5 foot or under, 100 pounds. John Oliva: It could be a combination of both. By early 2007, things seemed to be looking up for Maureen. James Burke was the top investigator in Spotas office, at one point, before he was recommended for the Chief of Departments job with Suffolk Police. Maureen and three others were found first and dubbed the Gilgo Four. Subscription terms | When she stopped calling home in July of 2009, her mother panicked. Maureen's friend, Sara Karnes, can't believe they haven't found her killer in all these years. I don't know what I'm waiting on. Missy Cann: She didn't run away. Burke was released from prison to a halfway house in November 2018. Weeks, and then months, passed with no word from Shannan. I have to prove it, and I intend to prove it. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dominick Varrone: it was probably the biggest case we ever had, and we put a tremendous amount of effort into that case. Hackett was prescribing drugs for the whole community. I didn't realize that part of it. Indictments are sealed.undisclosed investigation behind the scenes http://www.GilgoBeachCoverUp.com. Maureen's sister Missy Cann will wait as long as it takes. That morning police revealed for the first time that they believed they found the remains of Shannon Gilbert. Thats what John Ray, attorney for Shannan Gilberts family, is suggesting. Sara Karnes: It was just awesome. I miss her so much. He also is reported to have refused help from the FBI to work the LISK case, an act that makes many suspicious of what he might have been hiding. Sara helped Missy reconstruct Maureen's last weekend. Save custody of her son? JOHN RAY [at burial]: We come to perpetuate Shannan Are you surprised that she is chosen for this higher purpose of justice? Lily was just 3 years old when Megan vanished. Leanne also claims to have had several other Suffolk County police officers as clients and offered to take a lie detector test to back up her story. Quite odd. ". In 2016, James Burke was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to depriving a person of civil rights and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice in connection to the Christopher Loeb case. I just want answers. Ive heard Gus Colletti is lying on the 911 tape and doesnt offer to help. Elizabeth Meserve: She was afraid he would hurt her family; he would hurt Lilliana. In other words, he *could* have actually been trying to *save* her. Megan's family says the 22-year-old from Scarborough, Maine, was a spunky but troubled kid who loved fashion. Missy Cann: My sister was a wonderful person. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. But in January 2012, a new police chief took over the department and Varrone was forced to retire. WebThe only real things that make me even consider the possibility are the Janice Fullam disappearance from Smithtown in 1981, the proximity of Lowrita's Massapequa apartment to the Massapequa motel and Lowrita's connection to Amityville. John Ray: It's hard to say. 'We all knew Burke did it:' Prosecution's star witness returns to the stand for trial of former Suffolk DA, top aide, Retired Suffolk lieutenant kept meticulous calendars of Spota, McPartland conversations, Key witness says he had conversations with Spota, McPartland about Burke cover-up, Ex-Suffolk detective 'feared for everything' during alleged Spota cover-up, DA Spota says he never spoke with Bellone about Burke, 2011 letter from Spota denies James Burke misdeeds, Former Suffolk officer admits he took part in Loeb beating during testimony in Spota trial. Burke and Spota met in 1979, when the brutal murder of a boy found behind a school rocked the peaceful suburb of Smithtown, Long Island. And, if he were, do you think hed be very vocal about it, knowing what he just stumbled into? NEWS REPORT: Waterman was last seen in Hauppauge, NY on Long Island at a Holiday Inn Express. It was the search for Shannan Gilbert that led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four. First, Chief of Detectives Dominick Varrone suddenly found himself out of a job. They reported her disappearance to the police. He says in an off-camera interview (with 48 Hours, I think) that he passed a lie detector test with flying colors. 48 Hours says the SCPD wouldnt comment on that. He was a middle-age white man that she had seen one or twice before. Missy Cann: She was very smart, very creative. According to court testimony, detectives begin to beat him before Burke himself took over. how did this person look? Amber Costello, 27, disappeared in September 2010, after she left her home on Long Island to meet a client. And then to Sherre's shock, investigators said they didn't think Shannan was murdered. I have wondered about that as well. Homes for wayward/troubled girls? That is an antiquated expression used in the 1930s and 40s, apt to be used by elderly people. Honestly, I dont even know where to start. Many of the Gilgo Beach victims, whose bodies were discovered in December2010 wrapped in burlap and discarded on a stretch of Ocean Parkway, had also been strangled. On Dec. 13, 2011, Mari Gilbert, left, the mother of Shannan Gilbert, Melissa Cann, center, the sister of Maureen Brainerd-Barnes, and Lorraine Ela, the mother of Megan Waterman, joined each other on Long Island for