NOTE: To our readers, we found this so fascinating we had to share it with you. This post will kick off a week of "Murder Online" topics at Killer Hobbies.
Dubbed the “Craigslist Killer” in April 2009, Phillip Markoff, 24 was indicted on charges of First Degree Murder and armed robbery, amongst other charges. After responding to several different ads on the erotic services of Craigslist, Markoff allegedly met up with 3 different women in Boston and Rhode Island area hotels and robbed them at gunpoint; one of the women fought back and was murdered. After following up on hundreds of leads Markoff was arrested and despite the alarming amount of evidence against him has entered a not guilty plea; he is set to go to trial in June 2010.
In March of 2009, 50 year old radio reporter, George Weber was found dead in his apartment after being stabbed at least 50 times in the neck and upper body. After responding to a S & M sex Craigslist ad posted by 16 year old John Katehis, the two agreed to meet up and exchange sex for money. Katehis describes himself on his MySpace profile as “Extremist, an Anarchist, a Sadomasochist” and originally told police he killed him after Weber tried to stab him first.
In April 2010, a Washington couple agreed to meet a couple that responded to their Craigslist ad selling a ring for $1050. The two people who were posing as a couple interested in buying the ring for their mother-in-law, entered the home of James Sanders and tied up Sanders, his wife, and their two children. Two others then entered the home and began to beat one of the children and the father was shot and killed while trying to protect his son. All four people were arrested within a couple of days.
A Vancouver couple was arrested in May of 2008 after allegedly posting an ad on Craigslist to sell their 7 day old baby for $10,000 because they “can’t afford” her. After being alerted to the post, Vancouver police tracked the post to an apartment in Vancouver’s West End where the couple was arrested and the child placed in Child Protective Services. The couple has since told authorities that the posting was a joke.
Kennith Goodwin, a 51 year old U.S. Postmaster from Washington was arrested in May 2010 after he allegedly tried to solicit sex on Craigslist with detectives posing as a 13 year old girl. Federal investigators said that the computer he had been using to correspond with the detectives, while he was at work at the Winlock Post Office had been seized. Goodwin was later charged with patronizing prostitution.
Kissimmee Police arrested 24 year old Braves pitcher, Deunte Heath on March 26, 2010 for solicitation of prostitution and entering a dwelling for prostitution. The Braves pitcher who was in Florida for spring training agreed to pay $75 for a “sex act” he had found on Craigslist and was arrested as he entered the townhouse where it was supposed to take place. He was released from the Osceola County Jail after posting a $2000 bond that same day.
A “group sex” ad posted on Craigslist in April 2010 as a joke landed a 29 year old Connecticut man in jail charged with misdemeanor sexual assault and burglary, amongst other charges. The Craigslist ad stated that there was a soccer mom there ready to have sex with as many men as possible; however, Richard Zeh showed up at the wrong address and was told to leave. When he showed up at the correct address listed on the ad he was again turned away. Thinking the 18 year old woman in the first house was playing hard to get, he went back and sexually assaulted her and was arrested soon after.
Brandon and Amber Herbert, an Oregon couple were arrested in April 2008 for posting a fake ad on Craigslist to cover up a burglary that they had committed. After burglarizing a ranch they knew was unattended for a couple of days, they attempted to cover it up by posting an ad on Craigslist pretending to be the owner of the house saying that he had to leave town on an emergency and couldn’t get rid of all his stuff, therefore it was all up for grabs. The man returned to his home to see about 30 people taking off with loads of stuff from his home and it took officers about a week to track down the couple that had posted the ad.
In November 2005, a 22 year old California woman was taken into custody after posting an ad on Craigslist offering her 4 year old daughter for sex in exchange for $500. After someone responded to an ad posted by Shannon Nicole Woods they agreed to meet for sex and when the person brought up the sexual encounter with her 4 year old daughter Woods did not object. The person, who was not involved with law enforcement, alerted authorities and a warrant was issued to search Woods’ house and police confiscated her laptop along with several CD’s and placed her under arrest for suspicion of lewd conduct.
22 year old Corey Jackson was arrested in Philadelphia for robbery and aggravated assault in September 2009. A 51 year old man from New Hope posted a Craigslist ad selling a $14,500 diamond ring. After corresponding and meeting, Jackson informed the man that he needed a ride to get the money and when they got there Jackson maced the man in the face and stole the ring. Determined to find him, the man placed phony ads on Craigslist hoping Jackson would try to sell the ring. It worked and when both men showed the police were ready to arrest him.
Reprinted with permission from: Forensic Colleges
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4 comments:
Wow, Joanna! You've given us enough for a week! Fascinating. I'd like to think I wouldn't fall for any of the scams, like the ring, but who knows?
I'm sure there must be some good things about craigslist, but all I've ever heard are the types of things in your post.
Yikes! Things like this show how dangerous the Internet can be, Joanna. I wouldn't think so, just sitting here with my computer, but it has become easier for those with nastiness in mind to make contact with other people via craigslist or social sites.
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