Police have identified the remains found on Monday in a Long Island marsh as those of Shannan Gilbert, a New Jersey woman who went missing in May 2010.
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The set of skeletal remains were found in the oceanfront marsh where police believed Gilbert, a prostitute, got lost and drowned in the middle of the night after fleeing a client's home in a nearby gated community.
Complete coverage from NBCNewYork.com
The remains were discovered about one-fourth of a mile from where several of Gilbert's belongings were located two weeks ago.
Police believed that the location of her belongings in relation to the remains indicate she may have been trying to run towards the lights on Ocean Parkway, a nearby road, but could not find her way out of the marsh.
The search for Gilbert more than a year ago led to police finding the bodies of several others in the deserted beachfront, who they believe to be sex workers like Gilbert.
Suffolk County police have said they believe a single serial killer is responsible for the 10 victims, but theorize that Gilbert drowned and was not slain by the killer.
Suffolk County DA Thomas Spota, though, said Thursday that he disputes the theory that only one person is involved in the death of the 10 victims.
He insisted there is no evidence all the victims are associated with the "sex trade," as the police commissioner has suggested. The Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad is continuing the investigation.
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One killer or more than one killer. . . . bodies found in the same area. . . . gated community nearby . . . . interesting.
Could it have been this person's associates or affiliations that prevents authorities from further making public their known facts or suspicions?
This is the second time they put this article up. But why did she "flee" from her customers house?
BDSM or for short, leather.
because he was going to kill her like he did to the ten other victims. I guess the police need more evidences to fry his butt.
i ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE YOU! I saw a documentary on 48 hours about her and these other unfortunate murders and the guy that she was with wouldn't even get near the reporter and ran in his home like a lil' b@tch!!! If he didn't do these murders, he definately knows something!!! Ihope the families get justice and they fry his a55!!!
the guy did run in and away from the reporters but i think it was more because he was ashamed that he was being aired on national TV as a "john" and in connection to the other murders. He was cleared of any foul play after lengthy interrogations and polygraph, NOT SAYING HE IS INNOCENT....just saying maybe another reason he was running from reporters......
You could be right also, but it was just the way he did it that just screams guilty!!! Keep me posted and i'll do the same.
The fleeing fellow probably was a "john." But I would have fled as well because, in the media, one can be accused, circumstantially tried, and convicted before one is given the opportunity to state one is innocent.
They do this to draw out new information. It also means the case is pretty cold or dead and they need help. So the police draw help like this after a national broadcast. Right now our posts are being scanned for information. So all you crazy folks please don't post your normal crap. Then again on second thought, maybe you should so they will come knocking on your front door.
@ Master Bob
Don't lump those of us in the realm in with some sick killer. BDSM is NOT what Hollywood would have you believe. Sure there are some who are out there but then there are a lot of people in the vanilla world who are out there as well. BDSM is a lifestyle about trust and commitment, control and discipline, dominance and submission, pleasure and pain, not about killing people. Don't make stereotyping comments about something you apparently know nothing about. Enlighten yourself, watch "Secretary" some time, it might open your eyes a little. (Very good movie, Maggie Gyllenhall and James Spader)
sounds like maybe bdsm i think as well... she had agreed to something she wasnt ready for, and lost it... took off. might have been doing drugs as well, find out when they do from toxicology you would think? best part about the guy who was her client... he might have had the whole session on tape, lol. can see him pointing it out on the tape to the cops now....
"see right there, session is going fine, im whipping the living sh!t out of her like she said i could, and for no reason flips out, hauls a$$ out the door naked with one hand still tied to her ankle going like the devil himself was after her, didnt even take the time to pull the ball out of her mouth to say good bye or anything... never saw her since...." just put the toys away after burning off some fustrations, and called it a night. " sarcasm"
Where the h3ll in the article was anything whatsoever mentioned that would in any way indicate any involvement in or with BDSM? Why do people feel the need to make wild a$$, baseless, stupid speculations about things they have absolutely no clue about? You people are worse than some old ladies sewing circle spreading ignorant rumors that you have pulled out of your a$$. This case, what little we do actually know about it has no signs or indications of a connection to the BDSM realm. Do you feel the need to make the same stupid comments about those who lead other alternative lifestyles? After all, everyone is always so eager to jump to defend the lifestyle choices of those in the gay and lesbian realm and it is less "normal" than the BDSM world, yet we have laws protecting those lifestyle choices. Grow up and stop acting like jr.high students with the need to embellish every story no matter how stupid the lies you tell sound. I've said it before, I'll say it again, 'If you don't know what you're talking about, STFU!'
