Accused "Craiglist Killer" Commits Suicide in Jail

[LynetteMarie]

Simply heartbreaking story from beginning to end.

--------------------------------------------
From Boston.com
August 15, 2010 8:07pm
By June Q. Wu, Globe Correspondent and Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Accused “Craigslist Killer” Philip Markoff was found dead at Nashua Street Jail yesterday morning, a plastic bag tied over his head, in an apparent suicide, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said today.

Another law-enforcement official said he had been found with a cut artery.

Markoff, 24, was alone in his cell when jail officials discovered his body one day after what would have been the one year anniversary of his wedding.

Markoff would have gone on trial in March, nearly two years after he allegedly killed Julissa Brisman, a 25-year-old New York masseuse who traveled to Boston after placing an advertisement for her services on Craigslist.

"The family of Julissa Brisman is shocked and dismayed by the news of Phillip Markoff's suicide," according to a statement released by Djuna Perkins, the family's Boston-based lawyer. "Their grief for Julissa is as fresh today as the day over a year ago when Markoff took Julissa away from them. The long-awaited criminal prosecution was their only opportunity to confront him, and now he has taken that away as well."

Authorities have said that Markoff shot Brisman three times with a handgun on April 14, 2009 after they struggled in the doorway of her room on the 20th floor of the Marriott Copley in Boston. A bullet pierced her heart. Prosecutors said Markoff also battered her head.

Markoff was also charged with attacking two other women he met through the classified advertising website. His next court appearance was a hearing scheduled for mid-September, according to John Salsberg, Markoff's attorney.

“I’m shocked and saddened by the news,” said John Salsberg, Markoff’s attorney.

Salsberg declined to comment further.

Media surrounded the Nashua Street jail this afternoon and into the evening as prisoners held up signs to their windows commenting on Markoff's death.

One sign read, "I'm staying alive."

Another said, "All rapists should die."

Markoff had been placed on suicide watch shortly after his arrest nearly a week after the slaying.

In April 2009, Markoff was examined by medical staff at the jail and put in a special cell under camera surveillance after a correction officer saw marks on his neck that suggested he had tried to use shoelaces to hang himself, the Globe reported at the time.

In May, a prison official told the Globe that Markoff was no longer being segregated from other prisoners. He was acclimating well, playing chess with the other inmates, according to the official.

Police arrested Markoff, who was living in Quincy, on April 20, 2009 after stopping him on Interstate 95 in Walpole. Markoff told police he was headed to the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. His fiancee, Megan McAllister, also was in the car.

Markoff and McAllister were driven to Boston in separate cars. He was held, while McAllister was released. In his arraignment the next day, Markoff pleaded not guilty to homicide and armed robbery charges.

Markoff and McAllister had been planning to marry in August 2009, but she called off the wedding.

Markoff, a former Boston University medical student, was also charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in two similar incidents in which the victims were not injured.

[Camille]

I'm not at all surprised about this. I don't know why he was ever taken off suicide watch since there are 3 previous reported attempts at suicide prior to this one. He was a med student..he would have known better than anyone what needed to doing to make this happen. Unfortunately, someone's head is going to roll for this given he was in custody at the time...even though he was clearly going to make it happen one way or another at some point.

C

[Guest083011]

It's heartbreaking, except for the fact that Julissa's family will not have to endure the trial even though they wanted to see justice served. Her life (both real world and demimonde) would have been brought forward. Too bad he did not suffer the way Julissa did, and experience life painfully slipping from his body.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by SR Only

It's heartbreaking, except for the fact that Julissa's family will not have to endure the trail even though they wanted to see justice served. Her life would have been brought forward. Too bad he did not suffer the way Julissa did, and experience life painfully slipping from his body.

You're obviously not Amish SR, nor am I but I sure the fuc wish we all had a bit of their forgiving attitudes in our souls.



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14900930
"I think the most powerful demonstration of the depth of Amish forgiveness was when members of the Amish community went to the killer's burial service at the cemetery," Kraybill says. "Several families, Amish families who had buried their own daughters just the day before were in attendance and they hugged the widow, and hugged other members of the killer's family."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjJt3wKXdRc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_school_shooting
On the day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the killer, saying, "We must not think evil of this man."[17][dead link] Another Amish father noted, "He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's standing before a just God."[18]
Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren community living near the Amish in Lancaster County, explained: "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts."[17][dead link]
A Roberts family spokesman said an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them.[19] Amish community members visited and comforted Roberts' widow, parents, and parents-in-law. One Amish man held Roberts' sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him.[20] The Amish have also set up a charitable fund for the family of the shooter.[21] About 30 members of the Amish community attended Roberts' funeral,[20] and Marie Roberts, the widow of the killer, was one of the few outsiders invited to the funeral of one of the victims.[22] Marie Roberts wrote an open letter to her Amish neighbors thanking them for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy. She wrote, "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."[22]
The Amish do not normally accept charity, but due to the extreme nature of the tragedy, donations were accepted. Richie Lauer, director of the Anabaptist Foundation, said the Amish community, whose religious beliefs prohibit them from having health insurance, will likely use the donations to help pay the medical costs of the hospitalized children.[23]
Some commentators criticized the swift and complete forgiveness with which the Amish responded, arguing that forgiveness is inappropriate when no remorse has been expressed, and that such an attitude runs the risk of denying the existence of evil;[24][25][26] others were supportive.[27][28] Donald Kraybill and two other scholars of Amish life noted that "letting go of grudges" is a deeply rooted value in Amish culture, which remembers forgiving martyrs including Dirk Willems and Jesus himself. They explained that the Amish willingness to forgo vengeance does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.[29][30]

[John Bull]

They are a wonderful people in many ways. We could all learn something from them when it comes to forgiveness.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by John Bull

They are a wonderful people in many ways. We could all learn something from them when it comes to forgiveness.

I hope you remember them when I post something stupid!

[pjorourke]

The reason why they have that perspective is right here: Another Amish father noted, "He had ... a soul and now he's standing before a just God."

If you truly believe in a just God, as they do, forgiveness is a lot easier.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

If you truly believe in a just God, as they do, forgiveness is a lot easier.

Whatcaya saying PJ?
That most religious folks don't think their God is just enough?

[Katy Alexander]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

The reason why they have that perspective is right here: Another Amish father noted, "He had ... a soul and now he's standing before a just God."

If you truly believe in a just God, as they do, forgiveness is a lot easier.

Even when you do not believe in a just God, or any God for that matter it is still wise to forgive if you can. Otherwise the hatred that you feel for others will just eat away at your life until there is nothing left.

The Amish are good people, plus they sure do know how to build a cool fake fire place

[LynetteMarie]

Agreeing with you Becky about the hatred eating away at your life.

"Forgiveness is setting someone free...then realizing that person was you."

[TexTushHog]

Excellent post, WTF.

[..]

Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Excellent post, WTF.

Word!