In America, there have been numerous shocking killers, but one in particular had the world completely dumbfounded. This killer is known as the ‘Craigslist Killer’ and has raised many questions about why a soon-to-be graduate from medical school would commit such evil acts. Despite having graduation and wedding plans with his fiance, this individual, Philip Markoff, seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.
Markoff was born and raised in Sherrill, New York, near Syracuse. His father was a dentist and his mother was a former educator who became a casino worker. He attended Vernon-Sherrill Central School and participated in various activities including bowling, the history club, youth court, and the National Honor Society. After graduating from high school, Markoff enrolled at the University of Albany (SUNY), where he pursued a degree in biology. It was during his time at SUNY that he met Megan McAllister. Both were pre-med students introduced to each other while volunteering at a local emergency room in a medical center (Source 1).
According to Source 1, McAllister and Markoff started dating in 2005 while McAllister was a senior and Markoff was a sophomore. In May 2008 (Source 5), during a romantic carriage ride in Connecticut, Markoff proposed to McAllister. They had planned to hold their wedding ceremony on August 14, 2009, at Long Island, New Jersey on a beach. The wedding party would include 19 people, including two ring-bearers and three flower girls (Source 4). However, without McAllister’s knowledge, her then-fiance soon gained the nickname ‘Craigslist Killer’ and was convicted of several assaults and murder just months before their dream wedding.
Craigslist is a centralized network that consists of various online communities. It offers free online classified ads covering several sections such as jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, resumes, and discussion forums. Among these categories, Markoff clearly showed a preference for the advertisements in the erotic category. These erotic services categories are part of the 100 categories available on Craigslist and represent approximately 1% of all ads. According to some opinions, the erotic category is considered to be the main contributor to prostitution and pornography in America.
Markoff began utilizing Craigslist as a means to find individuals to intimidate and pursue. He would post inappropriate images of himself and focus on women (and possibly men) in the area, inviting them to meet for massages or lap dances. He organized meetings with these individuals at hotels, where he would then assault them (Source 6). Markoff held a belief that he could outsmart law enforcement, but ultimately, he was apprehended. His initial victim was Tricia Leffler, a 29-year-old woman from Las Vegas who sought solace from the city’s heightened crackdown on unlawful behaviors.
Tricia utilized the online platform of Craigslist to publish an advertisement in the erotic categories section, where she offered her services as an escort. The title of her ad was “Sweet Blonde,” which swiftly attracted phone calls. Markoff was one of the individuals who responded to her ad. On April 10, 2009, Tricia and Markoff met face-to-face at the Westin Copley Place Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Once alone in the room, Markoff brandished a threatening firearm and pointed it at Leffler. He reassured her that as long as she followed his instructions, no harm would come to her.
According to Leffler, Markoff instructed her to lie down and place her hands behind her back as he approached. He then returned the gun to his pocket and knelt with one knee between her legs. Markoff proceeded to confiscate the $800 cash she possessed, as well as her credit and debit cards, placing them in his own pocket without attempting to hide his face. Additionally, he swiftly memorized his phone number from her cell phone. Subsequently, Markoff retrieved a pair of Leffler’s underwear from the floor and retained them in his pocket while searching for something in the hotel room.
The man brought Leffler to the bathroom, where he securely fastened her to the doorknob using zip ties. He possessed a knife in his pocket, which he utilized to slice three strips of duct tape and cover Leffler’s mouth with them. Furthermore, he employed the knife to sever the phone lines within the hotel room. Leffler noticed that despite having gloves, the man had not yet put them on; thus, his fingerprints would be present on the tape he had affixed. Subsequently, he exited the room, leaving Leffler still bound. Eventually, she managed to liberate herself from the zip ties and sought assistance from her neighbor by requesting they contact security as she had just experienced an armed robbery.
Boston police arrived at the hotel and immediately questioned Leffler (Source 7). Just four days after Markoff attacked Leffler, he struck again, this time resulting in murder. Markoff’s next victim was Julissa Brisman, a masseuse and former call girl he met at the Copley Marriot hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on April 14, 2009 at 10:00 p.m. (Source 1). Thirteen minutes later, police found Brisman in the doorway of her room following reports of a disturbance.
According to Source 4, Brisman was discovered in an unconscious state with multiple gunshot wounds, one of which was specifically to her heart. Source 1 states that she was then transferred to Boston Medical Center where she was pronounced dead due to multiple injuries. Despite being only 26 years old, Brisman was fighting against alcoholism. The Boston police quickly realized the extreme danger posed by the ‘Craigslist Killer’ (Source 4). Not long after Brisman’s tragic murder, another assault occurred in Warwick, Rhode Island, approximately 60 miles away, with a matching description of the perpetrator (Source 4).
