{{Short description|American activist (1964–2016)}} {{Infobox person | name = Mari Gilbert | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_place = New York, U.S. | birth_date = {{birth date|1964|6|22}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|07|23|1964|6|22}} | death_place = Ellenville, New York, U.S. | death_cause = Stabbing | occupation = {{hlist|Activist|television personality}} | notable_works = |children=Sarra, Sherre, Stevie, Shannan }}
'''Mari Gilbert''' (June 22, 1964 – July 23, 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funeralhomehosting.net/lck/notices/Mari-Gilbert/guest-book |publisher=Loucks Funeral Home|title=Mari Gilbert|accessdate=April 27, 2017}}</ref>) was an American activist and murder victim advocate.
==Biography== Gilbert was an advocate for her daughter, Shannan, a 24-year-old woman from New Jersey who disappeared in May 2010. The investigation of Shannan's disappearance led to the discovery of the remains of 10 homicide victims scattered along Ocean Parkway in New York.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/25/nyregion/mari-gilbert-mother-of-shannan-gilbert-found-dead.html?_r=0|title=Mari Gilbert Mother of Shannon Gilbert Found Dead|newspaper=The New York Times |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=2016-07-29|last1=Dollinger |first1=Arielle }}</ref> Investigators believed that Shannan died of an accidental drowning that was unrelated to the crimes of the Long Island serial killer, but Gilbert challenged the finding and fought to have the case reopened as a murder investigation. An independent autopsy sought by Gilbert's family found that Shannan may have been strangled to death.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pauline|last=Liu |url=http://www.recordonline.com/article/20160726/NEWS/160729568 |title=Judge orders psychiatric exam for murder defendant Gilbert - News - recordonline.com - Middletown, NY |website=Recordonline.com |date= |accessdate=2016-07-29}}</ref> Gilbert and her other daughters, Sarra and Sherre, frequently appeared on television shows discussing the case.
===Death=== Gilbert was stabbed to death by her 27-year-old daughter Sarra in Sarra's apartment building on Warren Street in Ellenville, New York, on July 23, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/07/24/shannan-gilbert-mother-murder/ |title=Attorney: Shannan Gilbert's Sister Stabbed Mother To Death « CBS New York nbn|website=Newyork.cbslocal.com |date=2016-07-24 |accessdate=2016-07-29}}</ref> Her daughter suffered from schizophrenia, with one report claiming that she "had voices in her head telling her to carry out the crime."<ref>{{cite news|last=Bult |first=Laura |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/mother-shannan-gilbert-found-dead-younger-daughter-charged-article-1.2723964 |title=Mother of Shannan Gilbert found dead; younger daughter charged |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=2016-07-24 |accessdate=2016-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Pitzer |first=Kurt |url=http://www.people.com/article/sarra-gilbert-schizophrenia-mental-illness-mari-gilbert-dead |title=Mari Gilbert Killed: Daughter Sarra Had Schizophrenia, Attorney Says |website=People.com |date=2016-07-25 |accessdate=2016-07-29}}</ref> Sarra was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree possession of a weapon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/mom-of-gilgo-beach-victim-shannan-gilbert-found-dead-other-daughter-charged/ |title=Mom of Gilgo Beach victim Shannan Gilbert found dead, other daughter charged |publisher=Fox News |date=2016-07-24 |access-date=2016-07-29}}</ref> convicted of murder, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in August 2017. She is imprisoned at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doxsey |first1=Patricia R. |title=Sarra Gilbert sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in stabbing death of mother |url=https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/sarra-gilbert-sentenced-to-years-to-life-in-prison-in/article_a26d775d-dfe7-5b17-bc9c-3dfe2fc2827f.html |accessdate=14 June 2020 |work=Daily Freeman |date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313215335/https://www.dailyfreeman.com/news/sarra-gilbert-sentenced-to-years-to-life-in-prison-in/article_a26d775d-dfe7-5b17-bc9c-3dfe2fc2827f.html |archive-date=13 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision |url=http://nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov/GCA00P00/WIQ3/WINQ130 |website=Inmate Population Information Search |publisher=Department of Corrections and Community Supervision |accessdate=14 June 2020}}</ref>
== In popular culture ==
* In the 2020 Netflix original film ''Lost Girls'', Gilbert is portrayed by Amy Ryan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/amy-ryan-plays-a-mother-fighting-for-answers-in-gripping-trailer-for-netflixs-lost-girls/|title=Amy Ryan Plays a Mother Fighting for Answers in Gripping Trailer for Netflix's Lost Girls|last=Russian|first=Ale|date=January 16, 2020|website=People|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref> * In the 2021 Lifetime television film ''The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice'', Gilbert is portrayed by Kim Delaney.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/lifetime-long-island-serial-killer-trailer-true-crime-movie/|title=Lifetime's Long Island Serial Killer, Inspired by a True Story, Tracks Search for Missing Daughter|first=Jodi|last=Guglielmi|date=January 22, 2021|website=People|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/warm-tv-blog/article249373600.html|title=What to Watch Saturday: Kim Delaney in Lifetime's 'Long Island Serial Killer' movie|first=Brooke|last=Cain|date=February 20, 2021|website=The News & Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|5910458|Mari Gilbert}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Mari}} Category:American activists Category:American television personalities Category:American women television personalities Category:1964 births Category:2016 deaths Category:American murder victims Category:Victims of matricide Category:People murdered in New York (state) Category:Violence against women in New York (state) Category: deaths by stabbing in New York (state) Category: 2016 murders in the United States Category:Female murder victims