This article contains references to murder, assault, and sexual activity.
Netflix’s docuseries,Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer,offers new insight into one of America’s most notorious serial killings and those who were involved, including the case’s lead detective, Jimmy Burke. The newest entry inNetflix’s long list of crime documentaries,Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killerexplores a spree of killings that took place across 28 years around the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island, New York. Directed by Liz Garbus, the three-part docuseries detailsthe timeline of the Long Island killer, who the victims were, and how their disappearances and deaths affected their loved ones.
The series shows how the 2010 disappearance of Shanann Gilbert led to the discovery of the bodies of four women,dubbed by the media asThe Gilgo Four, within a quarter mile of each other near Gilgo Beach. All four victims were sex workers and of similar build. Further remains were found in the following months, but it wasn’t until 2023 that the police announced that they had arrested a suspect.Gone Girlsprovides something new asa true-crime docuseries about a lesser-known caseand looks at what happened to everyone involved, including former detective, Jimmy Burke.
James “Jimmy” Burke Was The Police Chief Investigating The Long Island Serial Killer
Burke Served As Suffolk County Police Chief from 2012 To 2015
The Netflix docuseries depicts how there were many conspiracies and theories as to the identity of the Long Island Serial Killer. In the months following the discovery of Shanann Gilbert’s body in December 2011, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer retired from law enforcement. In episode 2 ofGone Girls, former Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone states that after Dormer’s retirement, he looked to find somebody who could “set leadership” and district attorney Thomas Spota recommended James Burke to him. Bellone described Spota as “highly respected” and “well regarded” and trusted his judgment in recommending Burke.
In the early stages of his law career,Jimmy Burke worked as a police officer in New York during the 1980s, before moving on to the Suffolk County Police Department.In his youth, he served as a key witness in a case that was led by Thomas Spota; it has been suggested that Spota served as a mentor to Burke and influenced his later decision to work in law enforcement (viaMoviedelic). Burke worked as an inspector, before his eventual promotion to DA officer and later, Chief of Department, described by Inspector Stuart Cameron as “a four-rank jump.”
Why Jimmy Burke’s Work On The Gilgo Beach Murders Was So Controversial
Burke Received Heavy Criticism For His Handling Of The Case
James Burke’s appointment as Suffolk County Police Chief in 2012 received criticism from law enforcement officials and journalists.In episode 2 ofGone Girls, reporter Gus Garcia-Roberts states that Burke was “a troubled officer"and not the right person to place in charge of an important case. Garcia-Roberts also remarked that it was “a completely shocking move” to place Burke at the top of the jurisdiction. Early on in his work as Police Chief, Burke was placed in charge of the Long Island Serial Killing case and continued to collaborate with Tom Spota during the investigation.
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Burke’s investigation into the Long Island serial killings was deemed highly controversial by law enforcement officers, due to his refusal to collaborate with the FBI. His decision not to do so was largely because he was under investigation for covering up his 2012 assault on a man named Christopher Loeb, who allegedly stole intimate personal items from Burke’s car (viaNew York Post). Burke’s choice not to work with the FBI was heavily criticized asmany officers and reporters believed that had the FBI been brought on board, a suspect would have been profiled and arrested sooner.
Jimmy Burke’s Crimes & Convictions Explained
Burke Has Been Convicted Of Assault & Unlawful Solicitation
As revealed inGone Girls,James Burke had many Internal Affairs investigations against him which were covered up during his time as Police Chief. After his resignation in 2015, Burke was charged with assault regarding the 2012 incident with Christopher Loeb, along with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and depriving a person of civil rights. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release (viaUnited States Attorney’s Office). After serving part of his sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood Low, Burke was transferred to house arrest in 2018, before completing his sentence in 2019.
In 2023, Burke was arrested for public lewdness and unlawful solicitation.
Burke also faced accusations of engaging in sexual misconduct during his time in the force: through archival footage in Netflix’s docuseries, a woman under the alias of “Leanne” came forward in 2016, stating that she had engaged in sexual activity with Burke in 2011, during which he became violent and aggressive towards her. In 2023, Burke was arrested for public lewdness and unlawful solicitation after allegedly exposing himself to a park ranger at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Farmingville; he is expected to appear in court on July 01, 2025 (viaNewsweek).
Former Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has since spoken of his regrets about appointing Burke as chief, stating that he regarded Burke as “someone [he] entrusted with great responsibility, lied to [his] face for nearly three years and orchestrated a cover-up to perpetuate that lie” (viaOneida Daily Dispatch). As shown throughoutGone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, James Burke’s controversial misconduct and failure to cooperate with the FBI greatly hindered the investigation into the Long Island serial killings and resulted in questioning regarding obstruction of justice within law enforcement in the United States.
Sources: Moviedelic, New York Post, United States Attorney’s Office, Newsweek, Oneida Daily Dispatch