a long-planned vigil. Shannan had last been seen in the area near his home, and her belongings were found scattered in the marsh behind his house. But a source told Newsday that he has not decided on any plans but to take several months to relax with boating in the summertime and stay out of the limelight. Even though James reputation has taken a hit, especially with Vice calling him a sex-obsessed narcissist and a middle-aged bachelor with a vulgar disregard for social niceties, the facts remain that there is no concrete evidence that ties him to the serial killings. you could never ever, ever be bored around her. Dominick Varrone was chief of the Suffolk County Detectives in 2010. Something that frustrates attorney John Ray. Also rumors of satanic worship and sacrifice. The women also shared other striking similarities. She was a talented young woman from a troubled family dreaming of a singing and acting career. John Oliva: The rumor mills were running wild. But Missy had no luck in her search. Contact Newsday | Geraldine Hart was a career FBI agent assigned to the Long Island bureau when the agency was cut out of the serial killer investigation. In an explosive news conference on Thursday, Ray brought forth a Long Island escort named Leanne who claims about a year after Gilbert went missing, she was roughed up in a sexual encounter with former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke in an Oak Beach house party where alcohol and cocaine were prevalent. James Burke, as we all know, is now serving out a 46-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to beating a man in custody who stole a duffel bag filled with sex toys and pornography out of his SUV and then conspiring with officers to cover up his actions. When PIX11 contacted Spotas office Wednesday for comment, we did not receive a response. That's what keeps Shannan's sister Sherre going, too. Loeb stole Burke's duffle bag containing his gun belt, porn and sex toys. Discarded in a similar fashion, roughly 500 feet apart, each of them swathed in burlap. If you met him you would know he did it too. Pak is rumored to have been a pimp in Jersey City around that time also, so its not clear exactly what their deal was. Well, I'm not. Convicted of: Deprivation of civil rights; conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. So, they decided to update their photos instead and hired a photographer. They even found pain pills in Burkes cell. Varrone worked with the FBI to come up with a profile of the killer. Long Island Serial Killer: Did Police Corruption Derail ", In her first TV interview, Lily Waterman tells "48 Hours" that if she could talk to her mom, she would tell her how much she loves her. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. It isnt outrageous because it is the truth. John Ray: The Suffolk County Police department failed to protect the lives of these people who are now gone. GERALDINE HART [to reporters]: Valerie Mack who was 24 years old in 2000 when she went missing was described as 5 feet tall and approximately 100 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. And the man tasked with finding the elusive serial killer. Also the borough of Queens is geographically connected to Long Island:,,conveniently. Privacy Policy | And two days after Shannan disappeared, Sherre says Hackett made a disturbing phone call to Shannan's mother, Mari Gilbert. He is retired from the police force but is still haunted by the man who got away: the Long Island serial killer. Sherre Gilbert: It was emotional, it was sad. Follow me on Twitter and on Facebook. Erin Moriarty: You believe this killer has a specific type of woman that he was choosing to kill? Lynn Barthelemy: Every single minute of the day. Hart says the belt belonged to a large male. ), The Lifetime versionalso shows how a Suffolk County carpenter namedJohn Bittrolff might have been connected to the case. Why wouldnt Shannan go with him? ( m. Shaheen Tokhi is the associate producer. I couldn't process it because my whole life, I thought that she just got, like, stolen, and she never came back. Erin Moriarty: Why did she stay with him? Burke, who was named Suffolk police chief Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Gus Garcia-Roberts: He was extremely powerful for a police chief. Erin Moriarty: And save her son? Former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke is thought to be a person of interest to some who have followed the Long Island Serial Killer case. Leanne claims Burke choked her and forced her into oral sex after calling her a not a good whore and paying her for her services in 2011, just months before he assumed the role of police chief. John Ray: We have 11 dead people, and nobody's found anybody connected to them? CHRISTOPHER LOEB [in court]: Every time I asked for a lawyer I got hit again, I got hit again, I got choked, I got slapped, I got kicked. It's just like something is always off. Dave Schaller [2011 interview]: She was an amazing person, she really was. Sara Karnes: she picked old '40s Hollywood glamour the way her curls fell that day just looked so '40s with the makeup and everything like that. Megan was last seen on June 6, 2010, leaving a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge, N.Y. Melissa Barthelemy, 24, went