California police have allegedly linked an air conditioning repair man to the stabbing deaths of a former girlfriend of actor Ashton Kutcher and two other women.
Michael Gargiulo of Santa Monica has been in jail since July in connection with an alleged knife attack not connected with the three slayings. Police allege they have DNA evidence connecting the 32-year-old to investigations into the three stabbing deaths, which occurred several years ago.
Kutcher's ex-girlfriend was found dead in her Hollywood home in February 2001. At the time, Kutcher told police he had gone to pick up Ashley Ellerin for a post-Grammy Awards party. He said no one answered the door and he saw red wine stains on the carpet inside her home when he looked through a back window. A friend found the fashion student and model the next day.
Kutcher's representative said the actor -- who starred in the TV comedy series "That '70s show" and is married to actor Demi Moore -- has no comment on the case.
Police allege they have DNA matches linking Gargiulo to two other fatal stabbings, including a 1993 murder of a high school girl in a Chicago suburb. Gargiulo lived there at the time.
He is in custody in lieu of US$1.1 million bail on attempted murder and burglary charges connected to an April 28 incident in which a Santa Monica woman was stabbed in her home.
Anthony Salerno, Gargiulo's attorney, told The Associated Press that his client denies involvement in any of the attacks and "thinks the police are out to get him."
Salerno said his client will possibly face charges for the three stabbing deaths. He said Gargiulo lived near the victims and a garment of his was found in one of the victim's homes. But he noted that should not suggest guilt.
"If there is any DNA evidence, that would be a surprise to me," he told AP.
Police said Gargiulo could face murder charges within days in connection with the three slayings.
With files from The Associated Press
