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Subscribe to RSSOAK BEACH, N.Y. -- Police searching a Long Island marsh near where a New Jersey escort vanished last year found new items Tuesday, including clothing, that could provide clues in the case, law-enforcement sources tell NBC New York.
Divers found the items in knee-deep water in the marsh in Oak Beach, sources said. The Suffolk County Police Department said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that no remains were found. But a law enforcement source tells NBC New York that remains were uncovered in the search.
The new search, which was not officially announced by police like the previous ones, appears to be the first time authorities have searched this particular area in recent months.
Read the original story from NBCNewYork.com
"This was not the result of a new tip," Suffolk County police inspector Stuart Cameron said at the press conference. "This was just a result of us wanting to re-search an area within which [missing escort Shannan Gilbert] was last seen."
"Today's conditions are more favorable than when we searched it in the past, because some of the areas were not under water today as they were in the past," he continued.
But neighbors wondered what prompted such a heavy police presence.
"They came in for 'a look,'" said one area resident. "But they came in with more than 14 vehicles, so they came in for more than just a look."
Gilbert was last seen running from a home in Oak Beach in May 2010. Gilbert's disappearance prompted a search of the nearby Gilgo beach area that ultimately resulted in the findings of at least 10 sets of remains.
Police have said they do not believe Gilbert's disappearance was connected to the other victims' cases.
In Tuesday's search, Suffolk police closed an access road to the Oak Beach gated community where Gilbert is believed to have visited a client the night she vanished.
Police had at least five canine units with them, sources tell NBC New York. Crime scene units and a dive team were also at the location.
Police would not confirm or deny whether they uncovered any additional potential evidence.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer appeared briefly at the search site but then left.
Several homes are located in the vicinity of the swamp, including one owned by Peter Hackett, the doctor whose house was searched earlier this year in connection with Gilbert's disappearance. He was never named a suspect.
Joseph Brewer, the client police believe Gilbert drove to Oak Beach to meet, had been previously interviewed by detectives. He voluntarily surrendered his SUV and cooperated with a polygraph test. Brewer was never identified as a suspect in Gilbert's disappearance.
Mari Gilbert, Shannan's mother, told NBC New York she was unaware of any search being conducted Tuesday.
Police conducted a separate search near Gilgo Beach Monday, but said they did not uncover any new evidence related to either case.
Police said last week they believe one person is responsible for the deaths of the 10 victims discovered in the underbrush between December 2010 and April of this year.
All 10 victims, only five of whom have been identified, appeared to have connections to the sex trade.
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Why were the authors afraid to use the word prostitute? Why do they use the word escort and then finish the article talking about the sex trade. Why do we always have to be PC and soften the reality. These women were humans and were not less so because they were prostitutes but can't we speak frankly anymore in this country?
I have no respect for the politically correct. However, there is a difference between an escort and a prostitute. The former does not always engage in sexual activity, while the latter, by definition, does. In the end, if we are going to attach the label of prostitute to everyone, we might as well just attach it to strippers, super models, and well, anyone that has a job, for the person employed by someone else is arguably selling themselves in some form or another in exchange for money.
That said, I agree that these victims are no less than anyone else, and should be treated with the same respect as any other murder victim.
but can't we speak frankly anymore in this country?
No Beth, apparently we cannot. I, for one, am so sick and tired of all this political correctness I could scream. You can't say or do anything anymore that doesn't offend somebody somewhere. Yet for some reason we feel compelled to try and accomodate everybodies sensibilities, and that simply is not possible. You would think that at some point common sense would prevail.
SI
WTF? after watching a 2 hour prime time special + following this story for the last quarter, etc. It appears the Suffolk police have not a clue as to which way to turn. I'd like to assume that perhaps some additional resources, at a state & national level are being utilized at this point. Are they? These bodies go back over a decade. If they don't have enough evidence (sic) to focus their investigation perhaps they should "search" above and below tide with a fine tooth comb. If the Suffolk police are still pulling up evidence on new follow up searches "at knee level in the water", one would assume they also put on tanks and went further into the surf? A decade of storms, surf and tides move a lot of "items". Best wishes to law enforcement. Save some lives, work your asses off NOW! You're already at least a decade behind...
The victims' bodies were only discovered beginning last December, so unless the killer puts his/her confession on a billboard, this is still a relatively new investigation and there is a due process. I'm going to assume the investigators aren't divulging all that they know, including why they suddenly stormed this particular area and searched, what evidence they have collected, what it means and where it points to. If my memory serves me well, I believe the Suffolk County police do have help from other agencies, including the FBI. I hope all available resources are being used. I wonder if the killer has moved on now that at least some of his/her victims' have been discovered? Or maybe just laying low to avoid drawing attention or possibly found another dumpsite for other victims...
Agreed Ezee,
What were they doing when they initially searched the area? Thought that was over and done with.
at least 10 humans have been murdered and people, commenting are worried about PC wording?
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor, Lamar Smith,
John Conyers, Amy Klobuchar, obama and many more Republicans and democrats are crooks
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especially those senators who have been there over two terms and Representatives
over three terms. look at what they have done to us over the last 20 or 30 years.
they are taken our rights away freedom away. why and how did they get so rich?????
most of congress are the 1%. we need new faces and thoughts in our congress.
google how did my congressman vote
semper fi
Republicans & democrats
politicians = scumbags
VOTE OR RECALL THEM NOW
google Americans Elect
semper fi