missing in July 2009. Reprints & permissions | The Gilbert family didn't believe her death was accidental and retained Long Island attorney John Ray. What she didnt tell her family was that she was advertising her services on Craigslist and on occasion through an escort agency called James Bond Entertainment as Chloe. I mean, over and over and over again. No wonder it's been the subject of numerous films and documentary projects. Missy called the police and reported Maureen missing in her hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, and also in New York City. He is forbidden by court order from sharing the contents, but insists they shed light on Shannan's disappearance. Cruz began taking Megan to Long Island, where he pushed her into prostitution. "Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice debuts on Saturday at 8/7c on Lifetime. Burke, who was named Suffolk police chief in 2012, beat a handcuffed prisoner who had been charged with stealing a duffel bag from Burkes police-issued vehicle, officials said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Burke is charged with violating the civil rights of a Smithtown man, by beating himafter Christopher Loeb was arrested for breaking into Burkes department vehicle in 2012and stealing Burkes bag, which contained not only a gun and ammunitionbut also sex toys and porn. Copyright var currentYear = new Date().getFullYear();document.write(currentYear); Newsday. A DNA swab from his brother, obtained during an unrelated arrest, connected his DNA to that found on two murder victimsfrom the 1990s. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Maureen was the first of the Gilgo Four to disappear that summer night in 2007. Nov. 27, 2017: Brown: Third time a charm for Suffolk top cop search? All she knew was that someone had taken her sister. Loeb watched the proceedings inside the Central Islip courtroom and took notes. Erin Moriarty: I mean, he became police chief. WebEleanor Durkin. Prosecutors say Spota and McPartland tried to cover up the beating of Christopher Loeb by then-Police Chief James Burke. Burkeended cooperation with the FBI on the serial killer case and other major investigations. Today, former FBI agent Geraldine Hart now police commissioner -- is breathing new life in the case. Gilbert is was not just randomly placed there by a separate serial killer either but by the same group of guys. Eventually, police would find 10 sets of remains in the area. There were other striking similarities. I dont believe Charles Peter Hackett called Shannon Gilberts mother to let her know why he ordered drugs for Shannon. Burke faces a second federal count of conspiracy to obstruct a federal, civil rights investigation. "It's extraordinarily complex" says Hart. Her final secret was the $1000 date she had lined up the night of her disappearance. In the days before Maureen disappeared, she was under enormous financial pressure. Please enable notifications or using normal browsing mode. He said it's total B.S.". In 2014, whenBittrolff was arrested for the two 1990s murders, then-Suffolk County District AttorneyTom Spota dismissed any potential links to the Gilgo Beach case, saying there was no"evidentiary or investigative link" between the two, according to PIX 11. Mr. Spota and Mr. McPartland, 55, had each Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Lily Waterman: Yeah, for sure. Dominick Varrone: I had tremendous amount of knowledge on the case. I'm yanked off the case. Previously he wrote us, saying, "I never 'treated' her She was never in my home." He is most Dominick Varrone: I get a phone call that I'm being told to retire within 15 days, or I'd be demoted to captain. Elizabeth Meserve: And when she didn't call, then I know that was her last day. In the early 1990s, he had sex with a prostitute in his police car, and also failed to safeguard his weapon. But Hart insists Shannan's case is still open. Using new genetic genealogy tools, investigators were finally able to identify one of the victims found on Ocean Parkway. Sherre Gilbert: Her singing. Burke pleaded guilty in February 2016 to conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and violating the victims civil rights and was sentenced in November 2016 to 46 months in prison. Tangredi, 31, was found beaten and strangled to death in 1993, and McNamee, 20, was found murdered in the same manner the following year. Despite Hackett's denials, Ray believes the doctor did encounter Shannan early that morning and gave her improper medical treatment. Dominick Varrone: We knew his background and we knew at that time that they had crossed state lines coming from Maine to Long Island. Internal Affairs investigated the incident, but Burke kept his job. And then, there's a guy on the other end. Not on your life. Not a day goes by that Lily Waterman doesn't miss her mom, Megan. 