RSSThe Craig’s List Killer, Michael John Anderson Found Guilty of First Degree Murder of Katherine Ann Olson
Michael John Anderson, The Craig’s List Killer, who was charged with the murder of 
24 year old Katherine Ann Olson has been found guilty on all charges. He was found guilty of the first degree and second degree murder of Olsen after luring her to his parent’s home with a fake babysitting ad that he placed on Craig’s List.
Michael John Anderson, 20, of Savage, was accused of killing Katherine Ann Olson, 24, of Cottage Grove on Oct. 25, 2007, at his parents’ home in downtown Savage after she answered a fake babysitting ad on Craigslist. He showed no emotion when the jury’s verdicts were read at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night in Scott County District Court.
He was not only found guilty of first-degree murder, but he was also found guilty of the lesser charges of second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and second-degree manslaughter, which has a maximum 10-year sentence.
The Scott County jury convicted Michael John Anderson on all six counts, including first-degree premeditated murder.
During the trial the defense tried to portray Anderson as a “dumb kid” who lured Olson to his parents’ home with “sexual intent, not murderous intent.” First of all, Anderson was 20 years old, hardly a kid. Secondly, great … Defense Attorney Alan Margoles tries to make his client out to be a rapist scum rather than a murdering one. Nice. One has to read the closing arguments and ridiculous theories put forth by the defense to truly understand how far these people will go to provide a defense of their client. Anderson’s attorneys argued that Anderson has a mild form of Autism called Asperser’s syndrome that led him to pull the trigger.
Anderson posted an advertisement for a babysitter on the classifieds website Craigslist.org and when Olson showed up at Anderson’s Burnsville home for the job he shot her.
Attorney Alan Margoles argued that Anderson, who didn’t testify during the weeklong trial, lured Olson over with no clear idea of why. He said that when she tried to leave, Anderson, who had no experience with women, fell back on his video game experience and pulled his father’s gun on her. He said Anderson then shot her accidentally when he tripped or flinched.
The convicted killer suffers from a mild form of Autism called Asperser’s syndrome and was able to devise a premeditated plan to lure the victim to his home, kill her and then systematically then devise a plan to get rid of her body. Seems pretty lucid to us.
Inside Anderson’s home, authorities found a gun and drag marks on the stairway. A few blocks away from the crime scene was Olson’s body inside her abandoned car at a park. Anderson was arrested a short time later at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where he fuels planes.
Maybe Anderson’s fellow inmate’s testimony of comments Anderson made in jail had a bit to do with the jury’s decision, let alone the evidence. A fellow inmate said the defendant in the Craigslist trial showed no remorse.
Pauly testified that he, Anderson and a third inmate, Joshua Young, were walking in the jail gym two days before Young’s release. The three had never discussed the charges against Anderson before, but Young asked, “Did you do it?”
Pauly said that in response, Anderson just shrugged, but Young pressed him as to why he wouldn’t plead insanity.
“He turned around and said, ‘Because then I’d have to pretend that I’m sorry,’” Pauly testified.
Pauly said that Anderson smiled as he said it. “I was speechless; I had been sticking up for him,” Pauly said.
UPDATE I: PHIL MARKOFF … YET ANOTHER CRAIG’s LIST KILLER
Posted April 1, 2009 by Scared Monkeys Crime, Judicial, Legal - Court Room - Trial, Murder | 18 comments |
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18 Responses to “The Craig’s List Killer, Michael John Anderson Found Guilty of First Degree Murder of Katherine Ann Olson”
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Greetings:
Anderson’s defense reminds me of a bit of Bronx folk wisdom wherein the defendant tells the judge, “I was just standing on the corner cleaning my knife and this woman ran up and jumped on it 27 times.”
Red-
Excellent coverage. What a slap in the face to autism and autism spectral disorders. I wish the ACLU would get wind of this.
He got it partially right, his client definately has a form of ASS.
Blink
I’m just glad they caught him when they did…
Imagine the havoc he could have spun on the neighbors!
Definately, a wacko in my opinion
Where’s Clint Eastwood when you need him?
