Braving media stakeout, Markoff's parents visit son in jail

The Globe has given far more coverage to this story than to any other in recent memory. It's stunning, really, that with so few reporters, so many are being given over to what is, except for the lives of the people involved, relatively inconsequential. Whatsamatter? The sinkhole that is the global economy and the slow, tortured death of the American middle class not sexy enough for ya? Why don't you leave these poor people alone? Their loved one may be a murderer, but they didn't do anything wrong. Why stalk them like a pack of jackals? One used to be able to expect better of the Globe.

My deepest sympathies to the parents of Philip Markoff. I cannot imagine how you feel but I do offer a prayer for you in this terrible time. Whether he is guilty or not...my prayers are with you.

The officers on the ground have done an excellent job in this case. Sadly, I am disappointed that the Boston Police Department is feeding the media storm with daily reports regarding the evidence discovered in this case. It appears to nearly everyone who has reviewed this evidence that Markoff is guilty as sin - but he still needs to be given a trial in a court of law. The BPD - in its eagerness to show the newspapers its detective work on this case, have severly tainted the jury pool within Boston, and the state as whole. I would hate to see this trial moved to a different location simply because a few at the top of the BPD couldn't keep this information a little closer to the vest...

i dont feel sorry for philip but i do for his family and friends and girlfriend. he not only killed somone but he really has messed with peoples head , trust and just broken hearts everywhere. i feel really sad for everyone except philip he needs help but he has to pay for all he has done. What a very sick and selfish man.

Can you imagine the humiliation. I feel so badly for them as they have done nothing wrong, but are subjected to the full glare of publicity. Stupid, cruel boy - who was he thinking he was?

@KatesNonna: It's obvious why the Globe gives so much coverage to this story: so they can blame big, bad craigslist for all the newspaper world's ills. They'll never forgive craigslist for taking away their overprices classified ads gravy train and will never miss an opportunity to stick it to them, even though the craigslist company has nothing whatever to do with this.

There seems to be a concerted effort to make this sad case a into a provocative case by turning a young man with a gambling addiction into a serial murderer. He isn't a serial murderer. He is a murderer and a serial robber. He is clearly deeply disturbed and should be in jail for many years to pay for his crimes, but why is the media trying to make him into another Ted Bundy?? It's really strange. I never thought I would post anything to defend someone accused of murder or repeated robberies. And to be clear, I am not defending the man for what he actually is or what he actually did. But I am saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with trying to portray him as another Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. He's a man with a deep problem and he should pay dearly for murdering that young woman and for assaulting the others. But having said that, the media really needs to stop trying to make this case into something more than it is. And leave his poor family alone. And that goes double for his soon to be ex-fiance. I am sure she knew he was a gambling addict, but I'm also sure that she DID NOT KNOW he was robbing women to pay for his addiction.

I Agree with Maggiepie123 "think about it, how do you think they feel? There TOTALLY devistated, any parent with this facing their child, would be nervous, upset, and love & cherish there son no matter what, You should all give them space, the parents, families, and the family & parents of the fiance... She should feel when this all over if he is gulity, happy shes on this earth, because who knows this guy could be a Jeffery Darmor, or Petterson type, she could have been next? All I can say is I have no idea how they feel & never want to have those type feelings, My sympathy goes out to both these families

I wonder if the parents tried to sneak him a copy of Gray's Anatomy.

Other things are going on in this world and this city that are more important. The Globe's coverage is COMPLETE overkill. WHY is this story still the top story on this site? I thought the Globe was better than the Inquirer.

I would argue HE was being robbed and defended himself, plea it down to manslaughter, out in less than ten years. The hooker has zero credibility, he's a med student. Scare the hell out of the prosecution to bring this in front of a jury.

At any rate, I don't understand why a hooker would be carrying enough money to be worth robbing. Why carry much cash? Makes no sense for her to carry a lot of money, and you as a robber would not know it beforehand at any rate. So you pull a gun and she has $50 on her, then what?