Just two days after Brisman’s death on April 16, 2009, Markoff targeted another victim. This victim, a 26-year-old nightclub dancer, offered private lap dances on Craigslist. They met at an undisclosed hotel in Rhode Island, where Markoff attempted to rob her at gunpoint and bound her with plastic cord. However, the dancer’s husband intervened when he heard commotion and chased Markoff away (Source 4).
The Boston police had to intervene and apprehend this individual before another person fell victim to his actions. On April 15, 2009, Tricia Leffler, the first victim, received a call from the Boston police, urging her to speak to them regarding an important matter. They visited Leffler’s apartment armed with a photograph captured by the Copley Marriot hotel security camera, which depicted Markoff. When Leffler saw the photograph, she promptly identified Markoff. Consequently, the Boston police swiftly recognized him as their main suspect (Source 7).
Markoff was placed under police surveillance and subsequently arrested during a traffic stop in the southern area of Boston, just five days after Leffler identified him. It appears that Markoff and his fiancée, Megan McAllister, were traveling to Foxwoods resort and casino in Connecticut with a large sum of cash. Despite not having any previous criminal record, Markoff was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, and first-degree murder on April 20, 2009 (Source 1).
Following Markoff’s arrest, the investigation began. By using similar tactics he used to target his victims, investigators were able to turn the tables on the suspect. They discovered records of Markoff’s calls and emails to his victims, which he typically made from his apartment in Quincy located south of Boston (Source 4). In addition to these findings, Markoff’s apartment contained a semi-automatic weapon concealed inside a hollowed-out copy of the medical textbook Grey’s Anatomy of the Human Body. Moreover, they also found restraints, duct tape (Source 1), stolen underwear, and plastic handcuffs (Source 3).
The investigators discovered several key pieces of evidence linking Philip Markoff to the crimes. Firstly, they found a handgun in Markoff’s apartment that matched the one used to kill Julissa Brisman. Additionally, they found Markoff’s fingerprints on the duct tape and plastic restraints found at the crime scenes. Furthermore, a woman named Tricia Leffler positively identified Markoff as the person who had robbed her on April 10, 2009 (Source 5). As a result of Markoff’s arrest, Craigslist made the decision to no longer accept postings in the erotic category, which was promptly removed soon after.
According to Source 6, Craigslist has implemented a new policy regarding adult category postings. Previously, these postings were free, but they will now cost $10. If approved, they can then be reposted for $5. The controversial nature of the erotic category has led some people to view it as a platform for online prostitution. In response to concerns about illegal sexual activities on the site, attorneys from the north met with Craigslist officials to address the issue. Craigslist’s terms of service and agreement emphasize their moral and legal responsibility towards public safety, and they are now taking steps to uphold that commitment.
Philip Markoff’s story took an unexpected turn when a not-quite victim came forward on NBC’s Today show on April 27, 2009. This young man, unlike Markoff’s usual victims, was an adolescent who alleged Markoff had reached out to him after seeing his post on a bulletin board seeking transsexuals. During their communication on Craigslist, Markoff allegedly sent the young man sexually explicit pictures after his arrest. Although Markoff initially pleaded not guilty, he would not make it to the end of his trial (Source 5).
Philip Markoff died by suicide on August 15, 2010, which was a day after the anniversary of his cancelled wedding to Megan, his former fiancée (Source 1). Upon arrival at the site, authorities found “Megan” and “pocket” written in Markoff’s blood on the wall of his jail cell. The evidence gathered indicated that he took his own life using a makeshift scalpel made from a pen and a piece of metal. He inflicted numerous cuts on his neck, wrists, arms, and ankles, piercing various veins as well as his carotid artery located in the neck.
According to Source 2, Markoff’s death was deemed a suicide, as evidenced by the injuries discovered on his body. He had a clear plastic bag fastened around his neck with gauze and another bag connected to his feet. The autopsy determined that suffocation and substantial blood loss were the causes of his demise. It is conceivable that Markoff chose to end his own life due to overwhelming guilt he experienced. He never offered an explanation for his violent assaults on women or the pleasure he derived from them.
Some individuals suggest that he had a desire to exert violent control over women, preying on their vulnerability as a means of dominance (Source 8). Conversely, others argue that due to significant gambling debts, he resorted to robbing women in order to acquire money. Court records revealed that Markoff admitted to having unpaid student loans amounting to $130,000, which contributed to his financial predicament. Whether his actions were driven by a pleasure derived from dominating women or the necessity to settle his debts is a truth that remains elusive (Source 5).
In summary, Philip Markoff appeared to possess intelligence, wealth, and good fortune. However, he concealed a dark secret – he was the perpetrator of murders and assaults against young women in New Jersey and Rhode Island. Despite his pursuit of a medical career, Markoff’s actions startled America and prompted skepticism towards judging individuals solely on their outward appearance. Markoff serves as a stark illustration that even seemingly ordinary individuals may conceal sinister motives. Philip Markoff, who is also referred to as the ‘Craigslist Killer,’ demonstrates how an apparently promising future can veil an underlying malevolence.
