Arrest Made in Major New York Serial Killer Case that Included Ellenville Victim
A suspect is in custody following a cold case with a New York State Serial Killer.
True Crime fans may be familiar with the LISK (Long Island Serial Killer) cold case. It all started back in 2010 when 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, who was working as an escort in the Oak Beach area of Long Island, went missing.
Missing Ellenville Women Search Leads to Bigger Case
In a podcast called LISK that came out in 2021, we learned from journalist and host Chris Mass that Shannan Gilbert had ties to the Hudson Valley. A young Shannan grew up in Ellenville, New York in Ulster County before moving towards NYC and Long Island.
After Gilbert's disappearance on Oak Beach, officials began the search. While looking for Gilbert they came across the bodies of 4 women. Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costella were all found dead "wrapped in burlap sacks, along a remote stretch of Long Island highway -- within a quarter of a mile from one another" according to NBC 4 New York. All 4 were in their 20s and also known escorts in the area.
READ MORE: True Crime Podcast Follows Story of Missing Ellenville, NY Woman
They were known as the Gilgo 4. In 2011, Gilbert's body was found in a swampy marsh not far from the other victims. Since then, there have been 11 sets of human remains found in that area in regard to the Long Island Serial Killer cold case.
Long Island officials believe that Gilbert's case was unrelated to the Gilgo Beach murders.
A Break in The Long Island Serial Killer Case?
For years the case remained unsolved, however on July 14th, 2023, CBS News reports there is a person in custody. They write:
Police in New York have taken a person into custody in connection with the unsolved murders of at least 10 women whose bodies were found on Long Island's Gilgo Beach more than a decade ago. Two law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News Friday morning that the Suffolk County Police Department had one suspect in custody in connection with the murders.
CBS adds that the possible breakthrough in the case comes about a year after Shannan Gilbert's 9-1-1 call was released. You can listen to the calls below:
We'll update this story once more information is made public.