November 17, 2025 • 37 mins
When Rex Heuermann is arrested for the Gilgo Beach murders, filmmaker Josh Zeman revisits the chilling clues uncovered in his documentary, The Killing Season. From Shannan Gilbert’s disappearance to the discovery of ten bodies along Ocean Parkway, Josh explores how this mystery eluded investigators for over a decade.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
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(00:27):
Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer. The views and opinions
expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals
participating in the podcast and do not reflect those of
Tenderfoot TV or iHeartMedia. This podcast contains subject matter which
may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I remember like it was yesterday, six forty five in
the morning, July thirteenth, twenty twenty three, a gym, when
the text started coming in so many I couldn't keep
count riisensheine, buddy, it's happening. Heyy do you hear the
new Suffolk County is about to arrest Lisk? Holy shit.
Not sure if it's legit, but hearing they got him,
(01:15):
I started frantically texting, trying not to get my hopes up.
His words spread among reporters, true crime authors and filmmakers
like me. You see Eleven years ago, my producing partner
Rachel and I made a documentary series called The Killing Season,
and I followed our hunt for Lisk aka the Long
(01:35):
Island serial Killer.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Investigators on Long Island I say they found the remains
of ten people fought to be the victims of a
serial killer. The body count is climbing as investigators grapple
with a very elusive monster.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
The Gilgo Beach serial killer case.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
This is a case where there are still so many questions.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
When Rachel and I started filming in twenty fourteen, the
case was only four years old, but for some reason,
the police wouldn't even talk about it. So we started
our own investigation and spent two long years searching for Lisk.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And no, we didn't find him, but I know we.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Got close, closer than anybody had been before. Since then,
I've been on twenty twenty Nancy Grayce dateline, you name it.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Josh Semen is the director of The Killing Season. We
have an expert joining us.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Joshua Seeman has an interesting take and insight in this case.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
You have no idea how many suspects we'd looked at,
from eccentric doctors to wealthy businessmen over the years, dozens
of names had been batted about, and still we investigated
them all because you just never know who may open
up that door. And let's be honest, what filmmaker doesn't
want their own JINX moment? But there was also something deeper,
(03:01):
an overwhelming frustration with a police department that had fumbled
in the dark for years, leaving victims in their families
in limbo. And so for the next hour I sat
there as information trickled in until I finally got a
text that said, turn on the news.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Turn on the news now. Hw York's number one news channel,
Semini Witness News Talk Today.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
After an arrest and the infamous Gilgo Beach murders, fifty
nine year old Rex Heureman from Long Island is now
charged in the murders of three women.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Rex Hereman at the time, it wasn't a name i'd recognized,
It wasn't anybody we'd looked at before. But since then
I've come to realize we were far closer to catching
list than we first thought, and those same clues that
led police to cracking the case right there all along,
(03:57):
buried in our footage.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Is there anything that you can remember about him?
Speaker 7 (04:04):
He was just this beast of a man like six
foot nine, three hundred pounds, white black, Hispanic white dude,
fifty years old monster. There was only like a couple
weeks right before she disappeared that that guy was there.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
On this podcast, we're going to reveal those clues as
we sift through hundreds of hours of old footage from
our show, interviews, phone calls, doorstep confrontations.
Speaker 8 (04:31):
Yes you're looking for you.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
But we're also digging back in to confront an even
harder question. Could List have been caught sooner? And finally?
What so many of us have been waiting for for
over two decades the upcoming trial of Rex Hureman, the
alleged Long Island serial killer. And while we might think
we know who List is, there's still so many questions
(04:58):
that this trial might answer.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
The theory of our case is this defendant meticulously and
methodically hunted down and murdered seven women.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Could this man have been caught as far back as
twenty ten? God forbid, we find more victims that could
still be alive if they had made the arrest back then.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Which brings us back to those first few moments just
after rex Huerman's arrest when someone sent me this interview
that they'd found filmed with Rex in his office.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Rex Hureman, an architect. I'm a troubleshooter, born and raised on.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Long Island, working in Manhattan nineteen.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
At the time, I didn't quite believe that this was
actually him. We'd spent years tracking down dozens of leads
identifying persons of interest, but Rex Huerman wasn't one of.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Them, at least his name wasn't.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But when the news said that he was a commuter,
now that caught my attention.
Speaker 9 (05:58):
Leading a kind of double where prosecutors say he was
a professional commuted into Manhattan for his job, but that
he was also a serial killer.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Evidence from early in the investigation suggested that Lisk had
commuted from Long Island to Manhattan. But when the news
went on to say where he lived in Long Island,
now that was huge.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
He was hiding in plain sight. Hureman lives in the
community of Massapequa Park with his wife and two children.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
All the clues had pointed to that exact same town,
Massapequa Park. And then there was that video. Somebody had
sent that strange interview with Rex in his office.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
There's this job taught you about yourself.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
I think it's taught me more about how to understand people.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Rex was huge, six', four close to three hundred, pounds
with this smile that just didn't feel quite, real like
it was a. Mask and that's WHEN i started, debating
BECAUSE i couldn't believe WHAT i was. Thinking maybe it was,
true maybe the police had finally Caught. Lisk yet AS
(07:14):
i stared at the latest photo Of rex going around
this awkward selfie he'd taken standing in front of a bathroom,
MIRROR i felt SOMETHING i didn't, expect anger BECAUSE i
didn't see some evil genius or criminal. MASTERMIND i only
saw a man who was, oafish, overweight and aging. Badly
(07:38):
and this was the guy THAT i had spent years obsessing.
About this was the man that had snuffed out the
lies of ten, victims the same man making headlines around
the world as one of the most elusive serial killers
in modern. History and if this was that, man THEN
i couldn't help but ask why why didn't anyone catch him?
(07:59):
Sooner why did it take so many? Years why did
this man was made of nothing more than flesh and
blood get away to something so?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Monstrous for so Goddamn Long.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I'm Josh demon and this is monster hunting The Long
island Serial. Killer, now if you think you know the
(08:48):
list case because you've watched the latest doc series or
listen to a few, Podcasts i'm going to tell you
what detectives have always told me that in any series of,
murders you always go back to the first because that's
where you find the, clues and that same logic applies.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Here you always go back to the. First that was our,
show the killing.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Season when she first, DISAPPEARED i called all the precincts
to find out if she had been. Arrested finally someone called.
Me they, Said, kim they just pulled up four bodies
off Gilg, beach and right THEN i knew one of
those girls Was. AMBER i, mean my sister never talked
about serial, killers but we should have because it's one
(09:34):
of the most common type of. Words it's just not
brought the light because the. Prostitutes it's just the way it.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Is the hunt for The Long island Serial killer and
the story of his, victims starts back in the winter
of twenty, ten exactly fifteen years, ago on a remote
stretch of highway In Long island in an area known
As Gilgo.
Speaker 11 (09:57):
Beach wrong.
Speaker 10 (10:02):
Breaking, news an off duty cop walking his dogs tumbles
on a woman's dead.
Speaker 12 (10:06):
Body this tail started, waiting AND i showed the skeletal
remains of the.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Body On december, eleventh twenty, ten while searching for a
missing woman Named Shannon, gilbert a kadabradog finds the body
of a different woman Named Melissa.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Bartholomew But melissa was only the.
