For those who use online venues to sale items,, please be cautious and never meet people at your home that you dont know,,,


from cnn.com


Three men accused of killing a Washington state man in a home invasion after the victim posted an internet ad were arraigned Monday, with all three pleading not guilty.

Clabon Terrel Bernaird, 23; Kiyoshi A. Higashi, 22; and Joshua N. Reese, 20, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, robbery and assault, Pierce County, Washington, prosecutor Mark Lindquist said. If convicted, they face potential sentences of around 70 years in prison, Lindquist said.

A fourth suspect in the case, Amanda C. Knight, 21, pleaded not guilty to the same charges last week, Lindquist said. He added that the four defendants are each being held on $2 million bail at the Pierce County jail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for June 9.

The four are charged with killing James Sanders on April 28 after he and his wife posted an ad on the online classified ad site Craigslist offering a diamond ring for $1,050, Lindquist said.

Lindquist said the Sanders agreed to meet prospective buyers of the ring at their home in Edgewood, Washington, outside Tacoma.


"Two people show up and act like a couple looking for a ring for the mother-in-law," Lindquist said. But once they entered the house, he said, the man posing as the husband pulled out a handgun.

The victim, his wife, and their sons, ages 14 and 10, were restrained with plastic handcuffs, Lindquist said. Two other suspects then entered the home. One pistol-whipped the older son, he said.

Sanders broke out of his restraints and attempted to defend the 14-year-old, and was shot three times, the prosecutor said. "While this is going on," Lindquist said, "other bad guys are kicking Mom in the head while she's lying on the floor."

Lindquist said of the slaying, "this is a cautionary tale."

"You hate to tell people to be wary of your fellow citizens, but the reality is you've got to be wary when you are doing something when interacting with strangers on Craigslist."

That's why you use photos and PayPal. Atleast then all they would have lost was a ring.

good point

The last thing I sold on craigslist was a bike. I sold to a cute college girl. We met at Burger King. Those people who did that were going to rob someone wether they posted something on craigslist or advertised in a newspaper.

I must say, I have purchased things from folks on Criags list. Many of them are just plain 'ol dumb about it. Many of them freely gave me their address, and invited me into their home to show me what they were selling. I would never go alone, always took a friend, I have passed up locations that I thought were shady..., I would always stand at the front entry way and never enter their house, and kept my cell phone in my hand..., the most I would do would be to walk into their open garage...

Often it was a Man and woman, with a young child in the house....

I feel sorry for these people but - People need to be smarter. They made themselves an easy target.

$.02

Agreed. It's no different than when we get lazy with internet dating and don't put safeguards in place.

My kids have tried to sell a couple things on Craigslist. I don't allow them to use our address. Ever.

It's just common sense. Geesh.