George Rizer/Globe Staff so why di you not print my comment before? because it slammed reports, That is what's wrong with the Boston globe you received more 8 comments, but choose what you want to print. What you people are doing to those parents is unforgivable.

The reason this is getting so much coverage in the local media, is because it is a local story. I don't think the Globe is covering this too much, it is a provocative local story.

I feel very badly for the parents as I do for the fiance. They, too, are victims. I know a young woman is dead, allegedly by their son. I feel very badly for her family also. This has got to be a nightmare for all concerned.

I also feel terrible for these parents, Philip's fiance and her family. I cannot imagine what they are going through. We must not forget Julissa and her family, as they pain they must feel is unimaginable!

I wish Deval and the Legislature would hurry up and legalize gambling so more grotesque, yet interesting, whodunnit thrillers can emerge....

To Mr. Markoff and Ms. Hayes,
Please stay strong and get the support you need. My own family went through something similar over 40 years ago when I was only 11 years old. A tragic accident and a life lost. I just figured out about 10 years ago that I grew up ashamed. All over the newspapers, TV and radio. And why? To sell more newspapers. We as a family were dying inside - my mother (now dead) kept us together as my father was falling apart.

I said to my mother before she died, "These things happen to other people, and now we are the other people."

To the Globe - how about giving me equal time? I'll tell my story to the world if given a chance. A human interest story. This will sell. After all, it was a sellout 40 years ago.
You are in my prayers.

How could the finance NOT know? Please...someone help me here?!?!?!Bovey

The hooker probably rented the room for the night and took in as many Johns a she could to get her money's worth on the hotel room. Markoff may have known he would have a lot of money late in the evening. He is Jewish and chose 2 hard-working, money-seeking call girls. He probably chose the high-priced ones so he could get he most profit.
He may have wanted to get money fast and not have to work for it. Pressure from a successful family?

I feel sorry for the parents and brother. It is good to support your own family in their time of greatest need -- they were proud of him as a med student and are rightly standing by him now. To me, he sounds like he is undiagnosed bipolar. This is all so terrible for everyone concerned. I also feel so sad for the girl that lost her life, and for her grieving family, as well as for the other victims.

What a coward, a woman half his size was putting up a fight and he had to shoot her? what about the other woman he tied up? the one whose husband came into the room? did he fight the man, of course not hes a punk he ran! Well he took that poor womans life from her but he's going to lose his life as well, hes going to get life in prison, to go from a med student to an inmate doing life who will probably get killed, or he'll take the cowards way out and commit suicide.# 11 are you kidding? the jury put him away so fast, it will make his head spin.

"I thought the Globe was better than the Inquirer."
Missmolly:
Unfortunately you thought incorrectly. The Globe has become another low grade rag. Looking forward to its demise.

Hey KatesNonna - This is how you cover ANY murder story.Murder is a big deal - especially when the suspect would soon have become a physician. Let them do their jobs. They don't tell you how to do yours.

Would the folks that always complain about over coverage/overkill etc etc consider that many people like breaking news that is local. You might want to not post comments and instead spend your time working on reading/finding those big stories--economy etc etc--that you think are so concerned about instead of your tiresome remarks/postings. You people are tired!

I don't think the media are giving this too much coverage. It is pretty shocking and tragic, that someone aspiring to be a physician would injure another person deliberately. I haven't yet read any reports that marijuana played a part in this. I suspect his head got messed up pretty badly taking that and who knows what else. People! Drugs aren't harmless! They mess up your mind! Learn from this.

I think the reason there is so much coverage and interest in this story is the fact that it is absolutely mind boggling that this guy may go down as the worst criminal in history. How does a guy who was in medical school end up making so many funadamental "mistakes" like this?

I feel bad for the victim, the victim's parents, the finace', the fiance's family etc....but the thing I will never understand is how on god's green earth could this guy be so stupid??

Although he only murdered one person and robbed two, he appears to have been just beginning his career as a serial killer. Keeping souvenir underwear from each victim is classic serial rapist/killer behavior.

I believe that if he had not been caught he would already put a few more crimes under his belt. That's what is disturbing people--this was not going to be a one-time deal.

