Prosecutor Wants DNA of 'Craigslist Killer'

BOSTON Oct. 7, 2009— -- Prosecutors want a sample of the accused "Craigslist Killer's" DNA to compare against forensic evidence collected against the former Boston University medical student, a request that Phillip Markoff's attorney may deny.

Phillip Markoff skipped today's court hearing at Suffolk Superior Court. His attorney, John Salsberg, said that his client will not appear in court until his trial, which isn't expected to begin until some time next year.

Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Ed Zabin told a judge that he plans to request a sample of Markoff's DNA to compare against forensic evidence recovered from the scenes of three attacks, a Las Vegas prostitute attacked in Boston on April 10, a New York masseuse shot dead on April 14, and a stripper robbed and bound on April 16 in Warwick, R.I.

All three women were allegedly contacted by Markoff after they had placed erotic ads on the popular internet site Craigslist. All were also attacked and robbed either before or after Markoff gambled at the Foxwoods Casino, court documents state.

"We are requesting a sample of DNA,'' Zabin told Suffolk Superior Court Judge Christine McEvoy. Markoff has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the murder of Julissa Brisman, an aspiring drug counselor.

"I don't know if I will turn over DNA,'' Salsberg said. "I usually speak to my clients about those things."

Markoff was also indicted today in Rhode Island after a grand jury ruled there was evidence to charge him in the April 16 crime in Warwick. He will stand trial in that case after the trial in Boston case is resolved, a spokesman for the Rhode Island attorney general said.

Markoff's arrest shocked his fiance Megan McAllister at the time, who insisted he was simply a hard working medical student.