Police Say There's Probably Only One Long Island Serial Killer

Today police said they’ve concluded that there aren’t multiple serial killers roaming around Long Island. That seems like good news, but it actually means there’s one prolific killer on the loose who’s managed to evade police for more than a decade.

Though for months police have been saying that two or even more serial killers dumped 10 sets of human remains on Long Island beaches, now they’ve changed their profile. At a press conference today they revealed they’re searching for one killer who changed his methods over time. According to Newsday, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said they came up with the new theory based on several factors:

“The sex workers dumped in the same place, the ages of the victims and even though we did have a male and a toddler’s remains found, we believe that they may be connected to the sex business.”

In May, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spotta said:

“It is clear that the area in and around Gilgo Beach has been used to discard human remains for some period of time … As distasteful and disturbing as that is, there is no evidence that all of these remains are the work of a single killer.”

At today’s press conference they gave no indication of what evidence changed their minds. They did add that they now believe the killer is a Long Islander due to his familiarity with the area. Police found two of the victims torsos in 2000 and 2003, about 42 miles away from the beach where their other body parts turned up recently.

Police have warned that we can’t expect them to wrap up the case in an hour like on C.S.I., but the drastic changes in their theories about the case aren’t encouraging. While the bodies were discovered due to an investigation into the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, a New Jersey sex worker, now authorities say her case isn’t connected to the killings — though they still haven’t found any trace of her. Police insist that the case hasn’t gone cold and say they’re still going through hundred of tips as well as the victims’ cellphone and computer records. Dormer says they’re “moving as fast as we possibly can to apprehend this person,” because it’s very possible that while the investigation continues the killer is claiming more victims.

Cops: 1 Killer To Blame In Gilgo Murders [Newsday]
Police Say One Serial Killer To Blame For Long Island Killings [CNN]