Violent Minds

The Complete Story of Philip Markoff: The Craigslist Killer

Introduction

Philip Markoff, a 23-year-old Boston University medical student, became one of America’s most notorious criminals in 2009 when he was accused of a violent crime spree targeting women he contacted through Craigslist. Over seven days in April 2009, Markoff allegedly committed two armed robberies and a murder, earning him the media moniker “The Craigslist Killer”. His case revealed the dark potential of online anonymity and the shocking dual life of a promising student who concealed violent criminal behavior behind a facade of normalcy. Markoff’s story ended tragically when he died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial, leaving unanswered questions about his motives and psychological state.

Background: The All-American Student

Philip Markoff was born on February 12, 1986, in Sherrill, New York, to Richard Markoff, a dentist, and Susan Haynes. His background suggested privilege and stability:

• Academic Excellence: Graduated from Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School in 2004 as a National Honor Society member, active in History Club, Youth Court, and bowling and golf teams.
• Pre-Medical Path: Earned a biology degree from SUNY Albany in 2007, where he volunteered in an emergency room and met his fiancée, Megan McAllister.
• Medical Student: Enrolled at Boston University School of Medicine in 2008, financing his education through student loans.
• Engagement: Proposed to McAllister in 2008, with a wedding planned for August 14, 2009. Friends and family described him as “beautiful inside and out“.

This conventional portrait masked a hidden life. Investigators later discovered Markoff struggled with gambling addiction and frequented casinos, though no confirmed motive for his crimes ever emerged.

The Seven-Day Crime Spree

Markoff’s alleged criminal activities occurred in rapid succession across New England hotels:

April 10, 2009: Westin Copley Place, Boston

• Victim: Trisha Leffler, 29, a Las Vegas escort advertising on Craigslist.
• Attack: Bound, gagged, and robbed at gunpoint in her hotel room.
• Evidence: Security cameras captured a tall, white male in a baseball cap fleeing the scene.

Leffler later told investigators, “I just complied with everything he wanted me to do. And I didn’t resist him in any way and I think that’s why [I survived]”.

April 14, 2009: Copley Marriott, Boston

• Victim: Julissa Brisman, 25, a model and masseuse advertising therapeutic services.
• Attack: Bound and shot three times at close range (heart, hip, lung) during a robbery.
• Critical Mistake: Brisman’s friend provided police with email correspondence containing the killer’s IP address.

According to investigators, Brisman may have slipped free of her plastic restraints before being shot, which could explain why the encounter turned deadly compared to Leffler’s robbery.

April 16, 2009: Holiday Inn Express, Warwick, RI

• Victim: Cynthia Melton, 26, an exotic dancer advertising lap dances.
• Attack: Attempted armed robbery thwarted when Melton fought back and screamed for help.

Investigation and Arrest

The investigation combined digital forensics with traditional police work:

Digital Trail

• IP Address Tracking: Emails sent to Brisman traced to Markoff’s Quincy apartment.
• Cell Phone Records: Placed Markoff near all three crime scenes during the attacks.
• Craigslist Analysis: Common language patterns linked communications with victims.

As one investigator noted, “Finding the man who committed those crimes was nothing less than dramatic… an interplay between forensic and digital evidence“.

Physical Evidence

• Surveillance Footage: Hotel cameras captured a suspect matching Markoff’s description.
• Fingerprint Match: A print from the Brisman crime scene matched Markoff’s.
• Apartment Search: Police found:
  • A 9mm Springfield Armory XD9 semi-automatic handgun hidden in a hollowed-out copy of Gray’s Anatomy.
  • Bullets matching the Brisman murder taped behind a dryer.
  • Plastic wrist restraints and duct tape identical to those used on victims.
  • Laptop containing Craigslist correspondence with Brisman.
  • 16 pairs of women’s underwear, believed to be trophies from victims, hidden under his mattress.

Arrest

On April 20, 2009, Markoff was arrested during a traffic stop on I-95 while driving to Foxwoods Casino with his fiancée. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, shouting “Not guilty!” in court when charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and weapons offenses.

