Summary
Highlights
The story begins with a woman desperately trying to call someone before disappearing. The narrative then shifts to Ellenville, New York, in 2010, introducing Mari, a hardworking mother juggling multiple jobs. Her youngest daughter, Sarra, has psychiatric issues. Mari calls her eldest daughter, Shannan, planning a family dinner, but Shannan never arrives. Mari learns from a doctor that Shannan is missing but the police are unconcerned, later discovering Shannan had five cellphones. Shannan's boyfriend, Alex, reveals she went to Long Island for work and accuses Mari's family of only caring about Shannan's money. Mari confronts Shannan's driver, Michael, who states Shannan was hysterical and ran away in Oak Beach, pounding on doors.
Mari reports Shannan missing to the Long Island police. Officer Bostick dismisses Mari's concerns, highlighting Shannan's profession as a prostitute and claiming these girls run away often. Mari insists her daughter doesn't do drugs. The police arrived almost an hour later after Shannan's 911 call, finding only her jacket. Days later, a police dog near Oak Beach discovers four skeletons wrapped in burlap. Commissioner Richard Dormer investigates, informing Mari that none of the bodies are Shannan. Mari provides Dormer with details about Alex, Michael, and a doctor named Peter Hackett, who claimed to run a rehab for 'wayward girls'.
News reports reveal the bodies are of women advertised as prostitutes on Craigslist. Mari initially refuses to attend a vigil, believing Shannan is alive, but later decides to meet the other victims' families. Michael, Shannan's driver, claims Mari was a bad mother. The families unite, criticizing the police for their inaction and the media for labeling the victims. Mari leads them to Oak Beach, a gated community, to post flyers, attracting media attention. She confronts Dormer about his slow response to Shannan's 911 call compared to his quick arrival at Oak Beach.
A man named Joe contacts Mari, claiming to have information about John Brewer. Joe suggests that Dr. Peter Hackett, who called Mari after Shannan disappeared, is the real culprit, as Mari saw burlap spools at his warehouse. Mari confronts Dormer with this information. Mari visits Dr. Hackett's house, where an old neighbor recounts seeing Shannan high and scared, claiming 'They're going to kill me.' Mari discovers surveillance cameras and learns the footage was deleted by Hackett. Police find another body, but without burlap, suggesting it's not connected to the serial killer. Dormer confronts Hackett about his conflicting statements and the deleted video footage, which Hackett dismisses as unimportant.
Mari questions Joe about Shannan's whereabouts if she's dead, and Joe suggests she might be buried in the marsh behind Hackett's home. Another dismembered body is found, showing a 15-year history of bodies dumped in the area. Dormer dismisses Mari's request to search for Shannan, saying she doesn't fit the 'profile' of the other victims. Mari confronts Dormer, revealing Shannan's difficult childhood and mental health struggles, admitting she placed Shannan in foster care. Sherre overhears their conversation and confronts Mari about her past actions. The victims' families gather for a vigil, with Mari finding solace in their shared grief.
A year later, Joe informs Mari that Dr. Hackett is selling his house. Mari confronts Hackett, who denies involvement, pointing to his limp. Mari notices suspicious tools and gloves at his house. Mari then confronts a retiring Dormer, demanding a marsh search and emphasizing the lost evidence of Shannan's jacket. She threatens to expose police incompetence, leading to the marsh being drained. Shannan's remains and ID are found, confirming her death. Mari goes public, demanding accountability from the police for their negligence. The epilogue reveals an independent autopsy found Shannan's injuries consistent with homicidal strangulation and no drugs in her system. No suspects have been charged in the Long Island Serial Killer case. Phone records confirmed Hackett called Mari, leading to a wrongful death lawsuit. Tragically, Mari was killed in 2016 during a psychotic episode by Sarra, who had stopped her medication. Sherre continues to advocate for justice.