Shannan Gilbert was a 24-year-old woman who went missing in May 2010 while working as an escort in Long Island, New York. Her disappearance led to a search that uncovered the remains of several other individuals, sparking a larger investigation into a series of unsolved murders known as the Gilgo Beach murders. Gilbert's case gained significant media attention and raised awareness about issues related to sex work and safety. In December 2011, her body was found in a wooded area near Oak Beach, not far from where she was last seen. The circumstances surrounding her death remain controversial and are still under investigation.