Apr 18, 2009 3:52 pm US/Eastern
'Craigslist Killer' Connected To RI Hotel Robbery
WARWICK, R.I. (WBZ) ―
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Police released this image of the man believed to be connected to the Marriott murder and a robbery at the Westin last week. He may also be linked to an attack in Rhode Island.
WBZ
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The Holiday Inn Express in Warwick, Rhode Island.
WBZ
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A surveillance photo of the man wanted by police.
WBZ
Police say an armed attempted robbery at a Rhode Island hotel Thursday is connected to Tuesday night's murder at the Marriott Copley hotel in Boston and an attempted robbery at the Westin hotel earlier in the week.
Police say a woman held at gunpoint in an attempted robbery at a Holiday Inn Express in Warwick tipped them off to a possible link to the Craigslist killer in Boston by suggesting the crimes were similar.
Because descriptions in all three cases are so similar police say there is a "strong connection" between them.
The 26-year-old woman, who also advertised services on
Craigslist, claims she was bound with a cord and held at gunpoint at the
Holiday Inn Express in Warwick at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday.
"The victim did make some indication that this is like what happened in Boston," said Warwick police Col. Stephen McCartney. "So that raised our antennas."
The suspect ran off when the woman's husband returned to the room.
The husband briefly chased the man, but then returned to check on his wife, police said.
The woman told investigators she is from Las Vegas and had been working recently as an exotic dancer at The Cadillac Lounge, a Providence strip club.
No one was seriously hurt.
"She may have been involved in some sort of a sex-for-money transaction at the point in time when she had the confrontation with this alleged assailant," said Warwick Police Chief Stephen McCartney.
Watch: Peg Rusconi's interview with McCartney
They say the suspect fits the description of the man who shot and killed
26-year-old Julissa Brisman in her room at the Marriott Copley Place Tuesday night.
They think
the same man robbed a woman at gunpoint at the Westin Hotel on Huntington Ave. April 10.
Police have not released surveillance images of the Warwick attempted robbery.
All three women met the man on Craigslist, according to Boston police.
Investigators have released surveillance photos from both Boston hotels showing a young, clean-cut man with blonde hair who they say is a "person of interest" in both attacks.
Police in Warwick describe their suspect as a clean-cut white man, about 6-feet tall, weighing 200-pounds, with blonde hair. He was wearing a black coat and blue jeans.
Investigators said that they believe the victim at the Westin was involved in prostitution but that they are uncertain about Brisman.
Brisman's friends said they didn't know she had advertised massage services online.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boston homicide unit at 617-343-4470 or the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS or texting 'TIP' to CRIME (27463).
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Images: Craigslist Killer Preying On Local Women
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