What was the verdict for Jesse James Hollywood in his murder and kidnapping trial?
SANTA BARBARA — Jesse James Hollywood has been convicted of the kidnap and murder of a 15-year-old West Hills boy that inspired the 2007 movie “Alpha Dog.” A Santa Barbara jury on Wednesday also found the 29-year-old Hollywood guilty after deliberating for about four days. Prosecutors say Hollywood orchestrated the kidnapping and eventual killing of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 because the teen’s half brother owed a drug debt. Nicholas was taken to Santa Barbara and held for several days before he was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Four others have been convicted in connection with the crime. Sources: http://www.dailynews.
SANTA BARBARA — Jesse James Hollywood has been convicted of the kidnap and murder of a 15-year-old West Hills boy that inspired the 2007 movie “Alpha Dog.” A Santa Barbara jury on Wednesday also found the 29-year-old Hollywood guilty after deliberating for about four days. Prosecutors say Hollywood orchestrated the kidnapping and eventual killing of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 because the teen’s half brother owed a drug debt. Nicholas was taken to Santa Barbara and held for several days before he was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Four others have been convicted in connection with the crime.
The Jesse James Hollywood verdict is in: he has been found guilty of murder and kidnapping over the death of teenager Nicholas Markowitz. This story is familiar to the public, because it is the plot of the 2006 film ‘Alpha Dog’ staring Emile Hirsch and Justin Timberlake. But Jesse’s story is not one of the Hollywood movies. He was a ringleader of a group of LA drug users, who tried to collect a $1,200 debt from Ben Markowitz so they kidnapped his younger stepbrother Nicholas. After a few days of holding him, Hollywood decided he didn’t want to face kidnapping charges so he wanted Nicholas to never be found again. The body of Nicholas Markowitz was found in a park, he was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Jesse James Hollywood was not at the scene of the murder but he has been found guilty of ordering the kill. He could receive the death penalty.
A Santa Barbara today jury found Jesse James Hollywood guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping for ordering the slaying of Nicholas Markowitz. The jury concluded that Hollywood was the ringleader of a group of mostly teenage suburban drug users who, when trying to collect a $1,200 debt from Ben Markowitz, kidnapped and later killed his younger stepbrother, Nicholas. After holding the 15-year-old for a few days, Hollywood decided he didn’t want to face charges related to the abduction; planning he’d never be found, Nicholas was walked into a park, shot and buried. Hollywood himself was not at the scene when the murder occurred. If the crime sounds familiar, that’s because it was the basis for the 2006 film “Alpha Dog,” starring Emile Hirsch as the Hollywood-esque character and Justin Timberlake.
