Conviction in "Alpha Dog" Murder. Yet the Markowitzes had waited until they heard from Nick’s half-brother, Ben to call the police. The hunt for a modern-day outlaw named Jesse James Hollywood. Remember, it was alleged Jesse James Hollywood hoped to avoid possible extradition by fathering a child. But earlier, Zonen said he cooperated with the filmmakers because he felt the movie might help lead to the capture of Jesse James Hollywood, who was still a fugitive when the movie was being made. It would have been so easy to signal for help. There was only one way to ensure Nick Markowitz would never be able to talk about the kidnapping— and that was to kill him. In the film, the character modeled after Markowitz was named Zack Mazursky. Jesse James Hollywood was sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the kidnap-murder of 15 … Tough police will not talk about it publicly, sources close to the case say they were led to Jesse James Hollywood by listening in on phone calls with his father, Jack. It was first screened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2006, with a wide release the following year on January 12, 2007. West Hills was a great place to bring up their kids— a daughter and son from Jeff’s former marriage, and their own 15-year-old son Nick. Commander Bruce Correll: I don’t know. Of course, his name was not Michael Giroux. Jeff Markowitz: If I would have held onto Ben and kept him in my household, he wouldn’t have been on the street. And what a party was. Katz: On that final day, Jesse James met with Ryan Hoyt, and he handed him a duffel bag that had a Tech 9 in it. One fine day the leader of this group of morons decides, on the spur of the moment, to kidnap somebody. As soon as you feel something wrong in your heart, do something about it, follow it up. IE 11 is not supported. Leonard's favorite dog in his team was named "Togo", the reason is, one time, Leonard went on a trip. Susan was a homemaker. He was running a dope-dealing crew. What happens then?Katz: Ryan Hoyt takes a shovel and, basically, whacks Nick in the back of the head— cold cocks him. Jesse James was kind of the center of their universe. The movie and its many parallels shadow the events that led up to Markowitz’s death. But the more I saw him, the more I realized that I did miss him. I really want to go to America because he has never met his son. Johnny and a couple pals kidnap Jake's 15-year-old brother, Zach, then assigns his buddy Frankie to be Zach's minder. And when Leonard came back, that was the only time he realized Togo was following him! A female cousin he hadn’t seen in years would be visiting brazil...and the couple came to this little cafe in Saquerema to meet her. They grew up playing Little League together, coached by Jesse’s dad, Jack Hollywood, on the ball fields of West Hills. But the grave was too shallow. Jesse James Hollywood would tell him, “You owe me money.” Ben Markowitz says, “Screw you.”. Hollywood’s attorney, James Blatt, says he was especially concerned because the prosecutor also cooperated with the film makers: Blatt: We are deeply concerned that Mr. Hollywood receive a fair trial, and by the prosecutor developing, producing, creating a motion picture, prior to trial, it puts us in the position where this particular jury, in all probability, will see that version of events, and we’re deeply concerned about it. Either way, two of Hollywood’s crew scoped out the scenic mountains above Santa Barbara for the perfect place to commit cold-blooded murder. However, conversations from Jack Hollywood that have been relayed to us indicate that it is highly likely that he knows exactly where his son is. But by 10th grade, Hollywood was expelled. Chris Hansen, Dateline correspondent: And why did they take Nick, if they were looking for Ben?Katz: I think he was just convenient...Hansen: Wrong place at the wrong time?Katz: It was a moment, an opportunity, and they seized it.Hansen: Once they grabbed Nick Markowitz, what did they do?Katz: In the very beginning, they did hit him. Katz: You know, he’s in the swimming pool at a motel. Hollywood allegedly told Ryan Hoyt to do the shooting. Share. How does someone this young afford his own house? Chris Hansen, Dateline correspondent: Do you worry about the movie? Markowitz: I broke down. Two others got lighter sentences for their part in the crime. He had bought it with a big cash down payment the year before, when he was just 19. They say it’s incredibly sad the young people involved were more worried about preserving their lifestyle and currying favor with Jesse James Hollywood than in protecting Nick. Bar patron: We kidded him, “Are you Mike like in Mike Tyson?” He joked “No, Mike Tyson uses his fists to defeat his opponents, I use a baseball bat to defeat mine.” Neighbor: I always mentioned to my neighbors that this boy was needing some help. As they sat down for coffee, ‘Mike Giroux’ had no idea police back in California had been secretly tracking his movements, and funneling information to authorities here in Brazil. They're not. Now, the baby’s mother says, young John Paul is another victim. The problem was that he assumed he would be released. Hansen: What was the relationship between Jesse James Hollywood and Ben Markowitz?Katz: That was a really complex relationship. After a few days there was a positive identification. In Los Angeles, it’s a story that caused bewilderment disbelief and has now inspired a new movie, “Alpha Dog.” It has provocative new roles for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Justin Timberlake and Sharon Stone. And he’s the son of Jesse James Hollywood and his girlfriend Marcia