{"podcast":{"title":"The Dark Oak","slug":"the-dark-oak-6475930","podcast_index_feed_id":6475930,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/thedarkoakpodcast/feed.xml","website_url":"https://thedarkoakpodcast.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/16604225/Tree_6ms6ri.jpg","author":"Just Us Gals Productions","episode_count":100,"summary":"Attention all shiver-seekers! The Dark Oak is a weekly thrill and chill inducing mystery podcast. Every Wednesday, Stefanie and Cynthia will present to you a true tale of the supernatural, the macabre, historical crimes, cryptids, the unexplained and the downright spooky. To help ease your fears, we also include The Branch of Hope Foundation, which connects you to the human side of our cases by giving back to non-profit organizations related to the first episode of the month. If you enjoy guilt free listening and your interest falls somewhere between Bigfoot and Jack the Ripper, The Dark Oak has you covered. Throw in some real time reactions including gasps and laughs and you’ve got the perfect podcast. So grab your coffee, sweet tea or tall glass of wine and settle in for your shadowy adventure. The Dark Oak is waiting!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-09T00:18:57.004781+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dark-oak-6475930"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 142: Shannan Gilbert's Disappearance and the Long Island Serial Killer","slug":"episode-142-shannan-gilbert-s-disappearance-and-the-long-island-serial-killer","published_at":"2026-02-25T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dark-oak-6475930/episode-142-shannan-gilbert-s-disappearance-and-the-long-island-serial-killer","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dark-oak-6475930","url":"https://thedarkoakpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-142-shannan-gilberts-disappearance-and-the-long-island-serial-killer/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/x344q4fmksa9pfum/Shannan-Gilbert.mp3","summary":"In May 2010, 24-year-old escort Shannan Gilbert vanished after a frantic episode in Oak Beach, Long Island, captured on a bizarre 911 call where she claimed people were trying to kill her. Her disappearance prompted searches that uncovered the remains of multiple women along Ocean Parkway, including the \"Gilgo Four\" (Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello) and others, revealing a suspected serial killer targeting Craigslist escorts. Shannan's skeletal remains were found in 2011; authorities ruled her death accidental (likely drowning/exposure), but her family and an independent autopsy argue for homicidal strangulation. The case exposed police bias against sex-worker victims, corruption under Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke (later imprisoned), and slow progress. In 2023, architect Rex Heuermann was arrested and charged with seven murders (Gilgo Four plus Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Sandra Costilla), based on DNA, burner phones, hair evidence, and planning documents. He awaits trial in 2026. Shannan's death remains uncharged to him, with ongoing debate over whether she fits the pattern. Her mother, Mari Gilbert, became a fierce advocate before her tragic 2016 murder by her daughter. The Netflix film Lost Girls highlights the families' struggles and societal biases in the case. This month's Branch of Hope sponsored charity is: The Parents of Murdered Children. POMC provides ongoing emotional support, education, prevention, advocacy, and awareness for survivors of homicide victims, while working toward a world free of murder. It is the only national self-help organization specifically focused on the aftermath of murder. It emphasizes helping survivors reconstruct a \"new life\" after acute grief and dealing with the crimin…","meta_description":"In May 2010, 24-year-old escort Shannan Gilbert vanished after a frantic episode in Oak Beach, Long Island, captured on a bizarre 911 call where she claim…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3678,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-dark-oak-6475930/episodes/episode-142-shannan-gilbert-s-disappearance-and-the-long-island-serial-killer/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dark-oak-6475930/episode-142-shannan-gilbert-s-disappearance-and-the-long-island-serial-killer.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}