This article contains references to violence and murder.

Netflix's new crime docies, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, explores one of America's longest killing sprees, the unfortunate victims and the impact their deaths had on their families. Directed by Liz Garbus, the three-part Netflix docies offers new insight into a spree of murders that took place over a span of 28 years, and the long search to apprehend the suspect. The latest entry into Netflix's growing catalog of true crime documentaries, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, contains interviews with journalists, investigators and relatives of the victims who speak about their loss and search for justice.

The Netflix crime series depicts how the victims' families were able to form a bond as a result of their shared loss and worked together to raise awareness about the murders and the search to find the killer. Their campaign inspired the release of the 2020 movie, Lost Girls, a fictionalized adaptation of the killings. As seen in the ending of Lost Girls, there was much speculation as to who was responsible, and it took investigators many years before they made the announcement that they had made an arrest in connection to the murders.

The Long Island Serial Killers' Crimes Spanned From 1993 To 2011

DNA Testing Confirmed The Killer's Connection To Several Unsolved Murders

On May 1, 2010, a 24-year-old woman, Shannan Gilbert, who was working as an escort near Oak Beach, made a 9-1-1 call, stating that she was being followed on Long Island and somebody was going to kill her. In episode 1 of Gone Girls, the call to emergency services is played, and a terrified Gilbert is heard saying, "These people are plotting to kill me." The investigation into Shannan Gilbert's disappearance led to the discovery of the bodies of four women near Gilgo Beach, New York. All four women had been reported missing to police between 2007 and 2010.

As seen in episode 2 of Gone Girls, further human remains were discovered in 2011, which indicated that the Long Island Serial Killer's crimes stretched further than initially believed by authorities. In 2024, DNA tests and new charges also confirmed that the Long Island Serial Killer was connected to two previously unsolved murders in the same area, in 1993 and 2003 (via NPR). This revelation showed that the killer had a crime spree that lasted almost 30 years, and they defined the Gilgo Beach area as their disposal area for the victims' bodies.

How Many People The Long Island Serial Killer Is Suspected Of Killing

Not All The Suspected Victims Were Successfully Identified

As depicted in Gone Girls, the initial investigation into Shanann Gilbert's disappearance led to the discovery of four bodies across the border of Gilgo Beach. The four were eventually identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Watermann, and Amber Lynn Costello; the four were dubbed by the media as the Gilgo Four as their bodies were found within a quarter mile of each other and their connections to the escort industry. In the docies, Maureen Brainard-Barnes' sister, Melissa Cann, described her experience visiting the site as "sad," but "a point of healing" for her family.

Police later announced the discovery of five further unidentified victims in the Giglo Beach area, close to where the Giglo Four had originally been found. Two of the victims were eventually identified through DNA testing as Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor, who both disappeared in 1993 and 2003, respectively (via CBS News). Three further victims - a woman, her toddler daughter, and a person dressed as a man, or possibly a trans woman - have never been identified. While their identities remain unknown, investigators believe they are connected to the Long Island serial killer (via CNN).

On December 6, 2011, a search of a marsh uncovered the belongings of Shanann Gilbert, including her ID, phone and shoes; her remains were found on December 13, 2011, on the first anniversary of the discovery of the Gilgo Four. In 2012, it was announced by authorities that Gilbert had drowned in the marsh and marked her death as "inconclusive." Journalist and author Robert Kolker stated in Gone Girls that Gilbert's cause of death was assumed "without any investigation." Reporter, Jaclyn Gallucci also expressed her belief that Gilbert was murdered, and she is the unofficial 11th victim of the serial killer.

When The Long Island Serial Killers' Victims Were First Found

The Victims Were Found Spread Across New York Near Giglo Beach

The bodies of the Gilgo Four victims were found between December 11 and 13, 2010, with Brainard-Barnes' remains being one of the first to be identified (via Netflix). In Gone Girls, her friend, Sara Karnes, revealed that Brainard-Barnes had hoped to make $3,000 for an custody battle, and that she was "stressed" about not having enough money; Karnes stated that she knew something was wrong after Brainard-Barnes failed to attend the hearing. The four women were found in similar situations, wrapped in burlap and described by investigators as "very petite, 5 feet or under, 100 pounds" (via CBS News).

The partial remains of Valerie Mack were discovered in 2000 and 2011, but it wasn't until 2020 that her identity was confirmed; she had been previously listed as "Jane Doe No. 6" (via Philly Voice). Dismembered remains uncovered in 1996 and 2011 led to the positive identification of Karen Vergata, who had been listed as "Jane Doe No. 7." The torso of Jessica Taylor was positively identified in 2003, with further remains being uncovered in 2011. DNA analysis eventually linked her and Sandra Castilla, whose remains were found in 1993, to the Long Island Serial Killer.

When Rex Heuermann Was Charged With Murders Linked To The Long Island Serial Killer

Heuermann Is Still Awaiting To Stand Trial

In the years since the discovery of the bodies at Gilgo Beach, there has been speculation as to who was responsible for the killings. In 2017, it was announced that John Bittrolff, who was convicted in 2014 of the murders of Colleen McNamee and Rita Tangredi, was a potential suspect (via People). After an investigation, police found no DNA evidence connecting Bittrolff to the Gilgo Beach murders, so he faced no charges. In Gone Girls, Melissa Bathelemy's sister, Amanda Funderburg, expressed her disappointment, stating that she hoped to receive "a little closure" if Bittrolff was connected to her sister's death.

As of April 2025, no trial date has been announced, but Heuermann is currently being held in Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County, New York.

In December 2024, police announced that an architect, a surprising documentary plot twist, Heuermann's DNA was connected to the killings through a discarded pizza slice. As of April 2025, no trial date has been announced, but Heuermann is being held in Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County, New York. As depicted in Gone Girls, the victims' relatives are hopeful that justice will be served and will finally bring closure.

Source: NPR, CBS News (1), CNN, Netflix, CBS News (2), Philly Voice, People