The Trial of Diddy – Episode Preview: The Gilgo Beach Murders

Podcast: The Trial of Diddy
Host: Daily Mail
Date: September 5, 2025
Episode: Episode Preview: The Gilgo Beach Murders

Overview

This episode of "The Trial Plus" previews in-depth coverage of the infamous Gilgo Beach Murders, a cold case that haunted Long Island, New York for over a decade. Host Caroline Cheetham, joined by US reporter Ruth Bashinsky, recounts the chilling series of events that began with the disappearance of Shannon Gilbert in 2010, leading to the discovery of multiple bodies along Ocean Parkway. The episode also highlights a recent landmark judicial ruling regarding DNA evidence—potentially pivotal in the upcoming trial of suspect Rex Heuermann.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Chilling Genesis: Shannon Gilbert’s Disappearance

• Shannon Gilbert's Last Night:

  • Gilbert, a 24-year-old escort, traveled from New Jersey to Long Island’s secluded Ocean Beach for a well-paying job ([05:09]).
  • The night took a terrifying turn:
    • "What's your name? — Shannon Gilbert. Where are you? — I'm by on the Long Island. What's wrong? — These people are starting to kill me. Shut up. No. Stop it. Please stop it. Please. Please stop it. Please stop it." — Shannon Gilbert on 911 call ([01:37])
  • Gilbert, in a state of extreme paranoia and fear, bolted from her client’s house and desperately sought help from neighbors, her distress evident on the 911 call ([05:09]-[06:54]).

• Community and Police Response:

  • Her disappearance triggered a campaign from her mother pushing for action, but police attention was reportedly limited at the outset ([06:54]).

2. Discovery of the Bodies & The Case Expands

• Initial Finds:
  • Eight months after Gilbert’s disappearance—in December 2010—police uncovered a body, mistakenly assuming it was hers; it was actually Melissa Barthelemy ([07:41]).
  • As they searched, three more bodies surfaced, all young women in their 20s: Maureen Brainard Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. All were bound and wrapped in burlap—“chilling... absolutely terrifying” ([07:41]-[08:35]).
• The Gilgo Beach Setting:
  • The bodies were discovered in a remote, marshy area along Ocean Parkway—described as "a great place to dump a body...eerie at night... no street lights" ([07:41]).

3. The Pattern: Neglect and Systemic Issues

• Victims' Profiles & Police Oversight:
  • All four women were sex workers, a fact that may have contributed to police inaction.
    • “The families were looking for them. All this time, there were no leads... there were sex workers. And again, we had Jimmy James Burke as head of the Suffolk County Police Department. So that was one of the issues. What the heck was this guy doing?” — Ruth Bashinsky ([08:52])
• Law Enforcement Corruption:
  • “...chaos in the various investigation teams which came and went—two of that team involved in the initial investigation later went to prison for corruption, if that gives you any indication of the chaos... ” — Caroline Cheetham ([02:26])

4. Break in the Case: New Task Force and Suspect

• Turning Point (2022):
  • After a decade of stagnation, a new task force was formed. Within six weeks, evidence pointed to Rex Heuermann, a New York architect with a family, as a suspect.
  • Originally charged with three murders, charges have now increased to seven. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. No trial date is set, but it's expected to be a landmark proceeding ([02:26]).

5. Critical Evidence: DNA and a Landmark Legal Ruling

• Recent Judicial Decision:
  • The episode teases a recent “landmark” ruling on DNA evidence by the trial judge, which could impact not just this case but how evidence is handled in future New York trials ([02:26]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Shannon Gilbert’s 911 Call Audio (01:37):

  • “What's your name? Shannon Gilbert... These people are starting to kill me... Please stop it. Please stop it.”
    (Sets the haunting tone; a real-time window into her terror.)

• On Law Enforcement Issues (02:26):

  • “...chaos in the various investigation teams... two... later went to prison for corruption, if that gives you any indication of the chaos that I'm talking about.” — Caroline Cheetham

• On Victims and Policing (08:52):

  • “What the heck was this guy doing? When there are young missing women, you know, their families are screaming out for help and nothing was being done.” — Ruth Bashinsky

• On the Setting (07:41):

  • “It's a great place to dump a body. I hate to say it, but it's a great place, we should say, shouldn't we?”
    (Darkly acknowledge how geography made the crimes possible.)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• 01:37 — Shannon Gilbert’s harrowing 911 call
• 02:26 — Case summary, initial investigation failures, police corruption discussed
• 05:09 — Ruth Bashinsky recounts the night of Shannon Gilbert’s disappearance
• 06:54 — Revisiting the 911 call and community response to Gilbert’s disappearance
• 07:41 — Discovery of Melissa Barthelemy’s body and others; details of the remote, chilling crime scene
• 08:35 — Identification of the four initial victims; victimization of sex workers; police neglect

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a serious and investigative tone, mixing journalistic rigor with genuine empathy for the victims and their families. Both hosts communicate the gravity and enduring impact of the case, emphasizing the injustice experienced by both the victims and the community. The language is factual yet vivid, intended to immerse listeners in the ongoing complexities and developments of the Gilgo Beach investigation.