<P> There have been several court cases involving criminal trials with the kidnappers and a civil lawsuit . The criminal trials include: </P> <Ul> <Li> Ryan Hoyt, aged 21 at the time of the murder, was charged with first - degree murder . His trial began in October 2001 and ended in November 2001 . He was convicted on November 21, 2001 . The "penalty" phase of his trial began November 2001 and he was sentenced to death on December 9, 2001 . Currently on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California . </Li> <Li> Jesse Rugge, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with aiding in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz . He was convicted of aggravated kidnapping for ransom or extortion with special circumstances in 2002 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 7 years . Parole was denied in 2006 . As of July 2, 2013, Jesse Rugge has been granted parole . On October 24, 2013, Jesse Rugge was released from prison and is now on parole, after serving 11 years in prison . </Li> <Li> William Skidmore, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with kidnapping and robbery . In September 2002, he was sentenced to 9 years in a state prison as part of a plea bargain . Skidmore was released in April 2009 . </Li> <Li> Graham Pressley, aged 17 at the time of the murder, dug the shallow grave for Nicholas . He was tried twice . In July 2002 he was acquitted of kidnapping and the jury hung, eight to four in favor of not guilty, on the murder charge . In October 2002, he was retried and convicted of second - degree murder . Pressley was incarcerated at a California Youth Authority facility until shortly before his 25th birthday in 2007 . He has since been released . </Li> <Li> Jesse James Hollywood, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was not present at the scene of the crime but was found guilty of having ordered the job . He immediately went on the run, but was arrested in Saquarema, Brazil, after five years of being on the FBI's most wanted list . In 2009, he was convicted of kidnapping first - degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole . </Li> <Li> In addition to the criminal cases, the Markowitz family won a $11.2 million civil lawsuit in 2003 against the kidnappers and killers, as well as secondary people including the family friend whose van was used in the kidnapping and the owners of several homes where Nicholas was held against his will . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Ryan Hoyt, aged 21 at the time of the murder, was charged with first - degree murder . His trial began in October 2001 and ended in November 2001 . He was convicted on November 21, 2001 . The "penalty" phase of his trial began November 2001 and he was sentenced to death on December 9, 2001 . Currently on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California . </Li> <Li> Jesse Rugge, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with aiding in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz . He was convicted of aggravated kidnapping for ransom or extortion with special circumstances in 2002 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 7 years . Parole was denied in 2006 . As of July 2, 2013, Jesse Rugge has been granted parole . On October 24, 2013, Jesse Rugge was released from prison and is now on parole, after serving 11 years in prison . </Li>

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