A Date With Dateline · Kimberly and Katie - ADWDL

The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets Ep.1

·1 hr 40 min·5 clips

A corrupt police chief shuts down the FBI's involvement, delaying justice for the Gilgo victims for years.

This episode of A Date With Dateline covers the first part of the Peacock documentary series "Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets," titled "The Monster Among Us." Hosts Katie and Jake, filling in for Kimberly, provide a recap and analysis of the documentary's premiere. The episode focuses on the initial discovery of the Gilgo Beach victims and the early investigation. The documentary opens with Asa, the wife of the accused killer, being questioned about how she could not have known about the alleged crimes in her home. The narrative then shifts to the 911 call from Shannon Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker who went missing in Oak Beach, Long Island, in May 2010. Investigators found four other women—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello—wrapped in burlap and bound in the Gilgo Beach area in December 2010. Retired homicide detective Rick Tinelli and reporter Mary Murphy provide commentary, noting all victims were white, petite, and connected to Craigslist ads. The hosts highlight that the killer used burner phones to contact victims, and in Melissa Barthelemy's case, taunted her 15-year-old sister with calls. Cell phone data placed the killer in Massapequa Park and midtown Manhattan. A key witness, Dave Schuller, roommate of victim Amber Costello, described the suspect as around six-foot-four with bushy hair and glasses, driving a dark green, first-generation Chevy Avalanche. The hosts express surprise that with this specific car description and geographic profile, the case remained unsolved for years. Katie and Jake question investigative details, like why police couldn't pinpoint the house Shannon Gilbert fled from and whether the burlap sacks provided forensic leads. They note the documentary uses archival news footage and headlines effectively. The tone is conversational and analytical, with the hosts interjecting personal reactions and speculations while summarizing the documentary's content. Listeners interested in deep dives into infamous serial killer cases and investigative details would appreciate this episode. Those sensitive to crimes of a sexual nature or frustrated by unresolved investigative questions might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A grim Peacock true-crime chapter that turns a memorable sketch and a specific car into real momentum.

Peacock's three-part chapter follows Katie and Jake as they work a case from a handful of unusually specific clues. The sketch is odd enough to stick, and the dark green first-generation Chevy Avalanche gives the search a real-world anchor after a year on the trail.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want the clue trail to get weird fast.

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