"My husband and my brother got on their motorcycles and actually took Maureen's picture with them and drove down to Manhattan walked around the whole area asking people if they'd ever seen her," she recalled. Authorities said they thought Shannans death wasnt connected and might have been a drowning. Lost Girls, a new Netflix movie helmed by Emmy-winning documentary director Liz Garbus, tells the true story of the deaths of Shannan Gilbert and several victims of the Gilgo Beach murders. Moriarty asked. "No one in the family said that Dr. Hackett called saying that he had seen Shannan?" WebMari Gilbert (born 22 June 1964) was an American advocate from Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. "I've heard that the police failed these girls. But he would make a call to Shannan Gilbert's mother that she alleges linked him to the night she vanished. "He said, 'You shouldn't have done that.' What would kill a 23-year-old woman? ", "I was there when my mother received the phone call, so there's no way. Mari says during that phone call on May 3, Dr. Hackett told her that Shannan had left his house with her driver and that he was worried about her. Mari Gilbert Born ( 1964-06-22) June 22, 1964 New York Died July 23, 2016 (2016-07-23) (aged 52) Ell Cause of death Stabbing Occupation Activist television personality 1 more rows WSHU | Shannan was last seen running on the streetsof Oak Beach after leaving her client Joseph Brewers home. And we're gonna catch him," said Berthelemy. "What would she tell you when you would say you were worried about it?" "Mari Gilbert knew that that kind of attention and passion is what will keep this case alive," Garbus says. By the time police arrived on the scene at 6:10am, Shannan Gilbert had vanished into the night and was never seen again. And this killer may have been shopping for victims for years. All of a sudden, I heard screaming out here and banging on that door. She was doing a very positive job and was helpful.. "I feel like they failed me and they failed my sister. On Dec. 13, 2010, Maureen's body was found alongside the others. Sherre, Sarras sister, spoke about Sarra after her sentencing and said they tried to get Sarrah help, but she would get better for a short period of time and then get worse again, People reported. "He's an individual who likes to get involved," Varrone said of Dr. Hackett. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. "I believe my sister needs a voice needs her pride back needs the respect she had before this all happened," said Melissa Cann. By 2011, as many as 10 human remains many of whom were believed to be sex workers had been discovered in the area, launching the still-unsolved search for what some have called the Long Island Serial Killer, according to theAssociated Press. "Sexually explicit things as to what he had done to Melissa, sexually explicit things as to what he was going to do to Amanda.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Heres what you should know. Gilbert became an advocate after her daughter Shannan was murdered, but was killed by one of her other children. Mari Gilbert felt that Shannans disappearance wasnt being treated with urgency, and that her daughter was being dismissed because she was a sex worker. rtache I feel everyday for you & mom. Sherre was an administrator for a Facebook page dedicated to trying to solve her sister Shannans death called Praying for Shannan Maria Gilbert. Learn about Stevie, Sherre, and Sarra here. "In this police force, not unlike a lot of other police forces around the country, there's this culture of minimization and denial when it comes to women who are escorts," he said. Theres no proof that he even saw her that night, but he did call Mari, Kolker told, While investigators were searching for Shannan, they, . It took nearly a month for police to connect Shannan's desperate call to the missing persons report her family had filed in New Jersey, where Shannan lived. Police have said that they do not consider Hackett a suspect in the killings,according toThe Long Island Press. ), Laster says families who have a loved one go missing are often traumatized long term and she says and it was especially so with the Gilberts. AMBER COSTELLO: Disappeared Sept. 2, 2010, "She used to say that she was better off dead" said Dave Schaller, Amber Costello's roommate and friend. Mari Gilberts Daughters in Real Life: Stevie, Sarra, Sherre & Shannan, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. " that Shannan was distressed. And when Mari Gilbert confronted him with a friend's camera rolling, he denied it again: Mari Gilbert [Cell phone video]: Firsthand what happened? You dont go back to where you started Its like a nuclear bomb went off.. When you give look let me not get into it," he said. "She was a human being she was a mother she was a loved sister she was everything to us," Cann said. They were traveling together, coordinating. Stevie Smith tends to stays out of the spotlight. Hackett, who police have said is