I am wondering how #7, Elizabeth, can possibly know he ISN'T a serial murderer---maybe he is, maybe he isn't. There may be more victims out there. I think you should throw your support behind the murdered girl's family, not the one who took her life. They are heartbroken, and are in my prayers.

Lord have mercy on his family

I think it's weird that his parents are just having their first visit with him now. After all these days? What kind of family is that?

I love the way the news tries to portray him as having come from some perfect family.. kind of like how they called Charles Stuart's marriage the "Camelot" marriage, when it was anything but.

I'm white and suburban, but it's just so obvious that all it takes is to be white and "normal," for people to keel over in disbelief when things are not what they seem.

I completely agree with Judy. Why is everyone giving their condolences to the predator's family? He is the product of THEM!! We should be focusing our sympathies towards the MURDERED girl's family!

There would not be so much media coverage if it wasn't that we are curious why someone who appeared to have it all would kill. We are curious what drove him to this. We are interested in what evidence there is. When this case goes to Court, the jury will be able to review firsthand what the evidence is and they will determine if he is guilty. We have a right to know how people can prevent or defend themselves from predators. My prayers go out to the victims, their parents, and the family of the accused.

"WHY is this story still the top story on this site? I thought the Globe was better than the Inquirer."

Why? Don't ask questions you already know the answer to (SUPPLY AND DEMAND).
The Globe AND Herald AND Fox AND WHDH and WCVB and all the other venues give this as much coverage as they do because nuts like the many here can't get enough....and that's especially including who ever wrote the above and is pretending this idea of news sensationalizing is some sort of mystery - news is a business and YOU are an insatiable consumer of it.

The adage "Don't blame the messenger!" applies.

Did any one stop for moment to ask if the police INDEED have the
wrong person?
Graig is NOT the person.
I wouldn't be surprised somebody did it to watch the REACTION of public. He was set up!! He has no criminal record. He can not possibly murder out of the blue!!

Allright, it's been two whole hours and there are no new Markoff stories. What the heck, Globe? I'm really dying to know what his lab partner from middle school thinks of this! Quit slacking!

Philip Markoff should have been a mountaineer. The great mountain will ignore arrogance for a time but not stupidity and tunnel vision, and when the storm comes up, and he can't get back down to Earth, he would stay up on the mountain, with skin as hard as alabaster, for the next 5000 years. From there he would see much further than he ever could in life.

First day they were allowed to visit.

Casey Anthony is innocent, too.

Was he raised as a spoiled brat kid who usually got anything he wanted? Having become a frequent gambler, was there any way he would have avoided flunking out of med school? How were his grades? In order to have figured out he could easily victimize sex-workers, wasn't it probable that he had been patronizing them all along? Was he getting extra money from both parents, but it still wasn't enough? Was the purported fiancee a highly gullible person?

@Shawn #19... How do you know he's actually Jewish, and even if he was, what the hell are you trying say?!!??? Get anti-semitism off this board Globe!!!!!!

What is so gripping about this story is the sheer arrogance and audacity of a priveleged medical student choosing to victimize fringe members of society who were somewhat defenseless to his criminal acts of aggression. Who the hell did he think he was to exploit these people and carelessly gamble away his booty and also use it to buy presents for his trophy fiancee ?

The best thing that Flipper Markoff can do at this point is to somehow off himself in prison.. He's a total lowlife..

To Shawn:

And why do you think that Philip is Jewish? Is it just because you are an anti-semite? Following your ill determined logic, I could say "funny, he doesn't look Jewish!". Go back into your small, tight hole and crawl out in another fifty years.

Early reports mentioned Mr. Markoff is the stepfather of the accused. His mother has a different last name. Did the accused have a recent birthday?
He is listed as 22 and listed as 23. Whatever the case. This is a sad case.
Lives destroyed, one live lost. Gambling is a dangerous habit much like any other addiction, it deadens the soul and places people in a trance-like state.
May all concerned find the strength needed to get through this difficult time, and hopefully, eventually heal. The accused is obviously a product of his environment, and very troubled. There is so much more than meets the eye.

