The Gilgo Beach murder investigation began on December 11, 2010, when Suffolk County Police were searching for missing Shannan Gilbert near Ocean Parkway on Long Island. While using a cadaver dog, officers instead discovered the remains of another woman wrapped in burlap later identified as Melissa Barthelemy. Over the next few days, police uncovered three more sets of remains Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello in close proximity. This shocking discovery launched a major investigation into what authorities soon believed was the work of a serial killer. The case expanded over the years as more remains were found in the area, sparking national attention and a decade-long hunt for the perpetrator