There was a comment posted here that indicated some speculative notions as to who the various figures mentioned in this blog and on the podcast actually were. This comment has been deleted. Going forward, until the police make an arrest and a solid case is levied against an individual, no names will be referenced, and all comments pertaining to individuals being named will be deleted.
I've said this numerous times, but it bears repeating: I'm not interested in being sued by any parties indicated through speculation and nonsense. Every individual that has contacted me has either been interested in the information I've learned, which has furthered the profiling and helped establish some fascinating discussion, or has been someone telling me who they "know" did it. For every great piece of information, there's about a dozen more dead ends. While I appreciate any and all information and research every single name that comes to me, at the end of the day, if you have sincere belief that you know who committed these crimes, I recommend you report these individuals to the authorities. People are quick to throw the Suffolk PD under the bus, and while yes, there are bad elements (as there are in every single profession), the police do the best they can. That said, all comments indicating or naming an individual will be deleted. Thanks for reading and listening. Stay tunes for the announcement of my next project.
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So, just to cover some bases, the podcast is moving along nicely and we’re approaching the final two episodes, not counting the bonus episode which will now launch after the last normally scheduled episode.
The difficulty is balancing my regular life with the podcast, as well as the difficulty in running into walls with the investigation. In a case like this, no one talks. And if they do talk, it’s either a warning or conjecture or crack or theories, so it’s not the easiest line to walk. thT said, some amazing people have come forward and I’ve been lucky to chat with them, and having done so, my theory of what happened the night Shannan Gilbert died has taken clearer shape. Episode five will address some of the ideas as to why this case wasn’t solved, and will address some of the figures I’ve talked to about the case since starting this project. Also, the next project is taking shape, slowly, so stay tuned. ![]() One of the more recent figures I’ve seen emerge in this case is a character I refer to as The Face. This individual I believe to be in jail currently, facing a sentence for unrelated crimes, but I believe their path to darkness started at Gilgo Beach and the Long Island Serial Killer. The Face is, most likely, the youngest of the suspects in this case, having an extensive background as a figure setting up rendezvous for powerful men on Long Island. Not a pimp or overseer of sex workers, but perhaps a facilitator of transaction or a “scout” of sorts for men and women looking to partake in the sex trade. This is a figure who embodies the theory of escalation. Perhaps over time, they would begin physically assaulting the individuals they would line up for these powerful figures, then, eventually, they’d have started participating in the sexually-aggressive and brutal procedures of the Johns they’d been working for. Treating sex workers as items, as toys, and when done with them, discarding them. There are multiple reports of The Face online that exhibit evidence of a dual life, one facing the public in a fairly obvious social-climber type way, and the other, as a figure working in the sex trade themselves before taking on the role of facilitator for Long Island and metro-NY Johns. From what I’ve gathered, the suspect known as The Face may currently be in jail, possibly not even in the United States, stemming from the murder of a male sex worker. The Face, an exercise in escalation, is a scary figure, their psyche frazzled from exposure to the violence of Johns on sex workers. Over time, this psyche shatters more, resulting in more violent behavior, resulting in the deaths of the GB4, and becoming a suspect in the case of the Long Island Serial Killer. ![]() Some quick housekeeping before we launch into this latest Suspect Profile. The third episode of the podcast is available now! Make sure to check it out on your favorite podcasting platform. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, leave us a 5 star review, it really helps the show get noticed. Also, if you’re not following along on Twitter and Instagram, do so. We also have a pretty passionate Facebook group that’s growing by the day. With that out of the way, let’s move onto the suspect profile I’ve been looking forward to writing the most out of all of them - The Gentleman. The Gentleman is the furthest thing from what his name implies. While he’s got friends in high places and enjoys the “finer” things in life, he enjoys getting his hands dirty. He enjoys diving into the dirt and grime of Long Island and coming out with that negativity connected to himself. Those I’ve talked to in reference to The Gentleman have all referred to him as a monster, a thug, or a crook. Having never met The Gentleman personally, I can’t echo these opinions, however; there has to be a reason so many say these things. The Gentleman is, by far, the most controversial figure in this case. He’s