Jesse James Hollywood's Gripping Account: A Deadly Drug Peddler Featured in 'Alpha Dog'
Jesse James Hollywood: A Notorious Criminal Serving Life for Kidnapping and Murder
Jesse James Hollywood, born on January 28, 1980, in the West Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, is currently incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego, California. He is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz, a 15-year-old boy, in 2000.
Hollywood, a former drug dealer, had a tumultuous upbringing and a history of criminal activity. He was expelled from school in the 10th grade due to emotional outbursts and had a feud with Ben Markowitz, the brother of the victim. The feud stemmed from Ben's refusal to pay a $1,200 debt to Hollywood.
On August 6, 2000, Hollywood and his crew kidnapped Nicholas Markowitz, despite him having nothing to do with the feud. Jesse James Hollywood enlisted Ryan Hoyt to kill Nick in exchange for clearing his debt. Hoyt, along with Jesse Rugge and Graham Pressley, carried out the heinous act on August 9, 2000.
Nick Markowitz's parents frantically searched for their son and contacted Ben Markowitz, who was also unaware of his whereabouts. During his captivity, Nick was allowed to smoke weed, drink gin, and play video games by his captors. However, three days later, his body was found, and Hoyt, Rugge, Pressley, and Will Skidmore were arrested on charges of kidnapping and murder.
Hollywood was at large for about five years before his arrest in 2005, in Rio de Janeiro under the assumed name of "Michael Costa Giroux". He was sentenced to life in prison after a trial and series of testimonies. Despite his marriage in 2014 and having a child, Hollywood remains in prison.
Ben Markowitz, another character in the story, was a troubled teen with a history of criminal activity. By the age of 15, he had already stolen a car, cracked open a kid's skull with brass knuckles, and spent eight months in a juvenile probation camp. His parents divorced when he was four, and his father took custody of him at age 12.
As of 2023, no credible updates indicate any change to Hollywood's incarceration status. The tragic story of Nicholas Markowitz and the subsequent events serve as a grim reminder of the consequences of criminal activity and feuds.
The general news continues to feature updates on Jesse James Hollywood, a notorious criminal serving life for kidnapping and murder, who showed interest in sports during his captivity of Nicholas Markowitz in 2000, despite his involvement in a crime-and-justice case. Interestingly, Ben Markowitz, the brother of the victim, also had a history of criminal activities in sports, such as car theft and violence, before his father took custody of him at age 12.
