Images of desolate, brushy beaches with hundreds of roving, searching cops cascade ‘cross my I-Mac screen. Pix of the identified women flashing in a random slideshow time capsule, shatter my world for a thousandth time. I know them by now. Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, and most of all, Shannon Gilbert. Shannon got the ball rolling, but now the police Commissioner say she’s not related.
A few news bites more yesterday, but not much. Only one Long Island Serial Killer, who’s been working for a very long time, and is organized and methodical. MO different with Shannon Gilbert. Never found. Had escort. Men cleared. On May 1, 2010 makes desperate 911 calls, then vanishes in some bushes, an apparition in a darkly dawn edge of Oak Beach real estate.
Richard Dormer is convinced that Shannon Gilbert’s mysterious circumstances (an Asian man was stalking her) and disappearance in one spring dawn day is unrelated to the ten bodies found on Gilgo Beach. That clears up that aspect of the investigation, I think? Do they have suspects, or not? Naturally, the Suffolk Police Commissioner isn’t saying.
I’m convinced they do have some viable suspects, but they don’t want to tell the media, or else this exquisitely clever predator will make a concerted effort to increase his concealment. I am convinced, however, he’s already done just that, since the case broke about one year ago. The fact that the detectives think he lives and works in that beachie resort area, must make it blindingly eerie and chilling for residents of the community.
The killer may be a friend, a co-worker, even a family member of some very solid citizens, but they haven’t suspected anything odd or out of place with this individual for the more than twenty years since he’s been in operation. This blows my mind! The chameleon-like levels of concealment are perhaps the greatest ever seen in the sordid annals of crime. Others (Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, or Jeffrey Daumier) eventually tripped-up on their cantankerous path of malicious malfeasance. Not the Long Island Ripper. He gets away with it!
The two most important clues I have noticed (even though I’m only a lay person living in Texas), are 1. the burlap bags used to wrap the bodies in, which may tie-in the killer with the seafood industry. And 2. is a number of taunting phone calls made to Melissa Barthelemy’s sister (Lynn Barthelemy), when using Melissa’s very own cell phone. The sicko made Lynn hopeful Melissa was still alive. Quite a sadistic one.
They may be afraid of him, or they might be working underground to try to gather hard evidence. Otherwise, they won’t be able to arrest him. And this street-smart suspect may be on to them and won’t do anything to arouse suspicions any further. Richard Dormer is getting ready to retire, but his peaceful golden days will probably be disturbing, if they don’t nab the ‘Seaside Sicko.’
