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Saturday, 2:15 PM

From the Metro staff at The Boston Globe

In Craigslist case, fiancee supports suspect

April 30, 2009 10:13 AM Email| Comments (25)| Text size – +

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The fiancee of the man accused of preying on women through Craigslist visited him for the first time Wednesday in jail and "continues to support her fiance," but the couple's August wedding "will not occur," according to her attorney, Robert A. Honecker Jr.

A picture of Philip Markoff and Megan McAllister from their wedding website, megan-philip.com.

The fiancee, Megan McAllister, went with her mother to visit Philip Markoff in the Nashua Street Jail and had what was "obviously ... an emotional conversation," according to Honecker, who spoke today to "Good Morning America." With the Massachusetts State House as a backdrop, the New Jersey attorney said during the nationally televised interview that although he accompanied McAllister into the jail, he was not privy to the couple's conversation.

"She came away from that conversation, I believe, a strong person because she made that step," Honecker said, adding, "Each day I think she is getting a little bit stronger and is hoping to cope with the whole situation that is before her. ... Quite frankly this has been a chain of events that has dramatically affected her life. She is dealing with it on a day-to-day basis and she continues to support her fiance at this time."

McAllister has declined to speak to the Globe. Markoff, 23, pleaded not guilty last week to charges that include armed robbery and murder. The Boston University medical student is accused of preying on prostitutes and other women who advertised services on Craigslist.

On "Good Morning America" today, Honecker said that McAllister was "obviously aware of all the evidence but continues to support the man that she knew for four years and the man that she lived with. Because the man that she knew was a person that loved and cared [for] her."

Asked about the couple's August nuptials, Honecker said: "I believe that the wedding that's been planned for August is being dismantled. That wedding will not occur. And I can't say whether or not she holds out any hope, but obviously the situation that is before her right now makes that unlikely."

A full transcript follows:

GOOD MORNING AMERICA HOST CHRISTOPHER CUMOMO: So let me ask you, in light of this growing list of allegations from authorities, does Megan stand by her statement that she sent to us, that her fiancee is being set up, that he's the wrong man?

ATTORNEY ROBERT HONECKER: Well at this point obviously she continues to support her finance. Yesterday she visited him with her mother at the jail. Quite frankly, this has been a chain of events that has dramatically affected her life. She is dealing with it on a day-to-day basis and she continues to support her fiance at this time.

CUMOMO: She's just choosing to reject what she is hearing in the media and from the authorities. There's not some alterative explanation?

HONECKER: Obviously what has been put forth in the media and by authorities is obviously subject to further investigation and it's going to be tested at some point in a court of law. So, as of this point, she is obviously aware of all the evidence but continues to support the man that she knew for four years and the man that she lived with because the man that she knew was a person that loved and cared [for] her.

CUMOMO: Is there any feeling that Megan was very fortunate here to be so close to someone who suspected of such potential for violence?

HONECKER: The family and friends of Megan are supporting her tremendously. I think that they realize that if some of these allegations were in fact true, this may have been a situation where she may have been fortunate. But they also believe that she is a strong, articulate, young person who is going to take day by day the situation into account and move forward with her life.

CUMOMO: You went with Megan to visit Mr. Markoff. There are suggestions now that he may have suggested suicide once or twice. What did he seem like in that meeting?

HONECKER: Well I wasn't privy to specific conversation. That was between Megan and her fiance. But I can tell you that, obviously, it was an emotional conversation. And that she came away from that conversation, I believe, a strong person because she made that step. You have to understand she has not seen him since he was arrested and this is a whole process here developing day by day. Each day I think she is getting a little bit stronger and is hoping to cope with the whole situation that is before her.

CUMOMO: Is Megan still holding out hope that there is a wedding some day?

HONECKER: I believe that the wedding that's been planned for August is being dismantled. That wedding will not occur. And I can't say whether or not she holds out any hope, but obviously the situation that is before her right now makes that unlikely.

CUMOMO: It has to be a very difficult situation for Megan and her family. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us this morning Mr. Honecker.

HONECKER: Thank you, Chris.

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25 comments so far...

is this really news? stop beating a dead horse and let our justice system work though its paces.

Posted by joe April 30, 09 10:50 AM

I've said right along that as soon as she gets over the shock and denial phase of her grief that she will be able to deal with the reality of the situation.

Obviously the wedding will be called off, the groom is not going to be given a weekend pass out of jail to attend the nuptials.

She is probably coming to realize that she dodged a huge bullet here. A few years down the road, she could have ended up like Carol Stuart and Laci Peterson. Both of these women (God rest their souls) probably loved and believed in their husbands, too. They could have never imagined that they were married to a psychopath.

Posted by vinca123 April 30, 09 11:04 AM

Well at this point obviously she continues to support her finance.

Nice.

Posted by Damian April 30, 09 11:07 AM

Megan is in total denial. Only a sheltered girl could be so clueless. She'll have to wake up when ALL the information comes out. Because there is more coming out.

