Long Island Serial Killer Case: Suffolk County District Attorney Blasts Rumors

Suffolk County officials tried to dampen interest in rumors that they've identified a suspect connected to the deaths of 10 people found on a barrier island.

Officials investigating 11 dead bodies found on Long Island since 2010 are trying to tamp down rumors that they've identified a suspect.

"Unfounded, anonymous Internet postings or rumors about who may be a suspect should be given the appropriate weight they deserve by those who read them," said Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota's office in a statement yesterday.

"It should be remembered that this unsubstantiated 'gossip' can cause substantial harm and emotional trauma, not only to members of the families mentioned in the Internet postings, but also to the families of the victims."

The Internet has been abuzz with speculation that the DA's office and Suffolk County police are hot on the trail of a suspect. One story that gained traction online was that the killer committed suicide when he learned that his arrest was imminent, the Long Island Press reported.

Police have denied that they're poised to make an arrest.

The case began in December 2010 with the disappearance of 24-year-old escort Shannan Gilbert who was seen screaming and running from a john's Oak Beach home. The search for her turned up the remains of 10 other people -- including several reported female prostitutes -- in dense vegetation along Ocean Parkway.

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• Long Island Human Remains

  An aerial view of the area near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island where police have been conducting a prolonged search after finding ten sets of human remains.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Articles about the discovery of bodies near a Long Island, New York beach as seen in April 6 issues of Newsday and the New York Daily News newspapers on April 7, 2011 in N.Y. Four bodies recently found near the town of Gilgo Beach on Long Island, about 45 miles from New York City, brings the count to eight bodies discovered in the area, including four last December, leading authorities to speculate there is a serial killer at work. The disappearance of prostitute Shannan Gilbert of Jersey City, New Jersey started the search by local officials that led to the discovery of the bodies. (Stan Honda, AFP / Getty images)

• Long Island Human Remains

  Investigators search for remains in a marsh area just east of Oak Beach, N.Y., in December 2011.

• Long Island Human Remains

  A Long Island police officer sits at the entrance to a road during a December 2011 search.

• Long Island Human Remains

  In a photograph provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, a map of the crime scene shows where several bodies have been discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County, N.Y.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An aerial view of the area near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island where police have been conducting a prolonged search after finding multiple sets of human remains.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An undated photograph of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, provided by the Suffolk County Police Department during a press conference held at Suffolk County Police Headquarters. Brainard-Barnes's was one of several bodies discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An undated photograph of Megan Waterman, provided by the Suffolk County Police Department during a press conference held at Suffolk County Police Headquarters. Waterman was one of several bodies discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An undated photograph of Melissa Barthelemy, provided by the Suffolk County Police Department during a press conference held at Suffolk County Police Headquarters. Barthelemy was one of several bodies discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An undated photograph of Amber Lynn Costello, provided by the Suffolk County Police Department.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Photograph provided by the Suffolk County Police Department of an unidentified male, one of several bodies discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County, N.Y. Police released the sketch in hopes that someone might recognize him.

• Long Island Human Remains

  In this artist's rendering provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, a composite sketch of an unidentified victim in the investigation of the remains discovered off Ocean Parkway in April 2011.

• Long Island Human Remains

  This photo provided by the Suffolk County Police Department shows Jessica Taylor. On May 9, 2011 the head and hands of Jessica Taylor were found along a Long Island highway. Her headless, handless body was found in July 2003, in Manorville.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Two undated photos of Shannan Gilbert released by the Suffolk County Police Department.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Suffolk County Police and police recruits search an area of beach on April 5, 2011, in Babylon, N.Y.

• Long Island Human Remains

  A Suffolk County Police officer searches through brush along a stretch of beach highway in April 2011.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Police use a bucket lift near a crime scene during a search on Jones Beach Island in April 2011.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Suffolk County Police divers search for human remains in the waters of Hemlock Cove.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Suffolk County Police divers search for human remains in the waters of Hemlock Cove.

• Long Island Human Remains

  An aerial view of police cars near near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island in April 2011.

• Long Island Human Remains

  K-9 unit police use a cadaver dog to search an area in Oak Beach.

