Days into an investigation of what is likely the work a serial killer and Suffolk County Police now know one thing for sure-none of the four female bodies discovered is 24 -year -old Shannan Gilbert.
Gilbert, a prostitute from Jersey City, was last seen in May near Gilgo Beach. That is the site where the four bodies were discovered.
"I don't want anyone to think we have a ‘Jack The Ripper’ running around town with blood dripping from his knife," said Richard Dormer the Suffolk County Police Commissioner.
Suffolk County PD are working with the FBI and have increased the number of K9 units on the case.
A mother in Maine is awaiting DNA results to see if her daughter, also a missing prostitute, is among the dead. She says she knows what Gilbert's mother is going through right now.
"She's probably relieved it's not her daughter but wonders if she's still out there," said Lorraine Ela.
Since the bodies were found in a cluster police think it may be the work of a serial killer.
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“When I saw the news about the bodies my heart just broke and I thought here we go again, “says Audacia Ray a former sex worker. “When there are a collection of bodies somewhere it's almost always the bodies of sex workers."
Ray is organizing a vigil on Friday in New York to end violence against sex workers. The 7th annual International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers will be held at the Metropolitan Church in Midtown Manhattan at 7:30pm on Friday.
Ray says when she was working she used to screen her johns and always tell someone she trusted where she was going-when she was meeting a client.
"I had some protections in place but you always have that fear that something could happen." says Ray.
When you work in an illegal profession like prostitution things can go wrong, says Ray and there are few safe places to turn.
"As many serial killers have stated they think sex workers won't be missed when they disappear.”