not a suspect, initially denied ever making the call, but later admitted to calling the Gilbert family after phone records showed he had placed two different calls in the days that followed her disappearance. Mari had "No one saw her, no one knew her My brother came back and was like, 'It's a different world out there. "I was really sad," Sherre Gilbert said. But she was of age and all I could say was 'be careful' and call her all the time.". Sherre said. In December of 2010, then-Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer downplayed it, but there was little doubt about what his department was confronting. Then, Colletti saw Shannan was hiding underneath the boat in his yard. Attempts to find current contact information for Hackett were not immediately successful. She wouldn't answer me. Her belongings including her pocketbook, lip gloss, jeans and shoes were discovered in the marsh about a quarter of a mile from her body, according toThe Long Island Press. We allege that Dr. Peter Hackett has told others that he encountered Shannan knocking on his door on May 1, that he let her into his home and that he administered narcotics, Ray said outside the courthouse after filing the suit according toThe Long Island Press. Theres no proof that he even saw her that night, but he did call Mari, Kolker toldOxygen.com. There is not an iota of evidence in any of this litigation., Over the years, many of the initial counts in the lawsuit have been removed, including the wrongful death claim that was dismissed in 2013, according to, The remaining claims are related to Shannan Gilberts pain and suffering before her death and the later emotional distress suffered by Mari Gilbert, according to, Before Hackett was embroiled in the media coverage of the case, Kolker told, Hackett had served as head for the Suffolk County Emergency Medical Services when the. Mental illness drove Sarra Gilbert to kill her mother, Mari Gilbert five years after Sarras sister was found dead near a suspected serial killers mass grave in Long Island, New York Maris lawyer and others close to the family allege to PEOPLE. "How could you have her items in one spot and then her body all the way in another spot close to the highway? Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! he replied. "It was probably around three or four times but she was on the phone with him for a while each time," he said. Mari Gilbert. Her disappearance and Mari's efforts to find out what happened to her daughter are the focus of the new Netflix feature film "Lost Girls" starring Amy Ryan as the desperate mother who casts suspicion on Hackett (played by Reed Birney). Shannan's body was found about three miles east from the others and detectives have speculated that her death was accidental. And she stabbed her to death.. Sarra was arrested at the scene with blood on her clothing. Shannan ran towards the home of another Oak Beach resident, Barbara Brennan. "He wanted to kill her.". Israel Nieves was so jealous of James Rodriguez. Ray asked. The cop basically told us, 'Maybe your sister just ran away. Gilbert was stabbed to death by her 27-year-old daughter Sarra in Sarra's apartment building on Warren Street in Ellenville, New York, on July 23, 2016. [4] Her daughter suffered from schizophrenia, with one report claiming that she "had voices in her head telling her to carry out the crime." "Sarra is, from all the evidence, clearly not responsible for what shes done," Newsday quoted Ray saying in 2016. "But Chief, she was only 23 years of age. What Lynn Barthelemy didn't know at the time was that Melissa was actually working as an escort. Im blessed to have had you in my life for 22yrs and Im grateful that you were eventually found. (The) last time I talked to him, it was seven years ago at least, and he was saying that he was basically unemployable, Kolker toldOxygen.com. Sarra stabbed her mother an incredible 227 times with a 15-inch kitchen knife. The problem is, instead of filing it in Suffolk County, N.Y., where her daughter was last seen, Mari was required to file it where her daughter lived in New Jersey. According to NBC, Mari's 27-year-old daughter Sarra stabbed her more than 200 times and hit her with a fire extinguisher, resulting in Mari's death in 2016. On July 23, 2016, Sarra Gilbert traveled from Ellenville, NY, to her mothers home in Catskills, NY, and attacked Mari Gilbert. This isnt what the video says and what I read elsewhere, Is anyone feeling that the mom has strong narcissistic vibes, I worked on both cases. She has been charged with second degree murder. While investigators were searching for Shannan, theyultimately discovered the bodies of four women along Ocean Parkway. When Hackett who is portrayed in the film by Reed Birney called Mari just a few days later, she claimed the doctor told her he had interacted with Shannan the night she died. "Peter Hackett told me that Shannan was at his house, that he ran a halfway house for people who wanted to get off the street and that Shannan