Speaker 13 (10:25):
First bomb shell, Tonight within forty eight, hours three more
sets a female remains.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Discovered who is a serial.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Killer On march twenty, nine twenty, eleven the police would
uncover another.
Speaker 10 (10:39):
Body this body count Along Ocean parkway continues to, climb
then again On april, fourth.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
Three more sets of human remains were discovered Mere Gilgo.
Speaker 14 (10:48):
Beach april, eleventh the first set of remains found in
a plastic, bag and then a second set of remains
human Skull mancy three Prob.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
What police uncovered On Ocean PARK i went far beyond
anyone's worst. Nightmare the remains of ten innocent victims sex
workers seemingly dump like trash on a desolate. Highway but
it wasn't just the number of bodies that shocked. Investigators
it was that some were found intact and others. Dismembered
(11:19):
the only thing that was clear was that a serial
killer was hunting On Long island and a frenzy of
fear had gripped the.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Public you, know we're not used to any of. This
people are, scared all right right.
Speaker 15 (11:31):
Now it could be. Anybody before the sex bastard is,
Caught they're going to find more bodies out here in these, ones.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Like so many.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
OTHERS i was fascinated by the. Case but after a
few YEARS i started to notice something. Strange no more
updates to the, community no new, leads no progress on
identifying so many nameless, victims which didn't make. Sense this
wasn't happening in some small. Town was, huge and it
(12:01):
was one of the most well funded police departments in the,
country and all of this unfolding in the shadow Of
New York.
Speaker 16 (12:09):
CITY i, mean you've got women wrapped in burlap on
the side of a desolate. Highway you've got a community
pointing fingers at one, another and you've got a police
force with no, suspects and you've got grieving families wondering
why nobody ever helped.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Them in twenty, thirteen we interviewed investigative Reporter Robert kolker
would just come out with a new book Called Lost,
girls that not only profiled The Gilgo beach, murders but
it shed light on at least one of the issues
plaguing this.
Speaker 16 (12:41):
Case these women's lives really needed to be written about
in a way that would bring attention to them because
we tend to write off the victims and glorify the.
Killer everybody thought these women they were just. Castaways they
were outcasts that nobody cared about. Them the fact of
the matter, is these families knew that these people were.
Missing they asked the police to go look for. Them
the police decided not to look for them because we
(13:03):
stigmatize escort.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Work With robert's interview in, hand we'd started calling the.
Families we wanted to give these victims a, voice but
we also wanted to dig deeper to explore a growing
web of theories that might explain why justice had been so.
Elusive theories that began with the mysterious disappearance Of Shannon.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Gilbert Sofa county police are focusing on twenty four year
Old Shannon gilbert Of Jersey.
Speaker 12 (13:42):
City gilbert's family, says on that, Night shannon met with
a man she met On craigslist at the beach In Long.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Island to understand the list, case you first need to
understand the mysterious death Of Shannon. Gilbert, Now i've investigated
crimes for, decades And i've never seen a case Like.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Shannon's no one.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Has but whatever happened To shannon became so polarizing that
it literally hijacked the. Narrative it Fueled internet, trolls smear,
campaigns and conspiracy. Threats, tragically you might even say the
fight Over shannon is just one more reason the police
didn't Catch less, sooner because her disappearance defies. Logic it
(14:25):
defies everything we think we know about, crime and it
flies in the face of one of the first rules
of detective work that there's no such thing as.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Coincidence it care have here on my, See i'm an.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Outpeach what's going on THAT i have the power of
missing parsons are.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
Board, actually.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
During the early morning hours Of may, one twenty, Ten Shannon,
gilbert aged twenty, four Of Jersey, city and her, driver
a man by the name Of Michael, pack meet the
hour and a half trip.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
To Oak, Beach Long.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Island Oak beach is a dimly lit gated beachfront, community
and it's known for its wealthy residents who values seclusion and.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Privacy Shannon gilbert is a plenty of yours right, WELL
i had judge matter that, Night leanna took yet.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
A little after two, Am shannon met with her, Client Joseph,
brewer a forty six year old financial advisor who lived.
Alone shannon's, Driver Michael, pack waited in his. Suv according
to a deposition From, pack he saw the two leave
to go buy party drugs before. Returning, then at around
(15:39):
four to forty five, Am brewer surprisingly knocked On pack's,
suv asking for help in Getting shannon to. Leave, inside
they found the young woman crouched behind a, sofa dialing
nine to one, one acting quote. Irrationally Shannon gilbert made
a nine to one one call that lasted more than twenty.
Speaker 13 (15:58):
Minutes she reports like claimed someone was trying to kill.
Speaker 14 (16:02):
Her.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Now whatever happened inside that house Sent shannon into a
panic as she bolted out the front. Door running through the,
beach she banged on the doors of at least two
neighbors screaming for. Help as both residents dialed nine one, One,
shannon dazed and, incoherent refused to answer their. Questions As
(16:23):
Michael pack drove up in his, Suv shannon took off again.
Speaker 14 (16:28):
Brand quarter to five in the. Morning somebody was screaming
and banging on the. Door she, says help, me help,
me they're there after. Me WHEN i told nine one,
one she got very. Upset took right, off and then
a call was coming down the road looking for. SOMEBODY
i think she was either drunk on. Drugs she just
stared at me LIKE i wasn't.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
There for the next thirty, Minutes Michael pack tried to
Convince shannon to get into the suv so he could
take her. Home after speaking with one of the, neighbors
he lost sight of. Her, Eventually pat gave, up assuming
she had run out the front gate and hitched a.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Ride with a passing.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Motorist by the Time Suffa COUNTY pd arrived at five forty,
Am shannon had.
Speaker 11 (17:15):
Vanished gilbert was reportedly last seen screaming and running into
the brush near here after meeting a client who found
her On.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Craigslist the responding officer took down reports of the screaming
girl and the man in the, suv but that's as
far as it. Went he spent only thirty minutes at
the scene before driving. Off to make matters, Worse shannon
mistakenly told operators that she was At Jones, beach Not Oak,
beach so they transferred the call to the State police
(17:45):
and Not Suffolk. County despite a twenty three minute call
nine one, one operators had no idea about the commotion
At Oak.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Beach.
Speaker 8 (17:55):
One my sister didn't come back.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
HOME i Called Suffa county to try to file a
missing per, report but they said because of where she
lives THAT i would have to file it Through New.
Speaker 13 (18:04):
Jersey and they, said, well, no because she wasn't missing.
Here you, know she was missing In Long. Island you
have to go.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
There in twenty, fifteen as part of The killing, season
we sat down With shannon's, Sister Sharie gilbert And shannon's Mother.
Speaker 13 (18:21):
Mary we tried to go To Long. Island they, said,
no you have to do it where she was. LIVING
i mean we were ping pong.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Back and forth with the confusion Over shannon's missing persons. Report,
Mary shannon's, boyfriend and Even Michael pack went back To
Oak beach to conduct their own, search but found. Nothing
it's also worth noting That Michael pack And shannon's, Client Joseph,
brewer had also tried to file a missing person's. Report
(18:47):
detectives would eventually Clear brewer And pack of any, wrongdoing
but no one could Find, shannon prompting many to assume
That Suffy County Police department and the tight knit community
Of Oak beach wanted nothing to do with the sex
worker who had gone missing in their. Myths did you
(19:08):
tell them she was a sex?
