R.I.P.

In a shocking conclusion to an already tragic story, the man known as the Craigslist Killer committed suicide in a Boston jail, according to authorities.

Philip Markoff, a former medical student who was accused of killing a masseuse he met through Craigslist, was found unresponsive in his cell Sunday.

He was pronounced dead at about 10:15 a.m.

The death is still being investigated, but Markoff was alone in his jail cell. Evidence indicates he took his own life, according to a statement by both Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Suffolk County D.A. Daniel F. Conley.

Philip Markoff was found suffocated with a plastic bag over his head.

In June, Markoff pleaded not guilty to charges that in April he lured masseuse Julissa Brisman to a Boston hotel, then bound, beat and fatally shot her.

His attorney, John Salsberg, said Sunday, "I'm shocked and saddened by the news" of Markoff's death. The accused criminal was only 24 years old.

Back in April, Markoff was placed on suicide watch after officials expressed concern that this exact scenario would happen. Sadly, it appears it did.

From Levi Johnston running for Mayor of Wasilla to Sarah Palin being put in her place in Homer, we've covered more Alaska political stories today than you'd expect. Sadly, our third article is tragic: Former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens has died.

The 86-year-old political legend and eight others were aboard an aircraft that crashed in southern Alaska last night. Five others are also believed killed.

"The family has been notified that Senator Stevens did not survive the crash," family spokesman Mitch Rose said in response to the tragedy Tuesday.

The flight apparently was hampered by rainy and foggy weather in an area of mountains and lakes north of Bristol Bay, according to news reports.

Stevens was the longest-serving Republican senator ever until he lost his bid for a seventh term in 2008 after he was found guilty of corruption.

R.I.P. Ted Stevens (1923-2010).

The case was later dismissed on account of prosecutorial misconduct, but only after the votes had been tallied. Affectionately referred to as "Uncle Ted" by his constituents, the influential politico was equally known for his volatile temper.

His corruption trial was primarily sparked by his championing of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere," a $400-million pork transportation project designed to connect two remote Alaskan islands - and which Palin notably renounced.

Stevens' first wife, Ann, died in a plane crash in 1978 at Anchorage International Airport, later renamed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Remarrying in 1980, the Alaskan is survived by his second wife, Catherine, and their daughter, Lily. Three sons – Ben, Walter and Ted – and two daughters – Susan and Beth – survive from his first marriage. May he rest in peace.

Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal, whose life was marred by both success and tragedy, has died at the age of 84 of cancer, according to media reports.

Neal won an Academy Award for her role in the 1963 film Hud alongside Paul Newman and boasted a long list of stage, film and TV credits over decades.

She once had an affair with actor Gary Cooper with whom she starred in The Fountainhead and Bright Leaf but it ended in disaster after his wife found out.

She was married to the British writer Roald Dahl for 30 years with whom she had five children. Their son suffered severe injuries after being hit by a taxi when he just four months old and their oldest child, daughter Olivia, died from the measles.

R.I.P. Patricia Neal (1926-2010).

Many years later, Neal's marriage to Dahl ended after 30 years in 1983 after the writer had an affair with one of her friends and she moved from England to the United States where she split her time between New York and Martha's Vineyard.

When Neal was pregnant with their fifth child in 1965 she suffered three massive strokes and was in a coma for three weeks, but eventually recovered.

"I think I was born stubborn, that's all," Neal said in a biography on the website of the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center that was dedicated in her honor in 1978 by the Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Among her memorable performances are those in in 1950's A Face in the Crowd, 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still, and 1960's Breakfast at Tiffany's.

More recently, she appeared with Glenn Close in Cookie's Fortune in 1999 and was featured in Lifetime's movie Flying By with Billy Ray Cyrus in 2009.

George Steinbrenner, who bought a declining New York Yankees team in 1973 and left an indelible mark on sports' most storied franchise, has passed away.

A heart attack is believed to be the cause. He was 80.

In an often tumultuous reign, in which he promised to stay out of the team's daily affairs but often did not, the Bronx Bombers won seven of their 27 titles.

