Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer

Episode 6 – “Tip of the Century”

Release Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Josh Zeman

Episode Overview

This episode of "Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer" dives deeply into the single, crucial tip that could have brought the Long Island Serial Killer—allegedly Rex Heuermann—to justice years before his 2023 arrest. Host Josh Zeman meticulously unravels how a critical piece of eyewitness evidence was buried for over a decade due to police mismanagement and internal corruption. The episode juxtaposes the tragedy of Shannon Gilbert, whose disappearance set off the investigation, with the systemic failures and power struggles that hindered justice for nearly a dozen victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tragedy of Shannon Gilbert (05:22 – 16:25)

• Shannon Gilbert's disappearance in Oak Beach in 2010 remains shrouded in uncertainty.
• Debate still rages over whether her death was a tragic accident or murder, fueled by her harrowing 911 call, finally released in 2022.
  • On tape, she frantically says:

    “There’s somebody after me.” (06:45)

• Law enforcement and independent pathologists both list her cause of death as "undetermined."
• Mental illness pervades the Gilbert family tragedy—Shannon's mother, Mary, was murdered by her own daughter, Sarah, during a schizophrenic episode.
• The Suffolk County PD withheld critical evidence (Shannon’s 911 call) for years, citing contradictory justifications.
  • Zeman concludes:

    “Whether she died accidentally or by some other means, Shannon Gilbert is still a victim. A victim of prejudice, of apathy, and the corruption that allowed the Long Island serial killer … to keep on killing.” (15:22)

2. Missed Clues: The ‘Tip of the Century’ (16:26 – 37:30)

• Central to the episode is Dave Schaller, roommate of victim Amber Lynn Costello, who described meeting the “monster” he believed killed Amber—a large man driving a distinct green Chevy Avalanche truck.
  • Schaller’s words:

    “That green Avalanche still stands out in my fucking mind to this day.” (21:05)

  • Detectives’ reactions suggested they knew this was important, calling it “the tip of the century.”
• His tip was corroborated by another witness and reaffirmed in a “truck lineup” with police, yet Suffolk PD did not capitalize on it.
• Administrative and technological excuses are cited (the Avalanche’s hybrid design confused databases), but Zeman notes:

  “How could they not take such a concrete lead seriously? Well, it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. … We didn’t take Dave’s clues seriously either.” (29:32)

• Further missteps included ignoring other hard evidence like call records linking the killer to Massapequa and witnesses’ books and research that were confiscated and not returned.

3. The Web of Obstruction & Corruption (37:31 – 52:45)

• Zeman and guest experts (including author Robert Kolker and Gus Garcia Roberts) discuss how internal power struggles among Suffolk County leadership—Commissioner Richard Dormer, DA Tom Spota, and Police Chief James Burke—created a culture where “protecting turf” took priority over solving murders.
  • Kolker describes FBI involvement and subsequent rejection:

    “Someone in the Suffolk County Police Department invites the Behavioral Analysis Unit … and when they show up, Spoda has them turn around and fly back home.” (48:17)

• Burke and Spoda’s regime systematically excluded federal help, buried tips, and redirected focus to serve personal ambitions and ensure career advancement, directly impacting investigative outcomes.

4. Systemic Failures – Missed Opportunities (52:46 – 63:28)

• Chain of command issues caused critical clues (like the Avalanche tip) to get “lost and buried.”
  • Cold case commander Joe Jacqueline:

    "This is a mistake that you cannot afford to make. … This case would have been wrapped up in 24 hours." (54:20)

• Internal politics may have led to purposeful suppression of leads by detectives loyal to one faction.
  • Zeman asks:

    “Why did Suffolk County superiors not know about it? Or did they?” (61:18)

• Retired detective Rob Trotta confirms that chiefs were left in the dark:
  > “They were unaware that the car was there. … They were not being told this.” (63:01)
• When James Burke ascended to police chief, productive investigative lines were abruptly halted, and crucial connections, such as the Avalanche tip, were ignored for years.