Speaker 14 (19:10):
Worker?
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Yes and do you think that that changed their?
Speaker 13 (19:14):
PERCEPTION i don't think it changed their. PERCEPTION i think
they've always had that. Perception we were told by the
police do not talk to the.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Media Why why did they tell you don't speak to the.
Speaker 13 (19:27):
Media because of their blatant incompetency or our daughter was
screaming and crying for twenty three minutes for. Help the
police are doing. Nothing they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Nothing despite a nine to one one call that suggested
something far more. Nefarious Steffa county would theorize That, shannon
with the history of bipolar disorder and drug use that,
night had some sort of paranoid mental health, episode leaving
her to run From brewer's.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
House into the.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Marsh they assumed she was heading towards the bright lights
Of Ocean parkway before.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Coming to the.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Elements according to police, officials searching the marsh was nearly.
Impossible it was flooded with waste high, water and the
thick reeds were more than twelve feet. High but soon
as weeks turned two, months the police stopped giving updates,
altogether and then the vacuum left by their, silence wild
speculation grew as to what happened To.
Speaker 11 (20:29):
Shannon it's been almost exactly a year now Since Shannon gilbert.
Vanished the day after her, disappear Into gilbert's mother says
she received a strange phone call from a doctor who lives,
nearby Saying shannon had been in his house the day she.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Disappeared An Oak beach physician named Doctor Peter, hackett who
had a reputation for inserting himself into local, drama Telephone
mary offering his. Help mary claimed that during one of these,
Calls Peter hackett said he Gave shannon a sedative during
her panicked run through a. Beach he also said he
(21:04):
ran a home for wayward. Girls, later under, Deposition hackett
denied Giving shannon any drugs and that he was just
trying to comfort an upset. Mother do you believe That
Peter hackett gave your daughter some kind of?
Speaker 13 (21:21):
DRUG i do believe That Peter hackett Gave shannon.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Something Whether hackett Gave shannon a sedative or, not it
was a strange thing to, say so strange in, fact
that suddenly everyone was pointing the finger at. Him one
theory Had hackett as the lone, killer Following shannon into
the marsh and murdering. Her another theory suggested That hackett
had Killed shannon because he was covering up for something
(21:46):
even more.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Terrifying Here's Robert.
Speaker 16 (21:48):
KOLKER i interviewed the people In Oak beach who believe
the doctor is hiding. Something some of the things that
they say, are you, know have to do with grand
conspiracies of neighbors who have been doing supposedly horrible things for.
Years they come short of saying that it's a satanic,
cult but it's close to.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
That it's like a weird.
Speaker 16 (22:06):
Games where they prey on young women and it makes
you think of eyes wide.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Shut now for those of you who don't. Know Eyes Wide,
shut a film directed By Stanley, kubrick follows A manhattan
doctor who stumbles into a mysterious masquerade ball where a
cult like sex rituals, occur culminating in the murder of
a sex worker and its cover.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Up those were not just ordinary people. There IF i
told you their, NAMES i don't think you'd sleep so.
Well you called it a fake?
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Charade do you mind telling me what kind of fucking
charade ends with somebody turning up?
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Dead she was a, chunky she.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Odeed now let's stick with reality. Here could Doctor hackett
have given Shen inn a? Sedative, Absolutely but he also
had a prosthetic, leg which would have made it nearly
impossible for him to run down and Murder. Shannon as
for the alleged weird, games rumors of men who were
(23:07):
waiting For shannon In brewer's basement who then hunted her
through the. Marsh as outlandish as it, sounds people still
bought into.
Speaker 15 (23:16):
It there's no other way to describe this except.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Explosive these high ranking government officials have ties choke beach
with sex.
Speaker 13 (23:23):
Parties what does the public need to put two and two?
Speaker 14 (23:25):
Together?
Speaker 10 (23:26):
Here what do they think happen to these?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Girls and that's.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Because of whispers that Circled Oak beach for, years claims
that politicians and police had partied out In Oak beach
parties that included, drugs sex, workers and of course. Power
and if you know anything about cops and, politicians well
that's not really a, stretch is. It but there's a darker,
(23:50):
reason one that's far more difficult to wrap your head.
Around it's because of what those same officials were about to.
Uncover seven months into the search for shann And, gilbert
reading less than a half mile away in the, beach called, kilgo.
Speaker 12 (24:07):
Good, afternoon. Everybody my name Is, Swelsa John. Malthia this
is my part in the canine. Glue you work in
the shoulder or. Road this tail started, Waving he started
indicating to a spot off the. Parkway at that POINT
i saw the skeletal remains of a. Body the second
day we found the second, body and we found the third,
body and then ultimately the fourth, body all within about
(24:28):
five hundred feet of each.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Other it was almost an unbelievable. COINCIDENCE a cadaver dog
on his way back from a training mission to Find
shannon finds, instead over nine miles, away the remains of
a different sex, worker and then, another and then, another
and then. Another, Eventually Suffolk county would uncover ten victims
(24:51):
in all, discovery so shocking residents didn't know what to.
Speaker 17 (24:56):
Think you have a serial killer's jumping bodies along the.
Speaker 18 (24:59):
Stretch we certainly we're looking at that that we could
have a serial.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Killer after determining That shannon wasn't among those ten, victims
detectives were now faced with two overwhelming. Mysteries what happened To?
Shannon where was her? Body and what terrifying tragedy led
to these other ten victims whose bodies they did? Have
(25:23):
and now there were even more families demanding.
Speaker 8 (25:26):
Answers do you think it's part of The gilgo? KILLINGS
i believe it's all.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Connected after finishing their grim task On Ocean, parkway detectives
doubled down on their theory That shannon was somewhere back
in That Oak beach. Marsh but they had to wait
until late fall until they could drain nearly a square
mile of water log. Terrain only then could they bring
in a, giant amphibious excavator and a helicopter to perform
(25:54):
a grid.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Search it's an area that is dense with.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Brush it's been very hot for the, investment gets the
cells and even the cadava dogs to get into. It
after an exhaustive, search they Found shannon's, genes then her,
purse then her cell, phone and then, finally about a
quarter mile, away her.
Speaker 18 (26:18):
Remains after a massive, search we have located a set
of skeletal remains we believe at this time to belong
To Shannon.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Gilbert there were no physical signs of abuse or, trauma
adding credence to the original police theory That shannon suffered
a mental, episode ran into the marsh and succumb to the.
Elements Yet mary believed, differently and now backed by her,
Attorney John, ray she sued The Suffo County Police department
(26:51):
for access to the nine to one one tape as
part of a wrongful death suit against Doctor Peter.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Hackett have you ever heard the nine one one?
Speaker 13 (26:59):
Call it was read to me by the. CORONER i
never heard.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
It why did they never play it for?
Speaker 13 (27:06):
You they refused.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Him they tell you why they.
Speaker 13 (27:10):
Refused they, refused saying it is still a piece of.
Evidence they. Said she wasn't. Murdered it was an, accident
so evidence that what it made no.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Sense it didn't make.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Sense but why were they holding back because approved their
incompetence opening the door for a multimillion dollar? Lawsuit was
it something?
Speaker 13 (27:36):
MORE i believe they're not being honest about.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Her nom'mun.
