16 hours 7 min 34 sec ago Report: Markoff gambled after alleged attacks Play video

(NECN: Scot Yount, Boston, Mass.) - Philip Markoff grew up wanting for little. Tidy homes on tidy streets here in the silver city of, Sherrill, New York.

His father Richard is a well-established dentist and Philip was studying at Boston University to be a doctor.

Pictures of Markoff as a young man, and accounts from his teachers paint a Norman Rockwell-esque portrait of the all American boy.

"Philip was in my first grade class he loved math and science and his handwriting was a little bad but otherwise he was a wonderful kid."

But police believe that wonderful kid made a wrong turn, a turn that led him to a secret life, and ultimately murder.

In a yearbook as a very young man he writes; "I bequeath my poker playing skills to Andy Finley so he wont lose his dad's house."

But despite that, his teachers and friends never saw anything untoward in Philip Markoff.

"In honors English class he was a bright student he was friendly and polite he was like a teacher's pet."

Still ABC News is reporting that Markoff had been frequenting Foxwoods casino. He was apprehended on his way there. Reportedly he gambled there two nights after Julissa Brisman was killed in a Boston Marriot Hotel leaving the casino with 5300 dollars in winnings.

Foxwoods says that it does not release information about its patrons, but says they are co-operating with authorities.

Now charged with murder and robbery-Markoff is in jail with no chance

"Part of his ability to commit these crimes with moral impunity is the nature of the victims" Criminologist Jamie Fox of Northeastern University believes that some people find it simply easier to prey on people they believe are beneath them, women who work alone in hotels with men that they meet on Craigslist.

"These were sex workers, masseuses and exotic dancers and to the perpetrator they just aren't at the same level as the rest of us. They are appropriate victims they're worthy victims."