Suffolk’s top cop announces creation of multi-agency Gilgo Beach task force

Officials say the formation of the task force represents a renewed commitment to solving the case

News 12 Staff

Feb 15, 2022, 4:54 PM

Updated 935 days ago

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Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has announced the creation of a multi-agency Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force.
The task force includes investigators from the FBI, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.
Select members of the task force will meet on a daily basis.
Officials say the formation of the task force represents a renewed commitment to solving the case.
The formation of the task force represents the first time federal, state and local agencies will jointly dedicate investigators to solving one of the nation’s most well-known serial killer cases.
According to officials, the team will utilize new scientific techniques to advance the investigation and collaborate on evidence gathered throughout the decades-long case that spans from Manorville to Hempstead.
The task force will continue to focus on uncovering the identity of the remaining victims with the ultimate goal of identifying the person or people responsible for these homicides.
“As I said on day one as police commissioner, I believe this case is solvable and identifying the person or people responsible for these murders is a top priority,” Harrison said. “I would like to thank all of our partner agencies for dedicating these talented investigators to this task force and I look forward to working with them to bring justice to the families of these victims and solving this decades-old case.”
He says having all the partner agencies is going to help to utilize technology, science, cultivate witnesses and cast a broader net to as many people to assist in the investigation.
It was on Dec. 11, 2010, that Suffolk County police officers, searching for missing person Shannan Gilbert, discovered the body of Melissa Barthelemy along Ocean Parkway on. The bodies of three more victims, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Megan Waterman were discovered two days later.
The lawyer for Gilbert's family says it's been a rough decade for their family.
John Ray says that Gilbert's death was consistent with homicide, although the official cause of death is undetermined.
Authorities have said they don't believe Gilbert was murdered.
Rays says the task force should give Gilbert's family at least some answers.
"It's the first huge even giant step forward in resolving all of these cases, including Shannan's," Ray says. "The true murderers will be caught."
Harrison says solving the case is his No. 1 priority.
Suffolk County police are still offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads them to the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-220-TIPS.