Bio

Philip Haynes Markoff was born on February 12, 1986, in Syracuse, New York. He was the son of Susan Haynes and Richard Markoff, who worked as a dentist. He had an older brother named Jon Markoff. Philip grew up in a supportive family environment.

He attended Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School, where he graduated in 2004. In school, he was a diligent student and was recognized for his academic achievements. He was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in various clubs, including the History Club and Youth Court. He also joined the school’s bowling and golf teams. His former English teacher described him as smart and kind, saying there was nothing unusual about him.

After finishing high school, Markoff enrolled at the State University of New York at Albany. He was a pre-med student and actively involved in the Young Republicans club. He completed his degree in 2007. Markoff then moved on to Boston University School of Medicine as a second-year medical student when significant events in his life began to unfold.

During his time in Albany, he met Megan McAllister while they both volunteered at the Albany Medical Center Hospital emergency room. They began dating and eventually got engaged, with plans to marry on August 14, 2009. At the time, Megan was also preparing to enter medical school.

After graduating from college, Markoff continued his studies while living in Quincy, Massachusetts. He and Megan often relied on student loans to support their living expenses. Their lives were mostly quiet as they focused on their education and maintained a low-key lifestyle, limited by their finances.

Murder Story

Philip Haynes Markoff was involved in a series of violent crimes that took place in April 2009. He was suspected of robbing and murdering Julissa Brisman, a 25-year-old woman, in a Boston hotel on April 14, 2009. Markoff met Brisman through an online advertisement where she offered massage services. Their encounter ended tragically when he killed her.

Prior to this murder, Markoff was also linked to another robbery that happened on April 10, 2009. In that incident, he targeted Trisha Leffler, an escort, who was bound and robbed at gunpoint in a hotel in Boston. Just two days after the murder of Brisman, on April 16, 2009, he attempted to rob Corinne Stout, an exotic dancer, at a hotel in Rhode Island.

Markoff was arrested on April 20, 2009, after police gathered evidence against him, including security camera footage, cell phone records, and email communications. When he was apprehended, he was traveling with his fiancée, Megan McAllister, to a casino. Physical evidence, such as a gun and restraints, was discovered in his apartment.

Following his arrest, Markoff maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and armed robbery. His trial was delayed multiple times, but he did not live to see it. On August 15, 2010, he was found dead in his cell at Nashua Street Jail. Markoff had committed suicide by inflicting wounds on himself and suffocating.

While in custody, he made previous suicide attempts after being placed on suicide watch due to his mental state. His actions at the time of his death raised concerns about inmate safety in the jail system. Markoff's case was significant enough to receive media attention, and he was sometimes referred to as "The Craigslist Killer" because of how he found his victims.