was there," said Mari Gilbert. She was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder at 12 years old, and Mari struggled to manage her eldest childs at times erratic behavior. Somehow he convinced her to meet him alone -- an unusual move for Amber, who normally required clients to come to her. It's like running through a corn field or a wheat field you just push push it outta your way," said Varrone. Police say both Pak and Joseph Brewer passed polygraphs, and are not suspects. I was able to meet with her, and talk with her. Chief Varrone says the local police responding to Colletti's call knew nothing about Shannan's own 23-minute 911 call. Schaller says the caller was so persuasive, Amber -- an experienced escort -- walked out the door without her purse or even a cell phone. However, the investigation into her disappearance led to the discovery of ten sets of human remains. Although Brewer refused to go on camera, he admitted to "48 Hours" that he solicited Shannan online, but, he said, not for sex. After a jury found Sarra Gilbert guilty, she was given the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in August 2017. "He may have looked for her as he was driving out the gate but he certainly was nowhere to be found when officers responded and arrived.". This content is imported from youTube. Would love your thoughts, please comment. She was pursuing that. "She absolutely hated it". "I could hear the fear in his voice.". Megan was just 22 when she was murdered, leaving behind a 4-year-old daughter. Netflixs new true crime drama, .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Lost Girls, tells the story of the hunt for the Long Island serial killer, whos believed to have murdered at least 10 people and buried their bodies near a beach on Long Island, New York. Yesterday was the second most devastating day of my life, according to the post. ", But Garbus didn't get to see her again. But Hackett would face criticism after he allegedly embellished his role in the investigation, Vice reports. It was now 5:21 am. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. She doesnt go to the page as frequently anymore, but still posts updates from time to time. "I was like, 'You guys found Amber You found her.'". She didn't know it then, but the mysterious events of the next few hours would forever link her to four young women - whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap -- and spark one of the largest murder investigations in Long Island history. .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Gayle King Interviews Angela Bassett, Gayle Says March Is a Good Month for TV Lovers, Sheryl Lee Ralphs Definition of True Love, What We Know About The Little Mermaid Remake, Oprah Congratulates Kimmel on 20 Years of His Show, Nikole Hannah-Jones on "The 1619 Project", Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Wakanda Forever Podcast, Oprah Is Acting in Tyler Perrys Next Netflix Film. They said Sarra had tormented and belittled Mari for years. Mari fought tirelessly to bring justice for her daughter Shannan, from Shannan's death sadly until her own death at the hands of her in 2011 he denied ever seeing Shannan that night but said he had called the family to be supportive after getting Maris number from Shannans boyfriend and driver when the pair came to the neighborhood to look for Shannan in the days after she disappeared. FacebookShannan Gilbert in a Facebook photo. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-220-TIPS (8477). Unidentified woman: We did. She's based (and born and raised) in Brooklyn, New York. And then, there's a guy on the other end.". In 2010, Sarras older sister, Shannan Gilbert, was working as a prostitute when she fled a clients home in Oak Beach, NY, and never returned home. "I just did not want to believe that she wasn't ever gonna come home," said Mari. But he went on to say that "at no time did I suggest I had ever met her or render medical care of any sort to her.". Mari Gilbert was an American Activist who had a very tragic life. And more questions about a curious character who put himself right in the middle of the mystery. I think they look at them like theyre throwaway, she told the New York Times in 2011. "It's easy for a killer to go shopping," said Kolker. "If he's lying about something so simple about calling me," Mari Gilbert said, "then what else is he lying about?". "It was like 5:00 in the morning," Colletti recalled. Mari Gilbert died in July 2016, allegedly stabbed to death by her other daughter, Sarra, who suffers from schizophrenia. She was sentenced to 25 years to life, which was the maximum sentence, Daily Freeman reported. There is not an iota of evidence in any of this litigation.. "We went to all the houses around the area to, like, knock on their doors and just say, 'Hey listen, did you see my sister?'" "I said, 'Well, I called the police they are on their way to bring her back," Colletti said. ", "I reached over and grabbed that phone, dialed 911," Colletti