Speaker 13 (27:41):
Call it's not a lot to go through to hide
the police in competence when a lot of the, police governor's,
businessmen they're They're, john's you, Know shannon said to me,
once she, Said, mom you don't know who my clients.
Are she, SAYS i have, COPS i have, DOCTORS i
(28:05):
have lawyers and, judges she, says moments.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Everywhere while Making The Killing, season we were contacted by
a former detective who will Call, hawkshaw who worked for
The Manhattan District Attorney's. Office Has hawkshaw, Explained Suffo county
has had a long history of, corruption documented claims of coercive,
interrogations retaliations against, whistleblowers and of, course sexual. Misconduct he
(28:34):
told us that In Suffolk, county the top cops the
bosses were like, kings kings who felt they were untouchable
and bedded with, politicians business, leaders and as we were
about to find out everyone. Else why do you think
that tape was?
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Unreleased, well there's something on it that they don't want
somebody to. Hear this is a very big political, area
then a lot of important. People she may have utters
names that then they don't want you to hear.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
It as much As hawkshaw's theories sounded a bit, conspiratorial
we also hadn't forgotten about those rumors In Oak, beach
the parties with police and, politicians where there were drugs
and most importantly sex.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Workers they consistently recruit girls from these strip joints AND
i have wild parties down.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
Here who is?
Speaker 12 (29:25):
There?
Speaker 5 (29:26):
Police?
Speaker 17 (29:28):
Politicians so your allegation is, that in due course of
protecting certain, people we are not really getting to the
heart of the serial killer.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Cases that's my, opinion.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Just based on my experience and my.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Background, so Had shannon mentioned names on that nine to
one one, call names that were being deliberately omitted to protect,
people people who could provide information that could potentially solve
the murders of ten other sets. Workers, yet how could
that be If shannon wasn't connected.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
To those other. Murderers and if she, wasn't then why
not release the.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Tapes as much as it all didn't make, sense it
also did because if you start to hear enough rumors
about cops and parties and sex, workers then those rumors
start to become something, else a, thread a thread that
you keep pulling on over and over until eventually everything
(30:34):
starts to slowly. Unravel the theories put forth By Mary
gilbert And, hawkshaw claims of a cover up related to
escorts and high profile john's would remain nothing more than
(30:56):
that theories until we could find some shred about, evidence
or some sliver of, corroboration something that would add credibility
to this alleged. Conspiracy though in the end the evidence found.
Us just a month after our show, aired we were
(31:18):
contacted by a woman who will Call, leanne a sex
worker From Long, island claiming to have intimate details about
those rumored wild parties In Oak. Beach and so we
met lean in a car outside our.
Speaker 17 (31:33):
Office, okay let's do, this fine Nut.
Speaker 14 (31:40):
Rollian.
Speaker 12 (31:42):
All?
Speaker 7 (31:42):
Right can you put your hand in?
Speaker 14 (31:44):
Here all?
Speaker 19 (31:46):
Right so when you were called to go to these
parties At Oak, beach did you know That shannon had
disappeared From Oak beach at that?
Speaker 15 (31:54):
TIME i knew that something had, happened BUT i was,
young TWENTY i was in.
Speaker 19 (31:59):
Pain attention the police officers who are at these, parties
are they still in law enforcement?
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Now they're very much still in these soliciting.
Speaker 19 (32:08):
Escorts you hung out with them at parties in twenty.
Speaker 8 (32:12):
Eleven, yes drugs were, There drugs were, there prastitudes were.
There burke was. There do you have any relations With
burke at this? Parties burke AND i had had? Sex?
Speaker 4 (32:21):
Yes and was he violent at?
Speaker 8 (32:23):
All burke was a very aggressive, person very, narcissistic.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Godlike not only Was leanne claiming that she had attended
these infamous, parties but while there she had sex with
a police.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Official Named James.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Burke, Now burke was one of those top cops we've
mentioned before who Treated Suffolk county like it was their own.
Fiefdom but what's important is that six months after this alleged,
Party James burke would replace the Former, Commissioner Richard dormer
to become The Suffolk County chief Of.
Speaker 15 (33:01):
Police we're dealing with one of the most corrupt departments
in the, country and they just keep showing it left
and right and left and. Right i've Seen Suffolk county
at parties after and it's completely shady. Behavior they did
it right after the whole thing Unfolded april twenty, eleven
and they need to cover that.
Speaker 6 (33:20):
Up i'm not surprised at police officers party with, escorts
with escorts and with. Drugs, sure the fact that they
did it In Oak, beach which was so right around the,
corner just right after these.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
Women we don't, matter, right we don't.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Matter the idea Of Seffa county police officials having sex
with escorts In Oak beach While shannon was still, missing
just a few houses away from where she, disappeared and
right after that same police department had just uncovered ten
bodies less than nine miles, away was beyond. Arrogant and
(33:59):
while there was no way to Corroborate land's claims at the,
time her story rang. True and that's Because burke wasn't.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Just a bad.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Guy he was a really bad, guy a police chief
who'd just been arrested for crimes that would forever change
The Gilgo beach.
Speaker 18 (34:18):
Murderers Former Suffolk County chief Of Police James burke was
put in handcuffs this.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Morning Jimmy burke is the sociopath without.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Question the disgrace police official may have connections to ten
women who are believes have been murdered by the serial
killer On Long.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Island see if he's still denying the.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Accusations ready to keep, Listening remember you can binge the
rest of the season right now with An iHeart True
Crime plus subscription available exclusively On Apple.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
Podcasts.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Plus you get exclusive bonuses and ad free. Listening so
head To Apple podcasts Search iHeart True Crime plus and subscribe.
Today Hunting Long island Serial killer is a production Of
TENDERFOOT tv And iHeart. Podcasts, hosted, written and executive produced
(35:27):
by Me Josh, Zemon produced and written By Caitlin, Colford Donald,
Albrighton Payne lindsay our executive producers on behalf Of TENDERFOOT.
Tv Matt frederick And Trevor, young our executive producers on
behalf Of iHeart. Podcasts original music By Alex, Lasarenko David
little And makeup And Vanity. Set our supervising producer Is John.
(35:51):
Street editing and writing By Daniel. Lonsberry additional voiceover provided
By Rachel. Millstion production provided By Ghost, Robot sound, design
mix and master By Dayden cole cover design By byron,
McCoy Interns Arnetta, Fontinat Shelby, Hanson Alec walker And Fox.
(36:15):
Williams Ana Television NETWORKS. Llc audio from The killing season
used under License copyright twenty twenty FIVE a AND A
Television NETWORKS.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
Llc all rights.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Reserved special thanks to the team At United Talent, agency
The Nord, Group Brad, Abramson Todd, Leebowitz Rich, perrillo And
Jigsaw Productions Rachel, Mills Zachary, Mortensen Jen, Beegle David, Baker
joe Jack alone And Evan, krause as well as the
teams At iHeart podcasts And TENDERFOOT. Tv find us on
(36:52):
social media At Monster underscore. Pod for more podcasts Like
Monster hunting The Long island Serial, killer Search TENDERFOOT tv
in your podcast app or Visit tenderfoot dot. Tv and
if you want to keep following my hunt for The
Long island Serial killer or a deeper dive into my
other true crime, content join me on YouTube Its sinister
(37:15):
With Josh, zeeman
New episodes are released weekly absolutely free, but you can
binge the entire season now with iHeart True Crime Plus
exclusively on Apple Podcasts. You'll also get ad free listening
and exclusive bonus episodes. So head to Apple Podcasts, search
Iheartrue Crime Plus and subscribe. Today you're listening to monster
(00:27):
Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer. The views and opinions
expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals
participating in the podcast and do not reflect those of
Tenderfoot TV or iHeartMedia. This podcast contains subject matter which
may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I remember like it was yesterday, six forty five in
the morning, July thirteenth, twenty twenty three, a gym, when
the text started coming in so many I couldn't keep
count riisensheine, buddy, it's happening. Heyy do you hear the
new Suffolk County is about to arrest Lisk? Holy shit.
