American Psycho: The accused Craigslist Killer might be just the latest in a long line of handsome, clean-cut murderers
As if living a double life as a clean-cut Boston medical student by day and monstrous prostitute-predator by night was not bad enough, in past few days, increasingly creepy details have emerged in the case of Philip Markoff, the accused "Craigslist killer" who allegedly stalked women on the popular classified-ad site. During a search of Markoff's home, authorities found a handgun in a hollowed-out copy of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, panties taken from the victims (disgusting), duct tape, restraints, and ammunition. They are testing the gun to see if it was used to fatally shoot masseuse Julissa Brisman on April 14. A Google search of Markoff's phone number brought up a Craigslist post advertising "Ebony Erotic Masseuse"-the ad said "taking my last appointment" and told customers to call Markoff's number.
It's always unnerving and repulsive when we hear about stories like this one, about men who prey on vulnerable women and do repugnant, batsh*t-crazy things like collecting trophies from their victims. But perhaps it's even more disturbing when the suspect looks like Philip Markoff, like someone you could know, a guy who, if he bought you a drink at a bar, you might accept because he seems "normal" and attractive and clean-cut. I'm not saying this is right, but we want our killers to appear terrifying and hideous, with some kind of inherent shadiness about them, a look of evil that feels menacing and like a "tell" and makes you know to quicken your step and get the heck out of wherever you are right that second. I hate all abusers of women, but I especially would like to castrate and beat bloody the good-looking ones, the American Psycho-esque predators who, simply by way of the genetic lottery, probably have an easier time luring innocent, trusting victims into their path of destruction. Ugh.
