4. Shannan Gilbert
In late 2010, the media became frenzied when reports of a serial killer at large in Long Island surfaced. Since the initial bodies were found, approximately 15 more women, mostly prostitutes, have been found murdered along a stretch of remote beach towns in Nassau County, New York. Allegedly the work of a serial killer who is still at large, public interest in the case of the Long Island Serial Killer remains strong. However, the case of Shannan Gilbert seems to be a little more complex than the rest of the deaths in the area, and she may not be a victim of this serial killer at all.
Shannan Gilbert was last seen alive in May 2010, near Gilgo Beach in Nassau County. An escort, she was at a “client’s” house, with her pseudo-pimp waiting nearby, when she became incredibly frightened and erratic. Shannan ran from the house, ran away from her pimp – who tried to calm her down – and ran along the road for a bit before disappearing into the dense brush. During her frantic sprint, she called 911 and spoke of her life being in danger and someone wanting to kill her.
Several hours later, around 5:00 in the morning, Shannan appeared at the doorstep of a retiree named Gus Colletti, frantically pounding on his front door. He attempted to calm Shannan down, and asked her what was wrong. Shannan was hysterical, and just continued to repeat “help me” over and over. Obviously concerned, Colletti told Shannan everything was going to be okay, and that he was going to call the police. Apparently, this terrified Shannan, and she ran out Collett’s front door. She was never seen alive again.
Months later, Shannan’s decomposing remains were found in a marsh not far from where she went missing. The official cause of death? She tripped and fell in her hysteria, eventually succumbing to the elements.
Just who or what Shannan was running from that night remains a mystery, and officials do not believe her case in connected to the Long Island Serial Killer, despite the proximity of her body to other prostitutes found in the investigation.