Murder of Nicholas Markowitz
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Samuel "Nick" Markowitz (September 19, 1984 – August 9, 2000) was a 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.
, a mid-level drug dealer, began over the alleged debt to Hollywood incurred by Markowitz of $1,200. On August 6, 2000, Hollywood, Jesse Rugge, and William Skidmore 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's 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 picked up Brian Affronti (another one of Hollywood's friends) then they 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 did not realize anything was wrong. Although up to 42 witnesses knew he had been kidnapped (even calling him "Stolen Boy") they did not notify police, as Nicholas appeared to be safe and having fun.
Nicholas and Hollywood then traveled to a motel in Santa Barbara, California
, the Lemon Tree Inn. While at the Inn the gang held another party in the pool area of the Inn. Nicholas had befriended a 19-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 $1,000 in debt to him, to "take care of" Nicholas, giving him a TEC-9
semi-automatic firearm. A decision was made to commit the murder in the Santa Ynez Mountains
, close to West Camino Cielo Road
, north of Goleta, California
.
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 nine times with Hollywood's semi-automatic. 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 the popular Lizard's Mouth 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.
, based on the events leading to the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and directed by Nick Cassavetes, was released in 2006. Markowitz is portrayed as "Zack Mazursky" in the film and played by Anton Yelchin
.
Jesse James Hollywood
Jesse James Hollywood is a former drug dealer who kidnapped and ordered the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and is serving life without parole for the murder in the California prison system.-Childhood and adolescence:...
. Nicholas Markowitz lived in the West Hills, Los Angeles, California
West Hills, Los Angeles, California
West Hills is an affluent community and district in the western San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States.West Hills is bordered by Chatsworth and the Chatsworth Reservoir to the north, Canoga Park to the east, Woodland Hills to the south, Hidden Hills to the southwest,...
area with his mother, Susan, and father, Jeff.
Kidnapping and murder
The feud between Benjamin Markowitz, Nicholas's half-brother, and Jesse James HollywoodJesse James Hollywood
Jesse James Hollywood is a former drug dealer who kidnapped and ordered the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and is serving life without parole for the murder in the California prison system.-Childhood and adolescence:...
, a mid-level drug dealer, began over the alleged debt to Hollywood incurred by Markowitz of $1,200. On August 6, 2000, Hollywood, Jesse Rugge, and William Skidmore 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's 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 picked up Brian Affronti (another one of Hollywood's friends) then they 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 did not realize anything was wrong. Although up to 42 witnesses knew he had been kidnapped (even calling him "Stolen Boy") they did not notify police, as Nicholas appeared to be safe and having fun.
Nicholas and Hollywood then traveled to a motel in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, the Lemon Tree Inn. While at the Inn the gang held another party in the pool area of the Inn. Nicholas had befriended a 19-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
Ryan Hoyt
Ryan Hoyt is an associate of Jesse James Hollywood and who was convicted of the murder of Nick Markowitz on August 9, 2000...
, a crew-member of Jesse's gang who was $1,000 in debt to him, to "take care of" Nicholas, giving him a TEC-9
Intratec TEC-DC9
The Intratec TEC-DC9 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic firearm, chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, and classified by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a handgun. Designed by Intratec, an American offshoot of Interdynamic AB, it is made of inexpensive molded polymers...
semi-automatic firearm. A decision was made to commit the murder in the Santa Ynez Mountains
Santa Ynez Mountains
The Santa Ynez Mountains are a portion of the Transverse Ranges, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of the west coast of North America, and are one of the northernmost mountain ranges in Southern California.-Geography:...
, close to West Camino Cielo Road
Camino Cielo Road
Camino Cielo Road is a road which traverses the ridge-line of the Santa Ynez Mountains of Southern California. Geographically, it is divided into eastern and western sections, and is an important passage for adjacent inholdings in the area, for fire prevention and firefighting purposes, access to...
, north of Goleta, California
Goleta, California
Goleta is a city in southern Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It was incorporated as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated, populated area in the county. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant...
.
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 nine times with Hollywood's semi-automatic. 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 the popular Lizard's Mouth 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.
Legal outcome
There have been several court cases involving criminal trials with the kidnappers and a civil lawsuit. The criminal trials include:- Ryan HoytRyan HoytRyan Hoyt is an associate of Jesse James Hollywood and who was convicted of the murder of Nick Markowitz on August 9, 2000...
, aged 20 at the time of the murder, 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 RowDeath rowDeath row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
at San Quentin State PrisonSan Quentin State PrisonSan Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
, San Quentin, CaliforniaSan Quentin, CaliforniaSan Quentin is a small unincorporated community in Marin County, California. It is located west of Point San Quentin, at an elevation of 30 feet ....
.
- Jesse RuggeJesse RuggeJesse Taylor Rugge is one of the former members of Jesse James Hollywood's gang that helped in the murder of Nicholas Markowitz. Rugge was charged with helping in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz....
, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with aiding in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz. He was convicted on the charge of kidnapping in 2002 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Parole was denied in 2006.
- William Skidmore, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with kidnapping and robbery. In September 2002, he was sentenced to 9 years in a state prison as part of a plea bargain. Skidmore was released in April 2009.
- Graham Pressley, aged 17 at the time of the murder. He was tried twice. In July 2002 he was acquitted of kidnapping and the jury hung, eight to four in favor of not guilty, on the murder charge. In October 2002 he was retried and convicted of second degree murder. Pressley helped dig the shallow grave for Nicholas. Pressley was incarcerated at a California Youth Authority facility until shortly before his 25th birthday in 2007. He has since been released.
- Jesse James HollywoodJesse James HollywoodJesse James Hollywood is a former drug dealer who kidnapped and ordered the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and is serving life without parole for the murder in the California prison system.-Childhood and adolescence:...
, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was not present at the murder, but ordered it. He immediately skipped town, but was arrested five years later in SaquaremaSaquaremaSaquarema is a town and a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 61,591 and its area is 355 km². It is located almost 100 km east of Rio de Janeiro...
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
with his pregnant girlfriend Marcia Reis. In 2009, he was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison.
- In addition to the criminal cases, the Markowitz family won a $11.2 million civil lawsuit in 2003 against the kidnappers and killers, as well as secondary people including the family friend whose van was used in the kidnapping and the owners of several homes where Nicholas was held against his will.
Alpha Dog feature film
The feature film Alpha DogAlpha Dog
Alpha Dog is a 2007 crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes, first screened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2006, with a wide release the following year on January 12, 2007. The film is based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas...
, based on the events leading to the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and directed by Nick Cassavetes, was released in 2006. Markowitz is portrayed as "Zack Mazursky" in the film and played by Anton Yelchin
Anton Yelchin
Anton Viktorovich Yelchin is an American film and television actor. He began performing in the late 1990s, appearing in several television roles, as well as the Hollywood films Along Came a Spider and Hearts in Atlantis...
.
External links
- Memorial to Nicholas Markowitz
- Report about the murder of Nicholas Markowitz from the Los Angeles Police DepartmentLos Angeles Police DepartmentThe Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
- Case profile at America's Most Wanted
- Jesse James Hollywood, drug dealer orders murder and flees the Crime Library