Mari Gilbert Biography

Mari Gilbert was the mother of 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, who went missing in May 2010 in the Ocean Parkway, Long Island area. Before her daughter’s body was discovered the police found ten bodies of other murdered women, most of them were sex workers. Mari became a spokesperson for the families of the victims of the killings.

Mari Gilbert Daughters

Mari was a mother to four girls; Shannan Gilbert, Sarra Gilbert, Sherre Gilbert, and Stevie Gilbert.

Mari Gilbert Shannan Gilbert

Mari was the mother of Shannan Gilbert, a Long Island woman who disappeared in May 2010 and whose body was later found in December 2011. Shannan disappeared in May 2010 after making a terrifying 911 call. She worked as a sex worker and suffered from bipolar disorder. She called 911 while she was inside the client’s home around 4:51 a.m. She alleged that someone was after her and was trying to kill her.

When the police began looking for her they found multiple other women’s bodies on Ocean Parkway between Gilgo and Oak Beach. The women were allegedly murdered by an unknown murderer who as been referred to as the Long Island serial killer or the Gillgo Beach killer.

In December 2011 when Shannan’s body was found on Jones Beach Island, the officials first believed she had tried to walk through marshland and had drowned. Her cause of death was undetermined according to the county medical examiner. The police however believed that her death was not connected to the possible serial killer in the area.

In 2016, Dr. Michael M. Baden conducted an independent autopsy and revealed that Shannan might have been murdered as the autopsy showed some findings that were consistent with strangulation. Her cause of death could not be determined.

How Did Mari Gilbert Die – Mari Gilbert Death

Marie was murdered by her then 27-year-old daughter, Sarra Gilbert on July 23, 2016 who brutally stabbed her to death. It is alleged that Sarra has paranoid schizophrenia and was hospitalized twice before her mother’s death.

Sarra was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession. In 2017 she was sentenced to 25 years to life.

Mari Gilbert Sarra Gilbert

Sarra stabbed her mother, Marie on July 23, 2016 more than 227 times with a 15-inch kitchen knife. Then she beat her mother with a fire extinguisher, sprayed her with foam from the extinguisher, and took off her jewelry and clothes. She was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree possession of a weapon. She pleaded not guilty on account of insanity. She faces a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison. She is currently being held at Ulster County Jail.

Sarra suffered from schizophrenia and she alleged that her mother was a demon who just wouldn’t die. Her lawyer argued that her action was a response to a lifetime of abuse and mental illness. Sarra had spent some time in foster care and was sexually abused by one of Mari’s boyfriends. She had spent years in and out of psychiatric hospitals after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The jury however rejected the option it was given of finding Gilbert “not responsible due to mental disease or defect,” meaning she was so mentally ill that she either didn’t know or understand what she was doing or what the consequences were.

The prosecution acknowledged that she suffered from schizophrenia but believed that she had plotted to kill her mother. The prosecution alleged that she plotted to kill Mari as she had her arrested months earlier for killing a puppy and had temporary custody of her young son.

Mari Gilbert Lost Girls

Netflix has a new film based on the true story of the killings of sex workers in Long Island, New York by an unidentified murderer who came to be known as the Long Island serial killer. In the film, Mari Gilbert’s role is played by Amy Ryan. The film focuses on Mari who became the face of the investigation. The film is based on the book ‘Lost Girls’ by Robert Kolker, the book focuses on the families of five victims.