What a sad and terrifying end to a life. I'm glad they found her remains, hopefully she can rest in peace. Poor woman.
Blessings to that young woman--prayers sent up tonight for her and others who may have had the same fate!
Working in the worlds oldest profession is still dangerous!
Some things never change. It's a clandestine business that garners little respect. I seriously doubt that anyone grows up with the expectations of entering the sex trade as a career move. I'd venture to say that most - male or female - find themselves in varying degrees of desperation for what ever reason and wind up selling their precious bodies for $$$. No doubt there are some lured by the temptation of what some may view as easy money. What ever circumstances brings a person to this place in their life, they are still human beings. They are family, friend or a loved one to some one. They don't deserve to die at the time of some monster's choosing, abandoned like trash. If these women were of some "importance", would the efforts to find the killer(s) get stepped up a bit???
Another dead Whore what a shame...
dano--
Looks like the best part of you was left at the hospital....You're mean!!
dano - what a shame you cannot keep your nasty remarks to yourself! creep!
". . . . fleeing a client's home in a nearby gated community. . . remains discovered about 1/4 mile from where several of the woman's belongings were located two weels ago. . . police believe the location of the belongings in relation to the remains indicate that Ms. Gilbert may have been running towards the lights on Ocean Parkway, . . . but could not find her way out of the marsh." SO, WHY and FROM WHOM was she FLEEING - ON FOOT? HOW did she get to that GATED COMMUNITY? Certainly, she did not WALK THERE!!! Just because she was a "sex worker" should not mean that her death should be so casually dismissed as an accidental drowning! Something is not adding up here. Gilbert's death is more likely to be the last by the serial killer(s) who was/were discarding bodies in the "deserted beachfront" area, but stopped when police attention was drawn to the area in the search for Gilbert more than a year ago. Police may have "cleared the case" by calling this an accidental drowning unrelated to the bodies of other victims found in the same area, but there are still far too many unanswered questions! Sex worker or not, she was still a human being and she deserves better than this.
Marie,
I watched a special on this a couple of weeks ago, not sure when they recorded it but they were pretty sure then her "disapperance" was 1. because she got lost and died in the cold or 2. the serial killer found her out there and took her. The house she had gone to was a man that was cleared of any wrong doing. She was working with an agency and had a driver, after working together for some time her and her driver decided to break free from the agency and split the money between each other and cut out the middle man. Her diver was waiting outside in his car and stated after an hour or so (i believe) the "john" called him and told him to come get her out of his house, her driver went in and said she was standing there crying telling them both they were trying to kill her, then she took off out the door, he said he chased her calling her name and she kept running from him (he thought she may have taken some x or acid) She knocked on a mans door and told him they were trying to kill her and she started running again, her driver saw her come from that house and the man ran after her and spoke to her driver and said he was going to call the police.....her driver said not to that he would get her calmed and it would be ok (he was afraid to get police involved because of the prostitution circumstance, he never thought in a million years he would not find her he said), then drove off after her. Her driver said he drove all over looking for her and never saw her again. They were (he claimed) very good friends. The police were called out when he could not find her and they hammered the "john" and the driver. They both were cleared of any foul play after lengthy interrogations and both passed a polygraph test. That was the circumstance on this case. I am not claiming they were innocent, however the story lead me to believe that she was not involved in the serial killer case, and now with this new information about how they found her remains, it does seem very likely drugs could have been a factor with her "paranoia" and she may have actually drowned as they say and it was total freak incedent that it was around the time of all of the other discoveries. Either way, her disappearance caused the discovery of these other remains and i feel terrible for her family, her mother, and all of the rest of them, murdered, accidental whatever it may be it is just awful.
