5 Shocking New Updates In The Shannan Gilbert Case: The Disappearance That Unlocked The Gilgo Beach Murders

The tragic story of Shannan Gilbert is not just a footnote in the history of the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) investigation; it is the catalyst that exposed one of the most chilling unsolved murder sprees in American history. Her disappearance in 2010 led authorities to the remote stretch of Gilgo Beach, where they uncovered the remains of at least ten victims. As of December 2025, the case remains fiercely relevant, especially with the recent arrest of Rex Heuermann, the suspected Gilgo Beach Killer, and new evidence continually emerging.

The pursuit of justice for Shannan Gilbert, and the other Gilgo Beach victims, has been a decades-long battle fought primarily by her tenacious family. New witnesses, fresh legal battles, and the shocking connection to the suspected LISK have brought Shannan’s name back into the forefront of true crime headlines, offering a glimmer of hope for a final resolution to the questions surrounding her final, frantic moments.

Shannan Maria Gilbert: A Brief Biography and Disappearance Timeline

Shannan Gilbert was a young woman whose life was tragically cut short, but whose legacy inadvertently launched a massive serial killer investigation. Her background provides essential context to the events of her final night.

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• Full Name: Shannan Maria Gilbert
• Born: October 24, 1986, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
• Died: May 1, 2010 (aged 23), Long Island, New York, USA
• Occupation: Sex worker (escort)
• Family: Eldest of four sisters; her mother, Mari Gilbert, became a prominent advocate for the victims' families before her own tragic death in 2016.

The Final Hours in Oak Beach (May 1, 2010)

The events of Shannan Gilbert's disappearance are a confusing and terrifying sequence of fear and police inaction that set the Gilgo Beach investigation in motion.

In the early morning hours of May 1, 2010, Shannan traveled to Oak Beach, a gated community on Long Island, for a client meeting.

At approximately 4:51 a.m., she placed a frantic 22-minute 911 call, repeatedly telling the dispatcher that someone was trying to kill her.

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She was last seen fleeing on foot from the home of her client, Joseph Brewer, and reportedly running toward the home of a neighbor, Dr. Charles Peter Hackett.

Despite the chilling 911 call and reports from neighbors, the initial police response was slow and insufficient, a point of contention that has plagued the Suffolk County Police Department for years.

The Long-Awaited Release of the 911 Calls

For over a decade, the Suffolk County Police Department refused to release the audio of Shannan Gilbert's 911 call, claiming it was not relevant to the serial killer investigation and that her death was likely an accident.

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In May 2022, following years of pressure and a judge's order, the full, unedited 911 call was finally released.

The audio confirmed the frantic nature of her final moments, where she is heard screaming and running, desperately seeking help.

The release of the calls, which also included calls from a neighbor, Gus Colletti, who described a "14-year-old girl" running around, underscored the police department's initial dismissal of the severity of the situation.

5 Shocking New Updates and Evidence in the Shannan Gilbert Case

The arrest of Rex Heuermann in July 2023 dramatically reignited the LISK investigation. While Heuermann has been charged in the deaths of the "Gilgo Four," his connection to Shannan Gilbert has become a major focus of new legal and investigative efforts.

1. New Witnesses Link Rex Heuermann to Shannan Gilbert

In a major development, affidavits have been signed by at least two new witnesses who allegedly connect the suspected Gilgo serial killer, Rex Heuermann, to Shannan Gilbert.

The attorney for the Gilbert family and other victims, John Ray, has stated that this new evidence links Heuermann not only to Shannan Gilbert but also to another victim, Karen Vergata.

This is a critical shift, as authorities initially maintained that Shannan's death was separate from the LISK murders, attributing it to accidental drowning or exposure.

2. The Ongoing Lawsuit Against Dr. Peter Hackett

Shannan’s estate continues to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Charles Peter Hackett, a former Oak Beach resident and the neighbor Shannan ran toward on the night she vanished.

The lawsuit, originally filed by her late mother, Mari Gilbert, alleges that Dr. Hackett improperly treated Shannan at a halfway house he supposedly ran at his home and that his actions contributed to her death.

Crucially, Shannan's personal belongings, including her cell phone and jeans, were found in the marsh approximately 30 yards behind Dr. Hackett's home. A judge recently ruled that the estate can move forward with this lawsuit.

3. The Search Area Where Shannan's Remains Were Found

After a year-and-a-half-long search, Shannan Gilbert's skeletal remains were discovered in December 2011 in a dense tidal marsh near Oak Beach.

Her body was found approximately a quarter-mile from where her personal items were located, and just a short distance from where the first four Gilgo victims were discovered.

The location of her remains, deep within the marsh, is a key piece of evidence used by both sides to argue whether her death was accidental or a homicide.

4. The LISK Investigation's New Focus on All 10+ Victims

While Rex Heuermann has been charged in the deaths of the "Gilgo Four," his arrest has prompted a renewed and broader look at all the remains found along Ocean Parkway, including Shannan Gilbert and Karen Vergata.

The discovery of Shannan’s body led to the subsequent findings of the "Gilgo Four" (Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello) and at least six other sets of remains, confirming the presence of a serial killer, or multiple killers, operating in the area.

5. Mari Gilbert's Legacy and the Fight for Justice

Mari Gilbert, Shannan's mother, became a tireless, high-profile advocate for her daughter and the other victims, constantly challenging the police narrative of "accidental death."

Her work and public pressure were instrumental in forcing authorities to take the Gilgo Beach investigation seriously. Tragically, Mari Gilbert was fatally stabbed by another one of her daughters in 2016, but her fight for justice continues through the ongoing lawsuit and the renewed focus on the case.

The Future of the Investigation and Shannan’s Final Truth

The case of Shannan Gilbert represents the key that unlocked the Gilgo Beach mystery. Her frantic 911 call, though it did not save her life, provided the geographic focus that led to the discovery of the other victims.

With the suspected Long Island Serial Killer, Rex Heuermann, now in custody, and new witness testimony emerging, the long-held official determination of "accidental death" for Shannan Gilbert is under intense scrutiny.

The combined pressure of the ongoing civil lawsuit against Dr. Hackett and the new criminal evidence linking Heuermann to Shannan's case offers the strongest hope yet that the full, unvarnished truth of Shannan Gilbert’s final night will finally be revealed, bringing closure to her family and the other victims of the Long Island Serial Killer.