Just as impressively, he build the franchise into a global powerhouse valued at over $1 billion. Having retired to Tampa, Fla., he turned 80 this past July 4.

A rep for the family said in a statement:

"It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing. He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80."

George Steinbrenner, left, with former N.Y. City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"He was an incredible and charitable man. Funeral arrangements will be private. There will be an additional public service with details to be announced."

Steinbrenner’s death comes nine months after the Yankees won their first World Series title since 2000, beating the Phillies at the new Yankee Stadium.

The magnate, whose infamous, blustering ways lessened considerably in recent years, had been in failing health since 2006, rarely appearing in public.

Introduced at the inaugural game of the new stadium he constructed in April 2009, he received an ovation, at which point shoulders shook and he cried.

Rest in peace, George.

Jimmy Dean, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame turned sausage proprietor, died at his home in Varina, Va., last night, police said. He was 81.

Dean was with his wife Donna at the time of his death, which appears to be from natural causes, according to the Henrico County Police department.

Musically, Dean is best known for his song "Big Bad John," which made it to No. 1 on both the country and pop charts in 1961 and won him a Grammy.

He also had numerous other hits. Starting in 1963, he hosted a successful variety show on ABC called The Jimmy Dean Show, which ran three years.

In the late 1960s Dean also appeared regularly on the NBC series Daniel Boone. He played Boone's pal Josh Clements. But the best was still to come.

R.I.P. Jimmy Dean (1928-2010).

At that time, Dean started the Jimmy Dean Meat Company, which he sold to Sara Lee Foods in 1984, but remained its chairman and TV spokesman.

Those are some good sausages.

Dean was born Seth Ward in Olton, Tx., on August 10, 1928. His mom taught him piano at age 10. He also learned guitar, harmonica, and accordion.

After a 1948 discharge from the Air Force he and a band, Texas Wildcats, played in the D.C. area. This year, he made the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"We played every dive in Washington at one time or another," Dean said in his biography on the Hall of Fame website. "And dives is what they were."

Another one of TV's Golden Girls is gone. Rue McClanahan has died at the age of 76.

She passed away at 1 a.m. this morning after suffering a stroke. She will be missed.

McClanahan, who played man-happy Blanche Devereaux on the still-popular '80s sitcom, suffered a minor stroke this year recovering from bypass surgery.

Today, McClanahan “had her family with her. She went in peace,” her manager said.

Golden Girls ran from 1985-1992. Last year, McClanahan's co-star, Bea Arthur died from cancer. Estelle Getty died in 2008, while the lone surviving star, Betty White, is currently enjoying a remarkable resurgence in her career at age 88.

R.I.P. Rue McClanahan (1934-2010).

Born in Healdton, Okla., Rue lived in six towns by the time she was 8. Her father was a builder who moved from one project to another. She found solace in acting.

After four years at the University of Tulsa, McClanahan moved to New York, where she worked as a part-time file clerk while trying to find jobs in the theater.

Her first job was off Broadway, in 1957, and she finally hit Broadway in 1969. TV work came after, but it wasn't until Golden Girls that she truly found fame.

She was married six times, including to actor Morrow Wilson, whom she wed in 1997 and who survives her, as does a son, Mark Bish, from her first marriage.

Tragedy has struck the family of veteran journalist Ted Koppel.

The broadcaster's 40-year old son, Andrew Koppel, was found dead early this morning in New York City.

An attorney for the city Housing Authority, Andrew was discovered in a Washington Heights apartment, where he was brought earlier in the evening by Russell Wimberly, a waiter he had met at a Hell's Kitchen bar on Monday afternoon.

Koppel "was just really messed up when he came in. He was very drunk," Belinda Caban, a resident of the apartment building, told The New York Post.

Caban said she and Wimberly called 911 after they found Andrew Koppel had urinated and defecated in the bed he passed out in. Medical personal announced him dead at the scene.

