The Gilgo Beach murders refer to a string of killings uncovered in December 2010, when police searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert discovered multiple sets of human remains along a stretch of Ocean Parkway on Long Island, New York. Over time, investigators identified at least ten sets of remains, including four women—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello—collectively known as the “Gilgo Four.” These women were sex workers who had advertised services online and were believed to have been targeted in similar ways. Their remains were all found within a quarter mile of each other, suggesting the work of a single serial killer.

The case quickly grew more complex as other bodies were found in the vicinity, including those of men and a toddler, raising questions about whether multiple killers were involved. The murders became one of the most notorious unsolved cases in the U.S., plagued by investigative missteps, accusations of police corruption, and years of stagnation. In 2022, renewed investigative efforts using modern forensic techniques and cellphone data led authorities to Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect who was arrested in 2023 and charged with several of the murders. His arrest has provided long-awaited answers, but the full scope of the killings—and whether all the victims can be linked to one perpetrator—remains unresolved.


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