Parents Visit Craigslist Murder Suspect in Jail

Real-world cops with computers tracked real-world cybercrime

(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. More»

Suspect's fingerprints match those left on duct tape at crime scene

(NEWSER) - Solid evidence is piling up against accused Craigslist killer Philip Markoff, the Boston Globe reports. A gun found at Markoff's home—concealed inside a copy of medical textbook Gray's Anatomy—matched the weapon used to kill Julissa Brisman in preliminary testing, and the suspect's fingerprints match those found on plastic restraints and duct tape left at the crime scenes, authorities said. More»

(NEWSER) - Accused “Craigslist killer” Philip Markoff has been placed on suicide watch after his Boston jailers found evidence he had tried to hang himself, ABC News reports. “Shoelace marks were found on his neck,” a corrections official said. Markoff has been moved from the general population to a closely watched segregated unit. “I am deeply concerned for Philip's well being,” his lawyer said. More»

(NEWSER) - A search of the suspected Craigslist killer’s home uncovered 2 pairs of underwear belonging to his victims, the Boston Globe reports. Police could not determine the garments' owners but did identify them as “mementos” of the crimes. Police are also testing the gun found in suspect Philip Markoff's apartment to determine if it was used to kill Julissa Brisman. They discovered the weapon in a hollowed-out copy of the medical textbook Gray’s Anatomy. More»

(NEWSER) - The woman who survived a robbery at the hands of Craigslist suspect Philip Markoff did so by offering no resistance, ABC News reports. “I just complied with everything he wanted me to do,” said Trisha Leffler, whom Markoff met at a Boston hotel for a massage. “I didn’t resist him in any way and that’s why.” Leffler, who lost $800, has positively identified Markoff as her assailant. More»