Suspected 'Craigslist Killer' Philip Markoff Dead of Apparent Suicide

On Sunday, August 15, 2010, the man dubbed the ‘Craigslist Killer’ Philip Markoff was found unresponsive in his Boston, Massachusetts jail cell and pronounced dead by medical personnel about 10:15 AM. An autopsy is scheduled to determine exact cause of death. Markoff had, at one point, been on suicide watch when shoelace marks were found around his neck in April 2009 and should not have had access to anything that could have been used in committing suicide. Markoff apparently placed a plastic bag over his head after taking a pen and stabbing himself in the main arteries in the neck and leg. His medical school background would have given him the knowledge to know exactly what he would need to do to commit suicide in this manner. His trial was scheduled to begin next March for the murder of Julissa Brisman.

Markoff's trial was not scheduled to start until March of 2011 so it has not been proven in a court of law that he was guilty of the murder and other crimes. The court should be moving the trial date up in order to dismiss the charges based on the defendant’s death.

Philip Markoff,24, had been a medical student at Boston University’s School of Medicine at the time of his arrest. He was also engaged to marry Megan McAllister, who defended him and proclaimed his innocence in the national media. August 14, 2010 would have been their one year anniversary. The wedding was canceled after the arrest. He received the moniker ‘Craigslist Killer’ because he had responded to each of the women’s advertisements on Craigslist to set up the hotel meetings.

Markoff was charged in the attempted robbery and fatal shooting of Julissa Brisman, 25, at Boston’s Marriott Copley Place Hotel on April 14, 2009. Markoff apparently responded to a posting on Craigslist submitted by Ms. Brisman, who had placed an advertisement on the site as a masseuse. Police were able to locate emails on Ms. Brisman’s computer that were, with the help of the internet provider, traced to a computer located in Markoff’s Quincy, Massachusetts home.

Having traced the communications to Markoff’s home, police obtained a search warrant to look for other evidence. The police did find a firearm, duct tape and other restraints. In a box spring they found four pair of women’s underwear wrapped in socks. Ms. Brisman, of New York, had been shot at close range three times and had been hit in the head with a blunt object. The police did find blood stains on the handgun found in Markoff’s apartment.

In addition to the murder charges, Markoff was charged with robbery from an incident on April 10, 2009. In that case Trisha Leffler, of Las Vegas, was held and gunpoint and bound before her attacker escaped with $800 in cash and $250 in American Express gift cards.

Markoff was also facing charges in Warwick Rhode Island from an incident where police say Markoff responded to a Craigslist advertisement placed by a 26-year old dancer. Markoff attempted to rob the woman when her husband entered the room. Markoff held the couple at gunpoint while he escaped.

There is an investigation into how an inmate could take his own life in such a manner without being noticed by jail staff. Susan Haynes and Richard Markoff, parents of Philip Markoff, were notified of his death and are devastated by the loss of their son. Ms. Brisman’s family released a statement to the press expressing regret that his actions have taken away an opportunity for them to have closure and justice for Julissa.

Officials can only speculate as to what would have triggered Markoff to decide to take his life. Reports are that he recently began staying in his cell alone, reading. One contributing factor may have been the passing of what would have his one year wedding anniversary. He may also have come to realize that the evidence against him was insurmountable.

Craigslist is essentially an online classified advertising service and posts are monitored for spam and other things that are against the site policies. They do have an area on the site that provides a list of safety precautions they recommend when meeting someone in person that answers your advertisement.

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