IS HE THE CRAIGSLISTS KILLER?

Who is the real Philip Markoff, the preppy Boston University medical student now also known as the "Craigslist Killer"?
Is he a "beautiful man inside and out" as his doting fiancée, Megan McAllister, who was with Markoff at the time of his arrest,
claimed Tuesday in an email to a local newspaper proclaiming his innocence? Or is he a cold-hearted "predator," as Suffolk County
District Attorney Dan Conley called him Monday night after announcing his arrest for the April 14 slaying of aspiring model Julissa
Brisman, 26?

The answer depends on whom you ask. The only thing clear is that Markoff's arrest shocked those who knew him. "We never would
have thought Phil was capable of this," said Kymberly Direnzo, 23, a friend of Markoff's from his Quincy, Mass., apartment building.
"I'm almost praying that they caught the wrong guy, because I can't even imagine what his fiancée is going through at this time."
His fiancée, though, is standing by her man. "Philip has not been convicted," McAllister wrote in an email to "A policeman who
wished to make money off this story sold it to countless companies. Philip is a beautiful man inside and out and did not commit this
crime. Unfortunately, somebody else did and needs to be penalized. Philip was set up and you are wrong to be asking me for stories."
At the time of Markoff''s arrest, he and McAllister were headed toward the Foxwoods casino. He had more than $1,000 cash on him,
Jake Wark, spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office tells PEOPLE – adding that a gambling motive is just one
avenue investigators are exploring.

"It's far too early to ascribe any motive to this," Wednesday morning. Describing Markoff's alleged activities, Wark said, "The actions
he took suggest a darker motive than a purely financial one. He chose vulnerable women who would be reluctant to speak out. His
actions suggest a desire to dominate women, to control women and to visit violence upon women."
Markoff, 23, grew up in Sherill, N.Y., not far from Syracuse, and went to Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School, where he was on
the bowling team, youth court and history club. He was also in the National Honor Society.

"Phil was smart," a high-school classmate who asked not to be identified, said. She added, "He worked hard and seemed to really en-
joy school. He was not afraid to voice his opinions, which you could tell he believed strongly. He had a small, tight-knit group of
friends he seemed happy with, but he was also the butt of a lot of jokes – I would say he was definitely geeky."
Markoff went on to attend the State University of New York at Albany, where he met McAllister in 2005 while both were volunteer-
ing at a local hospital, according to their now-defunct wedding Web site. They were to be married in an evening ceremony on the
beach in Long Branch, N.J., on Aug. 14.
Jesse Brukman, 25, who met Markoff at SUNY-Albany through a mutual friend, said "He was a bit awkward but perfectly pleasant.
He had a real goofy smile and always wore tight polo shirts. He was a big, lanky guy with a sharp nose. Didn't talk much, but I defi-
nitely didn't see him killin' people in the future. But I guess everyone says that about murderers?


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