As the police scoured the beach for more bodies in the spring of 2010 (and found several), Ms. Cann and the family members of the other women were caught in a peculiar bind. Now that they were part of a serial-killer case, the world was beating a path to their doors; perhaps there might even be a break in the case. Then came the horrible hangover of seeing their daughters and sisters in the news, constantly being referred to as prostitutes. The point Ms. Cann made to me on that pier was similar to what all the family members eventually said to me: These women were more than this. “I don’t like how they’re talking about her,” Ms. Cann told me.

---

Persons: Cann, ” Ms, “, happenstance, Shannan Gilbert, Dominick Varrone, David Berkowitz Organizations: Suffolk County Police Department Locations: Oak Beach, Long, Gilgo Beach, Suffolk