continued. "If she was going to stay the night she would have walked away with $1,500," he said. Dr. Hackett admits he has treated friends and neighbors, but denies he ever saw or treated Shannan. "Do you think the person she went out with that night is the same person who killed her?" According to Mari Gilberts obituary, Mari had four grandsons when she died and she was engaged to Elroy J. Shulterbrandt. The Gilberts' attorney, John Ray, finds that hard to believe. Upon information and belief, at all times Defendant Hackett held himself out to the general public, and in particular to Shannan Gilbert and Mari Gilbert, as the owner/operator of a home for wayward females, the lawsuit, obtained by Oxygen.com, said. Attempts to find current contact information for Hackett were not immediately successful. "We pull out the phone book, we get on the internet. Heres what you need to know about Mari Gilberts daughters. "I knew I wasn't going to look, walk, and sound exactly like Mari, but there was an essence, or a gesture that I was hoping to pick up," Ryan adds. "Perhaps someone knows something. And he's gonna make a mistake. Sarra, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been cycling out of mental hospitals, Ray said. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. By 2011, as many as 10 human remains many of whom were believed to be sex workers had been discovered in the area, launching the still-unsolved search for what some have called the Long Island Serial Killer, according to the. Stevie has stayed out of the spotlight for the most part. In December 2011, a year-and-a-half after Shannan Gilbert vanished, police finally found the first sign of the missing 23-year-old in the marsh by Oak Beach not far from where she was last seen. I can t believe I m reliving this nightmare again. "I'm satisfied in my belief and understanding of what occurred.". "I believe Shannan was murdered," said Sherre. Sarra was arrested at the scene with blood on her clothing. They're on their way,' She just looked at me and she ran right out the door.". Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Hackett has steadfastly denied ever seeing Shannan to the press. Mari Gilbert was an American activist and advocate for her late daughter, Shannan Gilbert, a 23-year-old aspiring author working as an escort who may have been murdered by the Long Island serial killer. "I don't want anybody to think that -- we have a Jack the Ripper runnin' around Suffolk County with -- blood drippin' from a knife," Dormer told reporters.. One by one, the bodies were identified, and with each name, came the story of a troubled life cut short. Convinced the Suffolk police weren't going to investigate Shannan's death, attorney John Ray took matters into his own hands. "He said he never saw Shannan before," she replied. Samantha Vincenty is the former senior staff writer at Oprah Daily. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. "No," she exclaimed. But when police arrived at 5:40 a.m., Shannan Gilbert had vanished. Sadly, the film's real-life heroine never got the justice she wanted for Shannan's death. Mother of Gilgo Beach Victim Shannan Gilbert Found Dead, Other Daughter Charged with Murder, Long Island Murder Mystery: Everything We Know About the Gilgo Beach Case Thus Far, Mom of Gilgo Beach Victim Shannan Gilbert Spoke Out Weeks Before Her Own Murder, Notorious 'Torso Killer' Indicted in 1968 Murder of N.Y. Dance Teacher Who Was Found Strangled in Her Car, Skeletal Remains Found in 1974 Identified as Missing Teen Susan Poole, Possible Link to Florida Serial Killer, Man Suspected of Dismembering Missing Calif. Woman Googled 'How to Be a Serial Killer,' Remains at Large: Cops, Former Youth Pastor Goes on Trial in Murder of Boy, 16, Whose Dismembered Remains Were Found Behind Dumpster, N.H. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Authorities were able to trace some of the calls to a handful of busy locations in midtown Manhattan: near the Port Authority, the Empire State Building and Times Square. Hacketts attorney, James ORouke, has denied Hackett had anything to do with Shannans death and called the allegations against him contained in the lawsuit categorically false., The tragedy of this young womans death is only compounded by the prosecution in this civil litigation, he toldFox News. "If Michael Pak had stayed there and told the officers that she was still missing, is it possible that Shannan Gilbert might still be alive?" In mid July 2009, after several days with no word from Melissa, her mother panicked. So far, there has been no arrest, but since our last "48 Hours" broadcast, there are new developments in the case. "So why did he pick, you know, a sex worker if he didn't want sex?" Sarra also stripped off her mother's clothes and severely beat her head with a fire extinguisher. "And he said, 'Do you know what I did to your sister?' According to NBC, Mari's 27-year-old daughter Sarra stabbed her more than 200 times and hit her with a fire extinguisher, resulting