Reis. We can only guess.Hansen: You gave him a pager— and said "If I call this pager, you better return the call. It was tough. According to police, Ben Markowitz owed Jesse James Hollywood money too. Starring Justin Timberlake, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Willis |, Copyright © 2021 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Ben Markowitz and Jesse Hollywood's father Jack testified that Ben owed Jesse a $1,200 drug debt. Marcia Reis: John Paul is a baby, I don’t know what I’ll tell him when he grows up. Katz: He was. Kelly Bernardo, Brazilian agent, (translated from Portuguese): At first when I approached him, he got up as if he knew me. -LATimes.comTo understand the story from Nick's mother Susan's perspective, including her fight to get justice for her son, read My Stolen Son: The Nick Markowitz Story. Ben worked with his dad for a time, but he continued to get into trouble at home and into scrapes with the law. Back in California, Susan Markowitz had finally gotten her wish. And because he was nowhere to be found, he was now an FBI fugitive. He falls into this grave that had been dug for him, they tuck the gun under Nick’s knees, and now try to bury him. He became a huge local celebrity. It’s when.”. He had nothing to do with his half-brother Ben’s drug debt. The role was played by Anton Yelchin. Jesse Katz, Los Angeles Magazine senior writer: Up to that point, Nick believed he was going home. A few years ago, at a singles bar in Rio de Janiero, Mike Grioux met a woman more than ten years his senior named Marcia Reis: Hansen: What did he tell you about himself?Marcia Reis, (translated from Portuguese): He said he was studying, he had come to Brazil to study. But her personal pursuit continued, plastering the Los Angeles area with wanted posters and asking everyone she met to help. The caring, loving man she thought she knew was accused in a murder thousands of miles away. It was a little strange at first seeing him so often. She collapsed in tears. Hansen: Where was Nick going when he left the house the day he disappeared? He wouldn’t have been involved in, maybe, some of the other things that he got involved in. Why cant you compel them to tell you where this fugitive is?Cmdr. Hansen: Ben was a troublemaker.Jeff Markowitz: No, not really a troublemaker; but he was always there when there was trouble. Like the stream of expensive cars cruising down the Boulevard, a dark undercurrent had been flowing beneath West Hills’ glossy views. And then, a woman approached his table. But this time it was no joyride, this time he was bound and gagged. Katz: Jesse James Hollywood was clever and shrewd enough to know that they’d done something pretty major. As she struggled to deal with her son's passing, Susan Markowitz said she wound up in the hospital about 12 times. Ben Markowitz was a real bad boy. Los Angeles Magazine senior writer Jesse Katz wrote an in-depth cover story about the tragedy that began here amidst the expensive homes. He then headed back towards the San Fernando Valley. And some would come up short. Alpha Dog is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz in 2000. Now, Marcia hopes to be able to bring John Paul, who is eligible for American citizenship because his father is an American, to the United States. Alpha Dog is based on events that took place in 2000 and characters are given fictional names. Hansen: Where does the trail go? Wolf pack behavior. Hollywood allegedly ruled with an iron hand and ordered those in his debt to clean up after his dogs and pick up empty beer cans around his house. Marcia says she named him John Paul in memory of Pope John Paul the second. But whether Nick knew it or not, authorities say Hollywood realized snatching the 15-year-old old could mean big trouble. You know, he will never be the same because of his brother’s death. But there was little else to go on. And these kids were smoking so much of his dope that they almost all fell into debt to him. Another posse member got life in prison for kidnapping. As a 3-year-old, he was reciting a nursery rhyme, with his older half-sister and half-brother Nick had a privileged upbringing in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. He’s dead. "He seemed very scared and confused," Jack Hollywood testified. Jesse Katz, senior writer, Los Angeles Magazine: It triggered this kind of tit-for-tat back-and-forth taunting between the two of them, which could have been sort of innocent trash-talking, or could have been very menacing. His parents say Nick, who liked sports and theatre, was a typical, fun-loving 15-year-old. But Susan Markowitz never gave up on bringing him to justice. They think they're big, bad tough guys. When Dateline first covered this case in 2001, we spoke to then-Santa Barbara county chief deputy sheriff Bruce Correll. And some of them would bring back the money that they earned. The Markowitzes say they tried everything to help Ben. I know that. Back in California, though, another family will never have a chance to see their son. I know he loved him. He was a Little League coach, he was well-spoken, he took care of his family, he wasn’t a flashy guy calling attention to himself.Hansen: But he was long suspected of being a major marijuana dealer. It’s a place where spectacular sunsets are shrouded in the salty mist of the roaring waves. It’s still a mystery. But one suspect disappeared: Jesse James Hollywood. Get to the bottom of it, now. Santa Barbara county chief deputy sheriff Bruce Correll told us then this was one of the toughest kinds of cases. She is awaiting a visa. 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