After Murder, Police Offer Tips on Responding to Online Ads

Anne Arundel County police have offered a series of tips on responding to online advertisements, after a report of a murder in which the victim answered an ad on Craigslist. 

Police said that Rene Filadelfo Leiva-Archila was killed in Harmans Thursday after responding to an advertisement for a vehicle on the popular online classifieds site.

The suspect in the case is still at large and is described as a white man between 30 and 40 years old, standing approximately 5’10” with a medium to heavy build. He had black, crew cut style hair and a five o’clock shadow. Police also said the suspect fled in a silver or white mid-size, four-door sport utility vehicle (SUV). 

In response to the crime, police have released the following tips on how to respond to online ads without being victimized. 

• Prior to conducting a transaction and meeting an online seller in person, obtain a name and telephone number from the seller
• When responding to a location to purchase an online item from a seller, park in a high traffic area such as a shopping center, preferably during daylight hours and have an adult witnesses accompany you to the location
• Prior to meeting the seller, inform family and friends where you are going and the time you are meeting the seller
• Keep a cell phone nearby
• If it seems too good to be true from the beginning, it probably is. Trust your gut!