Long Island serial killings: A timeline of the investigation
Timeline of the Long Island Serial Killings Investigation
Long Island serial killings - Initially triggered by the disappearance of one woman, the investigation eventually uncovered multiple victims and a suspect linked to a series of murders. The case unfolded over several years, revealing patterns that pointed to a serial killer operating on Long Island.
Discovery at Gilgo Beach
In December 2010, a police officer and his K-9 partner discovered human remains near Gilgo Beach. The bodies belonged to four women, later identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Costello, Megan Waterman, and Melissa Barthelemy. Police noted their shared traits: all were petite, in their 20s, and had worked as online escorts.
Shannan Gilbert's Vanishing
On May 1, 2010, Shannan Gilbert, a 23-year-old escort, called 911 in a panic. She claimed someone was pursuing her after a meeting at a client's home. She fled, stating there were people trying to kill her, and disappeared without a trace. The search for Gilbert would later connect to the Gilgo Four.
“I can’t bring her back,” Liliana Waterman said in a 2020 interview. The 3-year-old daughter of Megan Waterman expressed her longing for her mother, who vanished on June 6, 2010, after a burner phone call.
Maureen Brainard-Barnes: The First Missing
Maureen Brainard-Barnes, often called the first of the Gilgo Four, disappeared in July 2007. She was a single mother in Norwich, Connecticut, who had started working as an escort. Her cellphone was contacted by a burner phone, which interacted with hers over 16 times between July 6 and July 9 of that year.
Melissa Barthelemy's Disappearance
Two years after Brainard-Barnes went missing, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, vanished in July 2009. She had moved to New York City from Buffalo and worked as a hairdresser and escort. Her sister, Amanda, received taunting calls from Melissa’s cellphone in the weeks following her disappearance. One caller claimed to have killed her.
Megan Waterman's Final Moments
Megan Waterman, 22, from Scarborough, Maine, was also an escort. On June 5, 2010, she was contacted by a newly activated burner phone. The same number reached her again on June 6 at 1:31 a.m., as security footage captured her exiting a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge. This was her last known appearance.
Amber Costello's Last Days
Amber Costello, 27, disappeared on September 2, 2010. Her roommate Dave Schaller revealed she had met a client the day before, who offered her $1,500 for the night—six times her hourly rate. Schaller described the man as resembling an “ogre” and driving a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche.
“Very petite. 5 foot or under, 100 pounds,” said Dominick Varrone, Suffolk County chief of detectives at the time. The victims’ shared physical and professional characteristics fueled the investigation.
Connecting the Dots
The case grew more complex as each disappearance revealed links to the same suspect. By 2011, the investigation had narrowed its focus, with testimonies and forensic evidence pointing toward a single perpetrator. The hunt for answers continued, driven by the haunting words of those left behind.