Not sure if it's legit, but hearing they got him,
(01:15):
I started frantically texting, trying not to get my hopes up.
His words spread among reporters, true crime authors and filmmakers
like me. You see Eleven years ago, my producing partner
Rachel and I made a documentary series called The Killing Season,
and I followed our hunt for Lisk aka the Long
(01:35):
Island serial Killer.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Investigators on Long Island I say they found the remains
of ten people fought to be the victims of a
serial killer. The body count is climbing as investigators grapple
with a very elusive monster.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
The Gilgo Beach serial killer case.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
This is a case where there are still so many questions.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
When Rachel and I started filming in twenty fourteen, the
case was only four years old, but for some reason,
the police wouldn't even talk about it. So we started
our own investigation and spent two long years searching for Lisk.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And no, we didn't find him, but I know we.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Got close, closer than anybody had been before. Since then,
I've been on twenty twenty Nancy Grayce dateline, you name it.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Josh Semen is the director of The Killing Season. We
have an expert joining us.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Joshua Seeman has an interesting take and insight in this case.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
You have no idea how many suspects we'd looked at,
from eccentric doctors to wealthy businessmen over the years, dozens
of names had been batted about, and still we investigated
them all because you just never know who may open
up that door. And let's be honest, what filmmaker doesn't
want their own JINX moment? But there was also something deeper,
(03:01):
an overwhelming frustration with a police department that had fumbled
in the dark for years, leaving victims in their families
in limbo. And so for the next hour I sat
there as information trickled in until I finally got a
text that said, turn on the news.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Turn on the news now. Hw York's number one news channel,
Semini Witness News Talk Today.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
After an arrest and the infamous Gilgo Beach murders, fifty
nine year old Rex Heureman from Long Island is now
charged in the murders of three women.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Rex Hereman at the time, it wasn't a name i'd recognized,
It wasn't anybody we'd looked at before. But since then
I've come to realize we were far closer to catching
list than we first thought, and those same clues that
led police to cracking the case right there all along,
(03:57):
buried in our footage.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Is there anything that you can remember about him?
Speaker 7 (04:04):
He was just this beast of a man like six
foot nine, three hundred pounds, white black, Hispanic white dude,
fifty years old monster. There was only like a couple
weeks right before she disappeared that that guy was there.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
On this podcast, we're going to reveal those clues as
we sift through hundreds of hours of old footage from
our show, interviews, phone calls, doorstep confrontations.
Speaker 8 (04:31):
Yes you're looking for you.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
But we're also digging back in to confront an even
harder question. Could List have been caught sooner? And finally?
What so many of us have been waiting for for
over two decades the upcoming trial of Rex Hureman, the
alleged Long Island serial killer. And while we might think
we know who List is, there's still so many questions
(04:58):
that this trial might answer.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
The theory of our case is this defendant meticulously and
methodically hunted down and murdered seven women.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Could this man have been caught as far back as
twenty ten? God forbid, we find more victims that could
still be alive if they had made the arrest back then.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Which brings us back to those first few moments just
after rex Huerman's arrest when someone sent me this interview
that they'd found filmed with Rex in his office.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Rex Hureman, an architect. I'm a troubleshooter, born and raised on.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Long Island, working in Manhattan nineteen.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
At the time, I didn't quite believe that this was
actually him. We'd spent years tracking down dozens of leads
identifying persons of interest, but Rex Huerman wasn't one of.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Them, at least his name wasn't.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But when the news said that he was a commuter,
now that caught my attention.
Speaker 9 (05:58):
Leading a kind of double where prosecutors say he was
a professional commuted into Manhattan for his job, but that
he was also a serial killer.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Evidence from early in the investigation suggested that Lisk had
commuted from Long Island to Manhattan. But when the news
went on to say where he lived in Long Island,
now that was huge.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
He was hiding in plain sight. Hureman lives in the
community of Massapequa Park with his wife and two children.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
All the clues had pointed to that exact same town,
Massapequa Park. And then there was that video. Somebody had
sent that strange interview with Rex in his office.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
There's this job taught you about yourself.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
I think it's taught me more about how to understand people.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Rex was huge, six', four close to three hundred, pounds
with this smile that just didn't feel quite, real like
it was a. Mask and that's WHEN i started, debating
BECAUSE i couldn't believe WHAT i was. Thinking maybe it was,
true maybe the police had finally Caught. Lisk yet AS
(07:14):
i stared at the latest photo Of rex going around
this awkward selfie he'd taken standing in front of a bathroom,
MIRROR i felt SOMETHING i didn't, expect anger BECAUSE i
didn't see some evil genius or criminal. MASTERMIND i only
saw a man who was, oafish, overweight and aging. Badly
(07:38):
and this was the guy THAT i had spent years obsessing.
About this was the man that had snuffed out the
lies of ten, victims the same man making headlines around
the world as one of the most elusive serial killers
in modern. History and if this was that, man THEN
i couldn't help but ask why why didn't anyone catch him?
(07:59):
Sooner why did it take so many? Years why did
this man was made of nothing more than flesh and
blood get away to something so?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Monstrous for so Goddamn Long.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
I'm Josh demon and this is monster hunting The Long
island Serial. Killer, now if you think you know the
(08:48):
list case because you've watched the latest doc series or
listen to a few, Podcasts i'm going to tell you
what detectives have always told me that in any series of,
murders you always go back to the first because that's
where you find the, clues and that same logic applies.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Here you always go back to the. First that was our,
show the killing.
Speaker 10 (09:13):
Season when she first, DISAPPEARED i called all the precincts
to find out if she had been. Arrested finally someone called.
Me they, Said, kim they just pulled up four bodies
off Gilg, beach and right THEN i knew one of
those girls Was. AMBER i, mean my sister never talked
about serial, killers but we should have because it's one
(09:34):
of the most common type of. Words it's just not
brought the light because the. Prostitutes it's just the way it.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Is the hunt for The Long island Serial killer and
the story of his, victims starts back in the winter
of twenty, ten exactly fifteen years, ago on a remote
stretch of highway In Long island in an area known
As Gilgo.
Speaker 11 (09:57):
Beach wrong.
Speaker 10 (10:02):
Breaking, news an off duty cop walking his dogs tumbles
on a woman's dead.
Speaker 12 (10:06):
Body this tail started, waiting AND i showed the skeletal
remains of the.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Body On december, eleventh twenty, ten while searching for a
missing woman Named Shannon, gilbert a kadabradog finds the body
of a different woman Named Melissa.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Bartholomew But melissa was only the.
