Craigslist and Crime
Web Site Finds Trouble with Rapist, Oscar Ticket Seller
Now fatal trouble has leaked onto Craigslist, the California-based Web site that heralds millions of job postings and even ads for "casual encounters."
With Craigslist's ability to put up advertisements for virtually anything anonymously (provided that the ads align with the Web site's terms of use policy), trouble can certainly follow those who are not cautious with the business they enter online.
In Maryland, according to Examiner.com, a suspected serial rapist committed suicide a two-hour standoff outside a hotel where he was located. Police said that Marc Antonio Humphries of Suitland is responsible for raping and killing women he met through Craigslist.
Police assert that he would set up outings with professional escorts. After women showed up for Humphries' dates, a masked man would attack them. The rapes began in August 2007 but police did not establish a connection between them and Humphries until early this year.
While police attempted negotiations with Humphries, a gunshot was heard at around 2:15 p.m. Police found Humphries injured with a self-inflicted gunshot. Humphries died at a local hospital at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
This is not the first rapist to have utilized Craigslist for their schemes. Stephen Newman from Idaho was charged with attempted rape last year after putting up an advertisement for a free iPod on July 27, 2007. Newman was found nearby with a knife, ski gloves and a BB gun.
Although these matters garnering media attention are serious, crimes with Craigslist do not only involve rape and assault. Accounts of fraud and other illegal activities have been revealed through thorough investigations and testimonies.
Recently, a Los Angeles judge demanded the classifieds Web site to release the name of a seller who had tried to sell tickets to this year's Academy Awards ceremony.
A seller, known as Daniel, offered the tickets for $5,000. With the seller's identity obtained, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can take action against the seller because of the ceremony's security policy. Those invited to the Oscars are not allowed to sell their tickets because of the event's security restrictions.
The Web site does offer "Personal Safety Tips" to users in order to spread online safety awareness. See: http://www.craigslist.org/about/safety.html
Sources:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1504766~Suspect_in_9_rapes_dies_after_shooting_himself.html?cid=temp-popular
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/judge%20reveals%20oscars%20ticket%20tout%20name_1075405
Published by Iris Amelia
Future graduate student at Emerson College in Boston, MA, recent baccalaureate from Florida International University (English). View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentThats an interesting article....I agree with most of what you said. I don't think all free online classifieds are bad though because you can end up getting a better deal on items you would normally have to pay full price for at the store.
If you're going to buy or sell items, be smart about it. Some free online classifieds such as: www.ilist.com are not anonymous and require you to make an account and let you link your social networks which is the safe solution. Just thought I'd share that with everyone :)
I don't mean to spam but I thought it was germane to your article but I run a site that chronicles craigslist crime at http://craigscrimelist.org if anyone is interested.
Thanks for a great article. When I moved from Cobb County, Georgia to Atlanta, one person recommended Craig's List to me. I checked it out but didn't find anything worth pursuing. Now I'm really glad I didn't. I also agree with Bat Canary, a few bad apples can make a good thing very bad for others.
Great Article!
People neeeds to be aware of all danger that they are exposed when they "surf" on the internet.
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
A former college classmate of mine was murdered after answering a CL ad asking for a *nanny*. The meeting was supposed to be her job interview.
People need to realize that while predators aren't actually everywhere, you can find them anywhere.
Great work. Congrats on making the front page.
Excellent work~!
Good article! It's a sad commentary on our society that crappy people always manage to take something that is potentially really cool and completely mess it up for everyone else. I hope people will take your warning to heart.
Very timely and worth thinking about.
Wow this is crazy. I hear people also solicit for sex on Cragilist.