According to Wimberly, Andrew started his drinking binge around noon at Smith's Bar & Restaurant at 44th Street and Ninth Avenue. That's where the pair met, drinking whiskey and making small talk before moving from bar-to-bar.

"There was a lot of alcohol. He didn't take anything else [drugs] around me, and neither of us ate all day," Wimberly told the newspaper. "We talked about our kids... He said he had a kid and loved [her] a lot."

Andrew lived with his girlfriend and their daughter.

He was the third youngest of Ted Koppel's four children with wife Grace Anne. The Nightline host is yet to comment on the incident and our thoughts go out to his family.

First, Gary Coleman. Now, Dennis Hopper.

A day after the former sitcom star passed away, this veteran actor lost his battle with cancer. He was 74.

Hopper died early Saturday morning at his house Venice, California, surrounded by family and friends. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2009.

The two-time Oscar nominee starred in such classic films as Easy Rider, Hoosiers, Speed and Apocalypse Now. Sadly, his personal life overshadowed his professional life during his last few months alive.

Earlier this spring, Hopper's fifth wife, Victoria, was accused of trying to have the actor killed.

Our thoughts go out to his loved ones.

Former child star and actor Gary Coleman of Diff'rent Strokes fame has died. He was 42. He was taken off life support earlier today and passed away.

The diminutive Coleman passed away at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo after suffering a brain hemorrhage and losing consciousness.

A resident of Santaquin, Utah, Coleman had been hospitalized Wednesday and lost consciousness the next day. He was on life support until this afternoon.

Born with failed kidneys, Coleman had undergone two transplants by age 14 and his growth was permanently stunted by the side effects of dialysis.

The precocious, chubby-cheeked Coleman was just 10 when Diff'rent Strokes debuted on NBC in 1978. The popular show lasted for eight seasons.

R.I.P. Gary Coleman (1968-2010).

The scene-stealing Gary quickly became a pop-culture icon, whose recurring line "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase.

At the height of his TV series success, Coleman reportedly earned $64,000 per week and is said to have made some $18 million during his heyday.

His acting career as an adult fell far short of his glory days, however, with only occasional guest appearances and small roles in films and TV movies.

Coleman has had encounters with the law in recent years, including just this February, when he accepted a plea deal on domestic violence charges.

That stemmed from an incident with wife Shannon Price, who took him off life support today. Gary's health problems also escalated in recent years.

Hopefully he is now at peace. Our condolences to Gary Coleman's family, friends and fans in this difficult time. He will be remembered and missed.

Slipknot bassist Paul Gray has died. He was only 38. His death follows fellow metal pioneers Ronnie James Dio and Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele.

Gray was found dead Monday in a suburban Iowa hotel room. The cause of death has not been reported, but the loss already sent fans and artists reeling.

Slipknot's most recent studio album, All Hope Is Gone, was released in 2008. The album was mixed by legendary English metal producer Colin Richardson.

Richardson's rep said this in a statement: "[Colin] is a true fan to the core and sends his love and condolences to everyone in Slipknot and their camp."

"I'm so crushed to hear about the passing of Paul Gray," Shadows Fall singer Brian Fair told MTV News. "I had the pleasure of first getting to know him on a press trip to New York City before our tour with Slipknot and Lamb of God in 2005."

R.I.P. Paul Gray (1972-2010).

"I had the pleasure of sharing stages with him around the world. A great musician, an underrated songwriter and a truly warm soul underneath the evil mask he rocked onstage, this is a huge loss to the metal world. He will be missed deeply."

Another band Richardson has worked with, legendary thrashers Sepultura, took to the Internet. "RIP Paul Gray, we're shocked and very sad," current members Paulo Pinto Jr., Andreas Kisser, Derrick Green and Jean Dolabella said in a joint statement.

The boys in Nonpoint were on Ozzfest with Slipknot back in 2001.

"I am deeply saddened to hear and read about the death of Paul Gray," drummer Rob Rivera said. "To all in Slipknot and in Paul's family, Nonpoint send all our love, condolences and prayers. You will be missed by all your friends and fans."

"Rest In Peace my metal brother."