Suspect apprehended in the infamous Gilgo Beach murders on Long Island

Suspect in Gilgo Beach murders taken into custody on Long Island.

A suspect has been apprehended in connection with the long-unsolved Gilgo Beach murders on New York's Long Island, according to a law enforcement official. The case, which dates back over a decade, gained widespread attention after human remains were discovered along a beach highway. The mystery surrounding the killings was the focus of the 2020 Netflix film "Lost Girls." The suspect was taken into custody in Massapequa on Thursday, and investigators are currently at a home connected to the case. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the suspect's name.

The Gilgo Beach murders, which occurred between 2010 and 2011, have baffled investigators for years. The victims, most of whom were young women involved in sex work, were found near Gilgo Beach. One of the victims, Megan Waterman, went missing from Long Island in June 2010. Her body was discovered six months later on a remote beach. Police believe Waterman was a victim of sex trafficking, brought to New York by her boyfriend to engage in prostitution.

The identity of the killer or killers responsible for the murders has remained elusive, despite the efforts of numerous homicide detectives and changes in police leadership. Last year, an interagency task force was formed, consisting of FBI agents and local law enforcement, with the goal of solving the case. The formation of this task force represents a renewed commitment to investigating the unsolved killings and bringing justice to the victims.

The disappearance of Shannan Gilbert in 2010 triggered the initial search that led to the discovery of the other victims. Gilbert, a sex worker, vanished after leaving a client's house in Oak Beach. The search for her body led to the discovery of additional remains in the area. In total, 11 sets of human remains were found, including those of eight women, one man, and one toddler. Some of these remains were linked to dismembered body parts found elsewhere on Long Island, creating a complex and perplexing crime scene.

Investigators have long maintained that it is unlikely that one person is responsible for all the killings near Gilgo Beach. The recent arrest of a suspect comes just days after skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off the Southern State Parkway in Islip. It is unclear at this time if these remains are connected to the Gilgo Beach case.

The arrest of a suspect brings hope to the families of the victims, who have been waiting for answers for over a decade. John Ray, the attorney for the families of two victims, expressed cautious optimism about the progress in the investigation. The police's renewed efforts and the formation of the task force have given hope that justice will finally be served.

As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge. The arrest of a suspect marks a significant development in the case, but there is still much work to be done to bring closure to the families of the victims and solve the mystery of the Gilgo Beach murders.