Mari Gilbert

Mari Gilbert (June 22, 1964 – July 23, 2016) was an American activist and murder victim advocate.

Gilbert was an advocate for her daughter, Shannan, a 24-year-old prostitute from New Jersey who disappeared on May 2010; the investigation of Shannan's disappearance led to the discovery of ten homicide victims scattered along Ocean Parkway in New York. Investigators believed that Shannan died of an accidental drowning that was unrelated to the crimes of the Long Island serial killer, but Gilbert challenged the finding and fought to have the case reopened as a murder investigation. Gilbert and her other daughters (Sarra, Sherre, and Stevie) frequently appeared on television shows discussing the case.

Death

Gilbert was stabbed to death by one of her daughters, Sarra, in Sarra's apartment building on Warren Street in Ellenville, New York on July 23, 2016. Sarra suffered from schizophrenia. One report claimed that Sarra "had voices in her head telling her to carry out the crime". Sarra was later charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree possession of a weapon. She is being held at Ulster County Jail.