- Sarra Gilbert is a celebrity sister.
- Sarra is the late Shannan Gilbert’s sister, whose death in 2011 shocked the nation.
- She was born on January 17, 1989, in Ellenville, New York.
- Her addiction to illegal substances allegedly began in her adolescence.
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Who is Sarra Gilbert?
Sarra Gilbert is a celebrity sister. 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. She is also the daughter of Mari Gilbert, who died in the most gruesome way possible. What’s even more tragic is that her assailant was her own daughter, Sarra.
Sarra Gilbert’s Bio
Sarra Gilbert was born on January 17, 1989, in Ellenville, New York. Mari, Sarra’s mother, worked at a Walmart before her death.
She is Mari’s third child, following 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 schizophrenic and a heroin addict.
Shannan, Sherry, and Stevie Gilbert were Sarra’s three sisters. Shannan spent most of his childhood in foster care.
Sarra Had A Difficult Childhood
Sarra was raised by a single mother who suffered from depression and poverty.
Gilbert, according to her attorney John Ray, was the victim of sexual abuse by one of her mother’s boyfriends, and her older sister was a prostitute with her mother’s permission.
Furthermore, her mother practiced “black magic,” which led Sarra to believe she was a demon.
Her older sister, Sherre, had also been subjected to the same atrocities as her.
Sherre was also affected by her mother’s boyfriend.
On the other hand, she was the family archivist, the one taking notes and following the details of her sister’s case with a keen eye for detail.
Sarra Gilbert married a drug addict when she was in her teens
Sarra’s love life is not typical. She had her first child when she was fourteen, dropped out of school when she was sixteen and moved in with her boyfriend.
Manny was a twenty-two-year-old drug dealer. In 2009, the couple welcomed their son, Hayden.
Elizabeth and Manny would break up and reconcile several times.
Her boyfriend was imprisoned for drug offenses. Sarra has also sought refuge for victims of domestic violence at least once.
From the early to mid-2010s, Sarra became more reliant on her family, particularly Mari, than she had ever been.
Her mother assisted her in every way, taking in the baby when necessary and becoming her daughter’s emotional support system.
Sarra Gilbert and Mari; Why Did She Murder Her Mother?
According to the Daily Freeman, on July 23, 2016, Sarra murdered her mother with a fifteen-inch knife, stabbing her 227 times and hitting her with a fire extinguisher.
Mari’s case was forwarded to PIX11 by John Ray, the Gilbert family’s attorney.
Sarra had invited her mother to her apartment because she was hearing voices, according to Ray.
Sarra murdered her mother on July 23, 2016, with a fifteen-inch knife, stabbing her 227 times and hitting her with a fire extinguisher.
The mother went to see if her daughter was okay, but she ended up dying at the hands of her daughter.
When the police arrived after the killing, Sarra’s first words to them were, “I am under arrest.”
During the trial, Sarra stated that her intention was to kill her mother because “she’s evil.”
Sarra Engaged in Dangerous Behavior Prior to Murdering Her Mother
According to PIX11, several months before Mari’s death, in February 2016, police arrested Sarra in Ulster County and charged her with endangering the welfare of a child and animal cruelty.
She allegedly drowned a puppy in front of her 8-year-old son, then took him into the woods and threatened to kill him.
Mari’s daughter was arrested again in May 2016 for criminal contempt.
According to PIX11, she had violated an “order of protection” obtained by her boyfriend.
Sarra Gilbert Apparently Had Mental Health Issues Prior To The Murder
Attorney Ray revealed that Shannan’s convicted sister had started hearing voices and having hallucinations a few years before killing her own mother.
Sarra had been in and out of psychiatric hospitals since 2014, according to him.
She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, so she began receiving Haldol Decanoate, a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication.
Ray claimed that Sarra had not taken her antipsychotic medication for nearly eight weeks before the murder.
During her mother’s murder trial, the prosecuting attorney, Emannuel Nneji, stated that she began using drugs as a young teen and misled everyone into believing her drugged behavior was mental illness.
Stevie, Sarra’s youngest sister, also stated that she tormented and belittled their mother for years before killing her.
She also stated that Sarra killed her mother out of jealousy. Stevie claimed that if she had the chance, Sarra would have killed her as well.
Sara’s Addiction History
Sarra Gilbert’s addiction to illegal substances allegedly began in her adolescence.
She overdosed in July 2016. Hayden’s mother thought she was on ecstasy, but others believe she was on LSD.
She arrived at the Albany Medical Center. Sarra survived after doctors wrapped her in ice to bring her temperature down from 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Has Happened to Sarra Gilbert?
The 32-year-old is currently serving the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.
According to multiple reports, Ulster County Judge Donald Williams stated that if he has his way, she will never be free again.
Sarra swayed silently beside her attorney, John Ray, during the trial. Later, she sobbed briefly and begged for mercy.
Williams, on the other hand, stated that he would work to ensure Gilbert receives the necessary mental health treatment.
Marie’s daughter stood silently beside her attorney, John Ray, for the majority of the 40-minute hearing.
But when it was her turn to speak in front of the court, Gilbert sobbed briefly and begged for mercy.
Hayden, her son, is living with his father’s relatives.
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Sister’s Death
On May 1, 2010, Shannan Maria Gilbert went missing on Long Island.
According to Oxygen, police discovered the 24-year-old old’s in a marsh at Oak Beach on December 13, 2011.
Shannan, a sex worker, had gone to see a client just before she died. 911 received several panicked calls before she vanished.
Shannan Maria Gilbert, Sarra Gibert’s sister, went missing on Long Island on May 1, 2010.
Shannan, a sex worker, had gone to see a client just before she died. 911 received several panicked calls before she vanished.
Shannan herself made a call that was over twenty minutes long.
According to PIX11, she allegedly screamed during the conversation, “They’re trying to kill me!” However, it is unclear to whom she was referring.
Her assassination became known as the Long Island Serial Killer.
According to a psychiatrist, Shannan’s death caused Sarra to have her first profound mental collapse.
Sarra Gilbert’s Family Is The Subject Of A Netflix Series
In 2020, Netflix released an adapted version of Sarra Gilbert’s mother, Mari Gilbert, and her sister, Sarra’s, true story.
Mari’s search for answers about her daughter’s death is told in the adaptation.
This wasn’t the first time her sister’s death had been fictionalized.
Shannan’s story was adapted for television in 2011 under the title 48 Hours.
Her story was featured in another documentary, Disappeared, the following year. Sarah played herself in both projects.