Posted by Jack Certer April 30, 09 11:08 AM

Maybe she can marry him and visit him on Sundays at the MCI Cedar Country Club.

Posted by Steve April 30, 09 11:10 AM

I hope this young woman is strong enough to get through the hard times that are before her...I think she is a lucky woman because this is a man that could have ended up killing her....We have seen a rash of young men who have killed their wife to keep hiding their lies..I will never understand why men think that they have to lie about their lives...

Posted by sandy April 30, 09 11:11 AM

I think we should probably leave her alone now, she made a mistake even commenting in the first place, but now I just feel bad for her.

Posted by apal April 30, 09 11:13 AM

Dodged a bullet? More like a knifing. This gal needs a quick exit away from this guy.

Posted by BuckDunn April 30, 09 11:14 AM

The big blind eye continues. It is this attitude that enabled this sick person.
Does she realize she could have been a victim? Very sad.

Posted by oneofmany April 30, 09 11:16 AM

This is the best thing that ever happened to this girl, as twisted as that might sound.

Posted by chetstedmen April 30, 09 11:22 AM

What she does is a public relation stunt that is why the August wedding "will not occur". She's a smart girl. I'm sure once the guy is prosecuted and charged for murder; she'll stay 3000 miles away from him.

Posted by new_world April 30, 09 11:30 AM

At this point she probably does realize that the evidence is stacking up against her fiance. Maybe his lawyer has asked her to at least support him publicly so it can help his case.

Posted by Gisele April 30, 09 11:32 AM

She's so pretty. I hope she meets someone new - someone stable, and honest, and NOT A MURDERER (suspected only, of course)...

Posted by Oblivious Girl April 30, 09 11:34 AM

HONESTLY THIS WOMAN WANTS NOTHING TO DOO WITH THIS CLOWN HER RICH DADDYS LAWYER PROBABLY TOLD HER TO SAY THESE THING RATHER THAN NEGATIVE STATEMENTS SO THEY CAN BE SUED JUST LIKE IF THE PROSECUTION SAID SOMETHING THE CLOWN COULD GET OFF SCOTT FREE

Posted by mojo52 April 30, 09 11:37 AM

I beleive that she's involved in this too.

Posted by FrankD! April 30, 09 11:46 AM

Thank God these two didn't get married or have any kids. A few chips off the old block is the last thing that this state needed.

Posted by riverbanks April 30, 09 12:08 PM

Given the liberal state of our courts, she'll just have to postpone the wedding until Aug 2013 even if he's convicted.

Posted by al czervik April 30, 09 12:13 PM

My heart goes out to Megan. Its hard to grasp the possibility that the person you were about to marry, the person you trust with your life could possibly do the horrible things he is accused of. I wish her strength.

Posted by Nancy Owen April 30, 09 12:34 PM

It is a good reason to get out of a wedding, shes a lucky girl. At least she found out before she married him. Do you think the brides maids already purchased their gowns ?

Posted by Alan April 30, 09 12:35 PM

"obviously"

Posted by Attorney Obvious April 30, 09 01:02 PM

Enough of this-if the suspect were black or hispanic instead of a preppy pre-med student do you think this would be in the news? Oh, I forgot, this newpaper is on its last legs.

Posted by masslink April 30, 09 01:14 PM

where did she think he was getting his money? I did not hear that he worked, who paid the $1400.00 month rent? she is that nieve? this is a blessing for her and time will heal but she needs to wake up a little! Did the money he was showing her over shadow everything? too bad but she is really a lucky girl he would have harmed her in time once she found out about his true identity.

Posted by blnd1 April 30, 09 01:18 PM

Here's my prediction! He's released from prison in 2012 for good behavior and immediately announces a run for US senate and WINS against you know who!

Posted by Wayno April 30, 09 01:23 PM

Yes, I totally agree with the fact that Megan is a victim herself right now and she needs everyone to leave her alone so she can find her way through this whole ordeal she is faced with and what the outcome may be. She did not ask to be involved with a murderer (if he is convicted of it) all she wanted was to marry the man she knew for 4 years and loved and I have to say this situation could have happened to anyone so feel blessed that the one you love may not be online looking at porno and seeking out women to cheat on you with as it is very common for men to cheat via through the internet websites in this day and age so does this mean that we all now have to keep and eye on your own loved ones who have never committed any crimes and have a really good track record and therefore we would never even think to suspect them of ever going online and talking to other women, men, etc....This whole situation really makes you think good and hard about the internet and all the dating sites and about the one you love and trust doesn't it??

Posted by Kay April 30, 09 01:30 PM

Kay -
You do not understand so many things in this world:
1. The internet is not evil, this schmuck could have picked on guys selling lawnmowers through E-Bay......
2. Pornography is not bad and evil, keep your puritannical viewpoints to yourself.
3. Megan has INVITED comment by contacting major network coverage directly.
4. She is acting the victim, when in fact she is an accomplice if not more.

Posted by FrankD! May 1, 09 09:29 PM