Missy Cann: She had got a job at a telemarketing place and she was doing really well. Burke's unprofessional behavior set him apart, too. Missy Cann: I want answers. James Burke became a cop, and by age 27, was already a sergeant in the police department. Sherre Gilbert: To get that phone call when I was in school, it was just devastating. He decided to retrace the path authorities believe Shannan travelled. Honestly, I dont even know where to start. He was still on a euphoric high from his murder of Shannon the nite before. And In 2015, John Ray helped the Gilbert family bury Shannan in a Long Island cemetery not far from Oak Beach. Lily Waterman: Yeah, for sure. From then, the investigations into the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) apparently started getting murky. When the FBI investigated, Burke -- with the help of his mentor District Attorney Tom Spota -- began a cover-up. The woman whose disappearance set off the search that led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four was Shannan Gilbert. Help. All rights reserved. Erin Moriarty: How often do you think about Melissa? It's very, like, blurry because it was so long ago. Dominick Varrone: I get a phone call that I'm being told to retire within 15 days, or I'd be demoted to captain. Dave Schaller [2011 interview]: She was an amazing person, she really was. John Bittrolff inside Riverhead Criminal Court Thursday, July 31, 2014, in Riverhead, N.Y. which involvesthe murders of at least 10people in New York over a nearly 20-year period, remains unsolved and continues to be a deep source of curiosity in the world of true crime. It was the search for Shannan Gilbert that led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four. Many of the Gilgo Beach victims, whose bodies were discovered in December2010 wrapped in burlap and discarded on a stretch of Ocean Parkway, had also been strangled. I couldn't process it because my whole life, I thought that she just got, like, stolen, and she never came back. The Gilbert family didn't believe her death was accidental and retained Long Island attorney John Ray. The SCPD has made every effort to squash this case and has done no investigation in Oak Beach. When the Smithtown native was brought into custody, he was tied to the floor and violently beaten by James. Sara Karnes: We were office besties. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Guys, I am telling you this is an OUTRAGEOUS claim. more akin to, like, a mob boss than a police chief. Chief Dom Varrone says Akeem Cruz was already on his radar. RICHARD DORMER [to reporters]: it looks like a car pulled up and opened the door and the bodies were dumped into the bushes. Missy Cann: I had a drive in me to be like, oh, I'm going to find my sister. It isnt outrageous because it is the truth. Whatever the reason, I do feel like everyone needs to be investigated to the fullest extent in this case, no matter how small the lead or outrageous the claims might seem. Sara Karnes: It was just awesome. The notorious Long Island Serial Killer case,which involvesthe murders of at least 10people in New York over a nearly 20-year period, remains unsolved and continues to be a deep source of curiosity in the world of true crime. CHRISTOPHER LOEB [in court]: Every time I asked for a lawyer I got hit again, I got hit again, I got choked, I got slapped, I got kicked. There were other striking similarities. Im not sure Dr. Hackett has the ability to manipulate the sex workers into being at their most vulnerable prior to the murders & destroy all evidence afterwards, both at the highest level. But in January 2012, a new police chief took over the department and Varrone was forced to retire. He is most About Us | Although numerous suspects have been identified in the last few years, including James Burke, no arrests have ever been made. WebThe only real things that make me even consider the possibility are the Janice Fullam disappearance from Smithtown in 1981, the proximity of Lowrita's Massapequa apartment to the Massapequa motel and Lowrita's connection to Amityville. On the spot where each woman was found, they erected a cross. Maureen's sister Melissa Cann says Maureen's death is always in the back of her mind. 5 foot or under, 100 pounds. maybe burke started young by killing the pius boy, manipulated spota at the time saying he was a witness. Produced by Mary Ann Rotondi and Murray Weiss. A DNA swab from his brother, obtained during an unrelated arrest, connected his DNA to that found on two murder victimsfrom the 1990s. Per Vice, her disappearance was preceded by a call to 911, during which she said: "They are trying to kill me. (Newsday RM via Getty Images) And then, there's a guy on the other end. A private forensic pathologist determined that a damaged hyoid bone in Shannan's neck suggested she may have been strangled. However, in 2017, Robert Biancavilla, then an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County,suggested a possible link. Leanne claims Burke choked her and forced her into oral sex after calling her a not a good whore and paying her for her services in 2011, just months before he assumed the role of police chief. Geraldine Hart: It's new associates and friends and family to talk to -- people who can tell us her whereabouts and her connections. