Mother of Shannan Gilbert found dead; other daughter charged

MILLER PLACE, New York (WABC) -- Police say the mother of Shannan Gilbert, whose remains were discovered on Long Island's Gilgo Beach, was found murdered in Ellenville.

Mari Gilbert was found dead Saturday in an apartment, and her younger daughter Sarra, 27, was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

The suspect is being held without bail in the Ulster County Jail and will have a court hearing on Tuesday.

Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of death. A news conference will be held Monday.

Shannan Gilbert was a sex worker who disappeared near a remote stretch of Long Island beach highway that was later revealed to be a suspected serial killer's dumping ground for bodies and might have been strangled, according to an autopsy.

Shannan Gilbert vanished in May 2010 after fleeing the home of a client in Oak Beach, and the search for the missing woman led to the surprise discovery of 11 sets of human remains, including Gilbert's.

No one has been arrested in Shannan's case.