TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: 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.

  • Suspect in Donna Jou’s disappearance arrested again

    Suspect in disappearance arrested:

    Convicted sex offender and the last man seen with Donna Jou alive, John Steven Burgess, has been arrested yet again. For those of you who don’t know Donna Jou met Burgess on craigslist and went on a date with him and that was the last time she was seen. He was last arrested for failing to report as a sex offender.

    Now he’s been arrested for using a fake ID to steal DVDs from a Jacksonville, Florida Blockbuster.

    Since Donna Jou has not been found authorities are still unable to file charges against Burgess for Jou’s disappearance.

  • Woman disappears after meeting craigslist date

    2 Sought in Calif. Missing Student Case:

    Authorities said Friday they want to question two men in the disappearance of a 19-year-old college student who had met one of the men on the Internet.

    San Diego State University student Donna Jou was last seen by her brother on June 23 getting on a motorcycle with a man she had met on the Web site Craigslist.com, said Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino. He said the man had been identified only as Kyle or “Skinny Puppy.”

    Investigators also were looking for registered sex offender John Steven Burgess, who rents the house where Jou apparently went that night for a party.

    “We’re not calling them suspects at this stage, but we want to question them,” Amormino said.

    The day after Jou left for the party, her mother received a text message from her cell phone saying she was coming home, but she never arrived, Amormino said.

    And yet no state attorney general inquest into craigslist yet. Why is that?