- Sarra Gilbert was born on January 17, 1989, in Ellenville, New York.
- Sarra Elizabeth Gilbert (Sara Gilbert) is the late Shannan Gilbert’s sister, whose death in 2011 shocked the nation.
- Mari, Sarra’s mother, worked at a Walmart until her death.
- Shannan, Sherry, and Stevie Gilbert were Sarra’s three sisters.
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Who is Sarra Gilbert?
Sarra Gilbert is the late Shannan Gilbert’s sister, whose death in 2011 shocked the nation. Shannan’s death has remained a mystery to this day. Sarra Gilbert is also the daughter of Mari Gilbert, who died in the most gruesome way possible.
Mari’s third daughter is Sarra Gilbert
Sarra Gilbert was born on January 17, 1989, in Ellenville, New York.
Mari, Sarra’s mother, worked at a Walmart until her death.
She is Mari’s third child, after her sisters Shannan and Sherre Gilbert but preceding her younger half-sister Stevie.
However, little is known about their father.
He was, however, described as psychotic and a heroin addict.
Siblings of Sarra Gilbert
Shannan, Sherry, and Stevie Gilbert were Sarra Gilbert’s three sisters.
Shannan spent most of his childhood in foster care.
Sarra Gilbert Had A Difficult Childhood
Sarra Gilbert was raised by a single mother who suffered from depression and poverty.
Gilbert, according to her attorney John Ray, was the victim of sexual assault by one of her mother’s boyfriends, and her older sister was a prostitute with her mother’s permission.
Furthermore, her mother used “black magic,” which led Sarra to believe she was a monster.
Gilbert was raised by a single mother who suffered from depression and poverty.
She was sexually abused by one of her mother’s boyfriends.
Sarra is the late Mari Gilbert’s third daughter.
Her older sister, Sherre, had also been subjected to the same atrocities as her.
There was also affected by her mother’s partner.
Some believe she was obedient to her family
On the other hand, she was the family archivist, the one taking notes and tracking the details of her sister’s situation with a keen eye for detail.
Sarra Gilbert Married A Drug Addict In Her Teens
Sarra’s love life isn’t an ordinary one.
She aborted her first kid at the age of fourteen, dropped out of school at sixteen, and moved in with her partner.
He was a twenty-two-year-old narcotics dealer named Manny.
The two welcomed their kid in 2009, a boy named Hayden.
Elizabeth and Manny would serially break up and reconnect.
Her boyfriend served time for drug charges.
And at least once, Sarra sought shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Sarra from the early 2010s to mid-2010s became more dependent on her family, and on Mari than ever before.
Her mother aided her by all accounts, taking in the infant when needed and being her daughter’s emotional support system.
Sarra Gilbert And Her Mom, Mari; Why Did She Kill Her Mother?
Daily Freeman reported on July 23, 2016, Sarra killed her mother with a fifteen inches knife stabbing her 227 times and beating her with a fire extinguisher.
John Ray, the Gilbert family’s attorney, forwarded to PIX11 what happened to Mari.
Ray revealed Sarra had invited her mother over to her flat because she was hearing voices.
On July 23, 2016, Sarra Gilbert killed her mother with a fifteen inches knife stabbing her 227 times and beating her with a fire extinguisher.
The mother went to see whether she was alright but ended up losing her own life at the hands of her daughter.
After the killing and the police had come, Sarra’s first words to them were: “I am under arrest.”
And at the trial, Sarra revealed her intention was to kill her mom adding “she’s evil.”
Sarra Showed Dangerous Behavior Before Murdering Her Mother
Several months prior to Mari’s murder, in February 2016, police had arrested Sarra in Ulster County and charged her with endangering the welfare of a child and animal cruelty, according to PIX11.
Allegedly she had drowned a puppy in front of her 8-year-old son, brought the little kid into the woods, and threatened to murder him.
Then in May 2016, the officials again arrested Mari’s daughter for criminal contempt.
A source told PIX11 that she’d breached an “order of protection” issued by her boyfriend.
Sarra Gilbert Apparently Struggled With Mental Health Issues Before The Murder
Attorney Ray testified that Shannan’s convicted sister had begun to hear voices and hallucinate a few years before killing her own mother.