HANG EM HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this poor lady! and all she wanted to do is work..so sad..this guy def. does have some case of stupidity..not a clear plan for sure..
Laugh out LOUD, New Girl:
I’d say he’s old enough to know better.
Look at his eyes.
He looks all mixed up.
Nite…
This sicko has the same, “something is wrong with me” look on his face as many high profile serial killers we have seen over and over on talk shows and the news.
I am ABSOLUTELY SICKEND ABOUT THE DEFENSE’S USE OF ASPERGER’S SYNDROME in this case!
My two sons and I have AS. AS is FAR from the cause of someone commiting murder.
I hope this disgusting murderer gets “big bubba” as a cell mate.
I was completely blown away by this case! the fact that this kid simply wanted to kill someone for the fun of it without regard or remorse is … stifling. my heart and praise go to the family.
What sickens me is that people don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. They want to blame it on a sickness/illness. He knew exactly what he was doing. SICK TWISTED FREAK I hope the judge throws the book at him. Life in prison without the possibility of parole. His kind does not need to be among society.
I agree with all of you. I just feel that life without parole is to easy. With forsenics giving us undispointable evidence in most cases. It time to re-work the 600 year old constitution and put these murders in one place, 6 feet under. No 30 appeals, no lethal injection, just one bullet to the head. “Done” Next case. Some might think this view is to radical, but our prisons are busting at the seams with no-where to put these meneces. Whats your solution? More prisons? Rehabilitation? I’m sick of these pro-life idiots who have all the answers and no solutions.
We as A society need to stop trying to heal the mental and put them away, I am sorry if that sounds callus. We are becoming a society of weak inpertanant people. I knew as A child what was right from wrong. If we are a land of laws then those who make the laws ought to spend time in prison if they cant win thier clients case.
I am a mother of an 11 yo boy with AS. I can’t imagine him doing anything like this now, but there was a time when I truly felt that my 2 year old was going to kill or seriously injure me. I worked very hard over the las 9 years to help my boy become the fine child he is today, but I am sick of people who try to say that people hide behind this illness as a defense. In some cases it is the illness that cause people to react the way they do. You do not know til you’ve walked a mile in my shoes. hank god I do not have those same worries today. But I was lucky, I had good insurance and was able to get my son the treatment he needed.
If you knew what Asperger’s was truly about you would realize that one main symptom is extreme narcissism, that is why he has no remorse. Do some research and then make intelligent posts. I do not condone what this man did, but to label all illness as nothing but a sham is irresponsible.
I think some of you are idiots for putting ur last names on here. This guy deserves to die. He is a dickhead who wanted sex like all men and when the girl said no he got pissed. Thats what guys do! They think with the penis instead of their brain and all they want is sex I totally agree with Bob Kramer this guy needs the death sentance and not just torchoring him he should get shot and see how it feels just like his victim. Ass hole…I hope he rots in hell!
If one truly knows what AS is, they also know that many other disorders are comorbid. The person may not have the capacity to feel empathy and, as I’ve experienced with my son who has AS, may not understand why society’s rules have to apply to him/her.
Like the poster above, I’ve worked hard with my son to ensure he doesn’t do something like this. He still has no empathy, and is self centered, but this is a side effect of his disorder. This doesn’t mean he’s dangerous anymore although the *capacity* is still there.
This doesn’t excuse what he did. But to say he’s hiding behind his illness is a generalization that’s dangerous. The illness provides a reason, a way to understand, but it does not *excuse*.
i agree with the 600 year old appeal…no one that kills someone for the fun of it deserves to live…and these stupid internet predators that just sit and wait for young girls to fall in their little trap need a bullet in the head too…u know that u will be caught so y f****** do it?!?!….
To Julie
You need to get your facts right as much as anyone, I have a 9 year old Great Nephew with AS, and he has no bigger an ego than any other 9 year old, and he feels just as much remorse when he does something wrong as any one else!! Asperger’s is a very complicated condition and no one can say with total confidence that any one does one thing or another because of Asperger, it affects every one differently, and to varying degrees.
It is Aspergers not Aspersers. You would think the person writing this story would get that right!