Gilgo Case Timeline

Timeline of Events in the Gilgo Beach Serial Killings
More detailed information about specific victims can be found on the victims page

Timeline
February 3,1982

Tina Foglia

Partial remains were found by state highway workers who were picking up trash in several plastic bags along an exit ramp from the Southern State Parkway to the Sagtikos State Parkway in the North Bay Shore of Suffolk County, NY. According to a senior investigator, the Department of Transportation worker suspected the bags contained a body because of their shape, and as he got closer, he saw human hair.

February 3,1982

Tina Foglia

October 10, 1991

Tiffany Dixon

Tiffany Dixon disappeared on October 10 1991 while walking to school in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. She lived on Hart Street in Bushwick

October 10, 1991

Tiffany Dixon

October 10, 1991

Dicovery of Body Parts

Brainard-Barnes was found at Gilgo Beach

Cops discovered 13 body parts in a lot at 236 8th Street in Park Slope. It was the dismembered partial remains of a woman whose hands, feet, head, arms, and legs were cut into two were found. Later on, identified as Sandra Acosta. She’d been strangled to death, drained of blood, and dismembered at the shoulders, elbows, thighs, knees, and ankles with a knife and chainsaw. Sandra Acosta’s torso was never found.

October 10, 1991

Dicovery of Body Parts

October 10, 1991

Sandra Acosta

Sandra Acosta disappeared after last being seen at 185 Nevins Street in Brooklyn. Acosta was 4’11, 100 lbs and lived on Douglass Street in Park Slope.

October 10, 1991

Sandra Acosta

March 3, 1992

Becky Detres

Becky Detres

Two large garbage bags full of body parts in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Inside the two garbage bags were the dismembered remains of 27 year old Becky Detres. She’d been strangled and dismembered with a knife. Deters has grown up in Brooklyn and was short and thin with brown hair and eyes just like Sandra Acosta. Deters was known to use heroin and cocaine and reportedly worked as a sex worker, often around Classon Avenue and Fulton Street.

March 3, 1992

Becky Detres

1993

Sandra Costilla

Two hunters discovered 28-year-old Sandra Costilla's body in a wooded area in North Sea, Southampton, on Nov. 21, 1993

1993

Sandra Costilla

April 20, 1996

Jane Doe Seven - Karen Vergata

February 14, 1996: Karen Vergata last seen. Human remains were located in Davis Park on Fire Island. DNA later linked these remains to another set of remains on April 11, 2011, along Ocean Parkway, in Nassau County. These remains, known as Jane Doe Seven, were identified in July 2023 as Karen Vergata

April 20, 1996

Jane Doe Seven - Karen Vergata

June 28, 1997

Peaches

he dismembered torso of a young African-American female was found in Hempstead Lake State Park, New York. She had a tattoo of a heart-shaped peach on her left breast and was given the name "Peaches." Police estimate she had died less than 3 days before being discovered. Learn More About Peaches

June 28, 1997

Peaches

November 18, 2000

Valerie Mack

Remains of Manorville Jane Doe/Jane Doe number Six, later identified as Valerie Mack, are discovered in Manorville.

November 18, 2000

Valerie Mack

July 26, 2003

Jessica Taylor

Remains of Jessica Taylor are discovered in Manorville. Partial skeletal remains of Jessica Taylor were later located near Gilgo Beach on March 29, 2011

July 26, 2003

Jessica Taylor

August 11, 2003

Victoria Camara

Steven Webb, a gravel truck driver, discovered the body of a Hispanic female in the desert area just south of the haul road located approximately 1200 feet west of US 95, mile marker 52.

August 11, 2003

Victoria Camara

August 14, 2003

Jodi Marie Brewer

Jodi Marie Brewer disappeared from Las Vegas 20 years ago on Aug. 14, 2003, when she was 19

August 14, 2003

Jodi Marie Brewer

August 22, 2003

Victoria Camara body identified

The Clark County Coroner's Office confirmed the identity. It's believed Camara was murdered in the Las Vegas area; LVMPD homicide took over the investigation. Bolder City Police Detectives and LVMPD Detectives identified the body of the female as Victoria Camara.