• Long Island Human Remains

  Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer points out photographs of jewelry recovered from bodies found along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County during a September 2011 news conference.

• Video's "Vigil For Missing Woman Feared Victim of Serial Killer" info

  A vigil for woman feared victim of a serial killer.

A lawyer for Gilbert's family said that her relatives and he have been inundated with calls about the suicide of the alleged suspect.

"It's a rumor that's been flying about and gathering steam for weeks," John Ray told The Huffington Post. "It's become a frenzy."

But the family hasn't been swept up in the expectation that police will make an arrest.

"We keep our eye on everything," Ray said, "but we filter out what's dubious."

Gilbert's body was found in a marsh last December. A week ago the medical examiner's officer announced it couldn't determine a cause of death.

Police said they believe Gilbert accidentally drowned, but Ray called that explanation "absurd." The family believes she was murdered.

The statement from Spota's office said the mainstream media has peppered law enforcement officials with hundreds of inquiries about the accuracy of the web-based gossip. County police and the district attorney said they won't talk about the case again until they "have additional information...that serves the public or the investigation by its release."

In addition to Gilbert, eight women's remains have been found, one man and one female toddler, according to the Long Island Press. Some victims haven't been identified yet, according to the Associated Press. A serial killer -- or killers -- could be responsible for several of these deaths, police have said.

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Comments

[Nash Feds]

11:17 AM on 12/29/2012

if both the victims & the killer used Craigslist & may be phone calls how hard is it to match those & catch this guy ?. From Ted Bundy to Green river , police have bungled the investigations due to utter incompetent. Just plain useless. In this case police took 25mins to come to the location when someone called 911 about a women in distress. Looks like cops were hiding behind the bushes & writing traffic tickets. These cops get overtime only when they work on a murder case. not a missing person's case. Shame !!!!

[Andy Winnery]

11:10 AM on 08/09/2012

Im suprised with so many bodies they found no evidence or clues to further the investigation. Surely the guy would of left some form of dna trace??

[Roxann Storm]

03:05 PM on 07/15/2012

I will give the media a few facts of my own. Fact 1# I wrote a book published in 09, "Me and MrMicrosoft Our Secret Life". In that book I referred to a few girls murdered in Atlantic City in a serial killer fashion. Yet the LI cops have ruled them out as being connected so that means the killer in AC is getting off scott free with no further investigation because the women were called "prostitutes". So why is the LI case more important?Fact #2 I went to LI to help solve it and recover bodies because it is a natural god given unfortunate gift I have. LI cops didnt want my help.Fact#3 I went to the FBI office to turn in 3 pages of notes I made on the killer to assist them, they refused my help. Fact # 4 I posted here of huff there were bodies in mannerville area yet nobody cared until a boy found one under the brush. Fact#5 I hate all law enforcement because I was kidnapped by chicago cops years ago and they have never been punished. I find it an agonizing delima to ever help cops or FBI because I hate them beyond comprehension. As long as society views working girls as disposable trash murder will always be allowed by men in a mans world. Are the rest of the murdered girls not even going to be considered since they dont make news anymore?

[theycallme kelslow]

10:06 PM on 08/05/2012

You wuz kidnapped ?...Wow true crime drama

[Roxann Storm]

11:26 AM on 07/14/2012

Saw A & E last night and saw the drivers face for the first time. Its interesting what I can feel from people when I actually see them. Its also interesting LI cops plan to find a scape goat. Does anyone wonder why cops there at the scene in april when FBI was flying over my car that they didnt want my help even when I told them who I was and that I had helped on other cases before. Why would cops not want the help of a psychic? I said in the beginning it was strange Gilbert ran from her own driver when he was supposed to be a trusted friend. Gilbert was afraid to be arrested when she ran to the neighbors house and asked for help. Escorts always go to jail and johns dont. However, why was she so afraid after being at this johns house after a period of hours? Was someone else there in the house? Did he give her drugs and even if he did the driver should have been afriad of arrest and got her out fast. He didnt. Actions are not accurate for a driver in fear of the law.Too many unanswered questions. You have more than 1 killer operating in the area.

