The harrowing true story behind new Netflix crime drama ‘Lost Girls’

The case remains unsolved

4 years ago | UPDATED 4 years ago

Today, Netflix released its new drama “Lost Girls”, which is based on the true crime story of the Long Island serial killer.

The Netflix film is based on the New York Times best selling book with the same name by Robert Kolker. It focuses on the story of Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker who went missing in 2010. Shannan was found dead in December 2011. Here is the full true story behind the Netflix show.

*Contains details about Lost Girls series on Netflix*

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via Netflix

Lost Girls on Netflix tells the true story of the Long Island serial killer

Lost Girls is a drama version of the real life story of the Long Island serial killer. The murderer is believed to have killed between 10 and 16 girls, and still has not been found.

The drama focuses mainly on the story of Shannan Gilbert, who is one of the Long Island victims. Shannan went missing in 2010 and her mother, Mari, pushed local police to help find her missing daughter. When the case got underway, they found the bodies of four girls – but none were Shannan. It was then that police discovered there was something much more sinister going on in the area.

It turned into a media circus, with Mari Gilbert in the centre trying to find out who was killing the girls in the area.

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Mari Gilbert in real life, via Netflix

The Long Island serial killer, also referred to as the Craigslist Ripper, had been killing local sex workers (including Shannan) in the area between 1996 and 2010. He got the nickname as it was later found that all the woman killed had been advertising their services on Craigslist.

Shannan, a 24-year-old sex worker, vanished after leaving a client’s house on foot in Oak Beach, disappearing into the marsh. Shannan’s body was recovered in the swampy marsh in December 2011 – a year and a half after she disappeared. Since then, further investigations have found that she rang 911 on the night she was killed, saying that someone was trying to murder her. She called three times on the night, the first call lasting 22 minutes, but no officers were ever sent.

Other women’s bodies that were found in the days that followed include fellow sex workers, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who were all found within 500 feet of each other. Police also found the skull of a prostitute named Jessica Taylor, who had gone missing in 2003.

Shannan’s cause of death has remained “inconclusive”. The Netflix documentary reveals police had thought she was killed by exposure to the elements, but an independent review found her injuries were consistent with strangulation.

via Netflix

Just last month, more evidence in the case was released. A previously unseen photograph which shows the initials on a black leather belt, showing either an HM or WH depending on the angle, was shared by police. Investigators say they believe the belt does not belong to one of the victims and was instead handled by the suspect. The police refused to comment on whether they believe they have more than one suspect in the still unresolved killings.

Authorities have set up a new website, gilgonews.com, which will post updates on the investigation and accept tips about the case.

In July 2016 Mari Gilbert died. Her daughter, Sarra, suffered a psychotic episode after coming off medicine for schizophrenia. Mari attempted to interfere but suffered fatal stab wounds.