ASHTON KUTCHER - POLICE HAVE POTENTIAL SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF KUTCHER'S EX

POLICE HAVE POTENTIAL SUSPECT FOR MURDER OF KUTCHER'S EX

Police in California are convinced they've identified the person responsible for the murder of actor ASHTON KUTCHER's ex, after a DNA breakthrough.
Cops in Santa Monica believe 32-year-old local Michael Gargiulo - who has been behind bars since July (08) after being arrested for an April (08) knife attack - killed three women, including Kutcher's former girlfriend Ashley Ellerin. The 22-year-old's body was found in her Hollywood Hills home in February 2001.
Santa Monica police Lieutenant Darrell Lowe revealed last week (ends29Aug08) that DNA collected from a crime scene earlier this year (08) indicated that Gargiulo was responsible for the stabbings of women in Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, and Monterey Park, California. The Illinois murder dates back to 1993.
Garguilo has been held on $1.1 million (GBP628,571) bail for the last two months on attempted murder and burglary charges.
He has denied the charges and is due in court for a pre-trial hearing relating to the 28 April stabbing on 4 September (08).
However, he could face new murder charges this week (begs01Sep08) for the death of Ellerin, police have confirmed.
Kutcher told police at the time of the incident that he had gone to pick up the fashion student/model from her home to attend a post-Grammy Awards party, but she failed to answer the door.
He said he left the property after checking a back window and spotting what he thought to be red wine stains on the carpet. Ellerin was found dead the following day by a friend.
Kutcher's agent Stephanie Simon says the actor, who is now married to Demi Moore, has no comment.