A 23-year-old medical student in Massachusetts who has been arrested in connection with a murder and attacks on women he reportedly met through Craigslist has some tribal casino connections.

Philip Markoff grew up in upstate New York, in Oneida Nation territory. His mother worked at the gift shop at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, where he may have gambled, according to high school friends.

Markoff lived in Sherrill, the town that took a land-into-trust case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The tribe has been buying up land within its reservation.

Authorities arrested Markoff while he was on his way to the Foxwoods Resort Casino is Connecticut. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation says it is cooperating with authorities to determine whether gambling debts were a motive in the murder and attacks.

"We do not release information publicly concerning individual patrons; however, we are aware of this situation and are cooperating with the appropriate law enforcement authorities," the tribe said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press.

Get the Story:
Behind 'perfect life,' a darker side (The Boston Globe 4/22)
Sherrill classmate, teacher: He was smart, polite (The Syracuse Post-Standard 4/22)
Casino cooperating in Craigslist suspect probe (AP 4/22)
Alleged 'Craigslist killer' was heading to Foxwoods with fiancée (The Boston Globe 4/22)