Murder of James Sanders
{{short description|Murder case in Washington}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
On April 28, 2010, James Sanders was fatally shot in Edgewood, Washington, while showing a diamond ring that was listed for sale on Craigslist.
Circumstances of death
Three men and a woman went to Sanders' house to inspect a diamond ring offered for sale on Craigslist. The suspects said by telephone that the ring was sought for a Mother's Day gift for a mother-in-law. The family was detained. When the suspects started to beat one of the children, the elder Sanders intervened and was fatally shot.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/07/craigslist.diamond.killing/index.html | work=CNN | title=Craigslist diamond ad leads to deadly home invasion, police say | date=May 7, 2010}}{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/craigslist-diamond-ring-ad-leads-to-fathers-murder-in-home-invasion-say-wash-state-cops/ | work=CBS News | title=Craigslist Diamond Ring Ad Leads to Father's Murder in Home Invasion, Say Wash. State Cops | first=Edecio | last=Martinez | date=May 10, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/3-arrested-in-Craigslist-home-invasion-murder-92876094.html |title=3 arrested in Craigslist home invasion murder | KTVB.COM Boise |publisher=Ktvb.com |date=2010-05-05 |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302071641/http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/3-arrested-in-Craigslist-home-invasion-murder-92876094.html |archive-date=2012-03-02}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/police-say-jim-sanders-killed-by-robbers-who-saw-his-craigslist-ad-for-diamond-ring/19469483 |title=Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post |publisher=Aolnews.com |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612114811/http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/police-say-jim-sanders-killed-by-robbers-who-saw-his-craigslist-ad-for-diamond-ring/19469483 |archive-date=2010-06-12}}
Suspects and alleged crime spree
Based on tracing e-mailed information, four suspects were sought, Clabon Berniard, Joshua Reese, Kiyoshi Higashi, and Amanda Knight. Three were later apprehended near San Francisco, California (all except Bernaird) after they were found driving without a front license plate and a gun was found. Knight paid bail and was released before the suspects were linked with the crime. The suspects were featured on the America's Most Wanted television show. Knight later surrendered to police. Berniard also surrendered to police in Washington state. In court, they were charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of robbery, two counts of assault, and one count of burglary. The suspects wept in court and entered not guilty pleas.{{cite web |url=http://www.krem.com/news/northwest-news/Craigslist-murder-suspects-plead-not-guilty-93326314.html |title=Craigslist murder suspects plead not guilty | KREM.com Spokane |publisher=Krem.com |date=2010-05-10 |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223135917/http://www.krem.com/news/northwest-news/Craigslist-murder-suspects-plead-not-guilty-93326314.html |archive-date=2012-02-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.amw.com/fugitives/capture.cfm?id=72527 |title=Fugitives | Clabon Berniard | Capture |publisher=AMW |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026023603/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/capture.cfm?id=72527 |archive-date=2012-10-26}} The Sanders ring was later retrieved at a San Francisco pawn shop.{{cite news |url=http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-050410-suspects,0,4074437.story?track=rss |title=Suspected Shooter In Craigslist Home Invasion Murder Identified - KCPQ |publisher=Q13fox.com |date=2010-05-11 |access-date=2012-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303203556/http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-050410-suspects%2C0%2C4074437.story?track=rss |archive-date=2012-03-03}}
The four suspects were thought to be involved with a robbery after answering another Craigslist advertisement.{{cite web|url=http://komonews.com/news/local/police-killers-wanted-in-second-craigslist-home-invasion-11-21-2015 |title=Police: Killers wanted in second Craigslist home invasion |publisher=KOMO News |date=2010-04-29 |access-date=2016-07-20}} Knight was seen on video allegedly pawning items obtained during a Craigslist robbery in Lake Stevens, Washington.{{cite web|url=http://komonews.com/news/local/video-shows-craigslist-murder-suspect-in-action |title=Video shows Craigslist murder suspect in action |publisher=KOMO News |date=2010-05-07 |access-date=2016-07-20}}
Aftermath
=Family=
The wife of Sanders gave several interviews to the news media. She said that she "forgave" the arrested suspects.[https://news.yahoo.com/video/seattleking5-15751314/widow-of-murder-victim-forgives-his-killers-19633290 Widow of Murder Victim Forgives His Killers]{{dead link|date=November 2012}} Higashi's father attended the funeral and expressed regret{{cite web|url=http://www.kontain.com/southernhusky/entries/83505/ |title=Hundreds Attend Memorial For Craigslist Murder Victim in Southernhusky's Kontainer |publisher=Kontain |access-date=2012-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713164344/http://www.kontain.com/southernhusky/entries/83505/|archive-date=July 13, 2011}} as well as noting that his son will probably spend the rest of his life in prison.{{cite web|url=http://komonews.com/news/local/2-million-bail-for-craigslist-murder-suspects|title=$2 million bail for Craigslist murder suspects|publisher=KOMO News|date=May 10, 2010|access-date=2016-07-20}}
=Craigslist=
Subsequent to the killing, Craigslist posted additional warnings to their website. Craigslist-related murders have received much publicity with the media warning of the dangers of contact after online encounters.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/craigslist-diamond-murder-protect/story?id=10568167 |title=Craigslist Diamond Murder: How to Protect Yourself - ABC News |publisher=ABC News |date=2010-05-06 |access-date=2012-11-11}} Craigslist-associated killings have occurred in Boston{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/galleries/the_craigslist_murder_of_julissa_brisman/the_craigslist_murder_of_julissa_brisman.html |location=New York |work=Daily News |title=The 'Craigslist Murder' of Julissa Brisman |date=April 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919122621/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/galleries/the_craigslist_murder_of_julissa_brisman/the_craigslist_murder_of_julissa_brisman.html |archive-date=September 19, 2009}} and Minnesota.[http://wcco.com/local/katherine.ann.olson.2.461959.html Man, 19, Charged In Craigslist Murder Case] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509152137/http://wcco.com/local/katherine.ann.olson.2.461959.html |date=May 9, 2010 }}
=Suspects and trial=
The four suspects were held on $2 million bail.
In 2011, all four were convicted of numerous crimes, including first-degree murder, and received sentences of 71 to 124 years in prison.{{citation|title=Clabon Berniard sentenced to 124 years for Craigslist murder, three others convicted in the case received sentences of between 71 and 124 years |publisher=KCPQ television news |url=http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-craigslist-murder-suspect-clabon-berniard-verdict-20110829,0,941520.story |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907152616/http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-craigslist-murder-suspect-clabon-berniard-verdict-20110829,0,941520.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |date=September 9, 2011}}
References
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Category:2010 in Washington (state)
Category:2010 murders in the United States
Category:April 2010 crimes in the United States