5: Jessica Taylor, an escort missing since 2003, Victim No. Missy logged into Maureen's email accounts and got a shock. No wonder it's been the subject of numerous films and documentary projects. "She called at a train station in New York From Penn Station. Sherre Gilbert: Oak Beach is a very eerie place to me. It's very, like, blurry because it was so long ago. Geraldine Hart: Not having the FBI involved consistently from the beginning has definitely hindered this investigation. That same year, an escort also came out to pose allegations against him. In 2015, before James Burke was sentenced to severe 46 months along with three years of supervised release, he resigned from his post. The remains of Jane Doe No. Sharing her story for the first time on television. Lily Waterman: Yeah. A judge dismissed a wrongful death claim, but other allegations are still pending. As for the person dismembering bodies-could be the doctor-he knows anatomy. "They're all 4' 11, very petite hazel green eyes," says Varrone. I was pushed out. And then in other situations sort of intimidating and sort of brutish. Missy Cann wants are answers and justice. Thats not something you see every day. A violent, arrogant piece of garbage that tried to block the investigation. But he didn't know that my sister had a sister like me. / CBS News. Ray also commissioned a second autopsy. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. When she was away, Megan called Lily every night. He called seven times, threatening her younger sister, and torturing her with details of Melissa's murder. From there, Suffolk County Police Chief James Burkegoes on to state at a press conference that investigators were looking into whether or not he had anything to do with the women killed in the Long Island Serial Killer case.The movie even ends with an addendum stating that Bittrolff was convicted in the deaths of two of the women found., So were there actual links between Bittrolff and the broader case?. Dominick Varrone, then chief of detectives, was struck by an odd detail. ; div. Cookie Settings | You were scared for your life. At some point she turned to sex work. Varrone says her skeletal remains were found collapsed in thick brush. Dominick Varrone, then chief of detectives of the Suffolk County Police Department, says he hoped to solve what has become the largest unsolved murder case in New York history, and helped organize a task force to investigate. But where was Shannan? Sara Karnes: She was a very giving person, and very loyal. Lily Waterman: It's never going to be over. John Ray: he said that that would be consistent with homicide. Many of the Gilgo Beach victims, whose bodies were discovered in December2010 wrapped in burlap and discarded on a stretch of Ocean Parkway, had also been strangled. John Ray: The murderer will be outed. When the old man told him, I called the cops, he replied, you shouldnt have done that. This could have two possible meanings: In one, Paks concern is for the freedom of the killer; in the other, his concern *is for her* as he could have recently been made aware, one way or another, that it was indeed a member(s) of SCPD who was threatening her life. John Oliva: One of the highest paid departments in the country. Lynn Barthelemy's 24- year-old daughter Melissa had been missing a year-and-a-half when her remains turned up on Gilgo Beach. Many of these characteristics are shared by the Gilgo Four. Along with that, as he hasnt faulted, we assume that he is also cooperating with the authorities when required. I didn't care what she was doing. 6: Another set of remains police called Jane Doe number 6. Burke has a long history with law enforcement, beginning when he was a 14 year old witness in a brutal murder case, involving a 13-year old boy who had stones shoved down his throat in 1979. Look, Im not saying he isnt on to something herebut the fact that this guy just called a press conference basically accusing the former chief of police of being a serial killer? And as the sun went down, they held a vigil in their honor. Disgraced Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke was released from prison in April, 2019. At the time this was written, he has not been charged for anything related to the Long Island Serial Killer case. Geraldine Hart: It's new associates and friends and family to talk to -- people who can tell us her whereabouts and her connections. Please enter valid email address to continue. John Bittrolff inside Riverhead Criminal Court Thursday, July 31, 2014, in Riverhead, N.Y. which involvesthe murders of at least 10people in New York over a nearly 20-year period, remains unsolved and continues to be a deep source of curiosity in the world of true crime. She's always going to be gone. Back in Scarborough, the family heard from Cruz that Megan was missing. As far as we know, James is now following his relief requirements by regularly meeting with his probation officer and providing them with his monthly income and expense statements. Now, there's another movie plumbing the mysterious depths of thecase, exploring the potential connections of several figures to the crimes, including a convicted murderer already serving time for the slayings of two women near where the killing spree unfolded. Hazel green eyes. "Some say the call was If she trusted Michael Pak soo much, why did she refuse to get into his car the night she disappeared?? In 2012, Ray filed a civil case against Peter Hackett. She thinks about her mom Megan every day. Plus, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons records, he was released from behind bars in 2019. She said that in 2011, she partied with James at an unknown Oak Beach home, where they engaged in rough sex. According to her, there were various drugs at the place, and she saw James use cocaine on a few occasions. Investigators made a full match to Bittrolff after obtaining a plastic cup from his trash. The family said in a video at the time of her disappearance she would never have willingly left her daughter. The remains of her older sister Maureen Brainard-Barnesmissing for more than three yearshad been discovered on Long Island. She was just so beautiful. 