John Katehis
Encyclopedia
John Katehis is an American
student who was convicted in 2011 of murder
ing George Weber, a popular radio
reporter in March 2009. Because Katehis met Weber through Craigslist
, a popular classified advertising
website
, the media dubbed him a Craigslist killer
, a generic term for murderers who find victims by placing or responding to ads in Craigslist.
in New York City
, KGO
in San Francisco, and KTLK and KMPC
in Los Angeles
.
and the Church of Satan
and also claimed to be a sadomasochist. He told police that he had responded to his victim's advertisement on Craigslist for "rough sex," but stabbed Weber in self-defense after Weber tried to stab him. Weber's body was found bound and he had been stabbed 50 times. In March, 2009, Katehis was dubbed a "Craigslist Killer" by the media.
Following a mistrial, Katehis was retried and convicted in November 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
student who was convicted in 2011 of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ing George Weber, a popular radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
reporter in March 2009. Because Katehis met Weber through Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
, a popular classified advertising
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
, the media dubbed him a Craigslist killer
Craigslist Killer
Craigslist Killer is a name given by the media to individuals who were accused of murdering their victims after meeting the victims through Craigslist, a popular classified advertising website...
, a generic term for murderers who find victims by placing or responding to ads in Craigslist.
Arrest for murder
On March 25, 2009, police arrested 16-year-old John Katehis of Queens, New York for the murder of the former radio reporter George Weber. Weber, 47 years old, was a well-known radio voice; during an extended career, he had worked as an on-air reporter for WABCWABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, KGO
KGO (AM)
KGO is a news/talk-format radio station radio with offices and studios in San Francisco, California. Unlike most other American news/talk stations, KGO originates nearly all of its own programming locally. Since 1978, KGO radio has received Arbitron's number-one ranking in the Bay Area...
in San Francisco, and KTLK and KMPC
KMPC
KMPC is a radio station based in Los Angeles, California and is owned by P&Y Broadcasting Licensee, LLC. Radio Korea is a division of the Radio Korea Media Group. The station airs Korean-language programming...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Confession
Katehis confessed to the crime when apprehended. He said that he was a Satanist allied with the teachings on Anton LaveyAnton LaVey
Anton Szandor LaVey , born Howard Stanton Levey, was the founder of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, and musician...
and the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
and also claimed to be a sadomasochist. He told police that he had responded to his victim's advertisement on Craigslist for "rough sex," but stabbed Weber in self-defense after Weber tried to stab him. Weber's body was found bound and he had been stabbed 50 times. In March, 2009, Katehis was dubbed a "Craigslist Killer" by the media.
Mistrial, retail, and conviction
On March 26, 2009, and despite his original confession a day earlier, Katehis pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and weapons possession. He was held without bail. His lawyer has told reporters that although the pair originally met through Craigslist, they had an ongoing relationship.Following a mistrial, Katehis was retried and convicted in November 2011.