Med Student Arrested In Craigslist Murder

(CBS/ AP)  A Boston University medical student was arrested Monday in the shooting death in a hotel of a masseuse and the robbery of another woman who both advertised their services on Craigslist.

Phil Markoff, 22, was arrested during a traffic stop Monday afternoon on Interstate 95 in Walpole, south of Boston, Police Commissioner Ed Davis said at a news conference to announce the arrest. He is also connected to an assault on a Las Vegas exotic dancer in Rhode Island last week.

Markoff's arrest came days after his image was shown on surveillance video at the hotels. Davis said that authorities had him under observation for days before making the arrest.

Authorities said Markoff was originally from upstate New York and now lives in Quincy, just south of Boston. A Facebook profile matching Markoff's identity, including his photograph, lists him as a 2007 graduate of State University of New York-Albany and in the 2011 class at BU.

CBS' News Sammy Rose Saltzman and Ryan Corsaro report that friends and acquaintances contacted for the story describe Markoff as "likeable," "preppy," and "conservative." He and his fiancé, Megan McAllister, had a website detailing plans for their wedding that was planned for August in Long Branch, N.J.

A SUNY Albany alum told CBS News that Markoff talked about going to strip clubs, but never mentioned visiting a prostitute. He said he got in many arguments with Markoff about his misogynistic attitude towards women.

A Boston University spokeswoman told Boston radio station WBZ-AM Markoff had been suspended from the medical school after his arrest.

Markoff is charged with killing Julissa Brisman, 26, who was found dead Tuesday at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The New York City woman advertised massage services on Craigslist and had a massage table set up in the room where she was shot Tuesday, police said.

Markoff is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Tuesday.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said Markoff is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. In addition, Conley said Markoff is charged with kidnapping and armed robbery in a separate case involving another woman he met on Craigslist.

Police said they had long suspected that Brisman's killer was connected to a robbery at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston.

Authorities believe Brisman's death also may be connected to the attempted robbery Thursday in Warwick, R.I., of an exotic dancer by a man responding to an ad she had posted on Craigslist. She was held at gunpoint before her husband entered the room and her attacker fled.

The four photos released Monday by Warwick police show a man in a dark jacket with a baseball cap pulled low, obscuring much of his face. The surveillance photos of the man were similar to those released from the Boston Marriott Copley Place.

Boston police said they've also received more than 150 tips about Brisman's killing.

Conley said authorities believe Markoff may have had other victims.

"There may be other victims out there, and if you are, we want you to come forward," said Conley.

[marike1]

Masseuse offer an important service to the tired traveller. That's why they go to hotels. to help somone who just go off the plane relax. In my apartment complex in Los Angeles limesousines wait for masseuses to perform their work. A much safer arrangement.. Of course this poor innocent. girt did not have to die. In France they used to send this type of violent assasins to Devils Island, I heard that the property may be for sale. The justice Dept should buy it , restore it. and send guys like that where they will remain for the rest of their lives.

[LinNur45]

There's one thing I am not understanding? Some are referring to the women as a prostitute? Her ad was for massage not prostitution services. Massage therapy is not a prostitution therapy. Many massage therapists are legit licensed professionals , and perhaps she was using Craig's list to enhance her clientele base. Craig's list makes it affordable for people to advertise their businesses in this time of economic struggle, however she surely should have been more careful in screening her clients and perhaps have someone accompany her if she was in fact making house calls. I have been in many reputable hotels and wanted a massage and the hotels actually have a referral list from which you can call and get a very excellent massage in a decent professional manner They even bring their own massage table. It is sad that this young lady did not practice safety and had to die .
I am a bit confused as I just read that Miss Brissman advertised her ad in the classifieds of Craig's list. . She did not place her ad in the erotic section of Craig's list, and she had also brought her massage table with her. To me that would indicate that she was a serious massage therapist so once again I do not understand why they are referring to her as a prostitute, Had she had other intentions her ad would have been in the erotic section of Craig's list.. It is not so uncommon for licensed massage therapists to advertise their services when thousands of guests are streaming into Boston for NBA and NHL playoff games and the Boston Marathon. Usually one would think that hotels are some of the safest places to be. They have 24-hour security. Perhaps her mistake was not to alert the hotel managers that she was literally doing massage therapy in that hotel and have someone just check up on her to let any ill reputed guest think he could get away with such a crime, So sad and tragic if in fact this was just a young lady who was in fact licensed and just trying to take advantage of the fact that Boston had many activities going on that could have helped her business.

[ski999]

i say send him to texas...they are tough on crime and they don't even care about whether a person has a record or not....they'll simply put him on death row

[nishaboston]

They do not have the death penalty in Massachusetts, so he will not get it. Amazing the sick people that walk around this world!

[longtree-2009]

bet he will not get the death penalty or life without parole. if he gets the death penalty, he will live 20+ years filing appeals while sitting fat and happy on death row. bet too that he will plead not guilty. criminals reign in these United States. there is no justice. funny how america seems to be hated by many the world over but still so many come here legally or illegally from all over the world. haters are just so, so comical.

[CMancos]

America...whatever it is or whatever you perceive it to be...still has a remnant of God fearing people who do not commit crimes. The worse thing that happened to America, is spoiling its people. A spoiled, stiff-necked people who refuse to repent of their wicked ways, they would rather have their wicked way accepted. Even with all its problems, its better than most nations out there. I would like to see the stats on how many nations the United States has fed and help with money compared to your wonderful pacifistic Canada. Canada is basically nothing, its just there. It's just vast land with a few snobby nuts thrown in. Get over yourself, you are no better than anyone else.

[tristham]

Exactly chimneyfish, I have a feeling massages weren't all that she was selling. You'd be amazed how many women will sell themselves these days. Gold diggers everywhere. They act like all men are after is sex, and then turn around and sell sex to the highest bidder. Sex is sacred, not some commodity, get a life ladies.

[WiseAsOwl]

Elysiumwarrior...... I'm trying to figure out where you're from.. You must have crawled out from under a rock, somewhere... but all countries have rocks... so that doesn't help me much... I figure you must be Canadian or Australian... Australian, most likely.... Hey!! Don't badmouth the U.S.A. or the people in it... WHATEVER country you're from, surely doesn't have a pot to pee in, compared with the U.S. You most likely come from a Socialist society that has already given up (taken away) most of your rights... and depends on the U.S.A. foreign aid programs to finance them as they insult their betters.. You can't compare a free U.S. with some broken-down "old world" country that keeps their people unarmed, without Constitutional rights (as we know them) and in awe of their panty-waisted leaders... It's just not a fair comparison.... for either side.... I wish I was more sure of where you're from so I could adequately insult you and your country.. Oh, no!! It would be just my luck that you're an American that was born and raised like "The Messiah"... that doesn't have any pride or respect for his own country... That's probably it....

[ghsich]

This is the 2nd BU medical student implicated in a first-degree murder (Daniel Mason) in the past 9 years.

[pete_in_az]

i guess there was no "happy ending" here.