craigscrimelist

New evidence in Craigslist murder case:
Michael John Anderson may just be the dumbest criminal ever. The suspect in the murder of Katherine Ann Olson actually sent a letter to his parents from jail asking them to pay someone to take the rap for him.

Anderson lured Olson to his home with a phony craigslist employment ad and then shot and killed her once she was there.

Cops: Child pornography found on accused Craigslist killer's computer:
While investigating the murder of Katherine Ann Olson police found child porn on the computer of her accused killer, Michael John Anderson.

In the affidavit for the search warrant, a BCA agent described it as "a photograph of two pre-teen boys, clearly under the age of 18, in the nude." It describes the boys engaged in a sex act.

Anderson is accused of placing a phony ad for a nanny job on craigslist. When Olson responded to the ad at Anderson's house he allegedly killed her.

Warrants: Victim met suspected killer online:
51-year-old Bernard George Lamp of Troutman, North Carolina is accused of killing alleged prostitute Bonnie Lou Irvine of Cornelius, North Carolina. The two met over craigslist where Irvine had placed an ad.

She also directed him to pictures of herself posted on a different Web site that authorities say is popular with men seeking prostitutes, the search warrants said.

And here's where it gets weird...

Lamp was arrested after sheriff's deputies stopped him driving Irvine's 2001 Volvo on March 14, said Iredell sheriff's Capt. Darren Campbell. Authorities then found Irvine's body buried at Lamp's girlfriend's home in Troutman.

According to search warrants, Lamp also met the girlfriend on Craigslist.

And it doesn't end there. Lamp was on probation for the attempted rape of another prostitute that happened at a truck stop on I-77 in Troutman.

Is the money so great in prostitution that these women are willing to risk their lives each tome they meet with a john? I doubt it is at a truck stop.

UPDATE: I guess the money is that great. Check out the video from a local news station and see some of the houses these local call girls lived in.

Murder suspect in court Tuesday:
Michael John Anderson of Savage, Minnesota is scheduled to appear in court this Tuesday to enter his plea. Anderson is accused in the murder of Katherine Ann Olson. Ms. Olson answered a fake ad on craigslist placed by Anderson advertising a nannying job. When Olson arrived for the 'interview' Anderson allegedly killed her by shotting her in the back and then disposed of her body.

If Anderson pleads not guilty then a trial date will be set.

Grand jury hands up first-degree murder charges in Olson case:
A Minnesota grand jury handed down an indictment today of first degree murder for 19-year-old Michael John Anderson. Anderson is accused of killing 24-year-old Katherine Ann Olson after Olson answered a phony employment ad placed by Anderson.

When Savage police interviewed Anderson, he initially denied having contact with Olson.

Anderson then admitted to being present when Olson died. He said a friend killed the woman because he "thought it would be funny."

However the evidence that's been released mostly points to Anderson acting alone.

After a bloodied towel - with Anderson's name inked on it and Olson's smashed cell phone wrapped inside - was found in a nearby Savage park, authorities picked up Anderson from his job fueling airplanes at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. His phone number was the last one called on Olson's phone.

Minnesota does not have the death penalty as much as this scumbag deserves it.

Police seek rape clues:
Let me preface this by saying that this was sent to me by a professional escort.

Anaheim police arrested Waymon Livingston, 24, of Stanton, charging him with murder and raping three women.

The murder charge includes a special circumstance for rape, authorities said.

Authorities believe he could be connected to other assaults and are appealing to the public to step forward with information.

One woman was raped Aug. 21, 2005 in an Anaheim parking lot, police said. Then another woman was raped in a Stanton hotel room Oct. 25, 2006. The Costa Mesa assault happened May 7, according to authorities.

Livingston contacted a masseuse through Craigslist for a private session at the Best Western on Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa Sgt. Bryan Glass said. During the session, Livingston propositioned the woman for sex and she refused.

Livingston allegedly strangled the woman until she passed out, Glass said. When she woke up hours later she went to Fountain Valley Hospital, Glass said.

“We collected DNA from her person and crime scene and turned it into the crime lab,” but investigators didn’t make the connection until months later, Glass said.

After Livingston was arrested in connection with the three rapes, investigators were able to link him to the Sept. 9 slaying in Anaheim of Melissa Ann Gonzalez, 21, of Sacramento, through DNA evidence, authorities said.

Like I've pointed out before, there's immense danger lurking on both sides of the craigslist erotic services section.

Let me wrap this up with what the escort sent me in her e-mail.

Hi,
i thought you might be interested in this link for your blog. Recently apprehended, this guy was targeting working girls in Orange County California and one of his methods in finding them was though craigslist (he had others).

this guy attacked many other girls who are not listed in the article and it personally touched my life.

