Craigslist Killer case shows how current sex laws enable, assist violent criminals
MELISSA STELTER, Clarion Opinions Editor
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Opinion
I've been following the case of accused Boston-area "Craigslist Killer" Philip Markoff with a fair amount of interest. Markoff, a student with Boston University's School of Medicine, seemed to have everything going for him: an impressive academic record, a clean-cut, all-American image, a wide circle of friends and a loving and attractive fiancée. However, under the surface, something darker apparently festered inside Markoff, which caused him to seek out women to attack, rob, and (as in the case of 26-year old Julissa Brisman) murder them.
Family members, classmates and acquaintances of Markoff have come forward, some to testify to the impeccable quality of his character, claiming that the Phillip Markoff they know would be incapable of such crimes. Others remember Markoff as a condescending bully with a mean streak. His fiancée, Megan McAllister, fervently defends her beloved, claiming in an e-mail sent to ABC News that Markoff "could not hurt a fly."
Yet, police have compiled a damning array of evidence against Markoff, including surveillance footage placing someone who greatly resembles him near the scene of both crimes of which he is currently accused. Police have also found personal items belonging to at least two victims in Markoff's apartment. Most compelling is fingerprint evidence linking Markoff to crime scenes in Rhode Island, where a woman was bound and robbed, and the Brisman murder at Boston's Marriot Copley Place. Forensic evidence also links a gun owned by Markoff to bullets located at the Brisman murder scene.
Police allege that Markoff located and selected his victims using Craigslist, selecting women who advertised erotic services. In the aftermath of these crimes, a variety of sources have placed pressure on Craigslist to ban the posting of erotic services - as if the website is directly responsible for the behavior of its users. There has even been talk of implementing a law, in an attempt to prevent this type of criminal behavior from occurring again.
Family members, classmates and acquaintances of Markoff have come forward, some to testify to the impeccable quality of his character, claiming that the Phillip Markoff they know would be incapable of such crimes. Others remember Markoff as a condescending bully with a mean streak. His fiancée, Megan McAllister, fervently defends her beloved, claiming in an e-mail sent to ABC News that Markoff "could not hurt a fly."
Yet, police have compiled a damning array of evidence against Markoff, including surveillance footage placing someone who greatly resembles him near the scene of both crimes of which he is currently accused. Police have also found personal items belonging to at least two victims in Markoff's apartment. Most compelling is fingerprint evidence linking Markoff to crime scenes in Rhode Island, where a woman was bound and robbed, and the Brisman murder at Boston's Marriot Copley Place. Forensic evidence also links a gun owned by Markoff to bullets located at the Brisman murder scene.
Police allege that Markoff located and selected his victims using Craigslist, selecting women who advertised erotic services. In the aftermath of these crimes, a variety of sources have placed pressure on Craigslist to ban the posting of erotic services - as if the website is directly responsible for the behavior of its users. There has even been talk of implementing a law, in an attempt to prevent this type of criminal behavior from occurring again.
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