Speaker 13 (10:25):
First bomb shell, Tonight within forty eight, hours three more
sets a female remains.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Discovered who is a serial.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Killer On march twenty, nine twenty, eleven the police would
uncover another.
Speaker 10 (10:39):
Body this body count Along Ocean parkway continues to, climb
then again On april, fourth.
Speaker 11 (10:45):
Three more sets of human remains were discovered Mere Gilgo.
Speaker 14 (10:48):
Beach april, eleventh the first set of remains found in
a plastic, bag and then a second set of remains
human Skull mancy three Prob.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
What police uncovered On Ocean PARK i went far beyond
anyone's worst. Nightmare the remains of ten innocent victims sex
workers seemingly dump like trash on a desolate. Highway but
it wasn't just the number of bodies that shocked. Investigators
it was that some were found intact and others. Dismembered
(11:19):
the only thing that was clear was that a serial
killer was hunting On Long island and a frenzy of
fear had gripped the.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Public you, know we're not used to any of. This
people are, scared all right right.
Speaker 15 (11:31):
Now it could be. Anybody before the sex bastard is,
Caught they're going to find more bodies out here in these, ones.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Like so many.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
OTHERS i was fascinated by the. Case but after a
few YEARS i started to notice something. Strange no more
updates to the, community no new, leads no progress on
identifying so many nameless, victims which didn't make. Sense this
wasn't happening in some small. Town was, huge and it
(12:01):
was one of the most well funded police departments in the,
country and all of this unfolding in the shadow Of
New York.
Speaker 16 (12:09):
CITY i, mean you've got women wrapped in burlap on
the side of a desolate. Highway you've got a community
pointing fingers at one, another and you've got a police
force with no, suspects and you've got grieving families wondering
why nobody ever helped.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Them in twenty, thirteen we interviewed investigative Reporter Robert kolker
would just come out with a new book Called Lost,
girls that not only profiled The Gilgo beach, murders but
it shed light on at least one of the issues
plaguing this.
Speaker 16 (12:41):
Case these women's lives really needed to be written about
in a way that would bring attention to them because
we tend to write off the victims and glorify the.
Killer everybody thought these women they were just. Castaways they
were outcasts that nobody cared about. Them the fact of
the matter, is these families knew that these people were.
Missing they asked the police to go look for. Them
the police decided not to look for them because we
(13:03):
stigmatize escort.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Work With robert's interview in, hand we'd started calling the.
Families we wanted to give these victims a, voice but
we also wanted to dig deeper to explore a growing
web of theories that might explain why justice had been so.
Elusive theories that began with the mysterious disappearance Of Shannon.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Gilbert Sofa county police are focusing on twenty four year
Old Shannon gilbert Of Jersey.
Speaker 12 (13:42):
City gilbert's family, says on that, Night shannon met with
a man she met On craigslist at the beach In Long.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Island to understand the list, case you first need to
understand the mysterious death Of Shannon. Gilbert, Now i've investigated
crimes for, decades And i've never seen a case Like.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Shannon's no one.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Has but whatever happened To shannon became so polarizing that
it literally hijacked the. Narrative it Fueled internet, trolls smear,
campaigns and conspiracy. Threats, tragically you might even say the
fight Over shannon is just one more reason the police
didn't Catch less, sooner because her disappearance defies. Logic it
(14:25):
defies everything we think we know about, crime and it
flies in the face of one of the first rules
of detective work that there's no such thing as.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
Coincidence it care have here on my, See i'm an.
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Outpeach what's going on THAT i have the power of
missing parsons are.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
Board, actually.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
During the early morning hours Of may, one twenty, Ten Shannon,
gilbert aged twenty, four Of Jersey, city and her, driver
a man by the name Of Michael, pack meet the
hour and a half trip.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
To Oak, Beach Long.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Island Oak beach is a dimly lit gated beachfront, community
and it's known for its wealthy residents who values seclusion and.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
Privacy Shannon gilbert is a plenty of yours right, WELL
i had judge matter that, Night leanna took yet.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
A little after two, Am shannon met with her, Client Joseph,
brewer a forty six year old financial advisor who lived.
Alone shannon's, Driver Michael, pack waited in his. Suv according
to a deposition From, pack he saw the two leave
to go buy party drugs before. Returning, then at around
(15:39):
four to forty five, Am brewer surprisingly knocked On pack's,
suv asking for help in Getting shannon to. Leave, inside
they found the young woman crouched behind a, sofa dialing
nine to one, one acting quote. Irrationally Shannon gilbert made
a nine to one one call that lasted more than twenty.
Speaker 13 (15:58):
Minutes she reports like claimed someone was trying to kill.
Speaker 14 (16:02):
Her.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Now whatever happened inside that house Sent shannon into a
panic as she bolted out the front. Door running through the,
beach she banged on the doors of at least two
neighbors screaming for. Help as both residents dialed nine one, One,
shannon dazed and, incoherent refused to answer their. Questions As
(16:23):
Michael pack drove up in his, Suv shannon took off again.
Speaker 14 (16:28):
Brand quarter to five in the. Morning somebody was screaming
and banging on the. Door she, says help, me help,
me they're there after. Me WHEN i told nine one,
one she got very. Upset took right, off and then
a call was coming down the road looking for. SOMEBODY
i think she was either drunk on. Drugs she just
stared at me LIKE i wasn't.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
There for the next thirty, Minutes Michael pack tried to
Convince shannon to get into the suv so he could
take her. Home after speaking with one of the, neighbors
he lost sight of. Her, Eventually pat gave, up assuming
she had run out the front gate and hitched a.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Ride with a passing.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Motorist by the Time Suffa COUNTY pd arrived at five forty,
Am shannon had.
Speaker 11 (17:15):
Vanished gilbert was reportedly last seen screaming and running into
the brush near here after meeting a client who found
her On.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Craigslist the responding officer took down reports of the screaming
girl and the man in the, suv but that's as
far as it. Went he spent only thirty minutes at
the scene before driving. Off to make matters, Worse shannon
mistakenly told operators that she was At Jones, beach Not Oak,
beach so they transferred the call to the State police
(17:45):
and Not Suffolk. County despite a twenty three minute call
nine one, one operators had no idea about the commotion
At Oak.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Beach.
Speaker 8 (17:55):
One my sister didn't come back.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
HOME i Called Suffa county to try to file a
missing per, report but they said because of where she
lives THAT i would have to file it Through New.
Speaker 13 (18:04):
Jersey and they, said, well, no because she wasn't missing.
Here you, know she was missing In Long. Island you
have to go.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
There in twenty, fifteen as part of The killing, season
we sat down With shannon's, Sister Sharie gilbert And shannon's Mother.
Speaker 13 (18:21):
Mary we tried to go To Long. Island they, said,
no you have to do it where she was. LIVING
i mean we were ping pong.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Back and forth with the confusion Over shannon's missing persons. Report,
Mary shannon's, boyfriend and Even Michael pack went back To
Oak beach to conduct their own, search but found. Nothing
it's also worth noting That Michael pack And shannon's, Client Joseph,
brewer had also tried to file a missing person's. Report
(18:47):
detectives would eventually Clear brewer And pack of any, wrongdoing
but no one could Find, shannon prompting many to assume
That Suffy County Police department and the tight knit community
Of Oak beach wanted nothing to do with the sex
worker who had gone missing in their. Myths did you
(19:08):
tell them she was a sex?