5. Breakthrough: Revisiting the Evidence (63:29 – 72:13)

• The case finally broke through not because of new evidence, but because the Gilgo Beach task force digitized old files, making the “tip of the century” searchable in 2022.
  • DA Ray Tierney:

    "First thing we did was digitize it. … If you don’t, you have to manually go through literally reams of paperwork.” (67:42)

  • Within a month, the Avalanche clue pointed directly to Rex Heuermann.

6. Ongoing Corruption and Impunity (72:14 – 81:00)

• Despite convictions of Burke and Spota, the entrenched power structure in Suffolk County policing—buffered by a huge, politically powerful law enforcement voting bloc—has largely endured.
  • Gus Garcia Roberts:

    “I don’t see the police impunity changing. … That’s what led to the rise of James Burke.” (75:36)

• Burke and Spoda continue to draw substantial taxpayer-funded pensions despite felony convictions, aggravating public distrust.
• Recent scandals show that issues with corruption and the treatment of sex workers persist.

7. Can Evil Be Uniquely Understood? (81:01 – 90:25)

• Zeman reflects on the mythologizing of serial killers like Rex Heuermann—how “monster” narratives obscure the reality that they are not criminal masterminds but deeply flawed, impulsive individuals.
  • Dr. Joni Johnston:

    "If you call Rex Heuermann a monster … then he’s not like us. … The opposite of that is true." (85:16)

  • Profiler Mark Safric:

    “I think we give too much credit to these offenders. … I think he could have been apprehended much earlier on, but I don’t think ... because he’s a super smart guy.” (88:10)

• The real tragedy is not genius on the killer’s part, but human error, bias, and institutional dysfunction.

8. Where the Case Stands Now & Unanswered Questions (90:26 – End)

• Rex Heuermann’s trial is expected to begin in 2026. He faces 7 murder charges, with others pending or still being investigated.
• Questions remain about more victims, potential new dumping grounds, and the full extent of law enforcement obstruction.
• The culture in Suffolk County law enforcement and its relationship with vulnerable communities remains ripe for reform.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That was it. Tip of the century. One that Dave Schaller gives not once but twice.” — Josh Zeman (27:00)
• “This is something where you had the clues readily available. … This case would have been wrapped up in 24 hours.” — Joe Jacqueline (54:20)
• “We’re not suggesting that Burke instructed detectives to bury the Green Avalanche tip, but just not to share any leads in the off chance it would lead to a suspect and a win for Dormer.” — Josh Zeman (62:00)
• “Now he was going to make her pay.” (re: killer's motive after Amber Costello's scam) — Zeman (31:24)
• “You’re giving this person unnatural power, even if it’s evil power. … This person is somebody who was unable to do in life what most of us can do, which is learn to cope without hurting other people.” — Dr. Joni Johnston (85:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Shannon Gilbert’s disappearance & significance: 05:22–16:25
• Dave Schaller’s eyewitness tip: 16:26–27:00
• Failures to follow up on crucial leads: 27:01–40:00
• Obstruction & department politics: 37:31–52:45
• Evaluating institutional competence: 52:46–63:28
• Breakthrough by digitizing evidence: 63:29–72:13
• The resilience of corrupt power structures: 72:14–81:00
• Rethinking the “monster” myth: 81:01–90:25
• Current state of the case & the road ahead: 90:26–End

Takeaways

• The failure to apprehend the Long Island Serial Killer sooner was not due to a lack of evidence, but systemic dysfunction, turf wars, and apathy.
• A single, well-corroborated eyewitness account—the “tip of the century”—was lost in bureaucracy for more than a decade, costing lives.
• True crime often reveals that the scariest monsters are not supervillains but ordinary men enabled by a system’s indifference.
• Institutional cultures are difficult to reform, as evidenced by persistent abuses and entrenchment of power long after headline convictions.
• The episode ends soberly—while the trial awaits, the deeper wounds of the case remain raw, and many questions are still unanswered.

For Further Listening

For those interested, subsequent episodes will continue to cover the trial and investigate the unanswered threads left hanging in this complex case. Additional exclusive and ad-free content is available through iHeart True Crime Plus.