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Woman Killed After Answering Craigslist Ad
19-year-old man charged with second degree murder
November 2, 2007—Michael John Anderson, 19, has been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Katharine Ann Olson, who, according to authorities, answered an online ad for a babysitter posted on Craigslist.org.
Anderson was charged after blood found in Anderson’s home matched that of the victim, a twenty four year old woman who was found in the trunk of an abandoned car five blocks from Anderson’s home. A report from the Associated Press states that cell phone records indicate that Anderson spoke with Olson on Tuesday morning and that Anderson, who told police that he had not used his Craigslist account since January, has an active email address that matched the email address used in the Craigslist posting.
Anderson told authorities that three of his friends and his mother also had access to the account, but reportedly admitted being present during the murder, which he says was committed by a friend who “thought it would be funny.”
This tragic death serves as a reminder for everyone to use caution when answering any type of Internet ad. Millions of people use Craigslist.org all over the country, and the world, with no harmful consequences. In fact, in the site’s twelve year history, over 450 million ads have been posted. No one should be afraid, in other words of using a site like Craigslist, but the important thing to remember is to always do so carefully.
“It’s not the Internet, “says Nora Paul, head of the institute for New Media Studies at the University of Minnesota, “It’s just using common sense when you go into situation when you don’t know what the whole story might be.”
When answering an ad, at least initially, do not give out unnecessary personal information, and when meeting with a person, be sure to request a public, rather than private location, and/or let someone know where you are going.
Olson reportedly told friends that the person behind the ad, whom she knew as “Amy, “seemed kind of strange.”
Her family said that the former high school co-valedictorian and graduate of St. Olaf College in 2006, had used Craigslist many times in the past to find “kindred spirits and opportunities,” and that she “loved children and was involved in the church choir.”
The Minnesota Craigslist has reportedly seen an 84% increase in posts since January, an Craigslist spokesperson Susan McTavish Best says that Craigslist “absolutely helps law enforcement investigate crimes that may be facilitated by the website,” but couldn’t comment as to whether the Savage police contacted the company.
Bail for Anderson has been set at 1 million dollars.
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