August 22, 2003

Victoria Camara body identified

November 10, 2003

Body found in Manorville

A body was found south of the Long Island Expressway in Manorville. Hunters discovered the body in a wooded area several hundred yards from the expressway. Autopsy results were inconclusive (per the newspaper articles linked blow). The victim was Caucasian, 35 to 50 years old, about 5-foot-6 and had died up to four months earlier

November 10, 2003

Body found in Manorville

March 3, 2007

A suitcase containing the dismembered torso

A suitcase containing the dismembered torso of an unidentified Hispanic or light-skinned African-American female washed up on a beach at Harbor Island Park, in the town of Mamaroneck. The victim had a tattoo of two cherries on her left breast, which was similar in appearance to the tattoo found on Peaches. Never identified, the victim is referred to as "Cherries" by investigators. "Cherries" was dismembered in a fashion similar to three other victims: Jessica Taylor, "Peaches", and "Jane Doe No. 6", meaning she may be linked to the other official victims.

March 3, 2007

A suitcase containing the dismembered torso

July 9, 2007

Maureen Brainard-Barnes

Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25) was last seen in her room at the Super 8 Hotel in midtown Manhattan. She had left her home in Norwich, CT, to meet a client she had booked through Craigslist. She was reported missing on July 14, 2007. Maureen's body would be found on December 13, 2010, beside Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. She had been strangled

July 9, 2007

Maureen Brainard-Barnes

July 12, 2009

Melissa Barthelemy

Melissa Barthelemy (24) was last seen outside her apartment on Underhill Avenue in the Bronx. She had arranged for a $1,000 date with a client the next night somewhere on Long Island. After her disappearance, her sister received several phone calls from a man using Melissa's cell phone and claiming to be her killer.

July 12, 2009

Melissa Barthelemy

June 6, 2010

Megan Waterman

Security video footage shows Megan leaving the hotel alone at 1:30 AM. witness spotted Megan outside, walking toward a convenience store, and that was the last sighting of Megan Waterman. June 6 at 11: 00 am, Cruz called her grandmother in Scarborough (according to Megan’s mother) inquiring if they heard from Megan. He said she was missing. He said they had to wait 48 hours for the police to listen. Megan Waterman was 22 years old when she was last seen on June 6, 2010 leaving her hotel Holiday Inn Express, located at 2050 Express Drive South in Hauppauge.

June 6, 2010

Megan Waterman

September 2, 2010

Amber Lynn Costello

Amber Lynn Costello (27) was last seen by her roommate leaving her home in North Babylon to meet a client. The client had called three or four times and offered Amber $1,500 for her services.

September 2, 2010

Amber Lynn Costello

December 11, 2010

Melissa Barthelemy

During the search for Shannan Gilbert, the Suffolk County Police Department’s Canine Unit discovers human remains, later identified as Melissa Barthelemy.

December 11, 2010

Melissa Barthelemy

December 13, 2010

Police discovered Amber

Police discovered Amber's body on December 13, 2010, beside Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. She had been strangled.

December 13, 2010

Police discovered Amber

January 24, 2010

Police reveal the identities of victims

Police reveal the identities of three remaining victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello. Megan Waterman These four victims are referred to as the "Gilgo Beach Four."

January 24, 2010

Police reveal the identities of victims

March 29, 2011

Jessica Taylor

Partial skeletal remains are located east of the December 2010 discovery site along Ocean Parkway, matching the remains of Jessica Taylor, previously located on January 26, 2003.

