Michael Gordon Sentenced To Life In Prison For Craigslist Murder

CLAYTON, MO — Michael Gordon, 27, has been sentenced to life in prison for the for the murder of 19-year-old college student Taylor Clark after being convicted of first-degree murder in October. The two had met to discuss the sale of a sports car that had been arranged on Craigslist, a popular classifieds website. Prosecutors argued that Gordon used the site to lure Clark to a remote area where he was shot.

Clark was a sophomore at Southern Illinois University. Police say Gordon shot him once in the head in an abandoned rail yard, then hid student's body in a nearby wood before returning to work. He committed the murder on his lunch break.

Craigslist says the vast majority of its users are well-meaning and trustworthy, but encourages sensible precautions when meeting for sales, such as meeting in crowded, public places, telling family and friends where you're going and when you'll be back, carrying a cellphone, and if possible, not going alone. Many police departments around the country have also begun encouraging Craigslist users to meet in their parking lots, so call your local police department to see if they are participating.

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