19?? The woman whose disappearance set off the search that led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four was Shannan Gilbert. Gus Garcia-Roberts: he's a reckless character driven by sex. (, Photo: I was just very, like, confused on why she, like, wasn't around. You can watch the full press conference here (and I do recommend watching the entire thing): Id like to make it known that James Burkes attorney, Joseph Conway, was quick to dismiss the claims as made at the press conference completely outrageous. Additionally, John Ray claimed he hasnt taken any of this to the FBI or authorities yet, though he plans to. July 13, 2013: Culture of cover-up: How deep is it? Longtime newspaper reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts is writing a book about Burke. Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer was stunned to have found the remains of four young women on an isolated stretch of Long Island's Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. The bodies of both women were dumped in wooded areas in the same area on Long Island's south shore: Tangredi in East Patchogue and McNamee in nearby Maureen's sister Melissa Cann says Maureen's death is always in the back of her mind. Burke declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. The family learned that Shannan's driver dropped her off at her client's house at 2 a.m. Nearly 3 hours later, Shannan made a panicked 23-minute call to 911. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! For more than a decade now, the elusive murderer alternately dubbedthe "Long Island Serial Killer," the "Gilgo Beach Killer," and the "Craigslist Ripper" has remained at large. Former Suffolk County Detective John Oliva, who investigated gang violence, says Burke's background set him apart from other cops there. Netflix's "Lost Girls," released in March 2020, explored similar themes, with Amy Ryan portraying Mari. The women were identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. Many have long suspected that when the DAs office refused help from the FBI on the LISK case, Burke was the reason behind that. In early 2012, weeks after the discovery of Shannan Gilbert's remains, her family's attorney John Ray dug in trying to understand what had happened to her. John Oliva: The chief of the department, four-star. Suffolk County Police; NYSP. and bam a serial killer was born. In the podcast, Christopher claimed that the bag contained sex toys, pornography, and what seemed to be snuff films that could link James to the LISK. I think the doctor called Shannons mother because he wanted to let her in on what was going onwith her daughter in a surreptitious way, thereby implicating himself. But my main focus was to find my sister. Shannan was visiting a client in the gated community of Oak Beach, Long Island, eight miles from Gilgo Beach when she vanished on May 1, 2010. A DNA swab from his brother, obtained during an unrelated arrest, connected his DNA to that found on two murder victimsfrom the 1990s. John Ray: Why isn't there an explanation as to why after 9 years the initials of the belt were finally for the first time revealed? Hence the biblical connection to whores of Babylon Shannon saw something that spooked her, perhaps a robe or an alter. In an explosive news conference on Thursday, Ray brought forth a Long Island escort named Leanne who claims about a year after Gilbert went missing, she was roughed up in a sexual encounter with former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke in an Oak Beach house party where alcohol and cocaine were prevalent. And he says he was not allowed to share what he knew about the serial killer with the new investigators. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Really smart. They were all sex workers in Gus Garcia-Roberts: Tom Spota by then had taken a shine to the kid and had taken him under his wing to some extent. Advertise with Newsday | BUT, the ex-chief of SCPD, in some interview on a very small, no viewership youtube channel seems to indicate otherwise, and backs up Paks claim (it seems like he didnt know, or just forgot, that the SCPDs policy was going to be no comment on this). And their families embraced Shannan's mother Mari as one of their own. Cuff tells News 12 he knew for years that he was an enemy of Burke. Erin Moriarty: Lily, do you remember when your mom disappeared? Victims 9 and 10: A female skull and a bag of female bones, both found in nearby Nassau County. In one piece of footage, a friend of LISK victim Melissa Barthelemy who only identified herself as Kritzia explained that her slain pal told her that she was planning to see a client on Long Island before she vanished. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 1957) James Michael Burke (September 24, 1886 May 23, 1968) was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City.