They know which house and what guy she was with, but they won't comment on his story and if it pans out. I DEFINATELY AGREE WITH YOU, SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND i BET THE POLICE KNOW AND THEY'RE WAITING ON A CERTAIN PARTY TO MAKE A SLIP-UP!!! This is far from over!!!
could be very true
This is one more reason why they should legalize prostitution. I know some people will disagree based on religous/morale beliefs, but the bottom line is...people are already doing it, and you aren't going to stop them from doing it. At least if they legalized it, we could tax it, require health exams for the prostitutes (which would reduce the amount of diseases being passed around), and "business" could be conducted in a relatively safe environment with security cameras at the counter, etc. We already know that people are going to buy sex whether we agree with it or not. Legalizing it isn't "condoning" it. It's just making it safer for those who choose to participate in it, and generates some income via taxes. In the context of this particular article, if these potential prostitutes had been operating from a legal brothel, these johns might have still killed them, but at least their face would be burned into the security cameras and/or help might have arrived for the girls (if someone heard the struggle) before they were killed.
I certainly hope that the local law enforcement officials have requested assistance from our F.B.I. agency.
"Ten" bodies in 'one area' - whoever is responsible, apparently had gotten extremely comfortable with placing the descendants in the area of the deserted oceanfront.
Speculations during an investigation has it's purpose, thus, I'm guessing that the crime that has occured there will be resolved with all due haste. At least I most certainly hope so.
I think law enforcement should be looking in to a more probable direction to these deaths.
The evidence so far are pointing to a human traffic ring.
Not all were prostitutes,
Most were reported missing,
The neighbor hood is least likely to point to H.T. activity.
I think this is a business and not a serial killer!
@Johnny Pachivas / #9,
I really believe that your theory has some very viable merit; if, in fact, most of the descendants were reported missing.
The idea of Human Trafficking business in this location certainly should be an avenue for the officials to pursue in their investigation.
But, I suppose that their (H.T.) actions, if applicable, at least in this location, will cease altogether and move on to a less suspect area.
But your theory, certainly has valid points - let's hope that all of the involved law enforcement officials will be able to solve this crime.
I dunno, but I would definitely be investigating the people in the nearby gated community.
I would be looking to see if a Kennedy lives in that gated community. Why would they think that more than one person is involved...look how many Bundy killed all by himself.
So sad, I just watched the special about this not too long ago on MSNBC, this girls mother was torn, knowing her daughter would probably not be found alive but visiting the location regularly, claiming she would bring her baby home some how some day. She finally gets to do that now which gives closure, but I cannot imagine what she is feeling. Prayers going up for this young girls family, and for those that were murdered by the sicko out there still today, and for those that haven't been found, and for those that will unfortunately be coming. I believe this killer is keeping the remains somewhere for a while before he dumps them.
Hey btowngrl, just curious if your from Baltimore, that is where I am from!!! I saw the same show also and I am wondering if this might have to do with human trafficking like some others have posted on here!!! Maybe someone in that community brought it a little to close to home to throw off the police and it backfired in their face!!!
He is definately keeping the remains for some reason, but I don't know if it's to throw off the cops or for his sick amusement!!! Ijust hope some reliefe comes to these families and her poor Mother and Sister who has never given up on finding her, GOD BLESS THEM ALL.
@ReecyRoo, no i am from Texas, i have been to Baltimore once though (if that counts...it did to me!! Loved it) I don't know to be honest with you i am SO clueless......I just cannot help but think it is one man doing it, i think the reason i lean to that theory is because of the phone calls he made (at Times Square was it?) to that other girls little sister, remember they said he called her three or four times over a four month period and terrorized that little girl but she kept answering praying they would get some kind of clue. Then again human trafficking isn't far fetched.....the only other problem i have with that is the girls that have been identified were all "on their own" i don't think any of them were working with an agency. Also the burlap sacks, it just seems so Ted Bundyish. I pray like hell we find out soon though......i am afraid more bodies are rotting waiting to be dumped now, or they will find a new ground now that his or their old one has been discovered and probably being hawkeyed. I hate it though....i just happened to come across the story on hln right as they found the first 3 bodies and then started watching about it, thats when i found out about Shannan being the reason these poor girls were found, i thought the killer had her but hadn't dumped her until i watched that story about it that we both saw. I just don't know what to think, i pray they figure it out....
My prayers go out to all the familys who lost there loved ones ! The police need to step up on these cases and try to save others lives because this person is not done yet !
i don't think he's done yet either, but I doubt his next victim(s) will NOT be dumped in that area unless he is REALLY cocky and if he is he will eventually make a mistake!!! Let's hope so anyway.
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