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. So, we actually had the FBI unit involved in that case in June of 2010. The ambitious young Spota later became district attorney of Suffolk County. John Oliva: The rumor mills were running wild. Erin Moriarty: you've been flagged by Craigslist. But he didn't know that my sister had a sister like me. The women also shared other striking similarities. ), The Lifetime versionalso shows how a Suffolk County carpenter namedJohn Bittrolff might have been connected to the case. John Ray: We have 11 dead people, and nobody's found anybody connected to them? Dominick Varrone: Very petite. The remains of her older sister Maureen Brainard-Barnesmissing for more than three yearshad been discovered on Long Island. What she didnt tell her family was that she was advertising her services on Craigslist and on occasion through an escort agency called James Bond Entertainment as Chloe. I COMPLETELY AGREE!! ( m. Cuff says he led an internal affairs investigation into Burke in the 1990s, when Burke was caught having sex with a prostitute in his patrol car while in uniform. Could it be true? Dominick Varrone: it was probably the biggest case we ever had, and we put a tremendous amount of effort into that case. "Not having the FBI involved consistently from the beginning has definitely hindered this investigation," Hart tells "48 Hours." Megan was last seen on June 6, 2010, leaving a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge, N.Y. Melissa Barthelemy, 24, went missing in July 2009. Erin Moriarty: So, does that mean whoever took her and killed her was someone she had seen before? Gus Garcia Roberts: there's always been, throughout his career, this thin line between being a cop and being a criminal. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Missy Cann: It was kind of devastating to learn. Advertise with Newsday | Bittrolff was sentenced to two consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences in 2017 for the killings of Tangredi and McNamee and he is currently incarcerated at Downstate Correctional Facility in New York. You're waiting. The department also released images of evidence. Spota was eventually convicted of obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and conspiracy in the Chris Loeb case. Save custody of her son? "I'm called and 'chief we found another set of remains.' 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. As for the person dismembering bodies-could be the doctor-he knows anatomy. Im not clear on how she met Pak. I'm yanked off the case. He says in an off-camera interview (with 48 Hours, I think) that he passed a lie detector test with flying colors. 48 Hours says the SCPD wouldnt comment on that. I didn't know what, but I know something had to be wrong. They kept looking for Shannan, and in December 2011, a year-and-a-half after she disappeared . Instead, based on her frantic 911 call, they theorized she might have been high on drugs and had run into the marsh, where she died of hypothermia or possible drowning. Posted in Long Island Serial Killer, Serial Killer, Tagged Gilgo Beach Serial Killer, James Burke, John Ray, Long Island Serial Killer, Peter Hackett. Terms of service | Sara helped Missy reconstruct Maureen's last weekend. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In February 2016, James Burke pleaded guilty to violating Loeb's civil rights and conspiracy to obstruct justice. "48 Hours" has reported on the Long Island serial killer from the beginning. By early 2007, things seemed to be looking up for Maureen. Lily Waterman: All things I do, like, remember of her are bad times when Akeem was hitting her, was hitting me, was just being, like, rude. Thats what John Ray, attorney for Shannan Gilberts family, is suggesting. Burke and others testified against four teenaged boys. Trump asks for mistrial in E. Jean Carroll rape lawsuit, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, damaging up to 100 homes, More Americans escape Sudan as country teeters on edge of civil war, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Stray bullet strikes college baseball player during game, Texas police say, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, The Hunt for the Long Island Serial Killer, Members of the Suffolk County Police Department search an area of beach where police found human remains nearby, on April 5, 2011 in Babylon, New York. Sherre Gilbert: It was emotional, it was sad. Those six other victims,found in March and April 2011,include 24-year-oldShannan Gilbert, whose family life and 2010 death are depicted in Lifetimes new movieLong Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice., The film follows the Shannan'smother, Mari Gilbert (portrayed by Kim Delaney), as she fights to securejustice for her daughter, battling local police officials who she feels aren'ttaking the case seriously enough because Shannan and the other