Speaker 14 (19:10):
Worker?
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Yes and do you think that that changed their?
Speaker 13 (19:14):
PERCEPTION i don't think it changed their. PERCEPTION i think
they've always had that. Perception we were told by the
police do not talk to the.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Media Why why did they tell you don't speak to the.
Speaker 13 (19:27):
Media because of their blatant incompetency or our daughter was
screaming and crying for twenty three minutes for. Help the
police are doing. Nothing they're doing.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Nothing despite a nine to one one call that suggested
something far more. Nefarious Steffa county would theorize That, shannon
with the history of bipolar disorder and drug use that,
night had some sort of paranoid mental health, episode leaving
her to run From brewer's.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
House into the.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Marsh they assumed she was heading towards the bright lights
Of Ocean parkway before.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Coming to the.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Elements according to police, officials searching the marsh was nearly.
Impossible it was flooded with waste high, water and the
thick reeds were more than twelve feet. High but soon
as weeks turned two, months the police stopped giving updates,
altogether and then the vacuum left by their, silence wild
speculation grew as to what happened To.
Speaker 11 (20:29):
Shannon it's been almost exactly a year now Since Shannon gilbert.
Vanished the day after her, disappear Into gilbert's mother says
she received a strange phone call from a doctor who lives,
nearby Saying shannon had been in his house the day she.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Disappeared An Oak beach physician named Doctor Peter, hackett who
had a reputation for inserting himself into local, drama Telephone
mary offering his. Help mary claimed that during one of these,
Calls Peter hackett said he Gave shannon a sedative during
her panicked run through a. Beach he also said he
(21:04):
ran a home for wayward. Girls, later under, Deposition hackett
denied Giving shannon any drugs and that he was just
trying to comfort an upset. Mother do you believe That
Peter hackett gave your daughter some kind of?
Speaker 13 (21:21):
DRUG i do believe That Peter hackett Gave shannon.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Something Whether hackett Gave shannon a sedative or, not it
was a strange thing to, say so strange in, fact
that suddenly everyone was pointing the finger at. Him one
theory Had hackett as the lone, killer Following shannon into
the marsh and murdering. Her another theory suggested That hackett
had Killed shannon because he was covering up for something
(21:46):
even more.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Terrifying Here's Robert.
Speaker 16 (21:48):
KOLKER i interviewed the people In Oak beach who believe
the doctor is hiding. Something some of the things that
they say, are you, know have to do with grand
conspiracies of neighbors who have been doing supposedly horrible things for.
Years they come short of saying that it's a satanic,
cult but it's close to.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
That it's like a weird.
Speaker 16 (22:06):
Games where they prey on young women and it makes
you think of eyes wide.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Shut now for those of you who don't. Know Eyes Wide,
shut a film directed By Stanley, kubrick follows A manhattan
doctor who stumbles into a mysterious masquerade ball where a
cult like sex rituals, occur culminating in the murder of
a sex worker and its cover.
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Up those were not just ordinary people. There IF i
told you their, NAMES i don't think you'd sleep so.
Well you called it a fake?
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Charade do you mind telling me what kind of fucking
charade ends with somebody turning up?
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Dead she was a, chunky she.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Odeed now let's stick with reality. Here could Doctor hackett
have given Shen inn a? Sedative, Absolutely but he also
had a prosthetic, leg which would have made it nearly
impossible for him to run down and Murder. Shannon as
for the alleged weird, games rumors of men who were
(23:07):
waiting For shannon In brewer's basement who then hunted her
through the. Marsh as outlandish as it, sounds people still
bought into.
Speaker 15 (23:16):
It there's no other way to describe this except.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Explosive these high ranking government officials have ties choke beach
with sex.
Speaker 13 (23:23):
Parties what does the public need to put two and two?
Speaker 14 (23:25):
Together?
Speaker 10 (23:26):
Here what do they think happen to these?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Girls and that's.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Because of whispers that Circled Oak beach for, years claims
that politicians and police had partied out In Oak beach
parties that included, drugs sex, workers and of course. Power
and if you know anything about cops and, politicians well
that's not really a, stretch is. It but there's a darker,
(23:50):
reason one that's far more difficult to wrap your head.
Around it's because of what those same officials were about to.
Uncover seven months into the search for shann And, gilbert
reading less than a half mile away in the, beach called, kilgo.
Speaker 12 (24:07):
Good, afternoon. Everybody my name Is, Swelsa John. Malthia this
is my part in the canine. Glue you work in
the shoulder or. Road this tail started, Waving he started
indicating to a spot off the. Parkway at that POINT
i saw the skeletal remains of a. Body the second
day we found the second, body and we found the third,
body and then ultimately the fourth, body all within about
(24:28):
five hundred feet of each.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Other it was almost an unbelievable. COINCIDENCE a cadaver dog
on his way back from a training mission to Find
shannon finds, instead over nine miles, away the remains of
a different sex, worker and then, another and then, another
and then. Another, Eventually Suffolk county would uncover ten victims
(24:51):
in all, discovery so shocking residents didn't know what to.
Speaker 17 (24:56):
Think you have a serial killer's jumping bodies along the.
Speaker 18 (24:59):
Stretch we certainly we're looking at that that we could
have a serial.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Killer after determining That shannon wasn't among those ten, victims
detectives were now faced with two overwhelming. Mysteries what happened To?
Shannon where was her? Body and what terrifying tragedy led
to these other ten victims whose bodies they did? Have
(25:23):
and now there were even more families demanding.
Speaker 8 (25:26):
Answers do you think it's part of The gilgo? KILLINGS
i believe it's all.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Connected after finishing their grim task On Ocean, parkway detectives
doubled down on their theory That shannon was somewhere back
in That Oak beach. Marsh but they had to wait
until late fall until they could drain nearly a square
mile of water log. Terrain only then could they bring
in a, giant amphibious excavator and a helicopter to perform
(25:54):
a grid.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Search it's an area that is dense with.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Brush it's been very hot for the, investment gets the
cells and even the cadava dogs to get into. It
after an exhaustive, search they Found shannon's, genes then her,
purse then her cell, phone and then, finally about a
quarter mile, away her.
Speaker 18 (26:18):
Remains after a massive, search we have located a set
of skeletal remains we believe at this time to belong
To Shannon.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Gilbert there were no physical signs of abuse or, trauma
adding credence to the original police theory That shannon suffered
a mental, episode ran into the marsh and succumb to the.
Elements Yet mary believed, differently and now backed by her,
Attorney John, ray she sued The Suffo County Police department
(26:51):
for access to the nine to one one tape as
part of a wrongful death suit against Doctor Peter.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Hackett have you ever heard the nine one one?
Speaker 13 (26:59):
Call it was read to me by the. CORONER i
never heard.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
It why did they never play it for?
Speaker 13 (27:06):
You they refused.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Him they tell you why they.
Speaker 13 (27:10):
Refused they, refused saying it is still a piece of.
Evidence they. Said she wasn't. Murdered it was an, accident
so evidence that what it made no.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
Sense it didn't make.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Sense but why were they holding back because approved their
incompetence opening the door for a multimillion dollar? Lawsuit was
it something?
Speaker 13 (27:36):
MORE i believe they're not being honest about.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Her nom'mun.
