The internet didn’t invent homicide. However, it’s playing an important role in how offenders identify, approach, and control victims. In a small but significant number of cases, killings were operationally enabled by digital platforms. These cases represent a critical intersection between violent crime and cyber-mediated behaviour, where online spaces functioned as the primary vector for victim selection, grooming, and execution.
Below is an overview of different types of cases where violent crime was enabled by Internet platforms.
The case of Philip Markoff, US, 2009
Philip Markoff, often referred to as the Craigslist Killer, used online classified ads to identify and contact women advertising escort and massage services. The platform enabled him to filter victims by availability and vulnerability, initiate contact without identity verification, and arrange private meetings under false pretences.
Markoff attacked multiple women and murdered Julissa Brisman in a Boston hotel room.
Investigative relevance
Craigslist did not create violent intent, but it provided a structured environment that facilitated serial targeting.
The case of Stephen Port, UK, 2014-2015
Stephen Port used Grindr to meet men, drugged them with GHB, and murdered four victims. He exploited the platform’s geo-proximity features, one-to-one private messaging, and the assumption of safety within LGBTQ+ digital spaces.
Port also used digital deception after the killings, creating fake profiles and false suicide notes to mislead investigators.
Investigative relevance
- Consistent victim type and contact method
- Repeated use of the same platform despite growing risk
- Digital manipulation extended beyond victim contact to post-crime narrative control
This case demonstrates how online trust mechanisms can be weaponized by compulsive offenders.
Serial luring through escort and dating websites
Across North America and Europe, multiple homicide offenders have used escort directories, sugar dating platforms, and niche dating sites to identify victims who were isolated, mobile, or reluctant to involve authorities.
Behavioural indicators
- Repetitive contact scripts
- Narrow victim demographic preferences
- Preference for platforms with minimal moderation
- Escalation from non-violent contact to lethal outcomes
These cases often blur the boundary between serial sexual violence and serial homicide, with digital platforms acting as consistent enablers.
The case of Luka Magnotta, Canada, 2012
Luka Magnotta murdered Jun Lin and distributed video evidence online. Long before the killing, Magnotta demonstrated obsessive online self-mythologizing, sockpuppet use across forums, and fixation on notoriety and audience reaction.
The killing itself was staged for digital consumption, with dissemination being part of the offence.
Investigative relevance
- Extensive pre-crime digital leakage
- Violence inseparable from online identity construction
- Early warning signs embedded in years of online behaviour
While not a serial killer in the strict sense, this case is central to understanding online-driven escalation to lethal violence.
Dark web and hitmen services
Although most dark web “hitman for hire” services are scams, there are recorded cases of individuals who have attempted to commission murder online. In several cases, the real victims were identified, the payment was sent, and the operational details of the hit were discussed online.
Even when the killings did not occur, the behavioural intent and planning crossed into actionable threat territory.
Investigative relevance
- Blurred boundary between cybercrime and violent crime
- Offenders often inexperienced but ideologically or emotionally driven
- Significant forensic value in communication logs
These cases illustrate how belief in online criminal infrastructure can produce real-world lethal intent.
The emerging pattern of live-streamed killings
Some homicide offenders have used platforms such as Facebook Live or messaging apps to broadcast or announce their actions. While most are not serial killers, these cases matter because the platform becomes part of the crime mechanics, the audience reaction reinforces behaviour, and attention seeking becomes a motivating factor. This represents a convergence of performance, validation, and violence.
Behavioural patterns across cases
Across these incidents, several recurring patterns emerge:
- Platform choice is deliberate: offenders favour spaces with anonymity, weak moderation, or built-in intimacy.
- Victim selection is data-driven: profiles, availability signals, and self-disclosure guide targeting.
- Fixation overrides caution: many offenders return to the same platforms even after near detection.
- Digital rituals precede physical acts: messaging, stalking, saving profiles, or rehearsing scripts form part of the offence cycle.
- Online behaviour often predates violence by years: early indicators are visible in posting history, persona construction, and grievance expression.
These cases demonstrate that digital platforms can function as extended crime scenes, and behavioural analysis is as important as technical forensics: when fixation patterns are recognized, early intervention is possible.
For investigators, the key shift is to treat online behaviour not as background context, but as primary behavioural evidence.
In the following articles, we will dive into different aspects of cyber-enabled violent crime to better understand its dynamics.