The Gilgo Beach Murders: How Shannan Gilbert Became An Unintended Hero (Part 2)

In May 2010, Shannan Gilbert vanished after calling 911 from a client’s home in Oak Beach, Long Island, claiming someone was chasing her. What began as a missing-person investigation for Shannan unexpectedly sparked one of the largest homicide probes in Long Island’s history. Her disappearance prompted authorities to expand the search area, leading to the discovery in December 2010 of four bodies—later known as the “Gilgo Four”—which revealed a potential serial killing spree along Ocean Parkway. Although Shannan’s death was eventually ruled accidental by drowning, her absence served as the catalyst for uncovering these victims and thrusting the broader case into the public eye.Shannan’s mother, Mari Gilbert, harnessed her grief into unyielding activism, pressuring law enforcement for accountability and greater transparency in her daughter’s case—and by extension, the larger investigation. Her persistent advocacy earned Shannan the label of an "unintended hero": it was her disappearance that opened the door to solving—or at least recognizing—the pattern of murders that might otherwise have remained hidden. Mari’s efforts kept media and public attention focused on the victims, laid groundwork for further forensic investigation, and ultimately helped bring about a suspect’s arrest in the long-standing Gilgo murders.to contact me:[email protected]:Mari Gilbert's quest to find daughter Shannan led to arrest of Rex Heuermann | CNNBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.