March 29, 2011

Jessica Taylor

March 29, 2011

additional remains of Jessica Taylor

Police return to Gilgo Beach to search for Shannan Gilbert. One mile East of the original site, police discover a skull, forearm, and hands. These would later be identified as additional remains of Jessica Taylor, whose torso was found in Manorville in 2003

March 29, 2011

additional remains of Jessica Taylor

March 30, 2011

Discovery of more possible human remain

Police confirm the discovery of human remains at a site east of the original search location. Police find a skull, hands, and forearm, later verified to be additional remains of Jessica Taylor, the woman whose torso was found in Manorville in 2003. Other human remains are also found along Ocean Parkway, three-quarters of a mile east of where the first four bodies were discovered.

March 30, 2011

Discovery of more possible human remain

March 31, 2011

Police discovered the fifth set of remains

Police discovered the fifth set of remains but those remains are not those of Shannan Gilbert.

March 31, 2011

Police discovered the fifth set of remains

April 4, 2011

Multiple victims Found

Three sets of remains are located along Ocean Parkway. One set is determined to be of a female toddler and another of an Asian male. Neither victim has been identified. The third set, known as Jane Doe Six, was later identified as Valerie Mack, whose partial remains were located in Manorville on November 19, 2000.

April 4, 2011

Multiple victims Found

April 4, 2011

The body of an Asian male

John Doe #8 - Found The body of an Asian male dressed in women’s clothing was discovered. The victim may have been transgender. The cause of death was determined to be blunt-force trauma to the head. Police believe he died sometime between five and ten years prior to his remains being found.. May have suffered from a musculoskeletal condition that affected their gait. Missing two molars as well as one of his top front teeth Predicted age between 17 and 23 Approximately 5ft6 in height He was wearing woman's clothing when he was found

April 4, 2011

The body of an Asian male

April 8, 2011

Taunting phone calls made by a killer

A series of taunting phone calls made to the Barthelemy sister of one of the victims — calls that the police suspect came from the killer — were made from in or around some of the most crowded locations in New York City, including Madison Square Garden and Times Square. Killer’s use of disposable cellphones to contact the four victims who have been identified — women in their 20s who advertised their services on Craigslist. The caller kept each of his vulgar, mocking and insulting calls to less than three minutes, according to the dead woman’s mother, Lynn Barthelemy. The caller made about a half-dozen calls over roughly five weeks to the victim’s sister.

April 8, 2011

Taunting phone calls made by a killer

April 11, 2011

Police uncover two more sets of remains in two separate locations.

The first discovery: female bones and jewelry found near the Jones Beach water tower. Described as "Jane Doe No. 3". DNA testing determines this is the same victim as Peaches and that she is the mother of the child (Baby Doe) found the week prior along Ocean Parkway. The second: a skull discovered west of Tobay Beach in Nassau County is later determined to be that of the Jane Doe No. 7 torso found in 1996 on Fire Island. A plastic bag containing upper and lower extremities was found near Jones Beach State Park. DNA testing later determined that this victim referred to as "Jane Doe #3," was the mother of the child found the week prior. A skull was discovered along Ocean Parkway west of Tobay Beach. This victim was referred to as "Jane Doe #7" and was later linked to the "Fire Island Jane Doe" whose legs were found in 1996 on Fire Island Police discovered skeletal human remains inside a plastic bag near Jones Beach State Park, referred to as "Jane Doe #3.

April 11, 2011

Police uncover two more sets of remains in two separate locations.

May 9. 2011

Spota There is no evidence that all of these remains are the work of a single killer;

There is no evidence that all of these remains are the work of a single killer; in light of the six latest discoveries, Spota revises his theory of the case, announcing “There is no evidence that all of these remains are the work of a single killer.”

May 9. 2011

Spota There is no evidence that all of these remains are the work of a single killer;

May 17, 2011

Police looking for possible links

Suffolk Police reveal they are reviewing other homicide cases for possible links to the bodies found along Ocean Parkway. The only case specifically mentioned is Tanya Rush, whose body was found on June 27, 2008 in Bellmore. The New York Post reported that Long Island police were revisiting other similar unsolved murders of prostitutes. Named in the article was Tanya Rush (39), a mother of three from Brooklyn whose dismembered body was found on June 27, 2008.

