1980s–1990s: Early Unsolved and Pattern-Linked Cases

• February 3, 1982: Partial remains of Tina Foglia, 19, were found in plastic bags along the Southern State Parkway exit ramp. Hair was visible through one of the bags. She had been dismembered.
• October 10, 1991: Tiffany Dixon, 15, disappeared while walking to school in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
• October 10, 1991: Sandra Acosta, 26, was found strangled, drained of blood, and dismembered with a knife and chainsaw. Her body was discovered at 236 8th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
• March 3, 1992: Becky Detres, 20, was discovered dismembered in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. She had been strangled and cut with a knife.
• November 21, 1993: Sandra Costilla, 28, was found in a wooded area in North Sea, Southampton. She had been beaten and dumped partially clothed. In 2024, her murder was linked to Rex Heuermann by DNA.

1996–2003: Dismemberment & Expanding Case Pattern

• April 20, 1996: Remains of “Jane Doe Seven” later identified as Karen Vergata found on Fire Island. DNA later linked them to a skull discovered near Ocean Parkway on April 11, 2011.
• June 28, 1997: Torso of “Peaches” (unidentified African-American woman with a peach tattoo) found in Hempstead Lake State Park. Her daughter’s remains (“Baby Doe”) were later found in 2011.
• November 18, 2000: Dismembered remains of “Jane Doe Six”, later identified as Valerie Mack, were found in Manorville. Additional remains were discovered in 2011 along Ocean Parkway.
• July 26, 2003: Jessica Taylor, 20, was found dismembered in Manorville. Her skull and other remains were later discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2011. She was linked to Heuermann in 2024.
• August 11, 2003: Victoria Camara’s body discovered in the Nevada desert near U.S. 95.
• August 14, 2003: Jodi Marie Brewer, 19, disappeared from Las Vegas.
• August 22, 2003: Camara’s body officially identified by the Clark County Coroner.
• November 10, 2003: A Caucasian woman’s decomposed body was discovered near the Long Island Expressway in Manorville. Cause of death was inconclusive.

2007–2010: Gilgo Victims Begin Disappearing

• March 3, 2007: Torso of “Cherries” (unidentified woman with cherry tattoo) found in a suitcase in Mamaroneck, NY.
• July 9, 2007: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, disappeared after traveling to Manhattan. Later found among the Gilgo Four.
• July 12, 2009: Melissa Barthelemy, 24, disappeared from her Bronx apartment. Her sister later received taunting phone calls.
• June 6, 2010: Megan Waterman, 22, last seen leaving a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge, NY.
• September 2, 2010: Amber Lynn Costello, 27, disappeared after leaving home to meet a client. Her body was later found near Gilgo Beach.

2010–2011: Discovery & Escalation

• December 11, 2010: Melissa Barthelemy’s body found during a search for Shannan Gilbert along Ocean Parkway.
• December 13, 2010: Three more bodies found: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. These four became known as the Gilgo Four.
• January 24, 2011: SCPD publicly identified the Gilgo Four victims.
• March 29, 2011: Additional remains of Jessica Taylor discovered along Ocean Parkway.
• March 31, 2011: A fifth unidentified set of remains found (not Shannan Gilbert).
• April 4, 2011: Three more sets of remains discovered: an Asian male (John Doe), a toddler girl (Baby Doe), and Jane Doe Six (Valerie Mack).
• April 11, 2011: Skull of Karen Vergata discovered; DNA links Peaches and Baby Doe as mother and daughter.
• April 8, 2011: Killer used Melissa Barthelemy’s phone to taunt her sister from crowded NYC locations.
• May 9, 2011: DA Thomas Spota announced no conclusive link between all remains.
• May 17, 2011: Police reviewed other cold cases for links; Tanya Rush’s 2008 dismemberment mentioned.
• September 11, 2011: Police released sketches of Jane Doe Six and Baby Doe.
• November 11, 2011: Two more sets of remains found west of Gilgo Beach, including skull of Karen Vergata.
• November 29, 2011: Police ruled Shannan Gilbert’s death not tied to Gilgo Four.
• December 7, 2011: Shannan Gilbert’s purse and phone found in Oak Beach marsh.
• December 9, 2011: Shannan Gilbert’s skeletal remains discovered a quarter-mile from her belongings.
• December 14, 2011: First autopsy labeled her death as “inconclusive.”

2012–2016: Internal Collapse, New Investigations

• February 17, 2012: Skeletal remains of a male found off North Street, estimated to have been there five years.
• March 21, 2012: A woman’s body found in Manorville Hills County Park; estimated to have died a week prior.
• November 15, 2012: Mari Gilbert filed a lawsuit against SCPD demanding answers regarding her daughter’s death.
• December 12, 2012: Christopher Loeb stole a duffel bag from SCPD Chief James Burke’s vehicle, triggering a federal investigation.
• January 5, 2013: FBI officially opened an investigation into Burke’s conduct.
• January 23, 2013: Unidentified Asian woman’s remains found near Oyster Bay, bearing trauma and a pig pendant.
• March 16, 2013: Natasha Jugo disappeared; her car and belongings were found near Gilgo Beach.
• June 24, 2013: Jugo’s body washed up on Gilgo Beach.
• September 5, 2014: Independent autopsy by Dr. Michael Baden found damage to Shannan Gilbert’s hyoid bone, suggesting possible strangulation.
• October 5, 2015: SCPD Chief James Burke resigned amid the FBI probe.
• December 10, 2015: FBI formally joined the Gilgo Beach murder investigation.
• July 23, 2016: Mari Gilbert was tragically murdered by her daughter, Sarra Gilbert, who was later found not guilty by reason of insanity.