News 12 at 6 o'clock; April 23, 2009

AIKEN, S.C. --- A woman at her vacation home in Aiken, with her mom, is at the center of the national Craigslist killer story. She claims to be a college friend of the killer and was attacked by the killer.

Morgan Houston was calm today as News 12, along with national media, sat outside her home hoping for her to talk. She did not go on camera with any of us as of the evening newscasts, but she did talk to News 12's Gene Petriello at length off camera today.

She told us she is here in Aiken with her mom at their vacation home til the end of May. She is supposed to be studying for medical school exams, but instead, today was trying to focus on her article with The Daily News, a newspaper out of New York City.

In that article, she told reporters she was a friend of Philip Markoff, the man who is now accused of killing a masseuse he met on Craigslist. She says, four years ago, after some drinks, she was pushed against a wall and Markoff tried to kiss her. She told the paper the two remained friends and she even wrote on Markoff's Facebook wall last month congratulating him on his recent engagement.

Back to the vacation home in Aiken on Thursday, Morgan told us she could not talk to us because she is under contract not to talk to any media. Her agent, who News 12's Gene Petriello talked with several times, says Morgan can not talk to any media until Saturday.

Along with News 12, was ABC's Good Morning America and NBC News media members. All three morning shows (CBS' Early Show included) were trying to work out a deal to get Houston on their Friday Morning Shows.

We'll continue to follow this story as it develops nationally right here in Aiken, SC.