The Craigslist Murder That Shook Minnesota . In 2007, a chilling and senseless crime shocked Minnesota and the rest of the nation. Nineteen-year-old Michael Anderson, an otherwise unremarkable young man from the quiet suburb of Savage, committed a murder that left investigators and the public alike grasping for answers. His motive? He was, in his own words, “bored” and “curious about what it felt like.”
Anderson used Craigslist—a popular online classified site at the time—to lure a stranger into his home. He posted an ad offering companionship or conversation, eventually arranging to meet 24-year-old Daniel Ott, who answered the post in good faith. What happened next was both brutal and deeply disturbing. After inviting Ott into his house, Anderson attacked and killed him with a sword. There was no fight, no provocation—just cold, calculated violence.
When questioned by police, Anderson’s confession was as unsettling as the crime itself. He openly admitted that he had planned the act simply because he had nothing else to do. He wanted to know what it would feel like to kill someone. There was no personal vendetta, no emotional trigger—just a horrifying curiosity that escalated into real-world consequences.
This case stands out not just because of its brutality, but because of its utter lack of rational motive. The randomness of the act deeply unsettled the public, raising uncomfortable questions about mental health, online safety, and the dangers lurking beneath seemingly ordinary lives. It also prompted discussions about how unmonitored platforms like Craigslist could be misused by individuals with dark intentions.
Anderson was ultimately arrested, charged, and convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The murder of Daniel Ott remains a tragic example of how quickly senseless violence can erupt from the most unlikely circumstances.
To this day, the case is cited in discussions of internet safety, impulsive crime, and the psychology behind thrill killings—acts committed not out of hatred, but from a disturbing fascination with violence itself. The Craigslist Murder That Shook Minnesota