May 17, 2011

Police looking for possible links

September 11, 2011

The rest Remains Manorville Jane Doe

A skull, hands, and foot were found and referred to as "Jane Doe #6." These remains were later linked to the Manorville Jane Doe, whose torso was found in Manorville in 2000. Sketches were released in September 2011.3 An unidentified female toddler referred to as "Baby Doe." She was found wrapped in a blanket with no apparent signs of trauma.

September 11, 2011

The rest Remains Manorville Jane Doe

1993

Sandra Costilla

November 21, 1993 Body of Sandra Costilla was found.

1993

Sandra Costilla

November 11, 2011

More Remains Found

Two sets of remains are located off of Ocean Parkway in Nassau County, seven miles west of Gilgo Beach. One set of remains was determined to be the mother of the female toddler discovered on April 4, 2011. The second set, known as Jane Doe Seven, were confirmed to belong to the same victim whose remains were located in Davis Park in 1996.

November 11, 2011

More Remains Found

November 29, 2011

Police says Shannan Gilbert Not Connected

Richard Dormer reveals that police now believe one serial killer is responsible and that Shannan Gilbert's case is unconnected. Dormer states: "We believe that it's just a coincidence that she went missing in Oak Beach and the bodies were found on Gilgo Beach."

November 29, 2011

Police says Shannan Gilbert Not Connected

December 7, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s phone and purse located.

December 2011, Suffolk County Police found Shannan Gilbert’s purse and mobile phone in Oak Beach marshland.

December 7, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s phone and purse located.

December 9, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s remains were located.

A quarter-mile east of her belongings, Shannan Gilbert’s remains were located.

December 9, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s remains were located.

December 14, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s First autopsy

The Suffolk County medical examiner took four days to perform an autopsy, but Richard Dormer preemptively announced Shannan's death as an accidental drowning due to the location of her body without having the results, which rightfully angered her surviving family members. Soon after, an official ruling could not be concluded, thus determining Shannan's death as inconclusive.

December 14, 2011

Shannan Gilbert’s First autopsy

February 17, 2012

Skeletal remains discovered

Skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area off North Street, west of Wading River Road. The body was wrapped in bed sheets, a plastic bag, and duct tape. Police determined the victim was a male and estimated the body had been there for at least five years.

February 17, 2012

Skeletal remains discovered

March 21, 2012

Body was discovered in Manorville

A female body was discovered in a heavily wooded Manorville Hills County Park area about 100 yards off the nearest dirt road. The body had been in a wooded area for "at least a week." Police stated the case was being treated as a homicide but declined to describe any obvious wounds found on the body.

March 21, 2012

Body was discovered in Manorville

November 15, 2012

A lawsuit was filed by mother, Mari Gilbert

A lawsuit was filed by her mother, Mari Gilbert, against the Suffolk County Police Department in the hopes of getting more answers about what happened to her daughter the night she went missing.

November 15, 2012

A lawsuit was filed by mother, Mari Gilbert

December 12, 2012

stolen bag from Chief of Police James Burke’s SUV

Christopher Loeb stole a bag from Suffolk Chief of Police James Burke’s SUV. While Loeb was in police custody he was threatened and assaulted by Burke, who allegedly coerced police who witnessed the incident to lie to federal investigators about what they saw. The bag contained Burke’s gun belt, ammunition, sex toys, pornography, and other items. According to Loeb the pornography was snuff films depicting a woman being tortured.

