Early Life and Personal Background

1969
Birth And Early Life

• Born in South Korea
• Also known as Minjae Pak and Michael Min Chul Pak
• Father dies when Michael is young
• In 1974 immigrates to the United States with his mother, sister, and brother
• Family settles in New York
• Mother operates a small supermarket
• Michael works long hours helping at the store

1987
High School Graduation

• Graduates from Stuyvesant High School in New York City

1987 to 1993
College Education

• Enrolls at SUNY Binghamton
• Majors in History
• Graduates in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History

1993 to 1998
Early Career

• Works at Carousel Mall in Binghamton
• Employed in supermarket and deli work
• Begins transitioning toward corporate employment

1998
Corporate Employment

• Begins working for AIG
• Works as a writing technician
• Enters the insurance field professionally

2004
Marriage And Federal Criminal Case

• Marries Jisuk Son, born December 1976
• Later in 2004 becomes involved in an immigration smuggling operation
• Arrested in Fort Worth, Texas
• Charged in federal court with passport misuse and illegal transportation of foreign nationals
• Convicted in the Northern District of Texas
• Sentenced to six months in federal prison
• Ordered to serve two years supervised release
• Ordered to pay a three thousand dollar fine
• Marriage deteriorates during this time

2004
Federal Criminal Case and Sri Lanka Events

• Michael Pak had recently moved into a Ridgewood apartment when building code violations forced all tenants to vacate
  
• His roommate, who worked as building manager, distributed relocation checks to assist tenants
  
• During this period Pak was considering relocating to Los Angeles
  
• He was contacted with an offer to escort Chinese nationals during air travel for three thousand dollars per person, which included airfare to Los Angeles
  
• He was told his role was simply to assist travelers with English and navigation through airports
  
• Pak agreed to the job believing he was flying to Thailand but was instead flown to Sri Lanka
  
• Upon arriving, he found the conditions unstable with visible military presence and poor infrastructure
  
• He contacted his handler and was told to wait in a hotel
  
• He later met a young Chinese man named Peter who he attempted to escort through customs
  
• Peter was detained first, followed by Pak being detained by Sri Lankan officials
  
• Pak was eventually released and flown back to the United States, receiving the promised money days later
  
• He was later contacted again and accepted a second escort assignment
  
• On the second trip to Sri Lanka he met an older man and two young girls. Pak was assigned to escort one of the girls
  
• The girl made it through customs. Pak did not. He was detained again
  
• His involvement was tied to a federal investigation into illegal immigration smuggling
  
• Pak was arrested, charged federally, and convicted
  
• He served approximately six months in federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, including conviction related to passport misuse and unlawful transport of Asian nationals into the United States

April 2005
Release From Federal Custody

• Released from federal custody in April 2005
• Receives support from his brother
• Begins working at his brother’s pool bar

2007
Divorce

• Divorce from Jisuk Son is finalized

2008
Insurance Employment

• Begins working at Grand World Insurance Company
• Located in Flushing, New York

2009
Escort Driving Career Begins

• Becomes a driver for Prestige Escort Agency
• On the day he is scheduled to begin work, his 2001 Isuzu Rodeo breaks down
• Switches to using a Jeep Liberty

2009
First Day Working With Shannan Gilbert

• Picks up Shannan Gilbert for the first time
• Pickup location is 32nd and Broadway and Astoria Boulevard
• This marks the beginning of his association with Shannan and his future involvement in the Oak Beach events

2010
Work Period With Shannan Gilbert Before Oak Beach

• Regularly drove Shannan to appointments
  
• Followed what he describes as routine escort driving protocol
  
• Dropped her off and waited nearby in the vehicle
  
• Did not enter clients’ residences while she worked

MAY 1, 2010
OAK BEACH NIGHT

• Drove Shannan Gilbert to Oak Beach for a scheduled appointment
  
• Parked outside and waited
  
• Did not enter the client residence
  
• Shannan eventually ran out appearing frightened and panicked
  
• Pak stated he searched for her while remaining in Oak Beach
  
• He denied abandoning her
  
• He eventually left after being unable to locate her

May 1, 2010
Shannan Gilbert and Michael Pak Arrive in Oak Beach Source

• Michael Pak picks Shannan Gilbert up in Midtown Manhattan
• He drives her to Oak Beach to the residence of Joe Brewer at 8 Fairway Drive
• Around 2:00 AM, Shannan arrives at 8 Fairway Drive in Oak Beach, Long Island
• She is driven by Michael Pak in a dark SUV
• The residence belongs to Joseph Brewer
• Michael remains in the vehicle and waits
• Phone records show six brief calls between Shannan and Michael
• Around 2:55 AM, Shannan calls a CVS in West Islip asking Michael to get lube and playing cards
• Shannan and Brewer leave briefly in Brewer’s vehicle and return
• Around 4:30 AM to 5:00 AM, Joe Brewer comes outside and asks Michael for help
• Brewer tells Pak that Shannan is “freaking out” and hiding in the bathroom
• Pak enters the house and sees that Shannan looks extremely disheveled and paranoid
• Shannan refuses to leave and appears terrified, stating people were trying to kill her
• Shannan runs out of the house and into the dark streets of Oak Beach
• Pak follows her in his vehicle as she runs from house to house
• She bangs on doors, yells for help, and appears incoherent
• Around 4:51 AM, Shannan makes a frantic 911 call: Shannan sounds terrified and confused. She does not clearly state her location

