Rhode Island Indicts 'Craigslist Killer' Suspect for Assault
Philip Markoff, the accused 'Craigslist killer' murder suspect, was indicted by a Rhode Island grand jury yesterday on two felony charges: assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to rob.
The Rhode Island indictment (see below) charges Markoff with assaulting Cynthia Melton, a previously reported Las Vegas stripper who advertised her lap dance services on Craigslist, and with pistol-whipping her husband, Keith Melton.
Although Markoff reportedly told Cynthia Melton, "Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you," while he bound and tried to gag her, Keith Melton may have actually saved his wife's life by knocking on his wife's hotel room door, catching Markoff off-guard.
Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch announced the previously 'secret' indictment.
Each of Markoff's assault charges could lead to a 20-year maximum sentence, for a potential 40-year prison term if convicted of both felonies.
Markoff was charged by Boston police and prosecutors with killing Julissa Brisman, a 26-year-old masseuse whom he met through Craigslist, and whom he is charged with brutally slaying at Boston's Marriott Copley Place hotel.
You can read Philip Markoff's new Rhode Island indictment on felony assault charges here:
Related Resources:
- Criminal Complaint (Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Philip Markoff), accused 'Craigslist Killer' murder suspect's charges (Apr. 21, 2009)
- 'Craigslist killer' suspect indicted in Warwick attacks, Providence Journal (Oct. 7, 2009)
- Killer@Craigslist, Vanity Fair (Oct. 2009)
- Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch
- Criminal Law Center, FindLaw
- First-Degree Murder, FindLaw
- The Boston Globe's Special Coverage
- Death Investigation at the Copley Marriot Hotel, Boston Police Department (Apr. 14, 2009)