Alleged 'Craigslist Killer' Found Dead in Cell

(CBS/AP)  Updated at 3:45 PM EST>

Philip Markoff, the Boston University medical student arrested in April and suspected being the "Craigslist killer" has been found dead in his jail cell after an "apparent suicide".

Ed Geary, Deputy Director of External Affairs at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office in Massachusetts told CBS News Markoff was pronounced dead by medics at 10:17 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.

Markoff was being held at the Nashua Street Jail in Boston.

A statement released by Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said the suspect "was alone in his cell and all evidence collected thus far indicates that he took his own life."

Click here for "48 Hours Mystery's" coverage of the Craigslist murders.

Markoff, 22, was arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Walpole, south of Boston. He was charged with a shooting death in a hotel of a masseuse and the robbery of another woman who both advertised their services on Craigslist.

Markoff's trial was expected in March.

John Salsberg, who was Markoff's lawyer, said he was shocked and saddened about his client's death. He would not comment further.

Markoff, a former Boston University student, pleaded not guilty in the April 2009 fatal shooting of Julissa Brisman, of New York City, and the armed robbery of a Las Vegas woman, both at Boston hotels.

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.

Shortly after his arrest in 2009, Markoff was put on suicide watch after shoelace marks were found on his neck, reports CBS News station WBZ in Boston.

At the time, John Salsberg said Markoff was having difficulty transitioning "from being free to being incarcerated."

[LynnBH]

Killing himself on the anniversary of what would have been his wedding day, and writing his former fiancee's name in his blood, on the wall, was a blatant attempt to make her feel responsible for his death.

[kimmyj43]

Good riddance!!!!

[workerdroid]

Finally a story with a happy ending.

[stinger1z]

You won't be missed. Keep Hell warm for Van Der Sloot!!

[Dustin83v]

Phil is like any homosexual misogynist. They look for murder and their suicides at every turn of the story.

[suggywow]

Thats really sad. I guess being in jail can do that to you though.

Lou
www.web-privacy.es.tc

[tw02]

Good job. He just saved the state a ton of money.

[CBS_CEO]

It's obvious he was murdered by law enforcement. America is still in the dark ages. The comments here convicted him without a trial or examination of the evidence. This is how lynching of innocent people happen. This is why I never care when law enforcement folks are killed.

[Dustin83v]

CBS_CEO. who needs your monkey squeals? go back to your monkey cage for time on your rope and toy tire.

[askagain]

Read some of these posts if you want to understand the psychology of mob lynchings. Before a trial, some people have already found this guy guilty and glad that he is dead. Although he was probably guilty, why not give hime the benefit of a trial? There would be plenty of time for him to die after that.

[linfinster]

Maybe because our trial system is so broken and ridiculous that people are sick of having to listen/pay into the jstice system while lawyers rack up the wealth fighting and twisting the "truth" to make a juror question what can be so obvious .. then, once a conviction occurs, there has to be more crap (ie. a back up trial because we can't just have one!) paid for before a person can be sent to the green mile.

[larrryshrine]

I seem to remember some document that guaranteed the right to a trial. Ah, what was the name of that document? Can anyone help me?

[archemeedees]

If he's guilty, he did what he should have. If he's not guilty, I am terribly sorry that he was driven to what he did.

[MalloryDavis]

Here! Here!