Speaker 13 (27:41):
Call it's not a lot to go through to hide
the police in competence when a lot of the, police governor's,
businessmen they're They're, john's you, Know shannon said to me,
once she, Said, mom you don't know who my clients.
Are she, SAYS i have, COPS i have, DOCTORS i
(28:05):
have lawyers and, judges she, says moments.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Everywhere while Making The Killing, season we were contacted by
a former detective who will Call, hawkshaw who worked for
The Manhattan District Attorney's. Office Has hawkshaw, Explained Suffo county
has had a long history of, corruption documented claims of coercive,
interrogations retaliations against, whistleblowers and of, course sexual. Misconduct he
(28:34):
told us that In Suffolk, county the top cops the
bosses were like, kings kings who felt they were untouchable
and bedded with, politicians business, leaders and as we were
about to find out everyone. Else why do you think
that tape was?
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Unreleased, well there's something on it that they don't want
somebody to. Hear this is a very big political, area
then a lot of important. People she may have utters
names that then they don't want you to hear.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
It as much As hawkshaw's theories sounded a bit, conspiratorial
we also hadn't forgotten about those rumors In Oak, beach
the parties with police and, politicians where there were drugs
and most importantly sex.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Workers they consistently recruit girls from these strip joints AND
i have wild parties down.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
Here who is?
Speaker 12 (29:25):
There?
Speaker 5 (29:26):
Police?
Speaker 17 (29:28):
Politicians so your allegation is, that in due course of
protecting certain, people we are not really getting to the
heart of the serial killer.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Cases that's my, opinion.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
Just based on my experience and my.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Background, so Had shannon mentioned names on that nine to
one one, call names that were being deliberately omitted to protect,
people people who could provide information that could potentially solve
the murders of ten other sets. Workers, yet how could
that be If shannon wasn't connected.
Speaker 4 (30:04):
To those other. Murderers and if she, wasn't then why
not release the.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Tapes as much as it all didn't make, sense it
also did because if you start to hear enough rumors
about cops and parties and sex, workers then those rumors
start to become something, else a, thread a thread that
you keep pulling on over and over until eventually everything
(30:34):
starts to slowly. Unravel the theories put forth By Mary
gilbert And, hawkshaw claims of a cover up related to
escorts and high profile john's would remain nothing more than
(30:56):
that theories until we could find some shred about, evidence
or some sliver of, corroboration something that would add credibility
to this alleged. Conspiracy though in the end the evidence found.
Us just a month after our show, aired we were
(31:18):
contacted by a woman who will Call, leanne a sex
worker From Long, island claiming to have intimate details about
those rumored wild parties In Oak. Beach and so we
met lean in a car outside our.
Speaker 17 (31:33):
Office, okay let's do, this fine Nut.
Speaker 14 (31:40):
Rollian.
Speaker 12 (31:42):
All?
Speaker 7 (31:42):
Right can you put your hand in?
Speaker 14 (31:44):
Here all?
Speaker 19 (31:46):
Right so when you were called to go to these
parties At Oak, beach did you know That shannon had
disappeared From Oak beach at that?
Speaker 15 (31:54):
TIME i knew that something had, happened BUT i was,
young TWENTY i was in.
Speaker 19 (31:59):
Pain attention the police officers who are at these, parties
are they still in law enforcement?
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Now they're very much still in these soliciting.
Speaker 19 (32:08):
Escorts you hung out with them at parties in twenty.
Speaker 8 (32:12):
Eleven, yes drugs were, There drugs were, there prastitudes were.
There burke was. There do you have any relations With
burke at this? Parties burke AND i had had? Sex?
Speaker 4 (32:21):
Yes and was he violent at?
Speaker 8 (32:23):
All burke was a very aggressive, person very, narcissistic.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Godlike not only Was leanne claiming that she had attended
these infamous, parties but while there she had sex with
a police.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Official Named James.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Burke, Now burke was one of those top cops we've
mentioned before who Treated Suffolk county like it was their own.
Fiefdom but what's important is that six months after this alleged,
Party James burke would replace the Former, Commissioner Richard dormer
to become The Suffolk County chief Of.
Speaker 15 (33:01):
Police we're dealing with one of the most corrupt departments
in the, country and they just keep showing it left
and right and left and. Right i've Seen Suffolk county
at parties after and it's completely shady. Behavior they did
it right after the whole thing Unfolded april twenty, eleven
and they need to cover that.
Speaker 6 (33:20):
Up i'm not surprised at police officers party with, escorts
with escorts and with. Drugs, sure the fact that they
did it In Oak, beach which was so right around the,
corner just right after these.
Speaker 8 (33:33):
Women we don't, matter, right we don't.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Matter the idea Of Seffa county police officials having sex
with escorts In Oak beach While shannon was still, missing
just a few houses away from where she, disappeared and
right after that same police department had just uncovered ten
bodies less than nine miles, away was beyond. Arrogant and
(33:59):
while there was no way to Corroborate land's claims at the,
time her story rang. True and that's Because burke wasn't.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Just a bad.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Guy he was a really bad, guy a police chief
who'd just been arrested for crimes that would forever change
The Gilgo beach.
Speaker 18 (34:18):
Murderers Former Suffolk County chief Of Police James burke was
put in handcuffs this.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Morning Jimmy burke is the sociopath without.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Question the disgrace police official may have connections to ten
women who are believes have been murdered by the serial
killer On Long.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Island see if he's still denying the.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Accusations ready to keep, Listening remember you can binge the
rest of the season right now with An iHeart True
Crime plus subscription available exclusively On Apple.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
Podcasts.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Plus you get exclusive bonuses and ad free. Listening so
head To Apple podcasts Search iHeart True Crime plus and subscribe.
Today Hunting Long island Serial killer is a production Of
TENDERFOOT tv And iHeart. Podcasts, hosted, written and executive produced
(35:27):
by Me Josh, Zemon produced and written By Caitlin, Colford Donald,
Albrighton Payne lindsay our executive producers on behalf Of TENDERFOOT.
Tv Matt frederick And Trevor, young our executive producers on
behalf Of iHeart. Podcasts original music By Alex, Lasarenko David
little And makeup And Vanity. Set our supervising producer Is John.
(35:51):
Street editing and writing By Daniel. Lonsberry additional voiceover provided
By Rachel. Millstion production provided By Ghost, Robot sound, design
mix and master By Dayden cole cover design By byron,
McCoy Interns Arnetta, Fontinat Shelby, Hanson Alec walker And Fox.
(36:15):
Williams Ana Television NETWORKS. Llc audio from The killing season
used under License copyright twenty twenty FIVE a AND A
Television NETWORKS.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
Llc all rights.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Reserved special thanks to the team At United Talent, agency
The Nord, Group Brad, Abramson Todd, Leebowitz Rich, perrillo And
Jigsaw Productions Rachel, Mills Zachary, Mortensen Jen, Beegle David, Baker
joe Jack alone And Evan, krause as well as the
teams At iHeart podcasts And TENDERFOOT. Tv find us on
(36:52):
social media At Monster underscore. Pod for more podcasts Like
Monster hunting The Long island Serial, killer Search TENDERFOOT tv
in your podcast app or Visit tenderfoot dot. Tv and
if you want to keep following my hunt for The
Long island Serial killer or a deeper dive into my
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(37:15):
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