TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Category: Classifieds Crime

  • Police need help with attacker

    Police need help with attacker

    Police search for more victims of alleged Craigslist attacker:

    Oregon police are looking to the public’s help in the case against 52-year-old Ronald M. Leistiko. He’s the Tigard, Oregon man accused of luring girls and women to his house via craigslist and raping them.

    Investigators say Leistiko targeted escorts and strippers he met on Craigslist. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 35, police said.

    He’s charged with assaulting three women, but an undercover officer believes there are likely dozens more who are afraid to call police.

    Police say they won’t charge admitted prostitutes if they come forward to report they were raped.

    Anyone who may have information or possible involvement is urged to contact either Portland Police Bureau Detective C. Waddell at (503) 823-0697 or Officer M. Burkeen at (503) 823-0424.

    In addition, callers can also contact Tigard Police Detective Kevin Dresser at (503) 718-2576.

  • Oregon male used craigslist to lure girls

    Oregon male used craigslist to lure girls

    Police: Man Used Craigslist To Lure Girls:

    52-year-old Ronald Leistiko of Tigard, Oregon is under arrest for a slew of charges all stemming from accounts that say he used craigslist to lure girls and women, some as young as 14, to his home, in some cases, assaulting them.

    Leistiko was booked into the Washington County Jail on a laundry list of charges. He could be charged with rape, kidnap, prostitution, sex abuse, menacing, attempted rape, strangulation and unlawful sexual penetration.

    Investigators believe there may be other unreported incidents that have happened at Leistiko’s home.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 503-823-0697, 503-823-0424 or 503-718-2576.

    Be vigilant ladies. I would not recommend using craigslist for dates. This is not the first story I’ve posted about someone using craigslist to lure someone to their home.

  • Trial date set for Anderson

    Trial date set for Anderson

    Trial Date Set in Minnesota Craigslist Murder:

    A trial date of November 27th has been set for Michael John Anderson. 19-year-old Anderson is accused of luring Katherine Ann Olson to her death by posting a phony nannying job ad on craigslist then shooting her when she responded to the ad.

  • California craigslist rapist

    California craigslist rapist

    Police seek rape clues:

    Let me preface this by saying that this was sent to me by a professional escort.

    Anaheim police arrested Waymon Livingston, 24, of Stanton, charging him with murder and raping three women.

    The murder charge includes a special circumstance for rape, authorities said.

    Authorities believe he could be connected to other assaults and are appealing to the public to step forward with information.

    One woman was raped Aug. 21, 2005 in an Anaheim parking lot, police said. Then another woman was raped in a Stanton hotel room Oct. 25, 2006. The Costa Mesa assault happened May 7, according to authorities.

    Livingston contacted a masseuse through Craigslist for a private session at the Best Western on Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa Sgt. Bryan Glass said. During the session, Livingston propositioned the woman for sex and she refused.

    Livingston allegedly strangled the woman until she passed out, Glass said. When she woke up hours later she went to Fountain Valley Hospital, Glass said.

    “We collected DNA from her person and crime scene and turned it into the crime lab,” but investigators didn’t make the connection until months later, Glass said.

    After Livingston was arrested in connection with the three rapes, investigators were able to link him to the Sept. 9 slaying in Anaheim of Melissa Ann Gonzalez, 21, of Sacramento, through DNA evidence, authorities said.

    Like I’ve pointed out before, there’s immense danger lurking on both sides of the craigslist erotic services section.

    Let me wrap this up with what the escort sent me in her e-mail.

    Hi,

    i thought you might be interested in this link for your blog. Recently apprehended, this guy was targeting working girls in Orange County California and one of his methods in finding them was though craigslist (he had others).

    this guy attacked many other girls who are not listed in the article and it personally touched my life.

    Stay safe out there, ladies.

  • Reno man arrested for luring teen boys

    Reno man arrested for luring teen boys

    Police: Reno man used Craigslist to lure boys to home:

    32-year-old Jason Hunter was arrested on Thursday for using craigslist to lure two teen boys to his home before sexually assaulting one of them.

    According to police, the suspect met the two boys, 13 and 15, through Craigslist under the ruse he was a 20-year-old woman.

    During online conversations, the “woman” asked the boys to come over to her cousin’s home where they could party, investigators said.

    One of the boy’s misled his mother into giving them a ride there, saying instead it was a friend’s home.

    Hunter is accused of providing them alcohol. Both boys later passed out on his bed, and the younger boy told police he awoke to find the suspect sexually assaulting him.

    Granted, this guy is a piece of trash that should be locked away in a hole somewhere, but what parent allows their kids to go on craigslist? Just like everything else, I’m guessing that most parents aren’t even aware what lurks on craigslist let alone knowing what it is.

  • South Jersey pimp pleads guilty

    South Jersey pimp pleads guilty

    Pleasantville man admits prostituting minors:

    Casson Coward of Pleasantville, New Jersey was arrested back in June for pimping out two girls ages 14 and 16 from Allentown, Pa. on craigslist.