victims were sex workers. I do think its possible Michael was threatening her or that the john said that Michael was in on a plan to kill her (whether this was true or not). Dominick Varrone: I think burlap was selected because of its ability to take dampness, moisture and breathe, which would promote decay as well as act as camouflage. And she has a family. But the next day, Sara returned to Norwich, and says Maureen remained to make more money. He was 95 years old.Born in Hollywood, California to Edward and Elsie Burke, he Erin Moriarty: That had to hurt the credibility of the investigation. I never met her. Spota was convicted on multiple charges in 2019 and is awaiting sentencing.). Suffolk County Police told "48 Hours" that they believe the caller was in fact Melissa's killer. In January 2020, Hart's office released images of evidence in the serial killer case. I have no doubt that scumbag James Burke is the killer. JOHN RAY [at burial]: Shannan, rest now, we all have much to do. Burke was a police officer when the investigation started and was later promoted to the chief of police in 2011. The former chief of police was sent to prison for 46 months back in 2016 after pleading guilty to a civil rights violation arising out of an assault on a local man. "They're all 4' 11, very petite hazel green eyes," says Varrone. I have wondered about that as well. We are utilizing every technique available, every technology that we can. Missy Cann: She didn't run away. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Brewer was drugging them. Many have long suspected that when the DAs office refused help from the FBI on the LISK case, Burke was the reason behind that. From there, The movie even ends with an addendum stating that Bittrolff was convicted in the deaths of two of the women found., Bittrolff, a married father living in the hamlet of Manorville in the middle of Suffolk County, was arrested in 2014 for the murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee.As in the film, he was tied to those killings through a DNA sample obtained from his brother, Timothy, who had beenarrested and convicted on a contempt of court charge in 2013 and was thus entered into a criminal database, local station. December 13, 2020 / 6:09 AM Gus Garcia-Roberts: Everybody called him Jimmy back then. Burkeended cooperation with the FBI on the serial killer case and other major investigations. and bam a serial killer was born. (Incidentally, Spota resigned in disgrace from office in 2017 after being indicted on obstruction of justice charges related to a police brutality case against Burke, who had been involved in the Gilgo Beach investigation. And I don't want to wait for that phone call. Missy logged into Maureen's email accounts and got a shock. Im pretty much blown away by all this. Very scary. Amber's friend and former roommate Dave Schaller says she was a drug addict who used sex work to support her habit. Ray filed a civil suit against Peter Hackett in 2012 for wrongful death and malpractice. These claims are significant as it puts James in the same area where a possible LISK victim disappeared. John Ray: I do not think Suffolk County put any effort into investigating Peter Hackett to this day. California Privacy Rights | The Long Island serial killer mystery came to light in a characteristically strange way. / CBS News. Leanne also claims to have had several other Suffolk County police officers as clients and offered to take a lie detector test to back up her story. Cruz began taking Megan to Long Island, where he pushed her into prostitution. Sherre Gilbert: Oak Beach is a very eerie place to me. He was a middle-age white man that she had seen one or twice before. In an explosive news conference on Thursday, Ray brought forth a Long Island escort named Leanne who claims about a year after Gilbert went missing, she was roughed up in a sexual encounter with former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke in an Oak Beach house party where alcohol and cocaine were prevalent. My sister is gone. Former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke is thought to be a person of interest to some who have followed the Long Island Serial Killer case. Dominick Varrone, then chief of detectives of the Suffolk County Police Department, says he hoped to solve what has become the largest unsolved murder case in New York history, and helped organize a task force to investigate. Previously he wrote us, saying, "I never 'treated' her She was never in my home." That's all I can like remember, really. Erin Moriarty: What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Shannan? Please enter valid email address to continue. He remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 5: Jessica Taylor, an escort missing since 2003, Victim No. But Hart insists Shannan's case is still open. Varrone says Amber, Megan, Melissa and Maureen were all asphyxiated. Contact Newsday | also hackett is a proven liar. Chromebooks are excellent alternatives to traditional laptops and have built-in security software. A Closer Look at the Long Island Serial Killer and JohnBittrolff. And she got her own apartment and she was really proud. By May 2011, police had discovered sixmoresets of remains in the area, bringing the total to 10 sets of remains -- including the Gilgo Four. Well, I'm not. Please enable notifications or using normal browsing mode. Really smart. Something that frustrates attorney John Ray. Long Island Serial Killer DNA Link Discovered FBI On Game http://www.GilgoBeachCoverUp.com, Yes he is involved. