutcher's friend Ashley Ellerin. Gargiulo murdered the 22-year-old Ellerin on Feb. 21, 2001, the night she was supposed to go out for dinner and drinks with Kutcher.
Kutcher, now 41, recalled the tragedy in court on Thursday. He had repeatedly called Ellerin that day to finalize their evening plans. When she didn't answer, he went to her house and knocked on the door, again receiving no answer. He peered in one of the windows and saw what he thought was spilled red wine. It turned out to be Ellerin's blood.
“I saw what I thought was red wine spilled on the carpet," the actor explained. "But that wasn’t alarming because I went to her house party [days before] and it was like a college party. I didn’t think much about it.”
Once he learned of the murder, Kutcher admitted he was afraid of being labeled a suspect and immediately called the police.
“My fingerprints are on this door and I was freaking out,” he said. “I told [an officer], ‘Let me tell you what happened.’"
Authorities believe the murder occurred shortly before the actor arrived.
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“We believe she had just exited the shower and was getting ready to go out with Mr. Kutcher when she was attacked from behind,” Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Dan Akemon said.
Kutcher is one of nearly 100 witnesses in Gargiulo's trial. The suspect has pleaded not guilty, but determined prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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