May 1, 2010
Contact With Neighbors

• Shannan bangs on the door of Gustav Coletti
• She begs for help and appears terrified
• Gustav offers to call police
• Shannan pleads for him not to call
• Shannan leaves Gustav’s house and continues running
• Reports indicate she may have knocked on additional houses
• Michael Pak continues circling and searching for Shannan
• He does not locate her
• Police later arrive but Shannan is gone

May 2, 2010
Follow Up Concern

• Reports indicate Shannan’s disappearance becomes clear to loved ones

April 2, 2010 correction note

You wrote April 2, 2010 contacting Michael, but this appears to be a date confusion related to events that actually occurred in early May after the disappearance.
If you want, I can correct that sequence accurately in the next revision once you confirm.

May 3, 2010
Search Begins Privately

• Alex Diaz contacts Michael Pak
• Both realize Shannan never returned home
• Michael had believed she was safe
• Michael and Alex return to Oak Beach
• They search beaches and hospitals looking for Shannan

December 2011
Discovery

• December 13, 2011
• Shannan Gilbert’s remains are found in a marsh in Oak Beach
• Her death remains disputed
• Debate continues regarding whether it was accidental or connected to foul play

Key Individuals

• Michael Pak
• Shannan’s driver the night she disappeared
• Searched Oak Beach for her
• Shannan Gilbert
• 24 years old
• Disappeared after fleeing in distress
• Joseph Brewer
• Client Shannan met that night
• Gustav Coletti and Barbara Brennan
• Neighbors who interacted with Shannan
• Called 911 and reported her condition

Background and Pre-Gilbert Work History Source

• Michael Pak worked as a driver connected to escort agencies prior to meeting Shannan Gilbert.
  
• He describes being affiliated with Escort World and Prestige Escorts.
  
• He acknowledges transporting sex workers but denies soliciting or involvement in arranging prostitution.

Meeting and First Working With Shannan Gilbert

• Pak states he began driving Shannan Gilbert in early 2010.
  
• He confirms she was an escort working through an agency.
  
• He states Shannan was the first escort he worked with for Prestige Escorts.

Events Leading to Oak Beach

• Shannan was brought to Oak Beach for a client appointment.
  
• Pak describes initially being outside in the car and being asked to wait nearby.
  
• He states he never entered the client’s house.
  
• He repeatedly confirms he did not leave Shannan and remained in the area in his vehicle.

Night of Shannan Gilbert’s Disappearance

• Shannan leaves the house and runs into Oak Beach: Pak states Shannan ran from the client’s home into Oak Beach at night. She appeared frightened and panicked. She did not return to the vehicle.
• Pak attempts to locate her: He states he tried to find her, circling the area and remaining nearby. He emphasizes repeatedly that he did not drive away and leave her. He says he stayed in Oak Beach attempting to locate her. He did not immediately leave Oak Beach and asserts he attempted to locate her.

Five to Fifteen Minute Window After She Ran

• Pak calls out and searches the area
  He continues trying to locate Shannan. He describes her as continuing to run rather than returning to him. He does not describe her stopping or reapproaching him.
• He cannot find her
  He maintains that despite looking, he could not make contact with her or determine where she went.

Immediate Aftermath

• Pak reports that law enforcement did not contact him the same night Shannan disappeared.
  
• He states police contacted and interviewed him shortly after, within days of the disappearance.
  
• He confirms cooperating with Suffolk County Police Department.

Law Enforcement Polygraph

• He was interviewed multiple times by Suffolk County Police.
  
• He voluntarily participated in a police polygraph examination.
  
• He reports being told he passed the polygraph.
  
• He states he had nothing to hide and did not request an attorney at the time of questioning.

Follow-up Investigations

• Pak confirms detectives came to New York City to speak with him. Source
• He states they questioned him extensively regarding the Oak Beach events, escort agency involvement, and his actions the night Gilbert vanished.
  
• He maintained throughout interrogations that he did nothing criminal and did not harm Shannan.

Later Statements

• Pak again denies harming Shannan Gilbert.
  
• He states he has always cooperated.
  
• He reiterates that the last time he saw her was the night she ran into Oak Beach.