a man of means and power, and abuses that power for his own negative gains. The Gentleman is a figure with enormous power over others, different than the power wielded by The Banker. Power over individuals who have deeper connections to crime, or a kind of “underworld” on Long Island. Drugs, robberies, homicides and more, are the potential trade of The Gentleman, though he keeps his public persona on the up and up. “A lot of people blame cruelty on dehumanization. They say that when you fail to appreciate the humanity of other people, that’s where genocide and slavery and all sorts of evils come from. I don’t think that’s entirely wrong,” said Yale psychology professor Paul Bloom in an interview with Vox last year. “I think a lot of real awful things we do to other people arise from the fact that we don't see them as people.” The notion of living in and existing and thriving on cruelty, possibly due to upbringing or a psychological defect, is what drives The Gentleman to do the terrible things he does. The Gentleman may even be the offspring of another damaged psyche, an individual who he perhaps emulates through either a psychological desire to replace this figure or through a desire to prove himself to this figure. This initial parent-figure would be remarkably similar to The Gentleman, and is perhaps well-known in some underground circles. The Gentleman is perhaps the most fearsome and threatening figure in this entire case. While yes, there are other terrible suspects written about both on this site and on various other true crime message boards relating to the Long Island Serial Killer, I, personally, would fear a figure like The Gentleman the most. The latest episode of the podcast is out, and the feedback has been really positive. The third episode will be dropping in about a week, so, make sure you're subscribed! The show is available on iTunes, Spotify and Pocket Casts, but if you have any issues, leave a comment and let me know so I can get them ironed out!
That said, I've gotten messages via Instagram, Twitter and more about the show, some theories, some suspects, etc. I've been kinda' surprised by the messages, and by how passionate the community of listeners/readers is! That said, I've been inspired to do a supplemental episode of the show that will go live after the third episode is released. Because of the feedback, questions and theories talked about, I'll be going into that kind of stuff a bit, but more importantly, this particular episode is fueled by YOU, the listener/reader. If you have questions or comments that you'd like me to address or mention on the show, leave a comment here or shoot me a message via our contact page! Thanks for the support, and feel free to share, like, review on iTunes, whatever you wanna' do. If you're digging what we're doing here, let us know, if there's stuff you think could be changed or massaged, let me know. ![]() Some people are natural followers. In a case like this, with multiple suspects, a variety of personalities, figures and public images, it’s hard to determine just who, in reality, is at the rotten center of the apple. That said, the figure I refer to as The Purse - he’s a hanger-on. I call this individual The Purse because they aren’t quite at the same monetary level as The Banker or even The Gentleman, but is following in their footsteps, trying to keep up, and impress them, using his monetary value, and his position as a businessman to help pay for escorts, hotels, homes, etc. The Purse, unlike the potential solo killers mentioned previously, is part of a duo or possibly group of killers. He’s not one to do any of this on his (or her) own. He’s not a leader. The idea to commit these crimes may have been in his mind for years, but he never had the guts to do it, until he saw others doing it. Michael Maccoby wrote about the idea of followers, and more specifically, the power of transference, in 2004. He highlights the idea of power and its influence fairly succinctly for the Harvard Business Review, and shines a light on the potential psychological connection(s) between The Purse and one or more of the other suspects. “More influential, much of the time, are the irrational motivations that lie outside the realm of our awareness and, therefore, beyond our ability to control them. For the most part, these motivations arise from the powerful images and emotions in our unconscious that we project onto our relationships with leaders,” (Maccoby 2004). These “irrational motivations” most likely stem from years of friendship or connection to one of the other suspects in this case. The Purse emulating this figure during these moments that resulted in the deaths of the Gilgo Beach 4 (GB4). I believe The Purse has been connected to one or more of the figures in this case since childhood. I see them growing up together, playing sports, chasing girls, raising hell, doing all the things young men typically do. But at some point, that developmental phase of their lives becomes corrupted and once they enter their twenties, a darker connection forms between them. As Mark Van Pugt wrote in 2012, “... our hardwired tendencies to follow backfire when we are exposed to the wrong sorts of models, particularly in childhood.” One could also look at this theory of influence or transference in terms of the case itself. A theory is presented, in this case, by