Wanted for Murder, Kidnapping

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Cops say Hollywood ordered the murder of Nicolas Markowitz

In the summer of 2000, police say Jesse James Hollywood wanted to send a message to those who owed him money. A small-time drug lord with a big appetite for violence, cops say Hollywood sought out Ryan Hoyt, who was in debt to Hollywood. Hoyt agreed to work off the money owed -- however, he was unaware of the kind of work Hollywood allegedly had in mind.

Innocent Teen Murdered

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Since the kidnapping and murder, he had been on the run and police said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Cops say that on August 6, 2000 around 2:30 pm, Jesse James Hollywood ordered the kidnapping of Nicholas Sam Markowitz in West Hills, CA. Nicholas Markowitz, an innocent 15-year-old victim, was taken because his brother owed Hollywood money.

Three known associates of Hollywood, one being Ryan Hoyt, took the fifteen year-old to a very mountainous region of Santa Barbara off of Highway 154, where he was held until late in the evening of August 8, 2000. Police say that two of the three associates, Ryan Hoyt and Jesse Rugge, walked Markowitz up a trail while the third suspect, Graham Pressley, remained at the vehicle.

Rugge and Hoyt duct-taped Markowitz's hand behind his back, placed tape over his mouth, put him in the grave that had been dug earlier in the day, and shot him in the torso and head. They buried his body and covered the grave site with branches. It was discovered on August 12, 2000, six days after the kidnapping.

Hollywood Wanted

Jesse James Hollywood is wanted for his connection to the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz. Since the kidnapping and murder, he has been on the run and police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Hollywood On The Big Screen

Jesse James Hollywood, who spent four years as one of America's Most Wanted, is watching his story go from the small screen to the big one.  "Alpha Dog," a new movie about a young drug dealer who masterminds the kidnapping and murder of a 15-year-old boy, is based on Hollywood's alleged crimes.

Hollywood's attorney tried to halt release of the film, arguing that it would prejudice jurors in his client's upcoming murder trial. But a federal judge ruled against Hollywood, and the movie has been released as planned.

In this case, the line between film and real-life is razor thin, police say. A deputy district attorney on the Hollywood case has already been removed for cooperating with filmmakers, according to authorities.

Back when he was a fugitive, Hollywood fled the country and spent four years hiding in the Brazilian resort community of Saquarema, 62 miles from Rio de Janeiro. He was using the alias, Michael Costa Giroux and living off of a $1200 monthly stipend from his parents, say authorities. Reportedly, Hollywood's father led police to his son's hideout. To supplement his income, he reportedly taught English. Remember Hollywood's style of English? Check out this home video

Hollywood met a woman, Marcia Reis, when he first arrived in Brazil. Hollywood never told her about his dark past.  They moved in together one week later and began planning a family.  Only a few short months ago, Reis became pregnant.  But authorities say it was Hollywood's love of freedom, not his girlfriend, that drew him to family life. 

Federal agents in Brazil say it would have been very difficult to extradite Hollywood back to the U.S. if he fathered a child in Brazil. They say Hollywood was going to use his child to secure his freedom.  But his timing was off and agents were already hot on his trail.

Hollywood Back In Santa Barbara

When U.S. authorities got word of Hollywood's new life,  they began the process of bringing in the elusive fugitive. To say this was a multi-jurisdictional investigation would be an understatement.  The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, along with the FBI and numerous others in California enlisted the help of the Brazilian Federal Police and the FBI Legal Attache in Rio de Janeiro.  But when the arrest went down, the main player was the Brazilian Immigration authorities.

Authorities in Brazil were tipped off that Hollywood was expecting a visit from an American cousin. Cops even knew exactly where and when he would meet the cousin he had not seen for ten years. Hollywood and his girlfriend were waiting at a mall on the beach as agents began to close in. 

A female agent approached the couple and Hollywood mistook her for his cousin.  He stood up to hug her but found himself in a totally different embrace.  Cops handcuffed him and carted him off to jail where fingerprints proved this was their man. 

One final slap in the face awaited Hollywood. He didn't get a chance to fight extradition back to justice in the US. Instead, Brazilian authorities simply kicked Hollywood out of the country because he didn't have a valid passport.  By March 10, he was back on U.S. soil and in custody.