Two things:

- The BPD should be less focused on pounding their chest then actually finishing the job of convicting a killer.

- The BPD should focus more energy on removing the congestion during rush hour around the jail. The news vehicles taking up an entire lane of road tocreate a traffic jam is a public hazard.

Thank God the traditional media's days are numbered...

This story is a tragedy from every angle. First for the young women who was murdered and for her family and friends. Second for the other victims, who were terrorized and for their families and friends who will be traumatized as well. Then for the family and fiance of the suspect. Their shock and confusion must be all but unbearable. Finally for the accused. if he is innocent (and we owe him a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law), then his world has been turned upside down and his terror must be unimaginable. If he is guilty then, his shame, regret, guilt and anguish are only just beginning and his life as he knew it and imagined it has ended.

Why are they running this story? Because it is a perfect story, just designed for books and a movie. There is the leading character, a serious med student by day, a chronic gambler, armed robber and killer by night. He's a pretty boy, good at biochemistry, stashing a semiautomatic gun inside a book, and collecting panties from his victims. He has apparently not heard of surveillance cameras. There is the clueless fiancee, with a wedding website where she asks for high-priced gifts and asks the guests to vote for which lavish honeymoon she and the groom should take. There is the murder victim, who resembles the fiancee. There is the victim's family, seemingly unfazed that their girl was a hooker. They variously refer to her as an aspiring actress, model, counselor. There is the tidy middle class parents, blowing their retirement funds to pay for a fancy-suited lawyer. There's all the friends and neighbors that say he was a nice guy and those that say we knew something was up. This is a great story with all the right characters.

Does anyone know what his childhood was like? What kind of doctor was he planning to be? Why did his mom and dad divorce? Could it possibly be that this child was so traumatized himself over something disgusting in his own family - perhaps - something his dad did to his mom when he himself was young and impressionable. People just don't wake up one day and do something horrendous. There are horrendous situations that sit dormant and finally erupt. I think we'll all find that this is something of this sort!!! RJohns

I agree - stop stalking his familye outside the courthouse - they all must be devastated...this story is fascinating when focused on him and tabloidistic when we shift to his parents and fiance...why can;t the press get this when everyone else does!

As a parent I can't imagine what Philip Markoff's parents and brother are going through. Where is the son/brother that they knew for 23 years? I feel very sorry for them and keep them in my prayers.
I also feel for the other victims and the parents and family of the woman Markoff may have killed. Such a senseless act. They are in my prayers, as well.
The fiancee, Megan, should consider herself lucky she did not marry Markoff and possibly become a future victim . . . and it is likely she would have been when Markoff's life became more than he could manage. Look at Lacy Peterson and thank God for keeping you safe.

Only yesterday did we learn that Markoff was sending explicit pictures of himself to men. Apparently he was seeking sexual hookups with men.

From my observation, Mr. Markoff is a deeply conflicted young man partly due to his homosexuality or bisexuality. Many people are conflicted about their same-sex orientation, but Markoff has other problems.

One psychiatrist has hinted that he's a psychopath. This mental health professional spoke in terms of voltage and excitement being motivations for Markoff's behavior. I guess Markoff only thinks of himself with absolutely no feelings for the well-being of other people. He doesn't even view other people as human beings. He wouldn't be sorry for anything; only sorry that he got caught.

I doubt if his family dynamics have much to do with his criminal behavior. If anything, his parents may have been asleep at the wheel a bit. But it's easy to be asleep if your child is always at the top of his class academically and is accepted to medical school. There's no red flags there.

However, this psychiatrist says there had to be red flags somewhere. Other people have alluded to Markoff's creepiness. I sense a creepiness when I see his face. He's a handsome guy but there's something troubling when I look at his face.

This story is receiving a lot of media attention because it's got everything--affluence, sex, good-looks, genius-level intelligence, and murder. And I do think the Craigslist angle is in the equation. Finding sex and romance on the Internet is a fact of life these days.

I do suspect that Markoff couldn't accept his sexual orientation. Maybe his parents are very conservative?