    Yesterday, Coward pleaded guilty to interstate transporting of minors for the purposes of prostitution. His partner, Kevin R. Mayfield was also arrested. Both of them are looking at 10 to life and a $250K fine.

    The so-called victimless crime continues.

  • Suspect held on $1M bail in the death of Katherine Ann Olson

    Suspect held on $1M bail in the death of Katherine Ann Olson

    Bail set at $1 million for suspect in craigslist killing:

    Bail was set at $1M for suspected craigslist killer Michael John Anderson. He’s the suspected killer of Katherine Ann Olson, whose body was found a day after she responded to a phony employment ad on craigslist. It’s alleged that Anderson was the one who took out the ad.

    An additional detail mentioned in the article is that they believe that Anderson shot her in the back of the head with a .357 Magnum.

    Police believe Olson was killed in Anderson’s house sometime after she arrived Thursday morning. Investigators found blood splatters in the man’s bedroom and on his mattress, as well as bloody drag marks down the stairs of the home.

    They also discovered a .357 Magnum and a shell casing from the gun in his room.

    During Olson’s autopsy, a bullet was found in her stomach.

    Authorities said there is no initial evidence of a sexual assault, but final results are not in, police said.

    The man initially denied having contact with the woman, but eventually admitted to being present when she was killed. He said a friend killed Olson because he “thought it would be funny.”

    At a press conference after the bail hearing, police claimed that only Anderson was involved in the killing.

    More details as they become available.

  • Craig himself on the murder of Katherine Ann Olson

    Craig himself on the murder of Katherine Ann Olson

    Charges expected Tuesday in Craigslist killing:

    Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist, had the following to say about the murder of Katherine Ann Olson.

    The founder of Craigslist.org believes that Olson’s death is the first killing ever linked to the website.

    “I can’t recall a single case like it,” Craig Newmark told KARE 11 News. “This is the worst that I can recall.”

    “I’d just like to express my condolences,” Newmark said by phone from California Sunday. “This is a real tragedy and we’re more eager than ever to help deal with the bad guy.”

    Newmark says Craigslist works closely with authorities to investigate crimes tied to the website. Those crimes include identity theft cases, scams, robberies and sex crimes.

    Does he not see anything wrong with the fact that these crimes are happening on his website?

  • Katherine Ann Olson and Donna Jou

    Katherine Ann Olson and Donna Jou

    Craigslist users wary after killing of baby-sitter:

    Susan MacTavish Best of craigslist had the following to say about the murder of Katherine Ann Olson…

    “We were shocked and saddened to hear of this terrible tragedy, and our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family and friends,” said Susan MacTavish Best, a spokeswoman for craigslist, an international network of online communities that features free classified advertising.

    Best said there’s never been a homicide linked to craigslist since it was founded 12 years ago.

    “Assuming the craigslist link is confirmed, this would be the first time,” Best said, referring to Olson’s death.

    Best said craigslist officials work with law enforcement whenever they receive a request, but she wouldn’t comment specifically about their involvement in the Olson investigation.

    I bet you think I’m going to rip her again, but I’m not. Unlike when defending the erotic services section, Ms. MacTavish-Best did not use this as an opportunity to tout how great craigslist is.

    However, this may not be the first craigslist murder. In a sort of twisted backward way, but with no disrespect meant towards anyone involved, there is still the matter of Donna Jou.

    Donna Jou went missing in July and was last seen leaving on a date with a guy by the name of John Burgess that she met on craigslist. Unfortunately, as of yet, she has not been found and even less, unfortunately, police are unable to charge Burgess with anything due to lack of evidence. However, it’s entirely possible that Donna Jou may be the first craigslist murder.

    Now, you may think that there’s a difference between answering a personal ad and a job ad on craigslist. There is, but only slightly. Predators don’t usually use job ads to attract victims, but it’s not unheard of.

    This past July, I posted a story about a woman who was approached sexually by a man she thought was a prospective employer.

    I guess what I’m saying is that since criminal elements lurk in the rest of craigslist it was only a matter of time before they seeped into the employment ads as well. So no matter what kind of ad you’re placing or responding to on craigslist it doesn’t hurt to be overly cautious. The old saying holds true here, just because you’re not paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

    Be careful out there.

  • MN woman killed after responding to craigslist ad

    MN woman killed after responding to craigslist ad

    Online nanny ad ends in slaying:

    The employment ads on craigslist used to be the only trustworthy part of their site. They’re the only paid ads on the site. Those days are now over.

    Katherine Ann Olson was a 24-year-old from Minneapolis who had used craigslist many times before to find nanny jobs. It seemed that the last one she answered was no different. That was until her body was found in the trunk of her car Friday night. She had responded to an ad looking for a nanny that she thought was placed by a married couple in Savage, MN. The ad was actually placed by a 19-year-old man who police believe is her killer.

    Police aren’t releasing the suspect’s name or how Katherine Ann Olson was murdered. The suspect must be one sick SOB to take a paid ad out on craigslist just to kill an innocent woman.

    I’ll post more information as it becomes available.

    UPDATE: Being the expert blogger that he is, Steve Huff has a more detailed post and the name of the suspect, which is Michael John Anderson.