Stay safe out there ladies.

Bail set at $1 million for suspect in craigslist killing:
Bail was set at $1M for suspected craigslist killer Michael John Anderson. He's the suspected killer of Katherine Ann Olson whose body was found a day after she responded to a phony employment ad on craigslist. It's alleged that Anderson was the one who took out the ad.

An additional detail mentioned in the article is that they believe that Anderson shot her in the back of the head with a .357 Magnum.

Police believe Olson was killed in Anderson's house sometime after she arrived Thursday morning. Investigators found blood splatters in the man's bedroom and on his mattress, as well as bloody drag marks down the stairs of the home.

They also discovered a .357 Magnum and a shell casing from the gun in his room.

During Olson's autopsy, a bullet was found in her stomach.

Authorities said there is no initial evidence of a sexual assault, but final results are not in, police said.

The man initially denied having contact with the woman, but eventually admitted to being present when she was killed. He said a friend killed Olson because he "thought it would be funny."

At a press conference after the bail hearing, police claimed that only Anderson was involved in the killing.

More details as they become available.

Craigslist users wary after killing of baby-sitter:
Susan MacTavish Best of craigslist had the following to say about the murder of Katherine Ann Olson...

"We were shocked and saddened to hear of this terrible tragedy, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim's family and friends," said Susan MacTavish Best, a spokeswoman for craigslist, an international network of online communities that features free classified advertising.

Best said there's never been a homicide linked to craigslist since it was founded 12 years ago.

"Assuming the craigslist link is confirmed, this would be the first time," Best said, referring to Olson's death.

Best said craigslist officials work with law enforcement whenever they receive a request, but she wouldn't comment specifically about their involvement in the Olson investigation.

I bet you think I'm going to rip her again but I'm not. Unlike when defending the erotic services section Ms. MacTavish-Best did not use this as an opportunity to tout how great craigslist is. However this may not be the first craigslist murder. In a sort of twisted backwards way but with no disrespect meant towards anyone involved there is still the matter of Donna Jou.

Donna Jou went missing in July and was last seen leaving on a date with a guy by the name of John Burgess that she met on craigslist. Unfortunately as of yet she has not been found and even less unfortunately police are unable to charge Burgess with anything due to lack of evidence. However it's entirely possible that Donna Jou may be the first craigslist murder.

Now you may thing that there's a difference between answering a personal ad and a job ad on craigslist. There is but only slightly. Predators don't usually use job ads to attract victims but it's not unheard of.

This past July I posted a story at MyCrimeSpace about a woman who was approached sexually by a man she thought was a prospective employer.

I guess what I'm saying is that since criminal elements lurk in the rest of craigslist it was only a matter of time before they seeped into the employment ads as well. So no matter what kind of ad you're placing or responding to on craigslist it doesn't hut to be overly cautious. The old saying holds true here, just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Be careful out there.

Online nanny ad ends in slaying:
The employment ads on craigslist used to be the only trustworthy part of their site. They're the only paid ads on the site. Those days are now over.

Katherine Ann Olson was a 24-year-old from Minneapolis who had used craigslist many times before to find nanny jobs. It seemed that the last one she answered was no different. That was until her body was found in the trunk of her car Friday night. She had responded to an ad looking for a nanny that she thought was placed by a married couple in Savage, MN. The ad was actually placed by a 19-year-old man who police believe is her killer.

Police aren't releasing the suspect's name or how Katherine Ann Olson was murdered. The suspect must be one sick SOB to take a paid ad out on craigslist just to kill an innocent woman.

I'll post more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Being the expert blogger that he is Steve Huff has a more detailed post and the name of the suspect which is Michael John Anderson.

(Originally posted on 8/3/06 at MyCrimeSpace)

Prostie posted ad after slay?:
Normally I'd post a story like this at News of Doom but it's connection to craigslist lands it here...

The baby-faced hooker who allegedly watched while her ex-con boyfriend raped and strangled a New Jersey teen tried to sell herself for sex on craigslist a day after the murder, police sources said.

Krystal Riordan, charged with helping Draymond Coleman ditch the body of 18-year-old Jennifer Moore, tried to make money by billing herself as "Lisa" on the popular online flea market, a police source said.

The 20-year-old posted her ad July 26 - just a day after police say Coleman strangled and suffocated Moore as Riordan watched, and did nothing.

"Cold-hearted, to say the least," said another police source.

Riordan billed herself as a New Jersey escort working out of Weehawken, where the murder occurred.

Her ad offered a "$150 special."

Cold-hearted is an understatement.