Did Double Life Lead to Craigslist Murder?

(CBS)  It's been five months since Philip Markoff, the so-called Craigslist killer, was arrested in the murder of Julissa Brisman.

The CBS News magazine program "48 Hours" has an exclusive interview with Trisha Leffler, who says she was Markoff's first victim.

Leffler told "48 Hours" she believes she is lucky to be alive after Philip Markoff pulled a gun on her when he answered her erotic service advertisement on Craigslist.

Leffler said, "I shut the door, I turned around and I locked it. That's when he pulled out the gun."

Police say Markoff was addicted to Web sites specializing in sex, pornography and fetishes.

Criminologist Casey Jordan told CBS News, "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."

But his propensity towards violence was never evident, they say until the night he tied up Leffler, and robbed her at gunpoint.

Leffler said, "It dawned on me later that he could have killed me."

But just four days later, police say that's just what he did to Brisman.

Paul LaRosa of "48 Hours" and co-author Maria Cramer, a Boston Globe journalist, appeared on "The Early Show" Thursday discuss their new book "Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer."

Read an excerpt

On Saturday, September 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT LaRosa's "48 Hours" special on the Craigslist killer will air.

Watch a preview

LaRosa said Markoff "had a lot going on" in his life around the time Brisman died.

"He had a lot of sexual profiles online that no one knew about. We sort of reveal them now for the first time in the book and this broadcast on Saturday night, '48 Hours.' But nobody knew about him. His fiance who lived with him didn't know about them I mean, he kept it well hidden as a lot of people do."

"Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith commented that Markoff seemed to be a high-profile guy who was in medical school. Smith said there seemed to be quite a dichotomy in his life.

LaRosa said, "One psychiatrist I spoke to said that could lead to a fractured identity, that this completely split personality could create, in the end, violence. And it seems like it did."

LaRosa added Markoff clearly had an interest in bisexuality, bondage and S&M. However, he was planning to get married.

"That's a big split in your personality," he said.

But what about Markoff's fiancé? Did she have any clue?

Cramer said she was in the dark about Markoff's double life. Cramer said, "According to the detectives that I spoke with that interviewed her, she had no idea what was going on. And if anything, she was often not in Boston, she was at her home in Jersey planning her wedding and taking care of a back condition that she has, so she wasn't around very often to see what Phillip might have been up to."

LaRosa added that the clock was literally ticking for Markoff. The couple had a wedding Web site that featured a countdown clock that was ticking off time until the couple was to say, "I do."

"There seemed to be a lot of pressure on Phillip," LaRosa said. 'The wedding was impending, he loved to gamble, he had the secret life, he was in medical school, let not forget that. There's a lot of stuff going on in his life."

LaRosa added . He clearly had an interest in by sexuality, bondage, S and M. On the other hand, he's getting married to this beautiful young woman from new jersey. That's a big split in your personality.

Markoff has pleaded not guilty in this case. His trial is scheduled to start in June 2010.

[Ace22257]

The previous victims who survived Markoff, the panties of the deceased woman hidden under his bed, the DNA samples, his computer and the types of things he looked...this guy is completely INNOCENT alright.....FRY this LOSER!!!

[slimdave420]

What pathetic spelling and or formatting. Case in point:

"LaRosa added . He clearly had an interest in by sexuality, bondage, S and M. On the other hand, he's getting married to this beautiful young woman from new jersey."

Now did he have in interest in bi-sexuality? or by sexuality? Or did they mean 'in and by sexuality'??? S and M, is usually spelled S&M or S/M, never seen it S and M. New Jersey not new jersey.

[rrozsa]

Plus, they repeated the paragraph at the end of the article, without quotes, and with yet different spellings. It looks to me as if the article was never proofread before it was published. As usual. Great job, CBSNews. Not!

[Disgustedbycorpnews]

The Craigslist Killer: Seven Days Of Rage 9/19/09

I am beyond disgusted with what passes for journalism today. This young man is ACCUSED only at this point, there has been no finding of guilt or innocence... the defense has had no opportunity to speak as yet, Markoff has maintained his innocence, not to mention the FACT that there was no "sexual aspect" to the crimes with which he's been accused.

Yet 48Hours finds a way to reap profits from unreliable rumors of deviant sexuality -- WHILE this quite possibly innocent young man remains in jail awaiting a chance to be heard! And rumors based on what? The fact that SOMEONE set up accounts on illicit sites under his name (anyone can do that to any other person - why on earth would Markoff use his own personal info??!!) -- What lengths, what depths, for the almighty dollar!

Disgusted by 48Hours, and CBS "NEWS"

[Disgustedbycorpnews]

The Craigslist Killer: Seven Days Of Rage 9/19/09

I am beyond disgusted with what passes for journalism today. This young man is ACCUSED only at this point, there has been no finding of guilt or innocence... the defense has had no opportunity to speak as yet, Markoff has maintained his innocence, not to mention the FACT that there was no "sexual aspect" to the crimes with which he's been accused.

Yet 48Hours finds a way to reap profits from unreliable rumors of deviant sexuality -- WHILE this quite possibly innocent young man remains in jail awaiting a chance to be heard! And rumors based on what? The fact that SOMEONE set up accounts on illicit sites under his name (anyone can do that to any other person - why on earth would Markoff use his own personal info??!!) -- What lengths, what depths, for the almighty dollar!

Disgusted by 48Hours, and CBS "NEWS"

[barbaram99]

A MESS.

[rational_1]

So bright and yet so screwed up. Guess we all have our double lives to some extent (what haven't you told your wife/husband?) but for most it's definitely bush league compared to this guy. And the fiancee didn't have even an inkling of what was going on - must have come as quite the shock.