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Dominick Varrone: That hurt the investigation and the public's perception. Lynn Barthelemy's 24- year-old daughter Melissa had been missing a year-and-a-half when her remains turned up on Gilgo Beach. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Google the whores of Babylon and have you ever seen the movie eyes wide shut? But he moved on in his career, and his defense attorney, Joseph Conway, said Wednesday of the unsealed, federal indictment we contest that these things ever happened.. Gus Garcia-Roberts: He was extremely powerful for a police chief. 1957) James Michael Burke (September 24, 1886 May 23, 1968) was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City. A violent, arrogant piece of garbage that tried to block the investigation. Victims 9 and 10: A female skull and a bag of female bones, both found in nearby Nassau County. Ray soon turned his attention to one Oak Beach resident -- a local physician, Dr. Peter Hackett. So why didn't they bring her home?". Maureen's friend, Sara Karnes, can't believe they haven't found her killer in all these years. Missy Cann: It's worse. Hart says the belt belonged to a large male. Suffolk County Police; NYSP. First, Chief of Detectives Dominick Varrone suddenly found himself out of a job. Longtime newspaper reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts is writing a book about Burke. Gus Garcia-Roberts: he's a reckless character driven by sex. It seems very desolate, very isolated, cold. Not a day goes by that Lily Waterman doesn't miss her mom, Megan. Convicted of: Deprivation of civil rights; conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice. They find another one and another one," Varrone tells Moriarty. Erin Moriarty: Why did she stay with him? Erin Moriarty: I mean, he became police chief. Ray has interviewed witnesses and commissioned a second autopsy. A new regime led by James Burke took over the department. WebAmerican Actor James Burke was born on 24th September, 1886 in New York City, NY, USA and passed away on 23rd May 1968 Los Angeles, CA, USA aged 81. Homes for wayward/troubled girls? That is an antiquated expression used in the 1930s and 40s, apt to be used by elderly people. What's more, Ray says he has offered Shannan's computer, papers and cell phones to the department. CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. When recently retired Chief of Department, James Burke, appeared in handcuffs with FBI agents Wednesday, the Suffolk County Police and other law enforcement knew the FBI wasnt finished with its investigation. He is retired from the police force but is still haunted by the man who got away: the Long Island serial killer. Erin Moriarty: Smart then. James Burke Now: Long Island Serial Killer Update | Where is Ex Burke has a long history with law enforcement, beginning when he was a 14 year old witness in a brutal murder case, involving a 13-year old boy who had stones Burke, who was named Suffolk police chief Losing FBI technology and expertise may have slowed down the serial killer investigation. When the police found the Gilgo Four, Sherre Gilbert, 22 at the time, was certain her missing sister Shannan would be among them. DOMINICK VARRONE [to reporters in 2011]: The items were found a distance apart . James Burke was formerly the police chief of the Suffolk County Police Department and previously served in the rank of Inspector as the commanding officer of James has not made any public statements or appearances since his discharge. Not sure of Hacketts age but it fits. In 2016, James Burke was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to depriving a person of civil rights and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice in connection to the Christopher Loeb case. Burke and Spota met in 1979, when the brutal murder of a boy found behind a school rocked the peaceful suburb of Smithtown, Long Island. