Man Found Guilty of Strangling Two Women

Thursday, March 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Michael Rippo, 30, showed no emotion Wednesday when the jury returned with guilty verdicts after deliberating three hours.

Rippo was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Laurie Jacobson, 27, and Denise Lizzi, 25.

Authorities found the bodies at Jacobson's apartment Feb. 20, 1992.

The jury also found Rippo guilty of one count of robbery and one count of unauthorized signing of a credit card.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Diana Hunt, who was Rippo's girlfriend at the time, testified Rippo shocked both women with a stun gun, tied them up and placed them in a walk-in closet, where he killed them.

Hunt, who is serving a 15-year prison term for her participation in the robbery, said Rippo wanted revenge because of a drug deal.

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