South Bay man charged with drugging, sexually assaulting women

A South Bay man who allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted nine women at his homes in Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, including one who died as a result of the alleged drugging, has been charged with 18 felony counts, including murder and rape by use of a drug, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Michael DiGiorgio, 50, was set to be arraigned Friday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

DiGiorgio allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted nine women between May 2019 and November 2021, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The name of the woman who died from the alleged drugging was not immediately available.

DiGiorgio is charged with one count each of murder, forcible rape, rape of an unconscious person and oral copulation by use of a drug, along with two counts each of sodomy by use of a drug, forcible sexual penetration and furnishing a controlled substance, three counts of rape by use of a drug and five counts of sexual penetration by use of a drug, according to the District Attorney's Office.

DiGiorgio was arrested Thursday morning by Redondo Beach police and has remained behind bars without bail since then, jail records show.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.

In a statement announcing the charges, District Attorney George Gascón said, "I extend my deepest sympathy to the victims, whose lives have been irrevocably changed and the life lost by the alleged brutal acts of the offender. ... I encourage anyone with information related to these incidents or any other incidents regarding Mr. DiGiorgio to report it to the Redondo Beach Police Department."

The Redondo Beach Police Department's hotline can be reached at 714- 863-2859.