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Although those other victimshaven't beenofficially declared part of the case,theories about how those additional killings could be connected have circulated for years. Your ad choices | Also the borough of Queens is geographically connected to Long Island:,,conveniently. The young prosecutor at the time was Thomas Spota, now the Suffolk County District Attorney. The wrongful death claim has been dismissed. She said that in 2011, she partied with James at an unknown Oak Beach home, where they engaged in rough sex. According to her, there were various drugs at the place, and she saw James use cocaine on a few occasions. Missy Cann: [in tears] It's really, really hard. Ray also commissioned a second autopsy. You can watch the full press conference here (and I do recommend watching the entire thing): Id like to make it known that James Burkes attorney, Joseph Conway, was quick to dismiss the claims as made at the press conference completely outrageous. Additionally, John Ray claimed he hasnt taken any of this to the FBI or authorities yet, though he plans to. Instead, she and Sara had gone to earn extra money as sex workers, advertising on Craigslist. John Ray: It's hard to say. First published on December 12, 2020 / 11:13 PM. It wasn't enough. I didn't realize how, like, the line of work she was doing, how like brutal it was. A New Jersey detective told "48 Hours" Hackett told him the same story. Burke, who was named Suffolk police chief in 2012, beat a handcuffed prisoner who had been charged with stealing a duffel bag from Burkes police-issued vehicle, officials said. Sherre Gilbert: I hope. Prior to Pak, Gilbert worked for an escort agency that was very successful, (it gets caught at the W in Hoboken in 2009). In other words, he *could* have actually been trying to *save* her. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. It's just like something is always off. In the podcast, Christopher claimed that the bag contained sex toys, pornography, and what seemed to be snuff films that could link James to the LISK. John Ray, the attorney for Shannan Gilbert's family, says he is determined to prove her death wasn't an accident. Maybe he was afraid the FBI would uncover his private life was intertwined with the escort scene on Gilgo Beach. John Oliva: The chief of the department, four-star. Dominick Varrone: I had tremendous amount of knowledge on the case. She was just so beautiful. Identifying Valerie gave investigators new leads. A former high-ranking member of the Suffolk Police Department testifying in the trial of former Suffolk District Attorney Tom Spota and his chief investigator said That's what keeps Shannan's sister Sherre going, too. Missy Cann: Because this person, whoever killed my sister, thought that they were taking away my sister's voice. Hazel green eyes. Police believe the man who made these phone calls is, in fact, Melissa's killer. She was gone," Cann tells "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty. Gus Garcia-Roberts: Tom Spota by then had taken a shine to the kid and had taken him under his wing to some extent. Erin Moriarty: So, you're saying that they're still investigating her death? Lynn Barthelemy: Every single minute of the day. Change). He says he only called Shannan's family to offer support. Lily Waterman, 14, was just 3 years old when her mother vanished. Undisclosed investigation. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! We were untouchable. I just want answers. Part of you is like missing. It was while searching for Shannan that they made that stunning discovery of the Gilgo Four, and in the spring of 2011, six more sets of remains: Victim No. GERALDINE HART [to reporters]: A black leather belt embossed with the letters HM or WH was recovered during the initial stages of this investigation. It destroyed all of our families. "They knew that there was something very, very wrong here," says Cann. Her final secret was the $1000 date she had lined up the night of her disappearance. you could never ever, ever be bored around her. In the early 1990s, he had sex with a prostitute in his police car, and also failed to safeguard his weapon. Wouldn't he know the last person she saw? On June 6, 2010, Megan was seen exiting a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge at 1:30 a.m. Elizabeth Meserve: There's footage of her walking down a little side path I guess that's along the back or the side of the hotel. James Burke, as we all know, is now serving out a 46-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to beating a man in custody who stole a duffel bag filled with sex toys and pornography out of his SUV and then conspiring with officers to cover up his actions. "Some say the call was Lily Waterman: It's never going to be over. Pak is rumored to have been a pimp in Jersey City around that time also, so its not clear exactly what their deal was. In December of 2011, they gathered at Gilgo Beach. Mr. Burke, 56, who pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges, was sentenced to 46 months in prison in 2016. Ray vows he'll never stop fighting for Shannan. John Oliva: A lot of professional guys, you know, most guys have a college degree, or they were in the military I heard that James Burke had none of that. it is crazy to have so many bodies and not one clue or shred of DNA of a second person. On Dec. 13, 2011, Mari Gilbert, left, the mother of Shannan Gilbert, Melissa Cann, center, the sister of Maureen Brainerd-Barnes, and Lorraine Ela, the mother of Megan Waterman, joined each other on Long Island for a long-planned vigil. For more than a decade now, the elusive murderer alternately dubbedthe "Long Island Serial Killer," the "Gilgo Beach Killer," and the "Craigslist Ripper" has remained at large.
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