The Craigslist Killer
Philip Markoff, the 22-year-old accused Craigslist killer of model Julissa Brisman, may seem like the least likely of killers. But when all the facts are known, Markoff’s story (if he is convicted) will start to make sense. Granted, he’s a reasonably affable medical student without a criminal record ― but Scott Peterson was a friendly fellow and seemingly good neighbor before murdering his wife Laci and their unborn son, Conner. Dr. Richard Sharpe, the Harvard dermatologist (and cross-dresser, it turns out) was a respected physician prior to shooting his wife to death in front of their children. Dr. Jonathan Kappler, a California anesthesiologist who murdered my friend and colleague Paul Mendelson back in 1990, had worked for decades as an anesthesiologist prior to accelerating to 60 mph in his car and intentionally mowing Paul down as he jogged.
Psychiatric instability is often invisible until we look for it, in retrospect, after a terrible event triggers the inquiry. But the evidence of that instability and the causes of it are never absent once we start digging.
In the case of Philip Markoff, we could start excavating the roots of his violence by looking at his gambling habit. If it is true that he owed gambling debts that motivated him to rob women-for-hire in hotel rooms, then he may have been someone deeply moved by the wheels of fate — by risk or ruin being determined by the alchemy of skill and the luck of the draw at a poker table. In my experience treating gamblers, their connection to fate often comes from having little or no control over their lives as much younger people. Sometimes, that adds up to having had parents who could have cared less about their feelings or desires. Sometimes, it adds up to not knowing when the next beating was going to come. And sometimes, it adds up to too many sudden losses.
But it always adds up. When someone shoots a woman, then calmly walks to his car sending off text messages, he is unmoved by the cruelest roulette life can serve up. Somewhere deep inside him, he is used to destruction because he has been destroyed. He is without feelings because he has tried desperately to wall off his own — whether fear or grief or rage.
If I were with Markoff right now, I’d want to know why gambling spoke to him. Why was Foxwoods the kind of place he felt at home? Why was it the place he reportedly planned to marry his fiancé?
Markoff also allegedly preyed upon women. He didn’t pistol whip drug dealers and make off with their cash. Maybe, if he’s guilty, he’s had it in for women. Maybe he harbors deep feelings that his life was “stolen” from him with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage and its aftermath. Maybe he thinks they’re all prostitutes when it really comes down to it. Maybe he thinks they’re dangerous enough to him emotionally ― or even physically ― that they need to be tied up. We don’t know — yet. We never know, until we ask the relevant psychological questions.
I’ve been a forensic psychiatrist now for many years. And I’ve learned one thing for sure: No killer comes out of the blue. No child is born into this world evil. Every act of destructiveness can be explained. And no one, not even a medical student whose fiancé loves him very much, is ultimately much of a mystery once you decide to burrow beneath the surface.
Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com or e-mail him at info@keithablow.com.
Tags: Connor Peterson, Craigslist killer, Dr. Keith Ablow, Foxwoods, gamblers, gambling, Jonathan Kappler, Julissa Brisman, Laci Peterson, Marriott Copley Place, masseuse, medical student, Megan McAllister, murder, murderer, Paul Mednelson, Richard Sharpe, Scott Peterson
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The craigslist killer could not have been a psychopath before both but is not written that you cant beconme one. The fact that he had no criminal background and is medical student does not make him innocent. As if their is qualifications to meet in order to be considered a killer. the problems hes had with his parents and his childhood and especially the gambling led him to desperation to go after a weak person such as hooker knowing that she makes money and decided to take her money and kill her these are just some of the factors why he killed the girl. A person may not appear as killer but the appearances lie
I do not believe the following statement:
“Every act of destructiveness can be explained. And no one, not even a medical student whose fiancé loves him very much, is ultimately much of a mystery once you decide to burrow beneath the surface.”
Sometimes people cannot explain their own actions, let alone understand others.
Dr. Keith Ablow is a talking head. Studies have shown that a random passerby can do as much help to a troubled person by simply talking to them as a professional psychiatrist. Shrinks are ell paid, but their usefullness is questionable. Unlike with a knee surgery, there is no way to tell how well their treatment has been going, and whether their clients had a problem to begin with. What if the emperor has no clothes?
I agree that no child is born evil, but many are born without a conscience. It is misleading to ignore that fact. There are lots of children of divorce who don’t murder people. The truth may not be kind, but that doesn’t change it. We are not born equal, and some sociopaths are doomed to a life of difficulty at birth. I think if you look into the family tree, you will see alcoholism, depression, and other petty criminals.
Respectfully,
Sue Weaver
Another lost young woman without a father in her life? Are both of these young people from broken homes? Is it too politically incorrect to point out that young women from intact families are less prone to prositution? The statistics are clear that children from single parent families suffer-and suffer in profound ways often reflected in social pathologies. Howm many millions of shattered lives are we willing to accept before we recognize the benefit of a mother and a father?
The privileged often assume they are above the law like that Power Rangers actor who killed the yachting couple to take their boat or that psycho co-ed in Italy.
So it was with this idiot.
It’s that simple; the privileged think they are entitled to get away with it.
Personality-disordered men are ubiquitous.
Turning into killers is really quite easy, just one step further in the entitlement spectrum
“Parents who could have cared less?”
The heck with the Craigslist killer. What bothers me is the death of literacy. Even educated men like you, Dr A, have sunk to the use of a popular phrase that unwittingly means the the exact opposite of what you wish to convey.
Good job.
I don’t think Markoff ever meant to kill that woman. The first that we know about was compliant and lived to identify him. The second struggled and he panicked. I do not believe he ever intended to hurt much less kill.
What the good doctor says about his gambling makes as much sense as anything else. What is interesting is how he developed the ideation of robbing these particular women. Was it what they did? Was it because they were on Craigslist? Does the fact that they were offering services on such an online website figure prominently? Or did he simply view them as easy marks, figuring that they would be unlikely to involve the police? I think right now, his behavior incites more questions than answers.
I agree with Dr. Ablow 100%.
I find it most disheartening that there are people who believe in the theory of “the bad seed”.
No one is born without empathy, no matter what their genetic situation may be (ie., “alcoholism, depression, and other petty criminals”–no offense, Sue Weaver!).
Perhaps this exemplifies the age-old debate between “Nature” & “Nurture”.
I suppose there will always be people who take some comfort (?!) in the idea of children being born evil.
I am not one of those people. I’m convinced that if Philip Markoff is indeed guilty, his crimes were the result of his early (and perhaps later) painful experiences.
I’m sure it’s handy & less complex to look at the world, and human behavior, armed with the idea that “Evil” is some force outside of our control.
I know that we can’t control what goes on in people’s individual households. Big Brother and all…
But I also know it wouldn’t hurt to teach empathy in schools, starting from as young an age as possible.
To the detractors of Dr. Ablow (I’m talking to you Leo & Laying A Blog), why are you here? Seriously. I’m really curious (“Curiosity” is my middle name).
Sorry Mac, but I DO believe that there are some who are born without a conscience. They are known as DARK entities. They are born to unsuspecting woman, who have to raise such a being. No matter what the environment etc., they will never be “right” and cannot be taught to feel empathy towards others. They look as normal as every one else while growing up, but behind the scenes, they are hurting animals, or diabolically engaged in other incidences that harm or even kill other less suspecting victims. Of course, the parents of such a child blame themselves, when in reality, there is nothing that they could have changed in the child’s upbringing that would instill a conscience in this type of darkness. A bad upbringing may just excelerate the evil in this persons soul. I think even Dr. Ablow will agree that he couldn’t help every person who displayed these traits. He can try, but this darkness resists any help of this kind.