Podcast Summary: Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer
Episode: Hunting LISK [1]
Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Josh Zeman – iHeartPodcasts and Tenderfoot TV
Overview
The premiere episode of “Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer” introduces filmmaker and host Josh Zeman as he revisits his investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders and the decades-long hunt for the elusive Long Island Serial Killer (LISK). The episode explores the July 2023 arrest of Rex Heuermann, the missed opportunities that allowed LISK to remain undetected for years, the failures and scandals of local law enforcement, and the stories of the victims who were often overlooked. Zeman sets the stage for a season dedicated to unraveling how the case went unsolved for over a decade, confronting systemic failures, and examining the personal and societal impacts of the crimes.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Arrest of Rex Heuermann and Years Leading Up to It
- 00:01 – 05:30
- Zeman recounts the chaotic morning of July 13, 2023, as news spreads about Rex Heuermann’s arrest.
- Zeman and his producing partner, Rachel, had previously created “The Killing Season” (2016), closely investigating possible suspects, but Heuermann hadn’t been on their radar.
- Police announce the apprehension of Heuermann for three murders, with the potential of more to come.
"But since then, we've come to realize we were far closer to catching LISK than we first thought. And those same clues that led police to cracking the case were right there all along, buried in our footage." — Josh Zeman (09:55)
2. The Frustration and Disappointment with Law Enforcement
- 05:30 – 08:15
- Zeman describes his disappointment and anger upon seeing the suspect—a seemingly ordinary man who’d evaded capture for so long.
- He reflects on the police’s fumbling and lack of urgency, which left the victims and their families in limbo.
"I only saw a man who was oafish, overweight, and aging badly. And this was the guy that I had spent years obsessing about… Why didn't anyone catch him sooner?" — Josh Zeman (13:20)
3. The Crucial Role of Investigative Journalism
- 08:15 – 10:45
- Zeman emphasizes the importance of revisiting the earliest cases and evidence.
- He signals the season’s promise to re-examine old footage and interviews for missed clues and systemic failures.
4. The Discovery of the Victims and Police Indifference
- 10:45 – 23:20
- The initial 2010 discovery: Officer John Malia and K9 Blue find human remains during the search for Shannon Gilbert, leading to nine more bodies.
- Victims, primarily sex workers, were dismissed and stigmatized by both police and media.
"Me and my sister never talked about serial killers, but we should have, because it's one of the most common amongst this type of work. It's just not brought to light because they're prostitutes." — Victim’s family member, (15:16)
- Investigative reporter Robert Kolker (author of “Lost Girls”) highlights how police and society often disregard missing sex workers:
"Everybody thought these women...were just outcasts, that nobody cared about them. The police decided not to look for them because we stigmatize escort work." — Robert Kolker (21:13)
5. The Mysterious Death of Shannon Gilbert
- 23:20 – 54:20
- Shannon Gilbert's 2010 disappearance sparks the entire investigation. She vanished after a panic-stricken 911 call and fleeing a client’s house in Oak Beach.
- Gilbert’s family hit bureaucratic dead-ends when trying to file a missing-persons report, facing blame-shifting between jurisdictions.
- Multiple theories emerge:
- Was Dr. Peter Hackett, a local physician, involved? He claimed to run a “home for wayward girls” and allegedly admitted to giving Shannon drugs, but denied wrongdoing.
- Wild theories of “Eyes Wide Shut”-style parties with local politicians, police, sex workers, and potential cover-ups swirl.
"Our daughter was screaming and crying for 23 minutes for help. The police are doing nothing. They're doing nothing." — Mary, Shannon's mother (37:34)
- Police ultimately determine her death resulted from a “mental episode,” but the family and their lawyer allege a cover-up and sue for release of the 911 tapes.
6. Corruption and Conspiracies in Suffolk County
- 54:20 – 01:13:00
- Zeman interviews a former detective (pseudonym “Hawkshaw”) describing the county as run like a “fiefdom” by corrupt top cops.
- Suggestion that police deliberately withheld evidence (e.g., the 911 tape) to avoid damaging revelations about high-profile clients and internal misconduct.
"She may have uttered some names. They don't want you to hear it." — Hawkshaw (01:04:47)
- Persistent rumors of police partying with escorts at Oak Beach. Eventually, a sex worker named Leanne testifies to Zeman that in 2011 she attended such parties, naming future police chief James Burke as a participant, and describing his violent, narcissistic behavior.
"The police officers who are at these parties, are they still in law enforcement now? They're very much still in, still soliciting escorts... Burke and I had had sex, yes. And was he violent at all? Burke was a very aggressive person, very narcissistic, godlike." — Leanne (01:10:23)
- Burke is later arrested and charged with unrelated crimes, cementing perceptions of deep-rooted police malfeasance.
7. Conclusion and Impetus for Further Investigation
- 01:13:00 – 01:16:54
- Zeman ends by asserting that this narrative is not simply about the Long Island Serial Killer, but exposes systemic failings that allowed him to remain at large.
- He promises the season will both revisit the past with fresh evidence and track the contemporary legal proceedings against Rex Heuermann.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Context | |-----------|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 09:55 | Josh Zeman | "We've come to realize we were far closer to catching LISK than we first thought..." | | 13:20 | Josh Zeman | "I only saw a man who was oafish...And this was the guy...Why didn't anyone catch him sooner?" | | 15:16 | Victim’s family member | "Me and my sister never talked about serial killers, but we should have...it's just the way it is." | | 21:13 | Robert Kolker | “The police decided not to look for them because we stigmatize escort work.” | | 37:34 | Mary Gilbert | "Our daughter was screaming and crying...The police are doing nothing." | | 01:04:47 | Hawkshaw (Detective) | "She may have uttered some names. They don't want you to hear it." | | 01:10:23 | Leanne (Escort) | "Burke was a very aggressive person, very narcissistic, godlike." |
Key Timestamps
- 00:01 – 05:30: Zeman’s personal recount of first hearing about the arrest.
- 10:45 – 23:20: The initial discovery of bodies, victims’ backgrounds, and police apathy.
- 23:20 – 54:20: The disappearance, search, and controversy surrounding Shannon Gilbert.
- 54:20 – 01:13:00: Police corruption, theories, and the testimony of Leanne.
- 01:13:00 – 01:16:54: Closing thoughts; season roadmap.
Tone and Language
- Zeman’s narration is immersive and personal, mixing investigative journalism with emotional candor.
- The episode combines straightforward reporting with confessional moments, adding urgency and frustration.
- The language is direct and, at times, raw, particularly when discussing systemic failures and injustice.
Final Thoughts
This premiere episode serves as both a harrowing true crime investigation and a social critique. By revisiting old evidence, firsthand interviews, and scandals within Suffolk County, “Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer” challenges listeners to rethink the case—not just as a monster hunt, but as an indictment of the institutions that failed the victims. The season promises new revelations, behind-the-scenes evidence, and follow-up on the much-anticipated trial of Rex Heuermann.
For listeners seeking a thorough, well-sourced exploration of the LISK case and the systemic issues that enabled it, this episode provides a powerful introduction and clear direction for the season ahead.