Boston police say they have caught the Craigslist killer, a man who found at least some of his victims among women advertising on the Internet to provide erotic services.
The “erotic services” part of the story is something of a red herring. It heightens interest in the crimes and makes for some lurid headlines, but the victims could have been librarians or bankers. The killer was apparently interested not in sex, but in money. He was a particularly violent robber who had found a new way to get his victims to come to him.
This will not be the last such case. The Internet, which makes it so easy to find just the right book, shoes, camera or recipe, is just as convenient for criminals. How many times have we heard of sexual predators who use the Internet to meet and seduce young girls? How many variations of the Nigerian scam have shown up in your e-mail inbox?
On the Internet, it is possible to form a personal or a business relationship with another person whose face you have never seen and whose voice you have never heard.
This is new territory for human beings. We are used to judging strangers by body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. As a species, we have seldom been called on to smell a rat at long distance.
If the Boston case is an indication of crime to come, this would be a good time to start developing those skills.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
madpoet (anonymous) says...
A little common sense in not meeting strangers alone could have prevented these murders. The last victim survived because her husband showed up and scared him off. I think "common" sense has become way too uncommon. A friend recently commented he expects people to start being born without heads since so many don't use them anymore. :)
April 23, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )