New York court sentences Gilgo Beach serial killer to life without parole

A New York court sentenced the man convicted in the Gilgo Beach killings to life in prison without parole on Wednesday. The defendant had pleaded guilty in April to murdering seven women and admitted killing an eighth victim. He offered a brief statement before sentencing, saying the accounts presented were accurate and that he had no meaningful words to offer.

Court statements Family members of the victims spoke during the hearing.

" Another relative recalled learning details of her mother's death years later and struggling to find a sense of belonging. A cousin of one victim said the sentence would never be enough. The mother of another victim stated that justice had been delivered but could not restore what was lost.

A sister of one victim demanded the defendant look at her while she spoke and expressed hope that he would suffer as her sister had.

Investigation background The case began with the 2011 discovery of four sets of remains along Long Island's South Shore. Additional remains had been found earlier, prompting concerns about a serial killer. All victims were identified as sex workers.

Police faced criticism over the pace of the investigation. A new task force formed in 2022, and federal investigators joined the effort. Within months, authorities linked the defendant to a vehicle seen near one victim's disappearance. DNA evidence and cellphone records led to his arrest on a Manhattan street in 2023.

He has remained largely silent during court proceedings. The Suffolk County district attorney told the court that the defendant had continued to profit from and control his ex-wife through her participation in a documentary. The attorney also described a phone call in which the defendant used one victim's phone to contact her sister.