Murder of Nicholas Markowitz
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Nicholas Samuel Markowitz (September 19, 1984 - August 9, 2000) was an American teenager who was kidnapped and murdered at the age of 15 after a feud over drug money between his half-brother Benjamin Markowitz and Jesse James Hollywood. Nicholas Markowitz lived in the West Hills, Los Angeles, California area with his mother, Susan, and father, Jeff.
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[edit] Kidnapping and Murder
The feud between Benjamin Markowitz, Nicholas' half-brother, and Jesse James Hollywood, a mid-level drug dealer, began over the alleged debt to Hollywood incurred by Markowitz of $1,200[1]
On August 6, 2000, Hollywood and several of his gang members decided to confront Benjamin. On their way to see him, however, they saw Nicholas Markowitz walking on the side of the road, having run away from home. Hollywood and his gang decided to abduct Nicholas in broad daylight in order to hold him for ransom in lieu of Benjamin Markowitz' debt. They chased, assaulted, and abducted Nicholas, escaping in a van.
When Hollywood and his gang informed Nicholas of why they were holding him, he allegedly panicked at first. However, after Hollywood offered Nicholas drugs and alcohol, he felt that he was a part of the group. Hollywood and his gang then drove their van up to Santa Barbara, California and traveled to various house parties. Reports indicate that many witnesses -- parents and teens alike -- saw the group together but didn't realize anything was going wrong. Although up to 42 witnesses knew he had been kidnapped (even calling him "Stolen Boy") they didn't notify police, as Nicholas appeared to be safe and having fun.
Nicholas, Hollywood and his gang then traveled to a motel in Santa Barbara, California called the Lemon Tree Inn. While at the Inn the gang held another party in the pool area of the Inn. Nicholas had befriended a 17 year-old girl at the party. After the party, members of Jesse's gang allowed Nicholas to believe that he was heading home soon. Hollywood called Ryan Hoyt, a crew-member of Jesse's gang who was deeply in debt to him, to "take care of" Nicholas, giving him a Tec-9. Two members of the crew decided to commit the murder in the Goleta Hills above Santa Barbara, California. The two dug a shallow grave and returned to the hotel to pick up Nicholas and drive him to the mountains.
Hoyt and Jesse Rugge bound Nicholas's hands behind his back with duct tape and put tape over his mouth as well. Hoyt then knocked Nicholas into the grave by hitting him over the back of the head with the shovel used to dig the shallow grave. Hoyt shot Nicholas 9 times with the Tec-9. The members of the gang then tried to hide the gun by placing it between the legs of Nicholas's body and then covering the body with dirt and branches. The grave, however, was too shallow and close to a popular trail, and Nicholas's body was soon found on August 12, 2000. Ryan Hoyt, Jesse Rugge, William Skidmore, and Graham Pressley were all arrested following numerous leads to the sheriff's office following the death of Nicholas Markowitz.
[edit] Kidnappers
Ryan Hoyt was charged with 1st degree murder. His trial began October, 2001 and ended November, 2001. He was convicted on November 21, 2001. The "penalty" phase of his trial began November, 2001 and he was sentenced to death on December 9, 2001. He is currently on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, Ca.
Jesse Rugge, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with aiding in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz. Rugge was the gang member who bound Nicholas's hands together and put tape over his mouth moments before the execution. His trial started in April of 2002 and ended in September of 2002. Rugge was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after seven years.
William Skidmore, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with kidnapping and robbery and is serving nine years in a state prison as part of a plea bargain. He was sentenced in September of 2002 and has the opportunity for parole.
Graham Pressley, aged 17 at the time of the murder, was tried twice as an adult in July 2002 and October 2002 but was charged as a youth. Pressley was the member of the gang that dug the shallow grave for Nicholas. Pressley was incarcerated at a California Youth Authority facility until he turned the age of 25 in 2007. He has been released since.
Jesse James Hollywood, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was not present at the murder, but is alleged to have ordered it. He immediately skipped town and was on the run for quite some time, being shown on America's Most Wanted June 12th, 2004 and also March 12 and April 2, 2005. Hollywood was found to be living in Saquarema, Brazil with his pregnant girlfriend Marcia Reis. Hollywood believed he could not be extradited to the U.S. due to a Brazilian law that prohibited the extradition of those who had fathered a child in the country. That law would not apply in this case because Hollywood obtained entry into the country under a false passport.
American authorities worked with Brazilian agents and found out that Hollywood was supposed to meet a cousin in a mall. He was arrested there, and was returned to the United States on March 10, 2005. Hollywood's trial took place on the 1st of April 2008.
[edit] Alpha Dog
The movie Alpha Dog, which was based on the events leading to the murder of Nicholas Markowitz, was released in 2006. The movie was directed by Nick Cassavetes and Markowitz is portrayed as Zack Mazursky (played by Anton Yelchin).
