SELMER, Tenn. — A high-profile Craigslist murder has a rural Tennessee community feeling on edge, and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office taking a step to keep people safe.
Sheriff Guy Buck is getting the word out for people to use the agency’s parking lot for Craigslist transactions.
“This day and time, you don’t know who you’re going to meet,” Adam Wallis said.
Wallis knows anyone could be sitting in front of a keyboard, and meeting in person could be potentially dangerous.
“Most of the time it’s just a robbery. Somebody will take the money, and they’ll leave,” Sheriff Buck told WREG.
A Georgia Couple was lured to a meeting by a bogus Craigslist post and murdered last week, according to police.
Sheriff Buck said he received calls from people wanting a safe place to meet for Craigslist sales, so he opened up the Justice Complex’s parking lot and reminded people it’s a safe public place.
“If you’re on our property here, you can pretty much rest assure you are being recorded,” Sheriff Buck said.
The sheriff said the building is staffed around the clock and makes it easier for law enforcement to respond.
“If they have somebody that they’re meeting that they are nervous about, they are more than welcome to come in and make contact with us to let us know that they’ll be here,” Sheriff Buck said.
Sheriff Buck told WREG his eyes were on Craigslist and about 30 other bartering sites that originated in McNairy County.
People said the accommodations help ease their minds.
“It would be something that I’d be more comfortable with,” Wallis said.