The Craigslist Killers: How a Simple Online Ad Became a Deadly Trap
Craigslist—the online marketplace where you can find anything from apartments to antique furniture—has also become an unexpected hunting ground for killers. Over the years, innocent victims seeking jobs, rides, or companionship have walked straight into the hands of murderers lurking behind fake ads.
According to Peter Zollman, the founding principal of Advanced Interactive Media Group, crime linked to Craigslist is disturbingly frequent. “There is barely a day that goes by that I don’t see at least one report—sometimes two or three or five crimes linked to Craigslist,” Zollman states. Since 2007, at least 131 Craigslist-related murders have been documented. The site’s anonymity and lack of regulation create a “wild west atmosphere,” as Zollman describes it. And for some, it has become the perfect tool for luring victims to their deaths.
Let’s take a chilling look at some of the most notorious Craigslist killers.
Michael John Anderson: The Killer Who Hunted Babysitters
In 2007, 19-year-old Michael John Anderson was just another socially awkward young man struggling to connect with women. But instead of finding a way to build confidence, he turned to Craigslist—with deadly intentions.
Disguising himself as a woman named “Amy,” Anderson posted an ad looking for a babysitter. When 24-year-old Katherine Ann Olson responded, she unknowingly walked into a trap. On October 25, 2007, she arrived at Anderson’s home in Savage, Minnesota, expecting a job opportunity. Instead, Anderson shot her in the back with a .357 Magnum Blackhawk revolver and stuffed her into the trunk of her car, where she bled to death.
Convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, Anderson was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. His attempt to manipulate Craigslist for murder made him the first to be labeled a “Craigslist Killer.”
Richard Beasley: The Farmhouse Death Trap
For drifters and struggling job seekers, the Craigslist ad seemed like a dream: free housing, a peaceful country setting, and $300 a week to watch over a farm in southern Ohio. But behind the job listing was Richard Beasley—a 53-year-old fugitive with a far more sinister plan.
Beasley, already on the run for operating a brothel out of a halfway house, used the ad to lure in victims. Once they arrived, he killed them, either to steal their identities or rob them of their savings. Between August and November 2011, Beasley and his 16-year-old accomplice, Brogan Rafferty, murdered three men: David Pauley, Ralph Geiger, and Timothy Kern.
Their killing spree was only stopped when a fourth intended victim, Scott Davis, managed to escape and alert the police. Beasley was sentenced to death in 2013 and remains incarcerated in Ohio. Rafferty, despite his young age, received life without parole.
Philip Markoff: The Medical Student Turned Murderer
Unlike Anderson and Beasley, Philip Markoff had a seemingly bright future ahead of him. A Boston University medical student and engaged to be married, Markoff didn’t fit the profile of a cold-blooded killer. But beneath the facade, he led a dark double life.
Using Craigslist’s “erotic services” section, Markoff arranged meetings with sex workers in high-end Boston hotels. Instead of simply paying for their services, he robbed them at gunpoint—escalating his crimes with shocking speed. Over a few weeks in April 2009, he attacked three women, eventually shooting and killing 26-year-old Julissa Brisman at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
His arrogance led to his downfall. Investigators traced his emails, linked hotel security footage to his apartment, and even found Brisman’s blood on his shoes. His fiancée, Megan McAllister, broke off their engagement as soon as the truth surfaced.
Rather than face trial, Markoff took his own life in his jail cell on what would have been his one-year wedding anniversary. His final act? Scrawling McAllister’s name on the wall in blood.
Craigslist Crime: A Dark Past or an Ongoing Threat?
While Craigslist-related murders surged between 2007 and 2015, with 83 reported cases, the numbers have since dropped to 49 over the last six years. Peter Zollman credits this decline to Craigslist eliminating its “casual encounters” and “dating” sections.
Still, the question remains: has Craigslist truly become safer, or have predators simply migrated to new digital hunting grounds?
With more people using different apps and online platforms to connect, the dangers may not have disappeared—they may have just changed shape. The Craigslist killers are a chilling reminder that in the digital age, not every opportunity is what it seems. Sometimes, an innocent click can lead straight into the arms of a predator.