in Mari's death in 2016. Authorities ID 2 More Alleged Victims of 'Shopping Cart Killer,' Link 5th Body to Case, Police ID Possible 6th Victim of San Francisco 'Doodler,' Serial Killer Who Targeted Gay Men in the '70s, How a Conch Shell Held the Key to a Woman's Cold Case Murder and Revealed a Family Betrayal, Fla. Police Say They've Identified a Serial Killer After 20-Year Investigation into 3 Women's Murders, Shannan Gilbert's Family Lawyer Says Former Police Chief Should be Suspect in Gilgo Beach Killings, near a suspected serial killers mass grave. "Shock," Varrone replied. "It's a girl who clearly believes she's in harm's way.". "Do you believe that this killer or killers will eventually be caught?" And she was also goin' to school to be a writer," she said. Mari Gilberts body was discovered in her daughter Sarras apartment in the Catskills. Shannans body was later discovered in December of 2011, 19 months after her disappearance. Mental illness is a serious disease. The tragedies and illness are often intertwined, says Dottie Laster, a private investigator and missing-persons specialist who helped the Gilbert family search for Mari Gilberts older daughter, Shannan. , Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart called her cause of death "inconclusive. The search for Shannan led police back to the last place she was seen -- the gated community of Oak Beach, just 3 miles from the dumping ground and to three men: The man who hired her, the man who drove her, and a doctor who put himself in the middle of the investigation. ", Garbus hopes that Lost Girls will inspire in others the same unrelenting dedication to finding the truth about how Shannan Gilbertand the rest of the women found near Gilgo Beachreally died. On Thursday, Suffolk County police Dr. Hackett: I never saw her, I never met her. They learned that Shannan and her driver had left New York City shortly after midnight on May 1, 2010, and headed to a gated community in Oak Beach. Suffolk County police told "48 Hours" that they believe the caller was, in fact, Melissa's killer. "How could this tiny 23-year-old get that far into it - into there?" "he was soft-spoken and had -- a very controlled and comfortable manner of speech, which made his horrific messages all the more devastating he began to toy with her And for the very first time, she heard the voice of the killer.". "We said that Maureen went to New York and she never came back. Schaller says Amber hated the person she'd become: a drug addict who turned tricks to support her habit. "We had a sinking feeling that it was her.". Follow the links to read about more murders profiled on ID this week. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. "Yeah, I'm sure I did. But Shannan's mother believes Dr. Hackett knows more than he's saying. In fact, Dr. Hackett was known to provide medical treatment out of his home. She has been Barthelemy also contacted the NYPD to file a missing persons report, but she was in for a rude awakening. "No. She called her mother and said come over. KINGSTON, N.Y. Convicted murderer Sarra Gilbert has lost an appeal of her 25 years to life sentence for the brutal stabbing of her mother in 2016. It is not clear if she has retained an attorney or if she has entered a plea to her charges. Megan Waterman was last seen leaving a Holiday Inn Express on Long Island in June 2010. We certainly believe that he may have called to offer his assistance.". said Colletti. He nowreportedly lives in Florida. She shared the photo above showing Mari Gilbert with her daughters during simpler times. | True Crime I've seen it, its really overgrown," Moriarty noted. Several references are made to Sarra's mood stabilizer prescriptions throughout the film, and Garbus says that was tweaked retroactively after Mari died. Erin Moriarty asked. "I think she lived her life as if like she didn't even care about herself" said Schaller. In the hours after midnight on May 1, 2010, Shannan Gilbert, an escort on her way to a job, drove past the place where the bones of the Long Island Serial Killer's victims lay hidden in the brush. At the heart of these efforts was Mari Gilbert (played in the movie by The Offices Amy Ryan), who worked to bring attention to the the murder of her 24-year-old daughter, Shannan. "And it was too overgrown to bring in dogs and to search!". Dr. PeterHackettbecame linked to the case of Shannan Gilbert after he called her mother, Mari Gilbert, after Shannan'sdisappearance. "Suddenly, you no longer had to walk down the street; you could just work out of your home," he said. A year & a half of anger, tears & sleepless nights. "I was just hysterical, totally hysterical," said Barthelemy. But when Shannan's sisters went out to Oak Beach, they got a different story. Shannan, a 24-year-old sex worker from Jersey City, disappeared after visiting a client in the Oak Beach area in 2010. She testified that it wasnt mental illness that led Sarra to kill her mom, but drugs and long term hate, The Cut reported.