Shannan Gilbert

On May 1, 2010, twenty-four-year-old Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker from Jersey City, arrived at the Oak Beach community on Long Island's barrier island for an appointment arranged through Craigslist. During the encounter, she became distressed and fled the client's home, banging on neighbors' doors and making a frantic 911 call before running into the nearby marshland.

Shannan was never seen alive again. The search for her led police to make a shocking discovery: beginning in December 2010, investigators found the remains of multiple other victims along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach, eventually uncovering at least 10 sets of human remains, revealing a serial killer had been operating on Long Island.

Shannan's body was found in the marsh near Oak Beach in December 2011. Her death was initially attributed to accidental drowning, though her family disputed this finding and believed she was a victim of the serial killer.

In July 2023, Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park, was arrested and charged with multiple Gilgo Beach murders. As of 2024, he had been charged with the murders of several victims but not Shannan Gilbert. The investigation continues.