Kriti Mehrotra
As a documentary series revisiting the Gilgo Beach serial killings from the perspective of the victims as well as their loved ones, Netflix’s ‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer’ is simply gripping. That’s because it underscores every aspect of how the case actually came to light with Shannan Gilbert’s sudden 2010 disappearance and how it took authorities years to even identify and arrest a suspect. However, there were a few individuals who were initially in the hot seat, considering they were among the last to see the 23-year-old sex worker alive, including Joseph “Joe” Brewer.
Joseph Brewer’s Night With Shannan Gilbert Allegedly Ended Very Strangely
It was back when Joseph “Joe” Brewer was in his mid-40s when he responded to a Craigslist advertisement put forth by Shannan Gilbert for her $200 per hour escort services across New York. The out-of-work financial adviser had reportedly recently separated from his wife, so his home in the affluent gated community of Oak Beach, Long Island, had become a bachelor pad of sorts. In fact, according to a neighbor, ever since his split, it wasn’t unusual for him to have different female guests over at his place at odd hours, so they stopped paying much attention to it as time passed.
Thus, when Shannan arrived at Joe’s place at around 2 am on May 1, 2010, it wasn’t strange — he had reportedly called her at midnight, and she made her way from Manhattan alongside driver Michael Pak. As per reports, the latter remained outside as routine, only for things to change at 4:51 am as the client came rushing out his door and frantically knocked on his window to wake him up. Joe allegedly told Michael that Shannan was refusing to leave, just for him to step inside and see that she was petrified, saying things like there was somebody after her and they were going to kill her.
According to the recorded 911 call Shannan made from Joe’s home shortly before 5 am, he was ready to push her out, but she ran away herself after Michael said he would drive her back home. Throughout this call, the two men could be heard in the background, with the homeowner even once politely saying, “Come on, let’s go. We’ll all go outside,” but nothing seemed to work. By the time officials actually arrived at the scene, after another 911 call from a neighbor at whose door the panicked youngster had shown up, she had run away, with Michael following to try and settle her down. Hence, it was believed the situation was under control, and the duo had left, but in reality, Shannan had disappeared.
Joseph Brewer is a Family Man Who Prefers to Stay Away From the Limelight
When Shannan’s vanishing started being investigated in all sincerity months after the fact – as per reports, the local police initially didn’t pay much heed to her case owing to her career and the situation, unaware it would bring to the Gilgo Beach killing to light – Joe was one of the first people to be questioned. According to his accounts, everything was fine between him and Shannan until it wasn’t, and he never really elaborated on it further, except to say that her becoming paranoid and scared was rather sudden.
From what we can tell, he has never even publicly spoken up about what could have possibly triggered such a reaction from the young sex worker, but he was likely not at all involved. We say this because the authorities didn’t take long to clear Joe’s name, and he has allegedly even taken and passed a polygraph test without any issues. He might have been a little uncooperative in discussing his stance with Shannan owing to the nature of their encounter, yet it is believed he had no hand in her vanishing or ultimate demise.
According to records, he was even questioned 19 months later after her body was found in a marsh not far away from where she was last seen alive in Oak Beach, and again, he was cleared. So, today, in his early 60s, it appears as if the self-employed financial adviser from West Islip, New York, is moving on with his life while staying far away from the limelight. On a more personal level, from what we can tell, he is a proud father of a young daughter, who is his main priority, and he is possibly currently involved in a happy, healthy relationship.
Read More: Michael Pak: What Happened to Shannan Gilbert’s Driver?
