Odd Woman Out
Why one of the victims in the Gilgo case may hold the key
Folks, it seems that every day brings a new revelation in the Gilgo Beach/Rex Heuermann murder case. But there is an aspect of all this that is a deepening mystery: the death of Shannan Gilbert.
Currently, Suffolk PD is carrying the bodycount in Gilgo at 10. That’s because Shannan, whose 911 call kicked off the entire Gilgo investigation in 2010 (and who would be victim number 11) is currently considered to have died “accidentally.”
The story: Shannan, a sex worker, was driven to the area of Gilgo Beach by a man who was her “de facto security” — a man named Michael Pak. Shannan was apparently booked for an encounter at the home of a man named Joseph Brewer.
At some point while there, Shannan called 911 on her cell phone, stating that, “someone is after me.” She sounds scared and confused. Both Brewer and Pak can be heard in the background urging her to leave with Pak.
Shannan then apparently flees the house, chased by Pak. She heads to the homes of two nearby neighbors before apparently running into the dense marsh in the Gilgo area (she’s on with the 911 operator for much of this time). Pak drives around looking for her, but eventually gives up and drives back to Manhattan. The police then arrive.
Roughly seven months later, a Suffolk County canine unit looking for Shannan discovers not Shannan but Melissa Barthelemy— the first of the so-called “Gilgo Four” that Rex Heuermann has since been charged with.
Eventually, 11 bodies will be discovered — including Shannan’s.
As might be expected, there is tremendous speculation around Shannan’s death. Her family hired a private pathologist — who claimed she’d been strangled. The FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit does not agree, and sees Shannan’s death as distinct from the other Gilgo victims.
Suffolk County agrees with the FBI. My understanding is that Suffolk PD’s theory is that Shannan was overdosing on a drug of some sort — likely a synthetic (like “bath salts”) — causing her to overheat and flee into the night air (a common reaction).
The theory then holds that she shed her clothing within the marsh, eventually becoming completely disoriented, and collapsed — where she died by drowning in the water-soaked marshland.
Watch/listen for yourself. Here’s the Suffolk PD explanation from last year, replete with the actual 911 calls (caution: there is some screaming which some might find disturbing).
In light of what we now know, this is very interesting viewing (you only need the first few minutes or so):
So: Was Shannan Gilbert the 11th Gilgo victim? Or does Suffolk and the FBI have the case right?
Certainly, the task force has no reason to hide the fact that Shannan was murdered. There are 10 bodies out there that are currently known. What difference would one more make, in terms of public perception? In light of the fact that Pak had fled the scene, Suffolk’s conclusion that night — that Shannan had left with whoever drove her — certainly appears reasonable.
On the other hand: Could it be simply a massive coincidence that a sex worker had visited this remote area and fled into dense brush that would eventually yield ten more bodies — of sex workers, working off of Craigslist (as Shannan did), and who match her appearance (with the exception of the toddler and the unidentified Asian male)?
Shannan’s family has retained Long Island attorney John Ray, who at his own recent press conference stated his belief that Heuermann is not the only killer.
As the task force continues to chase down the evidence on the other bodies in this case, expect Shannan Gilbert to remain a point of contention.
Because under the current facts, at the very least: Heuermann is not a very likely suspect in her death.
A Strange Encounter
What happens when a retired NYPD Lieutenant encounters an accused serial killer on a train?
Folks, be sure to tune in to our podcast this week. We spend 20 minutes with a former colleague of both mine and Chris’s — a colleague who not only lives in Massapequa, is familiar with classmates of Heuermann, and knows the area where the bodies were found — but who also had a contentious encounter with Heuermann himself not two weeks ago. It was a telling incident.
Click here for the bizarre facts (disclosure: it’s behind the firewall) (I know, I know…).
The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
I can remember, as a kid, the line snaking around the block from the local high school on a Saturday morning. It was local guys — in those days, yes, mostly guys — lining up to take the NYPD police exam (I remember they all seemed to be holding coffee cups and smoking).
Wow, are those days gone. Looks like the PD — likely already short between 2,000 to 3,000 allotted-for officers — won’t be able to come even close to filling new recruit classes.
Which begs the question: What if they gave a police department and nobody came?
A Modest Proposal
The death of Robert DeNiro’s grandson is an undeniable tragedy — but is hardly unique. As NYPD Chief of Detectives Essig said recently, almost all drugs in the NYC area are currently laced with fentanyl.
Which got my lawyer-mind working a bit. Why wouldn’t the sale of drug A — which is surreptitiously laced with drug B, which is known to be lethal — not result in a homicide charge?
Shouldn’t this “Percocet Princess” accused in the death of Leandro DeNiro face at least the charges that Daniel Penny faces (as in, Criminally Negligent Homicide)? (She’s only charged now with narcotics distribution).
Might that, as policy, discourage this continuing practice?
But wait — that would mean putting a lot of people in jail.
I forgot — we don’t do that here.
Prepare for more such deaths.
And Finally…
Your humble narrator was proud — is proud — to have supervised some of the folks who worked to put this man — Mirsan Kandic — behind bars for life on terrorism charges (DOJ press release on his sentencing here).
(source: DOJ)
As the boss in a counterterrorism unit, your job is generally to tee up the right people and stay out of their way. I certainly had the right people. I hope I stayed out of their way.
The folks responsible know who they are (several are subscribers, I believe).
One, alas, has since passed on. RIP brother.
I congratulate the entire team on this important case.
Correction: Rex Heuermann has thus far been charged on THREE of the so-called "Gilgo Four." The Task Force is pursuing charges on the fourth body (these are the four found wrapped in burlap).
We regret the error.
Great interview enjoyed it a lot