(Image source:  ABC News Radio Online )

 

BY ANTHONY MARTINEZ

 

First, the Craigslist murders had a lasting scare for advertisers. Now, adult escort ads on Backpage.com have been linked to the death of four women in Detroit. CNN explains…

“Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee says three of the victims had posted escort ads on backpage.com....The first two victims, Demesha Hunt and Renisha Landers were found in a car at this abandoned house on December 19th. Two more bodies were found Christmas morning, burned beyond recognition."

Only three of the four victims had personal profiles on Backpage. But it’s now believed that Backpage wasn’t the only ad site involved. The Republic reports...

The company said it gave police information about 70 postings or ads on 22 other sites. The website said it identified the other sites in response to public requests.

With Craigslist out of the picture, Backpage is now the leading website with escort ads. Advanced Interactive Media Group estimates the ads are worth more than $20 million to the site. The Christian Science Monitor points out -- it’s within Backpage’s legal rights to keep that business.

“Websites like Backpage.com are protected under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act of 1996 ... That act protects online operators from criminal wrongdoing even if the advertising they host promotes prostitution or other illegal acts, such as advertising under which housing discrimination is present. ”

But as allegations of prostitution and human trafficking through the site grow, dozens of attorneys general have asked Backpage to remove its adult ads. Still, a Backpage attorney told the Detroit Free Press -- the site isn’t the problem.

“Backpage.com would not disclose how much money it makes from escort ads … The company did, however, stress it has the legal right to sell the ads. ‘We just disagree with the notion that the Internet is the problem here. If you want to prevent street crime, do you close the streets? The Internet isn't the problem -- the criminals are,’ said Backpage attorney Steve Suskin.”

As of Friday afternoon, police haven’t identified a suspect or specifically linked Backpage to the murders.