police commissioner Richard Dormer, that Long Island had a serial killer on its’ hands, and everyone following the case, myself included, began to think that a lone killer in the night was stalking these women or hiring these women, killing them, and dumping their bodies along a secluded beach. If you look on popular social media groups about the case, or follow along over on a site like Websleuths, the lone killer theory is still the most prominent. Many highlight the possible theory that Shannan Gilbert was murdered by the figure known as The Purse, however; I do not. In terms of the “pair of killers” theory, this makes sense, that the most famous of the girls found at Gilgo Beach would’ve been the sloppy work of a frenzied Purse, makes sense, however; while I believe The Purse was possibly there the night Shannan disappeared and died, I do not believe The Purse was the one to do it. Remember, The Purse is a follower. For him to suddenly take charge and execute a plan or act on his emotions would be somewhat out of character. That doesn’t mean The Purse is innocent of any wrongdoing, he still helped set up these girls for his partner, he still helped dispose of the bodies, and he still hid the truth from authorities. ![]() The first full episode is now available on iTunes! Make sure to check it out, subscribe, and leave a review! It all helps! Some housekeeping: - I am currently working on setting up a meeting with a woman who has a valuable piece of evidence in this case. This is a connection through another connection, so, I'm playing this one close to the vest. - The second episode of the podcast will be available on April 23rd, in the morning, just in time for your commute! - The next blog will be centered around another suspect profile. - Follow the case over on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, too! ![]()
Some quick housekeeping: Our podcast has launched on Spotify. It’s just the teaser for now, but the next episode will release Tuesday, April 9th. Subscribe, give me some feedback, and let me know what you think! iTunes is coming, but Apple takes a while apparently to approve a podcast.
If you follow our Twitter or Instagram, you may have noticed that recently, I attended an open forum hosted by Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini. Sini got involved in the events at Gilgo Beach later than some, and was happy to let the FBI in on the case, while serving as police commissioner for what seems like five minutes. His appearance in The Killing Season painted him as a sort-of “white knight” figure, a crusader against corruption on Long Island. The symposium I attended, called “The Verdict,” is meant to serve as a transparent look inside Sini’s office, while highlighting the good his office is apparently doing. Sini is relatively young, handsome, and has certainly made great strides towards reversing the notion that Suffolk County is super corrupt. Holding one of the first of these “town hall”-style meetings at a high school in the town of Brookhaven (long nicknamed “Crookhaven”) was a nice touch. When Sini was appointed police commissioner at 35 years old, Newsday was quick with an editorial highlighting his lack of experience in a managerial capacity. This may ring true, even now, as Sini highlighted that he’s brought on numerous figures to oversee various aspects of Suffolk County’s legal hurdles. While yes, more jobs and more experienced people in an office is a good thing, the more folks there are, the higher probability for corruption exists. I tweeted the other day and have said in discussions with sources that MS-13 was the perfect gift for Sini, Suffolk County and the citizens of Long Island. While yes, gang activity is terrible, it has since drawn resources and attention away from the events at Gilgo Beach (events, which, according to various towns who claim ownership of the area, didn’t actually occur in the area, even though they’re more than happy to claim that the beaches are the best on Long Island). The rise of a legitimate gang problem on Long Island shifts the focus for Sini away from the unsolved murders and lack of arrests made in the Gilgo Beach killings, and on something more tangible and visible, something that every Long Islander eager to protect their property value can rally behind - the elimination of MS-13 from public schools and our streets. Is Tim Sini doing a bad job? Not at all, I, personally, like him very much. That said, he reminds me a little too much of a famous District Attorney from the pages of Batman - Harvey Dent. Dent started idealistic, took on organized crime, murder and more, and in the end, became the corruption he promised to fight. “I believe in Harvey Dent,” is the slogan used in the comics and in the film The Dark Knight. I believe in Tim Sini, but I worry that focusing on MS-13 and surrounding yourself with too many cooks can certainly spoil the broth. Losing sight of finding the Long Island Serial Killer may not seem like a big deal, but by not following through and doggedly pursuing the case, you show that you don’t care about the plight of the sex worker. I leave it to Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight to put it simply: ![]() Recently, I’ve been fascinated by an article from Psychology Today, written to cash in on the trending documentary about Ted Bundy that’s on Netflix. Having