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'Craigslist Murder' a New Internet Phenomenon

Real-world cops with computers tracked real-world cybercrime

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2009 4:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – Accused Craigslist killer Philip Markoff’s alleged crimes and capture were so tied to the Internet that a “new kind of murder” has been born, writes Maureen Orth in Vanity Fair. Not only did Markoff allegedly find victim Julissa Brisman on Craigslist, but before the meeting that Boston police say led to her death, they communicated only by email. And investigators’ identification of a suspect worked the same way, with a little help from Microsoft.

Once the cops ID’d Markoff, their focus turned to Craigslist, whose Erotic Services posts appeared to have facilitated the murder. “Craigslist didn’t mean to start out creating a cyber-brothel, but that’s what it grew into,” one DC cop says. But though Craigslist has cooperated with the investigation and changed its policies, its CEO sees something of a ray of sunshine. If criminals use the service to commit a crime, he says, “it virtually guarantees they’ll be caught.”

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Philip Markoff. (AP Photo)

Boston University medical student Philip Markoff stands during his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Garfinkel, Pool)

Boston University medical student Philip Markoff stands during his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in Boston. Markoff has been ordered held without bail on charges that... (AP Photo/Mark Garfinkel, Pool)

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In this new kind of murder, the Internet was front and center at every turn. It enabled the crime, and it was the principal tool used to establish the identity of the prime suspect. - Maureen Orth

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

JoeQ

Aug 31, 2009 11:20 AM CDT

Yeah and now we've just had two more psychos who had blogs fer crissake: the gymnasium lonely guy shooter guy and the religious nut kidnapper guy. No crazies have "tweeted" yet, though. Any day some guys going to tweet, "Well, I just shot up the mall and now I'm reloading..."

zackmasson

Aug 31, 2009 10:47 AM CDT

any your point? It's better than it use to be, at least they will catch these kind of people. If someone decides to kill there's no way to know and stop them. You can only catch them and make them pay for it. And Reader64481089 when you need them im sure you'll call 911 but in the mean time keep shitting on them why don't you. prick.

Mad

Aug 31, 2009 10:22 AM CDT

"...Slay me..." - grizzly turn of phrase

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Vanity Fair (Source Grid »)

Crime & Courts • Technology

social networking • Internet • Microsoft • Boston • murder • criminal charges • Julissa Brisman • Philip Markoff • Craigslist killer

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'Craigslist Murder' a New Internet Phenomenon