Gone Girls: il serial killer di Long Island

I loved the way the story was told. The b-roll was haunting. Cinematography on spot, the music was intense. There are some images that have stayed with me. I also like how the filmmakers didn't rush to unveil the story, they kept unfolding the clues to make you thing and wonder. Netflix docs are well made and awesome. I highly recommend this to lovers of True Crime. A must see in my opinion.

One of the better true crime docu-series that I've seen in awhile. I went into it completely blind and had no idea about the case or any of the details involving it. This was a very pleasant surprise. It's very well done and is incredibly shocking and entertaining. I only wish that they'd have waited a bit until after the accused trial for a proper ending to it. I definitely felt a little disappointed by how it ended. Overall this is one of Netflixs' better true crime series that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject. Like I said before, it would have been extremely satisfying to see the trial and the conviction of Red and really don't understand why they didn't wait until they could do an episode on that before wrapping it up, but maybe there will be a follow up. Knowing Netflix probably lol.

The Long Island Serial Killer, also known as the Gilgo Beach Killer, is a now identified man, responsible for the murders of multiple people over a period of nearly 20 years, primarily on Long Island, New York. The case gained national attention due to the gruesome nature of the crimes and the long period the killer remained at large.

In December 2010, Suffolk County Police were searching for a missing woman named Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker who had called 911 in distress months earlier. While searching near Gilgo Beach, police found four bodies wrapped in burlap sacks along Ocean Parkway.

In July 2023, a man named Rex Heuermann, an architect from Massapequa Park, was arrested and charged with the murders of at least three women - known as the "Gilgo Four." He is also the prime suspect in a fourth killing.

On June 6, 2024, Heuermann was charged with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla - the latter not previously linked to the Gilgo Beach case, pushing the timeline back to the early 1990s. In December, he was also indicted for the 2000 murder of Valerie Mack. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

As of 2025, the legal process is ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to investigate his possible involvement in other unsolved murders.

I did not know about this killer and this story. I found this documentary interesting and it never felt like it was dragging. The thing that shocked me the most were not the murders themselves, but the checklist and notes Rex Heuermann had on his computer that the police managed to restore. A list of how he could improve his killings and methods, which was absolutely absurd and made me sick to my stomach. Here I will copy and paste a summary of an article I read that covers most of it:

"Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann allegedly created disturbing digital checklists that show how he carefully planned and covered up his murders, which he referred to as "hunts," prosecutors revealed. These lists included "pre-prep" and "post event" steps, covering everything from logistics to disposing of evidence. Investigators uncovered these lists while examining a trove of digital devices from his home.

The checklists were organized into:

-Supplies needed.

-Pre-prep tasks (e.g., vehicle inspection, checking for traffic cameras, getting enough sleep).

-Dump site planning.

-Post-disposal actions (e.g., changing tires, preparing an alibi, deleting incriminating files).

Some chilling notes included:

-Get sleep before hunts. Too tired creates problems.

-Use heavy rope... light rope breaks under stress.

-More sleep & noise control = more playtime.

Prosecutors believe "playtime" refers to the torture and bondage of victims. The defense argues these new charges don't align with the original theory, pointing to differences like dismemberment and locations of the new alleged victims."

No pun intended - the show (documentary style) is really well done. But I should not have started it for my own sake. It was just something that was fitting from the run time and my own schedule ... now I do not want to make light of the real cases here. The show is doing them justice (again no pun intended and not giving anything away if you catch what I am saying) - but you have to be in the mood for this true crime stuff.

Which is why I am trying to tell everyone to watch out (and maybe in), to what you are about to get here. I reckon it had to be a few episodes to get everything in - so I wouldn't even say this is way too long (it isn't relatively speaking) ... but as you may have realized ... so much pain is tough to get through. There are some voices of reason (but do individuals who have lost someone really listen to those? And are they even able to?) ... so good interviews, a lot of uncovering ... as much as possible actually. So well done overall - if it is your cup of tea.

True crime documentaries are not really my cup of tea. They are often sensationalist and voyeurist, concentrating on the gruesome nature of murder to provide entertainment. Gone Girls offers a victim-focus that is a welcome perspective.

Since I knew nothing of this case I may be an outlier, however this limited-episode series was, to me at least, an interesting and engaging overview of these events. It would be disingenuous to claim that Gone Girls is enjoyable, however this is not to criticise the documentary's creators. It certainly stands above other entries in the genre that I have seen.

The facts of what happened are shocking enough on their own merits that sensationalism is not required; the conclusion (thus far) of the case raises many concerns, not least the manner in which authorities appear to have reinforced the wider presumption that there are members of society that they consider not deserving of justice. That these human beings are often amongst the most vulnerable is a damning irony.

It is clear that there remains much still to be uncovered; if a follow-up series was to maintain a victim-focussed narrative it would be worthwhile viewing.