Four Bodies Found on Long Island Beach -- High Chances of a Serial Killer Arise

Suffolk County Police stumbled upon four decomposing bodies this past week while searching for a missing person and doing training, according to The Long Island Press. The location of the bodies was at Oak Beach, a beach east of Cedar Beach, on the north side of the Ocean Parkway, an area heavily burdened by marshlands and other brush. The first set of remains was found a mere six to eight feet from the road of the parkway.

After police found the first body, the Homicide Squad was called in to investigate, at which time a cadaver dog was utilized to find additional bodies. During their eventual search, three more bodies were found, the second one only 500 feet away from the first remains that were found. Due to the location and close proximity of the bodies found, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer has stated:

"We're looking at that-that we could have a serial killer."

The bodies have all been confirmed as women at this point in time.

According to Dormer, the remains seemed to have been dumped over the span of an 18-month period.

The person which the police were initially looking for was Shonnan Gilbert, 24, from Jersey City. Gilbert solicited herself as a prostitute on Craigslist. Apparently Gilbert met a client on Craigslist and arranged to meet the client on Fire Island, where she was last seen on May 1.

At this point, Suffolk police are still searching the premises and investigating all dimensions of this case. Due to bad decomposition of some of the remains, DNA testing and/or dental records will have to be tested and thoroughly examined.

A Long Islander's Perception

I have lived on Long Island for over two decades and have never experienced a situation like this. Generally Long Island is known to be a relatively safe place to work and live, so news that there may be a suspected serial killer on the loose is a shock to many Long Islanders, including myself. Yes, there are the bad portions of the island where crime rates are relatively higher, but none that donned the findings of four bodies within a quarter mile of each other.

Overall, at least in Suffolk County, heinous crimes such as homicides and murders are generally low, which is probably the key element to why these findings are rocking the foundations of many other residents of Long Island, especially the ones who reside in the county of Suffolk.

Source(s): The Long Island Press, "A Long Island Serial Killer? The Possibilities, The Speculation"