I think I may understand the "problem" between us regarding the situation at the Oak Beach Marsh. At least, I hope so lol.
I am not suggesting that water somehow laps into the marsh from the ocean, nor that you'd find yourself sloshing around in standing water at high tide. I am referring to what happens to the water table, which would result in the mud and silt in some spots at the "right" time being easily deep enough to drown an impaired person. And yes, this could hold true on the upper parts of the basin.
And unless you were to go into the marsh at that time you'd never see it from a casual glance.
At the bottom of this snip are the important comments:
..... tidal flats contain deceptively deep mud, and when you are stuck knee deep as the tide rolls in there is nothing more welcomed than a helping hand from a fellow team member. Marshes also have a large appetite for loose-fitting shoes! It is easier to sink your foot into deep mud than it is to pull your foot out, and shoes are often lost if they are not laced tightly. The best types of footwear are knee-high rubber boots or hip waders.
This is from Reddit.
https://m.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMy...wa/thoughts_on_the_long_island_serial_killer/
If Shannan Gilbert drowned, this is how I theorize it could have happened.
The Oak Beach Marsh is a saltwater tidal marsh and is subject to tides.The Oak Beach Marsh is where Shannan Gilbert's body was found and where LE concluded she drowned. Per Shannan Gilbert's mother, Shannan did not know how to swim.Saltwater marsh: This forms as a result of tidal activity and is highly saline. These are located by the sea, in river deltas and intertidal zones. They are often covered with grass-like plants rather than bushes or trees. The main issue with crossing this kind of marsh is getting through the grass-like covering. Some marshes can be walked on top if they are thick enough. It is like walking on a trampoline because water is below the vegetative cover. Others you have to pull apart or crawl on your belly. Salt/Brackish water marshes in the South USA are favorites places of Alligators and Water Moccasin snakes, best to avoid and make a lot of noise. If you get bit by a snake here, it will be next to impossible in some cases to rescue you in time due to slow travel. Be careful when crossing open water, you might get caught by an incoming tide and being prepared to swim back if that happens, taking care to avoid riptides, strong currents, or undertows.
Be aware that you can drown in a swamp, marsh, or bog as easily as in any other body of water, even if it's shallow. This is because of the soft nature of the bio-silt beneath these water formations, which can add many more feet to the depth if you sink into it.
http://m.wikihow.com/Walk-in-a-Swamp
It is not out of the ordinary for people get stuck in the mud/muck while hiking through a saltwater marsh. People frequently lose shoes and other articles of clothing.A Volunteers Handbook for Monitoring
New Hampshires Salt Marshes
Safety Issues
Salt marshes can be very difficult to walk through. Volunteers must be prepared for all types of conditions. Scorching sun, biting flies, ticks, poison ivy, hip-deep mud, slippery surfaces, and unstable footing can combine to make an uncomfortable experience for unprepared volunteers. Step carefully!
If Shannan Gilbert was unable to extricate herself from even waste deep mud/muck when the tide rolled in, she could have easily drowned.Estuarine streams and tidal flats contain deceptively deep mud, and when you are stuck knee deep as the tide rolls in there is nothing more welcomed than a helping hand from a fellow team member. Marshes also have a large appetite for loose-fitting shoes! It is easier to sink your foot into deep mud than it is to pull your foot out, and shoes are often lost if they are not laced tightly. The best types of footwear are knee-high rubber boots or hip waders.
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/publications/wd/documents/wd-04-21.pdf.