December 12, 2012

stolen bag from Chief of Police James Burke’s SUV

January 5, 2013

FBI investigation into Burke

May 2013, the FBI and the US Attorney's Office opened an investigation into alleged actions by Burke when employed as Chief of the Suffolk County Police Department, namely the alleged assault of a suspect in police custody, a subsequent cover-up, and coercion of witnesses

January 5, 2013

FBI investigation into Burke

January 23, 2013

The remains of a woman were discovered intentionally buried in a small piece of brush

The remains of a woman were discovered intentionally buried in a small piece of brush in a sandy area along the shore at the end of Sheep Lane in Lattingtown, near Oyster Bay. The remains are believed to be of a woman between the ages of 20 and 30, possibly Asian. She was wearing a 22-karat gold pig pendant, which may be a reference in some Asian cultures to "The Year of the Pig." There was trauma caused to her bones. Investigators believe she was buried before Hurricane Sandy in late 2012.

January 23, 2013

The remains of a woman were discovered intentionally buried in a small piece of brush

March 16, 2013

Natasha Jugo

Natasha Jugo (31) was last seen leaving her home near Alley Pond Park, Queens. Her car was found along Ocean Parkway and some of her clothes and belongings were found in the sand near Gilgo Beach the following day. Jugo was described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 120 pounds, with brown eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black robe, pink pajamas, a gray hooded sweatshirt, a black coat, and black boots. Jugo's family said that she had "a history of problems in which she thought people were following her". Police are unsure whether the case is connected to the LISK victims."

March 16, 2013

Natasha Jugo

June 24, 2013

Natasha Jugo Body Discovered

Natasha Jugo's body was discovered washed up on Gilgo Beach.

June 24, 2013

Natasha Jugo Body Discovered

September 5, 2014

2nd Autopsy Shannan Gilbert

Due to the controversy about Shannan Gilbert's death, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden agreed to conduct an independent autopsy of her remains in hopes of determining a clear cause of death. Upon examination of Gilbert's remains, Baden found damage to her hyoid bone, suggesting that strangulation may have occurred. Baden also noted that her body was found face-up, which is not common for drowning victims. Despite this, her death is still officially listed by police as an accident

September 5, 2014

2nd Autopsy Shannan Gilbert

October 5, 2015

Burke, who resigned & was reported to have blocked FBI involvement

October 2015, was reported that Burke to have blocked FBI involvement in the Gilgo Beach cases for years. The FBI had previously assisted in the search for victims but had never officially been a part of the investigation. In November 2016, Burke was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for assault and conspiracy.

October 5, 2015

Burke, who resigned & was reported to have blocked FBI involvement

December 10, 2015

FBI had officially joined the investigation

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini announced that the FBI had officially joined the investigation. The day before, former Police Commissioner James Burke resigned in October and was indicted for alleged police brutality and other issues. He was said to have blocked FBI involvement in the LISK cases for years. A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed their official involvement. The FBI had previously assisted in the search for victims but was never officially part of the investigation.

December 10, 2015

FBI had officially joined the investigation

July 23, 2016

Mari Gilbert, was murdered in her home in Ellenville, New York

Shannan Gilbert’s mother, Mari Gilbert, was murdered in her home in Ellenville, New York. Later that day, her younger daughter, Sarra Elizabeth Gilbert, was arrested and charged with the stabbing death of her mother

July 23, 2016

Mari Gilbert, was murdered in her home in Ellenville, New York

[MDSL id=270]

Gilgo Case Victims

Rex Heuermann an architect who had lived most of his life in Nassau County and worked in Manhattan is connected to Four bodies that were found along Ocean Parkway.

On December 11, 2010, Police Officer John Malia was conducting a training exercise with his K9 partner, Blue, along Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach, Suffolk County, New York. During the course of the training exercise, Blue located a set of human remains.

Two days later, on December 13, 2010, the SCPD continued to search and found three additional sets of human remains within one-quarter mile of the first discovery

These three additional sets of remains were identified as those of:

Leather belt

Belt Back

leather belt

Belt Front

belt initials

Initials HM

belt initials

Initials HW vs WH

peaches jewelry

gold bracelets

peaches jewelry

gold bracelets

peaches jewelry

two gold bracelets

baby doe

gold necklace and earrings