Despite noise, LI serial killer still Unsub
A New York State Trooper, left, talks with a Suffolk County Police officer as they restrict access to the westbound Ocean Parkway west of Cedar Beach. (April 18, 2011) Credit: James Carbone
The murky portrait of the sadist is certainly gripping.
But does it tell us anything useful? Really, is all the conjecture even close to being right? Until an arrest is made and a case is proven, no one can possibly know for sure, whatever confident pronouncements the police and freelance profilers might offer up.
The "Long Island serial killer" -- even the name carries certain assumptions: That one person is responsible for the deaths of at least four prostitutes. That he -- it's always a he, right? -- is behaving according to a certain logic or plan, no matter how twisted.
How much does this really narrow things down?
A man who goes through daily life unnoticed. Possibly even married and with children. With social skills sufficient to get these Craigslist escorts to meet him with their guard down. A man who gets some sick thrill from his murderous spree, making taunting phone calls to a victim's family from locations carefully chosen for their difficulty to trace.
Despite it all, as far the real investigators are concerned, he is still Unsub, the Unknown Subject.
And for now at least, that is who he is likely to remain.
RAINY MONTH, SILVER LINING
1. Allergies not as bad as last year.
2. No water-shortage threats.
3. Extra couch-sitting TV time.
4. Losing-team, game rain-outs.
5. Big savings at the car wash.
ASKED AND UNANSWERED: Can this marriage be saved: LIRR and Amtrak, snuggling close in Penn Station? . . . Friday was Earth Day? And that's the best weather Mother E could arrange? . . . Snooki's sudden svelte-ness: Real or Photoshopped? Even her biggest fans aren't so sure . . . One serial killer or two? . . . Is Lindsay back in the "Gotti" movie just to be rubbed out again? . . . Which Gold Coast headline rules? "Lands End's End," or "Great Gatsby's Not-So-Great Sequel?" . . . Bayou Syosset? Is Mara's Homemade, the East Village outpost of authentic Louisiana cuisine, really moving to Jericho Turnpike? . . . "Growing Up Gotti," "Growing Up Twisted" and "Growing Up Gold Coast": How come LI-based reality shows keep starting with "Growing Up"? And wouldn't "Not Growing Up at All" be more accurate? . . . Is the Internet what's cutting recycling on LI (less paper, less to recycle)? Or is sorting laziness more to blame? . . . How 'bout this promotion for LI hotels this high-gas summer: "You Can't Afford to Drive Anywhere FAR!" . . . Why should cops get all the crime-fighting glory? Nice to see LIRR workers nab burglary suspect Max Schneider of Dix Hills on board a Brooklyn-bound train.
LONG ISLANDERS OF THE WEEK: THE REAL COPS
While the retired FBI agents and profilers-with-book-deals are off opining on cable TV, someone has to do the actual police work. The Son of Sam case was cracked when a beat cop noticed a car and a parking ticket. The Long Island Serial Killer will likely be busted with some similarly routine piece of police work. On Friday, investigators from Nassau County found two human teeth nearOcean Parkway, within a couple of feet from where a skull was found earlier this month. Will those teeth be a crucial clue? Will the skull? Will some other small piece of evidence prove decisive? This much is certain: Real evidence makes real cases. Someone has to gather and interpret it. That's what real cops do.
Email ellis@henican.comFollow on Twitter @henican
Sarra Sounds Off Ep 36: Champs crowned in lax and flag football On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg talks with Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson about county champs crowned in boys and girls lacrosse, and Jared Valuzzi reports on the Long Island flag football championship.
