Doc's comment:  They weren't working for me, honest!

"Charges are filed after a February incident that began with a visit to the well-known advertising site.  By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune Anoka County Sheriff's Office

A Coon Rapids man got a violent surprise when he tried to cancel an erotic call-girl service that he found on Craigs- list.

After making the phone call for the service, Jeff VanDyke had second thoughts and tried to cancel but the person who answered said the service was "almost there."

Then a young woman came to his house and he told her that he wanted to cancel. She looked sideways, and a man came to the storm door. When VanDyke wouldn't open it, the man shot him in the jaw through the door, court charges said.

The alleged gunman, Brock A. Franklin, 22, was charged Monday in Anoka County District Court with abetting attempted first-degree murder. The woman involved was arrested and booked on abetting attempted murder, officials said.

According to the charges:

VanDyke, 42, blacked out after being shot about 6 a.m. on Feb. 15 but later called police. He told them he had called a number he found in a Craigslist erotic services advertisement on the Internet about 5 a.m. that day. He was shot seconds after she arrived at his home in the 11100 block of Drake Street NW.

Police traced VanDyke's cell phone calls to Franklin, whom VanDyke picked out of a photo lineup as a likely suspect.

Franklin told police that two other men, who planned to rob VanDyke, went with him and the call girl to VanDyke's house. He claimed his job was to keep watch on the street. He said he heard a "noise" and then the girl came to him with blood on her. They left the two men behind, he said.

The Sheriff's Office wouldn't say whether authorities think anyone else was involved but said the investigation continues.

In October, Katherine Ann Olson was killed after responding to a Craigslist ad for a babysitter. A Savage man faces first-degree murder charges in that case.

A Craigslist spokeswoman said Tuesday that illegal use of the Internet ad service is absolutely unacceptable. "We are horrified that a crime of violence is in any way associated with abuse of Craigslist," Susan MacTavish said in an e-mail.

She said recently implemented screening procedures for erotic services have reduced the volume of such ads by up to 80 percent.

"Craigslist is an unwise choice of venue for committing crimes, since perpetrators inevitably leave an electronic trail to themselves that law enforcement officers can follow," MacTavish said in the e-mail.

he checked her reviews on TER before calling.  I bet not.

Just one more guy that TER could have helped.

VIP access to TER or a bullet in the head...you choose.

Hey Staff...I think I just came up with a new ad slogan....lol....

the kind of money shot he was looking for.

BBxxx

I have had my trouble with CraigsList too. It tends to draw all the nut-bags! It's hard to know who to trust in this world. Really if you think about matters. Using intuition is your best bet in life. Intuition is just another name for "common sense" and without it you are stuck in reverse going in circles! No I am not talking about a gypsy fortune teller either. The experience comes with understanding and locking into what feels and sounds right. Byers remorse some times packs a mighty punch! Sadly said just like the article claims there is a price to everything in life. Know who you are dealing with always!!!
I'll get off my soap box for now. Just thought I would add my 2 cents for what it is worth.
Thank you,  
Midnightstarr

I agree that TER would have been this guy's best bet. But we all found TER for the first time at some point and I have always thought I was in the minority as one who saw his first girl after visiting TER.

Many gents simply dont know about the service. Poking fun at this guy kinda ignores the fact that we have a society that tolerates these kind of social parasites that think they can commit these kind of crimes to avoid having a  real job. This could have happened to any well meaning gent who simply was not aware of the scam that is craigs list and the good service that TER provides.

At least in this case the creep that choose to shoot the man (probably because not getting the $$$ ment not getting to get high that night) will be getting some serious jail time. Many of us dont have to pay in order to get action from a hot girl (even though some of the most honest will admit the opposite) and if this guy was a half way good looking guy you have to feel sorry about the fact that HE PROBABLY WILL have to pay to get with a hot girl in the future due to the gun shot to the face.

I am not one that feels sorry for people who dig their own graves but the possibility exists that this guy was just interested in an honest buisness transaction and wasn't aware that contacting the wrong people can induce an encounter with ghetto trash like the two charged in the crime.

-- Modified on 4/11/2008 3:33:52 PM

We have to use all mediums that are available to us.  TER is very valuable, as is my local message board.  Every now and then we stray and try a non reviewed girl via CL.  We are taking a chance.  It amazes me how many times we have bad experiences off of CL and still that dog in us is continually seeking fresh meat.

If you are blessed to live life long enough, eventually you will experience road rage or some other form of weird shit. Unfortunately for this man, this was his time for a freaky bad incident.

I agree, with the gun involved, there was probably more than ho'ing going on.  Most likely a drug motivation also. Strong arm robbery to get the Johns cash and buy dope with it.

Life's a bitch and then ya die.
JH1

How did the girl get blood on her if the John was shot THRU the door??

it was probably a robbery set-up.   Sort of odd that it was the crack of Dawn (I don't know what her name was).

And in Minnesota, no less.

as usual - they are "appalled" or "horrified" that CL is being used for some kind of illegal activity.

Scams, assualts and busts of all types must number in the thousands by now.

It's a real shame because they could easily control 99% of it if they wanted.  But they refuse.  Sooner or later somebody is going to sue the hell out of them and that will be it.  Or Congress is going to get tired of it and pass a law shutting everything down.

Too many bad apples.

Sigh,
TS Jamie

"we are shocked, SHOCKED! there is illegal activity on CL!"

As opposed to something more sensible, like, "there is crime in the streets, but that's not a good reason to roll up the streets."

Frankly, I think this is a freak that could have been set up anywhere.  These guys were probably just setting an ambush, and if they weren't going to use CL, they'd have rolled a cabbie.

...sounds like the makings for a sequel to the movie Fargo!!!

I gotta agree this was a robbery scam / home invasion...  unfortunately, he was in trouble once he gave the address.  
skb

a dude who was offended by me asking :

"Don't send any resumes,.. I don't care what your education or work history is, .... "

!!!!!!!!!!!!!! weirdo....

I finally got rid of him by telling him that "I have his IP, location,and a cousin who is the Deputy sheriff!! (yeah right) "

CL is unusable in MN.The scammers ,rip offs robs fake pictures and the diseased ruined it for us great providers. I used to use it years ago it was a great resource for me to get those last minute seekers until last year some idiot thought they could harass & stalk me for refusing them service .long story they now probably think twice before messing with someone on there.
I cant even put one post up there without it getting knocked down ,or scammers emailing me.and every f-ing lady says "I have Reviews" ,but their either shill/fake or not who they say they are it's Not worth the drama.