Psychological Analysis: The Dual Identity

Compartmentalization

Markoff exemplified extreme compartmentalization – maintaining two contradictory identities:

• Public Persona: Dedicated medical student and devoted fiancé described as “gentle” and “kind“.
• Secret Life: Alleged violent predator who targeted vulnerable women. Evidence suggested meticulous planning, including:
  • Using the alias “Andrew Miller” to purchase his murder weapon in New Hampshire.
  • Creating disposable email accounts to contact victims.
  • Wearing disguises (baseball cap) during attacks.

As criminologist Casey Jordan explained, “He was absolutely convinced that no one would ever suspect that he would have a double life, that he would actually answer ads for sex workers or erotic dancers“.

Sexual Compulsions and Hidden Desires

Investigations revealed Markoff maintained extensive online activities unknown to those closest to him:

• Used email addresses like “sexaddict5385” and “sexaddict53885” on multiple websites.
• Maintained profiles on Alt.com, gayclublist.com, passion.com, and extremerestraints.com.
• Expressed interest in BDSM, including chains, collars, and leashes.
• Sought encounters with transvestites and transgender individuals.

One psychiatrist interviewed by CBS News suggested this “completely split personality could create, in the end, violence. And it seems like it did“.

Possible Motivations

Despite extensive investigation, no definitive motive emerged:

• Financial Gain: Robbery was consistent across attacks, but stolen amounts were minimal.
• Gambling Debts: His casino visits suggested possible financial pressure.
• Thrill-Seeking: The short time frame and geographic spread indicated impulsive behavior.
• Power and Control: His medical background contrasted with the brutality of Brisman’s murder.

As Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley later stated, “there was no conclusive motive in the murder“.

Psychological Contradictions

• Emotional Detachment: Showed no visible reaction when confronted with crime scene photos.
• Self-Destructive Urges: Four jail suicide attempts before his death, including on his planned wedding date.
• Narcissistic Traits: Maintained innocence despite overwhelming evidence, suggesting grandiosity.

Crime blogger Steve Huff described Markoff as “a classic sociopath” whose intelligence and charm masked his true nature.

Jail Suicide: The Final Act

On August 15, 2010, Markoff died by suicide at Boston’s Nashua Street Jail:

• Method: Used a makeshift knife (crafted from a pen and metal) to cut arteries in his neck, ankles, and legs. Also swallowed toilet paper and suffocated himself with a plastic bag.
• Symbolic Gestures: Wrote “Megan” and their pet names in blood on his cell wall and scattered photos of their relationship.
• Timing: Died exactly one year and one day after his canceled wedding date.

A law enforcement source described the scene: “They pulled the cover back and it was a bloodbath. Her name was in a prominent place in the cell“.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Media Frenzy

• Sensational Coverage: Dubbed “The Craigslist Killer,” Markoff’s case fueled moral panics about online anonymity.
• Adaptations:
  • Lifetime’s The Craigslist Killer (2011) starring Jake McDorman.
  • 48 Hours Mystery episode “Craigslist: Classified for Murder“.
  • Books: Seven Days of Rage (Paul La Rosa) and A Date with Death (Michele McPhee).

Policy Changes

• Craigslist Reforms: Permanently shut down its “Erotic Services” section in 2010.
• Digital Policing: Case became a blueprint for using IP tracing in violent crime investigations.

Unanswered Questions

• Why did a privileged medical student target sex workers? 
• Were there unreported victims?
• Did his medical training influence his choice of weapons or methods?

Fiancée’s Perspective

Megan McAllister initially stood by Markoff, writing to media outlets: “Philip is a beautiful person inside and out and could not hurt a fly! A police officer in Boston (or many) is trying to make big bucks by selling his false story to the TV stations“.

After visiting him in jail on April 29, 2009, McAllister broke off their engagement. Her attorney stated she “will continue to fully cooperate with the district attorney’s office” but would not see Markoff “for a long, long time, if ever“.

Conclusion

hilip Markoff’s case remains a disturbing study in contrasts: academic achievement versus violent crime, romantic commitment versus predation, and the ease with which digital tools facilitate real-world violence. His suicide denied victims’ families legal closure and left psychologists without definitive answers about his motivations. The Craigslist Killer phenomenon underscores how technology enables new forms of predation while reminding us that the most dangerous criminals often hide in plain sight. Markoff’s legacy endures as a cautionary tale about the dual identities technology can conceal and the darkness that can lie beneath even the most promising facades.

Catching the Craigslist Killer | Beyond the Headlines | Special | LMN

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