San Francisco Criminal Lawyers

A Florida based media consulting company prepared a report for a competitor of San Francisco based Craigslist, the popular online classified website. The report listed crimes perpetrated during transactions facilitated by Craiglist. Evidently the report was intended to paint Craigslist as a dangerous online venue, and frighten users into trying out the competitor’s website. Of course bringing a significant amount of money to a meeting with people you have never met is a stupid idea, especially in a secluded or unfamiliar area. Craigslist can’t be blamed for this fact of life. The list of crimes does tell an interesting tale, and should be a warning to anyone thinking of treading this dangerous path.

And without further ado – the Craigslist killings:
Jonathan Clements, a 19-year-old from Hazel Park, Mich., shot to death after arranging to buy a cellphone for $95 from someone through Craigslist. (February 2011.)

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/hazel-park-teen-killed-duringcraigslist-meeting-20110216-mr

Four women whose bodies were dumped along a desolate beachfront strip on Long Island were prostitutes who booked their clients via Craigslist and were probably the victims of a serial killer, police say. (January 2011)

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP39c03bb0950a4be6964e13e038f18de9.html

Youa Lor killed after meeting someone via Craigslist in an attempt to sell his sports car in Lake Elmo, Minn. Two Minnesota National Guard soldiers were charged with the murder. (September 2010)

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/gun-in-craigslist-murder-not-militaryissued-sept-14-2010

Thai Lam was trying to sell his Yamaha Ninja motorcycle in West Chatham, Ga., via Craigslist. He was shot fatally by a person posing as a prospective buyer who then stole the motorcycle. (August 2010)

http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2010-08-27/police-thursday-murder-involvedbotched-craigslist-motorcycle-sale

Tiara Poole, 21, killed after posting a personal ad. After responding to the ad, the suspect drove to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet her. Investigators believe the two drove together to her apartment, where she was stabbed multiple times. (July 2010)

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-07-26/story/craigslist-ad-led-jacksonvilleslaying-and-southeast-georgia-suspect

Sarah Weyrik was found stabbed to death in her burning car in June 2010 at an apartment complex in southwest Houston. She had posted a need for extra cash on Craigslist. (June 2010)

http://www.click2houston.com/news/23868667/detail.html

Mary Jane Scanlon stabbed to death by caretaker in her home in Pleasant Hill, Calif. The caretaker, Diane Warrick, had been hired through Craigslist to assist the elderly Scanlon. Warrick had a history of mental illness and the attack appears to have followed a minor dispute about where she parked her car. (June 2010)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7528358

Jim Sanders killed by gunman during home invasion in Edgewood, Wash. Robbers were responding to an ad Sanders had posted for a diamond ring. His wife and two sons were tied up during the home invasion. (May 2010)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/06/jim-sanders-craigslist-di_n_566124.html

Bob Tombo shot and killed in Miami during robbery while attempting to sell a Rolex watch via Craigslist. In the early 1980s, Tombo was a popular disc jockey in Miami.
(February 2010)

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Police-Confirm-Valley-Man-Killedin-Craigslist/TAJdho1HJk2FfEWVQEvwGw.cspx

Heather M. Snivley of Tigard, Ore., was killed and her unborn child cut from her womb after she met a woman to sell baby clothes. The suspect, who later pleaded guilty, had been posing as a pregnant woman. (June 2009)

http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=128639190676782300

Amy Elizabeth Dicky was murdered in Austin, Texas, after meeting a prospective client via Craigslist. (May 2009)

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/man-found-guilty-in-craigslist-slaying-1118249.html

Julissa Brisman murdered at a Boston hotel after meeting with “Craigslist Killer” Phillip Markoff. Markoff, a medical student in Boston, pleaded not guilty and later committed suicide in jail. (April 2009)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/craigslist-killer-phillip-markoff-commitssuicide/US/story?id=7904950

George Webber, a radio newsman in New York City, was stabbed more than 50 times and killed after a sex romp with a teenager. (March 2009)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/10/13/2010-10-13_twisted_teen_trial_sadist_laughs_at_vid_of_confession.html

Christian Marton shot to death while buying a car he found on Craigslist. Marton had gone to Dallas to buy a 1995 Chevy Caprice listed on the site and was shot, killed and robbed when he brought cash to make the purchase. (February 2009)

http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9788898

Theodore Neff, 66, a retiree from Vallejo, Calif., was strangled and his home set on fire after meeting a male escort he found via Craigslist. Several of Neff’s possessions were stolen before the home was set ablaze. (February 2009)

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=3170&MediaType=1&Category=1

Matthew Hicks and his wife posted an ad in Arlington, Va., for “erotic services” which was answered by ex-Marine Willie Donaldson. At some point, the men argued and Donaldson shot Hicks, claiming self-defense. (December 2008)

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=323534&paper=60&cat=104

Katherine Ann Olson, 24, was killed in Savage, Minn., after she answered an ad for a nanny. “I can’t recall a single case like it. This is the worst that I can recall,” said Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. “This is a real tragedy.” (October 2007)

http://www.savagepacer.com/news/police/update-craigslist-murder-captivatesworld-4956

(Source: http://aimgroup.com/files/2011/02/Craigslist-Report.pdf)