Nearly 1 Year Since Discovery Of Remains On Gilgo Beach, Police Still Looking For Single Killing Suspect
OAK BEACH, NY (CBSNewYork) -- Sunday marks one year since a police officer in Suffolk County discovered the first of ten bodies along Ocean Parkway in what would become the largest murder investigation on Long Island.
LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
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A candlelight vigil is planned for Tuesday along Ocean Parkway where the remains of the ten victims were found.
The first body was found on Dec. 11, 2010 while police were searching for Shannan Gilbert, a missing prostitute from New Jersey.
By April, police had discovered the sets of ten remains on Gilgo Beach, all found about seven miles apart along Ocean Parkway.
More: Map And Timeline Of Investigation
Police have said the remains belong to eight women, a man and a toddler and that least five of the victims were prostitutes, including the bodies of Maureen Barnes, Melissa Barthemay, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello.
The four women are the only ones police have positively identified. Authorities released sketches of two other victims in Sept. in hopes of generating new leads in the case.
The first was of a Jane Doe with prominent cheekbones and jaw line. Her remains were found in two separate locations along Ocean Parkway in April.
The second was a drawing of an Asian male who police said was dressed in women's clothing when his body was found and may have been working as a prostitute.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said he believes a single serial killer is likely responsible for the murders of all ten victims, but said detectives now believe Gilbert's disappearance is not connected to that case. They now think Gilbert likely fell into a marsh and drowned.
Earlier this week, investigators went back to Oak Beach where they found Gilbert's purse, cell phone, jeans, shoes and lip gloss buried in the mud and water.
Investigators said they believe they are close to finding her.
"She's in there some place and we want to do everything we can to find her," Dormer said.
Gilbert was last seen running and screaming for help in Oak Beach back in May of 2010.
The search for her remains will continue on Monday.
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