watched the documentary, nothing was shocking because it’s all information anyone with any interest in Bundy’s case already knows (plus it’s loaded with spelling mistakes, which is weird), however; it furthers the obsession with true crime, which is a good thing. While reading Katherine Ramsland’s piece, I started putting the concepts and notions presented in the research to the figures I’m working with in this project and wasn’t particularly shocked to see how accurately they all match up to at least one aspect of what fits the moniker of a “psychopath.” In the article, Ramsland focuses on the research of Al Carlisle, a prison psychologist who interviewed Bundy numerous times. “the ability to repeatedly kill and also function as a seemingly normal person develops through the evolution of three primary processes: fantasizing scenarios for entertainment or self-empowerment, dissociating to avoid difficult feelings, and compartmentalizing to be able to act as different people in different situations.” In terms of those responsible for the events at Gilgo Beach, the responsible parties connected to the Long Island Serial Killer break down into the following categories (again, real names will not be used, as everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and also, lawsuits are no fun): Fantasizing - The Purse, The Well-Spoken Man, The Good Doctor Compartmentalizing - The Gentleman, The Face Dissociating - The Banker Now, two of these individuals I’ve mentioned in previous posts, but, the others, not yet. While it may be a little spoiler-y to reference that there are, at the very least, six individuals connected to this case, these individuals are confirmed by numerous law enforcement operators, as well as those connected to the case. There is one notable exception, though, and that’s The Face. This individual has only been referenced a couple times, but the connections are fairly obvious. More on that when we get to The Face’s eventual profile. All of these individuals present a public persona that help create a smokescreen to mask their crimes. Ramsland breaks it down as “in other words, the actor can access the voice, the mannerisms, the behavior and the emotions of the role upon cue as needed, and then step out of the role when it’s not needed. The serial killer has a similar skill.” This is perhaps most evident in the case of The Banker, The Well-Spoken Man or The Gentleman, as these three individuals were able to maintain very public personas while also engaging in activity leading to the deaths of the GB4, as well as the others. I think it’s fair to say that all of these aspects of the psychopath are important, but which one jumps out to you the most? Which seems to be the most important or most terrifying? Is it the ability to compartmentalize? To rationalize and accept one’s actions while also putting alternative actions into perspective and carrying on with one’s day? I don’t know. Carlisle states: “The actor steps onto the stage to play out his role. The killer steps from one compartment in his mind into the other. The actor leaves the theater for a day on the beach. The killer shifts from the pathological compartment in his mind back into the socially acceptable compartment but he never completely leaves the theater in his mind. It is with him wherever he goes, 24-hours a day, day in and day out.” These six individuals went about their business, every single day, acting their role of public and familial figure out, and then, in private, committed acts that have gone unsolved to this day. Hey folks!
So, I've been focused on recording and editing the podcast and have two episodes "in the can," as it were, so, I'm just waiting to hear from some sources about interviews for another episode before I pull the trigger on launching the show. The podcast will be a six episode limited series, examining the night Shannan Gilbert disappeared, and presenting a theory that hasn't been focused on that, according to multiple sources, is a positive examination of the events of that night. The first episode contains information that has never been released to the public before, but has been whispered about in certain circles regarding this case. I have to quote a producer friend of mine in that you "never want to give away the secret sauce." In other words, for me to completely launch into what I've learned in the first couple of episodes would be crazy and not helpful to the case at all. That said, the listener will learn about the events over the course of the limited series (two per month is the aim, with additional content as it becomes available). I want to thank Chris Kretz of the amazing Long Island History Project podcast for his invaluable guidance and help in getting me focused regarding the podcast. There will be an update next week on Tuesday, and I hope to have the podcast up and running by next week as well. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and feel free to throw some love our way on Facebook, too. Email us with any questions, comments and more! |
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AuthorWelcome to the blog for Voices From Gilgo. This page will be updated on a weekly basis with news, theories, thoughts and possible interviews regarding the Long Island Serial Killer. Archives
June 2019
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