Two Ts in a Pod: Legally Brunette – The Gilgo Beach Murders

iHeartPodcasts | August 12, 2025
Hosts: Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson

Episode Overview

In this true-crime-focused episode, Emily and Shane Simpson (substituting for Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge) take an in-depth look at the Gilgo Beach murders, also known as the Long Island Serial Killer case. The discussion navigates through the origins of the case, the botched police investigation mired in corruption, and the eventual arrest of Rex Heuermann. The hosts bring a blend of fascination, skepticism, and dark humor to the topic while emphasizing the tragic mishandling of one of the most notorious serial murder cases in recent American history.

Key Discussion Points & Deep Dives

1. Initial Case Updates & News Items

• Update on Diddy Case (03:05 – 09:51)

  • Emily offers a rehash of the Diddy case, including the controversial Man Act and defense arguments around racial motivation.
  • Gina, a previously missing victim/witness, reemerges to write a letter supporting Diddy’s bail, leading the hosts to speculate about witness manipulation.

  “I don't know. I mean, I can guess what happened… I assume that he had some kind of contact with her. Either she's scared, or... check her bank account. Or she's gained something substantial.”
  – Emily Simpson (09:28)

2. Introduction to the Gilgo Beach Murders / Long Island Serial Killer

(16:14 – 24:25)

• Emily clarifies the case's nomenclature: Gilgo Beach Murders are the same as the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case.
• The murders largely target sex workers, whose remains are discovered between 2010–2011 along a remote stretch of Ocean Parkway.

3. Shannan Gilbert: The Catalyst

(18:10 – 24:25)

• The case begins with sex worker Shannan Gilbert’s disappearance after a panicked 911 call.

• Multiple witnesses, failed rescue attempts, and questionable police action set the investigation in motion.

• Emily details the tragic sequence: Shannan’s frantic flight, ignored pleas for help, and eventual disappearance.

  “So terrible. The man who she met with, the client—wish she stayed in that house... there are so many opportunities for her to save herself. And I don't understand what happened. It is such a mystery to me.”
  – Emily Simpson (20:30)

4. Discovery of the Bodies & Victim Profiles

(21:24 – 36:01)

• While searching for Shannan, police discover four bodies wrapped in burlap along Gilgo Beach—the "Gilgo Four": Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard Barnes.

• The hosts outline a timeline of disappearances, highlighting the victims' similarities: young, petite, sex workers.

• Amber Costello’s prior encounter and her roommates’ crucial witness accounts—especially a description of the suspect—later prove pivotal.

  “Supposedly the fee, this is what I've learned, was fifteen hundred dollars, six times her hourly rate… That's a flag if I ever saw one.”
  – Shane Simpson (35:30)

  “I mean, there's so many times when you read these stories and these decisions that these women made—you're just so sad… they're in dire straits, trying to survive.”
  – Emily Simpson (36:02)

5. New Victims, Crime Scene Patterns & Serial Killer Evolution

(41:11 – 44:22; 49:19 – 51:19)

• Further remains are uncovered along Long Island, including a toddler, an Asian male, and dismembered corpses—suggesting the killer’s evolving methods.

• The hosts discuss changes in modus operandi over time: “serial killers evolve, they get bored, they change, they hone in their skills” (42:55).

• Discussion on victimology and theories around the disparate findings, such as the reason for wrapping victims in burlap versus dismemberment.

  “I guess from my perspective, watching it… he is involved with sex workers. There was a woman that came forward that said that he had hired her for sex… I don’t think James Burke is involved in the actual serial killer part…”
  – Emily Simpson (64:36)

6. Police Corruption and the 11-Year Delay

(54:57 – 70:31)

• Emily and Shane recount the extraordinary corruption within the Suffolk County Police Department that allowed the killer to remain free for over a decade.

• Police Chief James Burke actively blocks the FBI, fearing exposure of his illicit behavior, and enforces a "blue wall" of silence.

• Burke and DA Thomas Spota’s eventual downfall, ties to the case through patronage, and their later unrelated arrests are explored.

