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Alleged Craigslist Killer Used Bag, Pen In Jail Cell Suicide


By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 16, 2010

Modified Aug 16, 2010


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By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 16, 2010

Modified Aug 16, 2010


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Authorities say that the suspected Craigslist Killer Philip Markoff was found by paramedics in his jail cell with "with puncture wounds to his neck and both ankles." He also had a clear plastic bag from the jail's canteen over his head.

Markoff, a medical student at Boston University, had been in the Boston jail for over a year for allegedly killing NYC resident Julissa Brisman at the Mariott Copley Place. Brisman, who was fatally shot, advertised her massage service via Craigslist and Boston police were able to trace back emails to an IP address at Markoff's apartment. Besides finding a gun and plastic ties in his home, police also found women's underwear. Another escort who was robbed and tied up by a man she arranged an appointment with on Craigslist identified the man seen in surveillance footage at the Mariott as her attacker.

The police and state medical examiner's office are investigating his death. The Boston Herald reports, "The shocking demise of the former doc-to-be - who sources said used his medical know-how to try to sever major arteries so he would bleed to death - was preliminarily ruled an 'apparent suicide' by authorities on the day after the one-year anniversary of what was to be Markoff’s marriage to New Jersey bombshell Megan McAllister."

Brisman's family hopes a confession will be found among Markoff's belongings, and her friend Mark Pines said he was consoling Brisman's mother, "She’s beside herself." Pines added, "There’s some relief, because it’s a form of closure, but it’s not true closure. A trial would have been grueling and heartstopping, but it would have provided closure.”

Tagged

craigslist killer

jail

Julissa Brisman

Philip Markoff

suicide


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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