1987

• Mari relocates with her daughters to Ellenville, New York
• She struggles financially while trying to support her children
• Mari meets David Smith
• In 1992 they have a daughter, Stevie
• The relationship becomes violent

1993

• After David Smith assaults Mari, her mother June Rose calls police
• David Smith is arrested for domestic violence
• Child Protective Services intervenes
• Shannan, age 7, along with her siblings enters foster care
• Children spend nearly two years in care
• Stevie and Sherre are eventually reunited with Mari
• Shannan and Sarra remain in foster care
• Shannan is placed with foster mother Dyan Haslam

1998

• While in foster care, Shannan is diagnosed with bipolar disorder
• She later stops taking medication due to severe side effects

Late 1990s to Early 2000s

• Mari works multiple jobs to support her family
• Retail manage
• Teaching assistant
• Walmart employee
• Mari meets Richard Burner who eventually moves into the home

2000

• Shannan returns home briefly at age 14
• It is later discovered that Richard Burner sexually abused the children
• Mari reports Burner to police
• Burner is arrested and charged
• Shannan is removed from the home again
• She remains in foster care, separated from siblings

2001

• Shannan attends New Paltz Central High School while still in foster care
• She struggles with medication and discontinues treatment

2003

• Shannan graduates early from New Paltz Central High School
• She works various jobs including
• Hotel work
• Applebee’s
• Senior center

2007

• Shannan relocates to New Jersey with a boyfriend
• She enters the escort industry
• Moves into an apartment in Jersey City
• Begins taking online college courses
• Maintains close relationships with her sisters
• Helps financially support family members

May 30 to May 31, 2010

• Mari and Shannan speak by phone
• Shannan plans to visit Ellenville for Mother’s Day and Mari’s birthday
• Shannan mentions needing to earn money for a gift
• This becomes their final conversation before Shannan disappears

December 13, 2011

• Shannan’s remains are found near Gilgo Beach
• Her case becomes central to the Long Island Serial Killer investigation

Mari’s Advocacy

• Mari becomes the national face of Shannan’s fight for justice
• Challenges police conclusions
• Retains attorney John Ray
• Pushes for release of 911 call recordings
• Orders independent autopsy that suggests possible homicidal strangulation
• Launches petitions and advocacy initiatives
• Continues to publicly raise pressure for accountability

2014

• January, Mari and Sherre visit Sarra who is already showing severe psychiatric decline
• Sarra experiences multiple psychiatric hospitalizations throughout the year
• She is diagnosed with severe mental illness and later paranoid schizophrenia

2015

• Mari becomes engaged to Elroy J. Shulterbrandt
• Sarra is placed on court ordered antipsychotic treatment
• Sarra initially stabilizes but relapses and begins using drugs

February 19, 2016

• Sarra kills her dog during a psychotic episode
• Mari reports Sarra to police
• Sarra is hospitalized in a secure psychiatric facility
• Mari gains custody of Sarra’s son Hayden

July 2016

• Sarra overdoses and nearly dies
• Severe medical intervention required
• Continued paranoia and psychosis follow discharge

July 23, 2016 — Police Response and Discovery of Mari Gilbert

• 1:45 p.m., police officers Antonio John Bell and Alba Gonzalez were dispatched to Sarra Gilbert’s residence after one of Sarra’s sisters contacted police expressing concern
• Officers arrived and found Mari Gilbert’s car in the driveway
• Officers knocked on windows and doors but received no response
• Family members arrived, including Shannan’s sister Sherre, who informed officers that Sarra had called her earlier that morning saying she was hearing voices
• The victim’s boyfriend opened a window and saw Mari lying motionless inside the residence
• Officer Bell kicked in the door and entered the residence

Inside the Residence and Immediate Statements

• Officers Antonio John Bell and Alba Gonzalez enter residence after forced entry
• Sarra Gilbert is found calmly smoking a cigarette and walking toward police
• Sarra is handcuffed and placed in the kitchen while crime scene is secured
• On body-camera video, Sarra immediately stated, “I am under arrest.”
• She states, “I killed my mom,” but later says Mari may still be alive
• Sarra tells officers she had been hearing voices calling Mari “the devil” and a “bad God” and directing her to kill
• Sarra later asks, “She is still alive, right?” and says, “This is like a joke. My mom is not dead.”
• Sarra reports she had not slept, claiming rain fell from the ceiling
• She asks police to move her family away from the scene
• She mistakes the chirp of a smoke alarm battery for “voices”

On the morning of July 23, 2016, Sarra texted her sister Sherre and told her that she was hearing voices. Then, Sarra called Mari, who rushed to her apartment in Ellenville, New York. Mari arrived around 10:30 a.m. and sat on the couch next to Sarra…

Sarra Gilbert Police Interview and Statements

Following the murder of Mari Gilbert on July 23, 2016, officers responded to Sarra’s Ellenville apartment for a welfare check. Upon arrival, police immediately discovered Mari deceased inside the residence. Sarra did not flee, resist, or attempt to conceal what happened.

• When officers entered, Sarra told police: “I am under arrest.”
• Sarra admitted to stabbing Mari repeatedly with a kitchen knife
• She also admitted to striking Mari with a fire extinguisher and spraying foam into her mouth
• Sarra stated she believed her mother was a demon or possessed
• She told detectives she heard voices instructing her that Mari was dangerous
• Sarra did not deny the killing and remained consistent that she believed she acted because of those voices

Mental Health Statements During Interview

• Sarra told police she had been experiencing hallucinations
• She reported hearing commands
• She expressed paranoia and delusional beliefs
• She stated she believed she was “protecting” herself and her son
• Police noted she showed clear signs of severe psychiatric distress during and after the interview

Police Handling and Legal Proceedings

• Sarra was immediately taken into custody
• Detectives conducted formal questioning
• Her statements regarding voices and delusions became central in later court proceedings
• Mental health history, prior hospitalizations, and diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia were documented
• Despite severe psychiatric history, the court determined she was criminally responsible
• Sarra was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder

Key Significance

• Sarra’s statements to police demonstrated extreme psychosis, reinforcing long standing mental health instability
• The interview established intent and direct admission
• It also revealed her belief system at the time, aligning with documented delusions and violent deterioration
• This became a critical component of prosecution, defense, and psychiatric evaluation

On the morning of July 23, 2016, Sarra texted her sister Sherre and told her that she was hearing voices. Then, Sarra called Mari, who rushed to her apartment in Ellenville, New York. Mari arrived around 10:30 a.m. and sat on the couch next to Sarra…