  "He blocked the FBI. He delayed key forensic progress… He basically was just like, no one is allowed to have anything to do with this case."
  – Emily Simpson (64:36)

  “The corruption is unreal in this police department.”
  – Emily Simpson (70:31)

7. The Turning Point: Task Force & Technology

(75:18 – 81:29)

• A new, uncorrupt police commissioner creates a task force, digitizes old files, and closely re-examines the Amber Costello witness interview that leads them to Rex Heuermann.

• Profiling based on descriptions (height, vehicle, glasses), and phone data analytics are crucial.

• Within six weeks, they zero in on Heuermann by matching cell movement/geography and uncovering DNA evidence from pizza crust he discarded.

  "They digitize all the documents and evidence that has to do with this case so it can be easily searchable… as they're searching through this, they come across the interview that had to do with Amber Costello and her roommate Dave..."
  – Emily Simpson (78:00)

  "They grab the pizza. They take the crust. It has DNA on it. They run the DNA, and it comes back that the DNA matches the hairs that they found on the bodies. So now they've got it all."
  – Emily Simpson (81:29)

8. The Arrest & Evidence Against Rex Heuermann

(81:30 – 85:18)

• Rex Heuermann, a successful architect with an unkempt, "serial killer-esque" home, is arrested in July 2023.

• Indictments expand over time as more bodies are linked to him; his blueprint for killing is found on a computer file.

• Defense challenges DNA sequencing and seeks to split charges in court; as of the episode, there is no set trial date.

  "The document was a carefully structured blueprint of serial murder planning… It detailed specific steps and lessons for future offenses..."
  – Emily Simpson (85:18)

  "Imagine if that someone comes knocking on the door and they're like, ‘Your husband's a murderer. We're here to arrest him.’"
  – Shane Simpson (83:14)

9. Systemic Problems & Prevention

(68:26 – 70:13)

• Emily points out that proactive engagement with sex workers—guaranteed immunity—could have solved the case years earlier.

• The lack of institutional will and prioritization of marginalized victims led to prolonged tragedy.

  "If the police department wasn't so corrupt… and they just issued something that said, look, there is a serial killer… We just want to get information without any repercussions of being arrested… This could have been solved years ago."
  – Emily Simpson (69:40)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Shane on witness letters:
  "You've been nice for a couple years… I don't know why someone would get a lesser sentence. Because they've been nice for a couple years." (08:18)
• Emily on the tragedy of ignored victims:
  "There are so many times when you read these stories… you're just so sad because they're in dire straits, trying to survive and just stay alive with a roof over their head." (36:01)
• Shane on serial killer evolution:
  "You get older and he started to get lazy… I mean, this dismembering thing, it's really tolling." (50:44)
• Emily on evidence preservation:
  "What if that chief of police, like, threw away that interview? … That would have been a huge different outcome. And I never thought of that." (87:06)
• Shane on solution speed:
  "If you don't have a corrupt police chief… you could have solved this murder 12 years ago." (86:53)
• Dark Humor:
  "He has these 70s style glasses on… the serial killer glasses—you get them at the serial killer store, right?"
  – Emily Simpson (37:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Diddy Case & Man Act: 03:05 – 09:51
• Shannan Gilbert & Case Genesis: 16:14 – 24:25
• Finding the Gilgo Four: 21:24 – 32:36
• Victimology & Witness Accounts: 35:30 – 41:11
• Dismemberment & Killer Evolution: 41:11 – 44:22; 49:19 – 51:19
• Shannan Gilbert’s Discovery & Police Dismissal: 53:23 – 56:34
• Suffolk County Corruption Overview: 54:57 – 70:31
• Task Force, File Digitization, and Heuermann's Arrest: 75:18 – 81:29
• Trial Status & Defense Strategy: 81:30 – 86:22
• Reflections & Takeaways: 86:53 – 87:52

Final Thoughts & Reflections

Emily and Shane emphasize that systemic corruption, disregard for sex workers, and insular police politics left a killer at large for more than a decade—a tragedy that may have claimed more lives. The piece concludes on a note of hope that, going forward, law enforcement will prioritize both technological progress and community engagement, echoing the importance of every victim’s life.

"If you have any other cases that you would like us to talk about, I'm always happy to take your suggestions. So thank you guys for listening. We appreciate it."
– Emily Simpson (87:52)

This episode stands out for its thorough narrative, relatable hosts, and clear advocacy for investigative reform—woven seamlessly with gripping true crime detail and just enough courtroom banter.