He added Sarra was in and out of psychiatric facilities since 2014.
The doctors said she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and so she began getting a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medicine called Haldol Decanoate.
Ray maintained that Sarra hadn’t taken her antipsychotic medication for close to eight weeks before the killing took place.
Others Say She Lied About Her Drug Addition To Mental Health
Conversely, at the trial of her mother’s homicide, the prosecuting counsel, Emannuel Nneji said she began using drugs as a young girl and fooled everyone into believing her conduct was mental illness.
Additionally, Sarra’s younger sister, Stevie said that she harassed and belittled their mother for years before she killed her.
She also added that it was envy that caused Sarra to kill her mom.
Stevie stated Sarra would have killed her too if she got the opportunity.
Sara’s History With Drugs
Her addiction to illegal substances apparently began as early as her teens.
In July 2016, she overdosed.
Hayden’s mother believes she was using ecstasy, while others claim it was likely LSD.
She landed at Albany Medical Center.
Sarra survived after doctors wrapped her with ice to reduce her temperature which was at 107 ̊F.
Where Is Sarra Gilbert Now?
The 32-year-old is currently serving 25 years to life in state prison—the highest punishment authorized by law.
As per several sources, Ulster County Judge Donald Williams remarked, if he has anything to say about it, she will never walk free again.
Sarra swayed softly beside her counsel, John Ray, during the trial.
Later, she sobbed momentarily and begged for compassion.
Williams though said he would strive to make sure Gilbert gets the mental health therapy she needs.
For most of the 40-minute procedure, Marie’s daughter stood, trembling silently, alongside her attorney John Ray.
But when it came to her turn to face the court, Gilbert sobbed briefly and appealed for compassion.
Her kid, Hayden is living with relatives of his father.
Her Sister Shannan Gilbert Died Mysteriously
Shannan Maria Gilbert went missing on Long Island on May 1, 2010.
Police located the 24-year-old’s body more than a year later on December 13, 2011, in a marsh at Oak Beach, according to Oxygen.
Right before her death, Shannan, who was a sex worker, had gone on to visit a customer.
Before she disappeared, 911 received many panicked calls.
Sarra Gibert’s sister, Shannan Maria Gilbert went missing on Long Island on May 1, 2010.
Right before her death, Shannan, who was a sex worker, had gone on to visit a customer.
Before she disappeared, 911 received many panicked calls.
One call, estimated to be over twenty minutes long — was from Shannan herself. In the chat, she allegedly exclaimed “They’re trying to kill me!” according to PIX11.
It, however, is not obvious who she was referring to.
Her death became famous as the Long Island Serial Killer.
A psychiatrist stated Shannan’s death forced Sarra to have her first major mental collapse.
Cause Of Sarra’s Sister, Shannan’s Death
Just a few days after the police found Shannan’s body, they located her clothing, smartphone, and purse; about a mile away.
Police initially stated she died because of accidental drowning, according to NBC New York.
However, a medical examiner eventually deemed the cause of death uncertain.
Not long after, the family also asked a forensic pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy on Shannan’s remains.
The study concluded that her death was compatible with homicidal strangulation since a little bone in her throat was missing, possibly indicating it was fractured when the perpetrator killed her.
Other Hidden Facts About Sarra’s Sister’s Death
During the course of the inquiry with respect to Sarra’s sister, Shannan, officials made a number of additional sad revelations.
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They uncovered the bones of 10 other victims near Gilgo Beach.
Four of the victims lost their life to strangulation; they all were sex workers.
Since Mari’s death, and Sarra’s incarceration, Sheree and Stevie (together with Ray) have continued their mother’s work in pursuing justice for their late sister, Shannan.
Netflix Released A Series Based On Sarra Gilbert’s Family
In 2020 Netflix broadcast the adapted version of the true story of Sarra’s mother, Mari Gilbert, and her sister, Sarra.
The adaption narrates Mari’s pursuit of answers concerning her daughter’s death.
This wasn’t the first time her sister’s death got a fictional conversion.
In 2011, Shannan’s fate earned a TV rendition by the name 48 Hours.
The following year, her story made it to another documentary named Disappeared.
In both projects, Sarah appeared as herself.
