The real story behind 'Alpha Dog'

August, 2000.  In the idyllic resort city of Santa Barbara, California, 15-year-old Nick Markowitz had been held captive for two days by the posse of reputed drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood. 

Back home in West Hills, Nick’s parents were panic stricken.  

Chris Hansen, Dateline correspondent: How did you get through those nights?

Susan Markowitz: I slept on the couch with the window open, hoping to hear him or see him first.

Yet the Markowitzes had waited until they heard from Nick’s half-brother, Ben to call the  police.  It was a decision Jeff Markowitz will always regret.

Jeff Markowitz: I shouldn’t have waited at all. I shouldn’t have waited for Ben to show up.  Even though that seemed the most logical thing.

Hansen: Well, you try not to overreact.

Jeff Markowitz: Exactly right, but I’m telling you—as a parent, right now—overreact.  Don’t wait a second.  As soon as you feel something wrong in your heart, do something about it, follow it up.  Get to the bottom of it, now.  Don’t wait.

Members led Nick to believe early on he would soon be released. 

Jesse Katz, Los Angeles Magazine senior writer: Up to that point, Nick  believed he was going home.  This has finally reached its end.  You know, “I’ll buy you a bus ticket, or a  train ticket. We’ll get you back home.  I may even give you a little money.”

But Nick Markowitz didn’t know that Jesse James Hollywood allegedly had very different plans.

Hollywood was rattled after an attorney told him that kidnapping nick could mean going to prison for life. About a day and half after the kidnapping Hollywood allegedly made a call to posse member Ryan Hoyt. Hoyt was known as the posse whipping boy and was deeply in debt to Hollywood.

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.  And this is like gun that had been modified into a fully automatic assault rifle.

Hansen: But it was Jesse James Hollywood who gave the bag—

Katz: Who gave the bag to Ryan Hoyt, said, “We got a little situation.  You’re gonna take care of it for me.  And that’s how you’re gonna clear your debt.” And this was a chance for him to be entrusted with an assignment.  And Ryan wanted to do it right.

According to police, the plan was set. There was only one way to ensure Nick Markowitz would never be able to talk about the  kidnapping— and that was to kill him.

Hollywood allegedly told Ryan Hoyt to do the shooting.

Hansen: Did Jesse James Hollywood really have such a svengali hold on these other kids in this posse that he could say, “Kill this kid”?

Katz: He seems to have.  The question is, is that because Jesse James Hollywood was this master manipulator?  Or was he dealing with kids who were just so lost, so detached, so out of it, that anyone could have maybe yanked their chain.

Either way, two of Hollywood’s crew scoped out the scenic mountains above Santa Barbara for the perfect place to commit cold-blooded murder.

Then-deputy sheriff Bruce Correll: They had found a location there where they did dig a grave...and they then returned down to the hotel...where they then picked up Nick and then did drive him up there.

Two and a half days into the kidnapping, three of Hollywood’s posse traveled up the steep and treacherous, dark mountain roads, with Nick Markowitz. But this time it was no joyride, this time he was bound and gagged.

Hansen: They head up into the woods.  Nick Markowitz is bound with duct tape.  What happens then?

Katz: Ryan Hoyt takes a shovel and, basically, whacks Nick in the back of the head— cold cocks him.  Pulls out this Tech 9, one squeeze of the trigger, nine bullets shoot out. 

Hansen: Nine bullets. 

Katz: Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.  Nick collapses.  The only reason the gun didn’t keep on shooting is that it jammed.  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.

The posse members thought Nick’s body would never be found in such a remote location. But the grave was too shallow. And it was just off a popular hiking trail.

Commander Bruce Correll, SBCSD: Within a few days the body was discovered by some young people.

The local media reported that a body had been found.  After a few days there was a positive identification.

Back in West Hills, after a week and a half of anguish, Nick’s parents got the devastating news.

Hansen: Do you remember what the detectives said to you?

Susan Markowitz: “I’m sorry. We found your son. We found his bullet-riddled body.”

Hansen: How do you even process something like that?

Jeff Markowitz: You don’t.

Susan Markowitz: I remember sitting down, feeling like I was going to be sick.  And  I think I was thinking of crying but wouldn’t allow myself.  Or, maybe I did but it was so hysterically spontaneous—for just a second.  And then it’s like I went into shock.

Ben Markowitz, who had been helping search for Nick, was inconsolable. He immediately blamed himself for Nick’s death.

Ben Markowitz on KNBC-TV: It’s my fault...that my 15-year-old brother is dead.

Nick Markowitz’s funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners.  And just days later, the case was breaking wide open:

Hansen: And how do the police get onto Jesse James Hollywood and his posse?

Katz: Well, the one young lady who had befriended Nick during his captivity up in Santa Barbara—

Hansen: When all the partying is going on?

Katz: …who was 17 had realized that Nick was being held against his will.  And they had in fact discussed, you know, the potential for escape.  And that’s when Nick told her, “Don’t worry, you know, everything’s gonna work out.” So she believed everything was okay.

Hansen: Was fine.  Until?

Katz: Until—it was about—four or five days after Nick’s body was found.  And now a picture of Nick ran in the local newspaper in Santa Barbara. Realizes—

Hansen: “Oh my god.”

Katz: “Here’s this kid.  Sweet, funny, gangly kid that I hung out with for three days a couple weeks ago.  He’s dead.  They lied to me.”

The girl went to the Santa Barbara county sheriff’s department, where leads were already pouring in. Names and phone numbers were given.  

And within hours—police were making arrests, including triggerman Ryan Hoyt, and three others.

But one suspect disappeared: Jesse James Hollywood. As the alleged ringleader, he was indicted by a grand jury for  murder and kidnapping.  And  because he was nowhere to be found, he was  now an FBI fugitive.

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