Netflix’s Long Island Serial Killer Docuseries: An Analysis of the Strange Timing

Netflix’s highly anticipated docuseries, Gone Girls, about the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, premiered on March 31. The release date coincides with a significant moment in the case, as suspect Rex Heuermann’s hearing for the use of advanced DNA evidence in his trial began shortly before the premiere.

Filmmaker Liz Garbus, who made her feature narrative debut in 2020 with Lost Girls, a film based on the same case, has a knack for intriguing timing. In 2020, the trailer for Lost Girls was released on the same day that Suffolk County police announced new case details after years of silence. Garbus pointed out the curious timing, hinting that there may have been prior knowledge of the trailer’s release.

Although the police did not comment on the timing, Garbus shared her vision for the docuseries, emphasizing the uncovering of corruption surrounding the case. The series features interviews with a former editor who covered one of the victims’ disappearances before their bodies were discovered in 2010.

Jaclyn Gallucci, a former managing editor for the Press who covered the case, highlighted how media downplayed the missing persons’ cases, especially those involving sex workers like Megan Waterman. Gallucci’s work is featured in the series, shedding light on the lack of coverage and care when sex workers go missing.

The trailer ends with a powerful question posed by Gallucci about the possible existence of more victims, given the increased number of murders that Heuermann has been charged with. The docuseries promises to delve deeper into the case, uncovering chilling truths and exploring the complexities of this harrowing story.