[TIffany Gray]

11:33 AM on 07/13/2012

i knw there is a way why dont they set up people like they do the pedophilies let them be armed or wired. Something can be done. We have that spy stuff where u google address and it will show you the inside of homes etc, why not use that. I mean anything. This is senseless my prayers for the family, friends, and those effected by these awful things

[AnonGuy88]

10:55 PM on 06/20/2012

So wait the last woman was seen running from a home screaming, then was found dead. I'm no sherlock holmes, but maybe the killer lives in that house.....?

[TIffany Gray]

11:30 AM on 07/13/2012

They interviewed him and the friend that drove her to the house. The friend said when the guy came outside a told him to help calm her down he goes in and shannon says they trying to kill her. She runs to a neighbor house and he alls 911 and she even called, she then ran in the night and wasnt seen again.

[litchfieldholt]

07:02 AM on 05/20/2012

Nice soft sand and no tolls make LI better then joisey.

[stillinthegame]

11:55 PM on 05/11/2012

This is really screwed up. They better catch this guy. Pretty sketchy to think you could be behind this guy on line at one of your local stores.

http://jokeofthedayblog.blogspot.com

[DocBonn]

08:49 PM on 05/11/2012

The Suffolk DA has no clue who is responsible and he believes there are multiple killers. The evidence suggests one evolving killer, and Shannan Gilbert was most likely his victim, too.

[Tolms]

06:08 PM on 05/10/2012

Considering the bang up job Suffolk's finest have done so far I'm pretty sure the killer has little to worry about.

[Whyalwaysme]

11:14 AM on 05/10/2012

It's about time the government started watching this area from the sky, 24/7

[maybesomeday]

07:51 AM on 05/11/2012

It's too late now the horse's have already left the barn. Anyone would have to logically think that it's no longer a good place to dump bodies. The serial killer knows that and it using a different location that he is familar with. He's still killing, he's still out there. And he still is out smarting the cops for some reason.

[Whyalwaysme]

08:54 AM on 05/11/2012

Maybe the killer is a cop

[AnonGuy88]

10:56 PM on 06/20/2012

It's because cops are too busy making easy busts, like busting drug dealers/users.

[evolvedtg]

11:31 PM on 05/09/2012

When the police are quick to call the death of a running and screaming woman a 'drowning' in shallow water, it makes me think of bad cops. One way or another.

[Gigi1217]

01:44 PM on 05/10/2012

I saw that on the show Disappeared on ID. There's no way that her pants just came off after she drowned. That's what the police told her family.

[Tolms]

06:08 PM on 05/10/2012

No what they told her family is that she was disoriented, which she most likely was. I'm sorry but she was probably on some drug, and had a bad reaction> She was not behaving rationally and not behaving like someone who was really in danger (otherwise why run when she was safely in an 80 year old mans house?) when you see the bramble and water and realize how cold and dark that area was it's quite easy to believe that she not only drowned (maybe she passed out from the cold? Or the drugs) and we don't know how well her pants were on in the first place, and she could have in her irrational state have taken them off, espeically if they were getting caught on brambles and "slowing her down". I think her death was a freak accident, though I understand why it's so hard for her family to accept.

[maybesomeday]

07:56 AM on 05/11/2012

I didn't see the show. Is it still being shown?

[maybesomeday]

07:55 AM on 05/11/2012

Yea I never bought that theory of her drowning in shallow water. She was running for her life and hit a dead end with no way out. I doubt she would have attempted crossing through water once she hit that heavy brush. She would have come back to solid ground.

[Nincomp00p]

10:26 PM on 05/09/2012

By the looks of the place I'd say it's a dumping ground for more than one serial killer: it's remote, sparsely populated, and probably not patrolled...wouldn't be surprised to hear of more bodies...even if those rumors are true about a suspect committing suicide, the police shouldn't assume this was the 'work' of one killer.

[LINY01]

12:42 PM on 05/10/2012

It is patrolled from the sky as that stretch of road is great for taking your bike or hotrod for some speed tests :-) Since the road is not as crowded as other LI highways, its perfect for that and lots of people do it..you just have to just be aware of the eye in the sky.

But in the warmer months you will see tons of bikes and sports cars on that road :-)

[April Dancer 25]

07:55 AM on 05/11/2012

It's not that remote. Once winter passes there are literally thousands of people out there.