Black Belt Could Hold Clues To Gilgo Beach Killer

LONG ISLAND, NY — For the first time, police released a "significant piece of evidence," in the Gilgo Beach murders — a black belt embossed with the letters "HM" or "WH,"; the letters are 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. The belt was found at the initial stages of the investigation at a crime scene and is believed to have been handled by the suspect and did not belong to the victims, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said at a press conference Thursday.

Hart said the investigation was one of the most "well-known and complex that this department has ever undertaken ... We will remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver justice and in doing so, give a sense of closure," Hart said.

To continue sharing information, SCPD are launching a new website devoted exclusively to the Gilgo Beach murders, providing an avenue for the public to share tips, Gilgonews.com, which is now live.

At the event, Hart detailed the timeline of the nine years since 10 sets of remains were found; those remains included an unidentified toddler, her mother, whose remains were found in Nassau County, an unidentified Asian male between the ages of 17 and 23, and the women located.
Gilbert's remains were found in 2011 in Oak Beach but Hart said investigators have not ascertained that her body was related to the human remains found belonging to the other women as they did not "match the pattern". However, she said, it was important to proceed with an open mind and go "where the evidence takes us."

For the first time, Hart said, new scientific technology will be used; the SCPD was granted an appeal by the New York State Department of Health to provide the FBI with DNA samples that will be given to genetic genealogy databases, with an eye toward identifying possible relatives of those found murdered and unidentified; it is unclear how long the process will take.

The public remains a critical resource and tips are sought, Hart said. The public can also go to p3tips.com or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, as well as Gilgonews.com.

Sini said he began working on the case when he served as police commissioner and that he worked with Hart, then head of the Long Island FBI. He thanked all police officers involved and the media.

Reporters asked police, "Why now?"

"We are constantly evaluating the investigation and looking at steps taken. Now is the time," Hart said. New techniques evolve at a "mind boggling pace," she said, and the time has come to leverage social media to put information out. "Hopefully, the public will come forward."

When asked if there had been multiple killers, she said, "It's important as an investigating team to keep our minds open to all avenues, that we don't marry ourselves to one. We have to keep our minds open and go where the facts take us."

John Ray, a Miller Place attorney for victim Shannan Gilbert's family — Gilbert was sex worker who went missing in 2010 and who was later found murdered— said that on Thursday at SCPD headquarters, he will demand that SCPD release to the public immediately the four 911 tapes made when Gilbert disappeared in 2010.

"I have fought alone, in court for nearly four years to compel SCPD to release the 911 tapes. SCPD has relentlessly stonewalled against me and the public, and refused to release them, even though the State Supreme Court ordered the police to release the tapes to me. SCPD has defied the court," Ray said.

He added that next week, "the Appellate Division Court is scheduled to decide SCPD's appeal of the Court order on Jan. 21. SCPD will lose. Now they have suddenly called a press conference to announce today a 'new initiative' to share LISK information with the public, just before they face the legal music. They should release the 911 tapes at their press conference as their very first initiative to end the cover-up. We've boxed them in."

While Ray said he believed the 911 tapes should be played, no tapes were played. "If they don't release the tapes when they claim they are engaging in a new initiative to share information on the Long Island serial killer with the public, the public will need to know, and should demand in the strongest terms, that they release the only information that is of any importance at this stage, the 911 tapes."

Ray also brought up former ex-Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke, a detective who "had a lot to say about this investigation when Shannan first disappeared." Eight days after Gilbert was found, he was appointed chief of police, Ray said. "There was a cover up," he said.

The Netlix movie "also puts them on the spot," Ray said. "What they really need to do is give it up, do the right thing, clear out the old dead wood that has been investigating this case for 9 years and put in new people, new voices, a new mindset and share information with me and with the public."

At the event, Hart responded to a question about why the 911 tape was not released; a judge, she said, ruled on the 911 call and the SCPD has appealed. "We consider this part of the investigation, making sure we protect the investigation, as we do with every piece of evidence," Hart said.

She added that Gilbert did not "match the pattern" of the Gilgo Beach homicides "but we will let the facts dictate where we will go with the investigation."

The search for Gilbert first led to the bodies of four other prostitutes, all of whom were strangled and stuffed in burlap bags. A total of 11 sets of human remains, including Gilbert's, were found along Ocean Parkway. Police have been searching for a serial killer ever since.

Mari Gilbert was later murdered by another daughter.

The news comes just days before Netflix is set to debut a new movie filmed on the North Fork in 2018 about the murders.

According to imdb.com, "Lost Girls" is set to premiere Jan. 28 at the Sundance Film Festival and then be shown on Netflix.

The film is based on the book "Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery" by Robert Kolker, according to producer Anne Carey.