The Disturbing Truth Of Craigslist Killer Philip Markoff
By NICHOLAS VRCHOTICKY AND BRIAN BOONE
History - Science
Content Warning
This story contains discussions of suicide.
Medical Student
Philip Markoff, infamously known as the Craigslist Killer, was a medical student at Boston University up until his arrest for the murder of Julissa Brisman, when he was 22. Markoff's teachers believed him to be brilliant with a bright future ahead, and, as with many serial killers, many good things were said about him.
Preyed On Sex Workers
Like many serial killers, Markoff used the vulnerable social position of illegal sex workers to his advantage. He allegedly only took a single life, but he was known to have met up with at least three women via sex work ads on Craigslist, shoving guns in their faces before tying them up and robbing them.
Committed Suicide
Since his arrest, Markoff had attempted suicide twice before he succeeded in taking his own life in his jail cell in 2010. It was presumed that the last straw was his ex-fiancée ending things with him while he was locked up — he also left a bloody artwork on the walls of his cell, where he wrote the ex-fiancée's name before fading from this world.
Other Craigslist Killers
Philip Markoff may allegedly be the "Craigslist Killer," but he's definitely not the only one. According to the blog Craigslist Killings, there have been 132 Craigslist murders to date, and while the blog's numbers could be off, it's safe to say that as long as the site remains active, the murders connected to it are likely to do the same.
Philip Markoff’s Fiancée
When Philip Markoff was arrested in April 2009, he was with Megan McAllister, a 25-year-old medical student whom Markoff was planning to marry. McAllister, rightfully shocked that her future husband had been connected to a grisly murder and other alleged criminal activities, couldn't — or refused to — believe it and even called Markoff "a beautiful man inside and out."