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Karen Vergata, a 34-year-old escort from Manhattan who went missing in 1996, has been identified as the “Fire Island Jane Doe” murder victim found on Gilgo Beach. Suffolk County authorities have stated that there are currently no charges, but the investigation will continue. The case remained unsolved for over a decade until DNA evidence from a discarded pizza crust linked Rex Heuermann, a New York City architect, to the murders of the “Gilgo Four.” Heuermann is facing charges in connection with three of the murders but has denied any involvement. Investigations suggest that the killings may have occurred in Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park, New York. WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic reported
Suffolk County authorities in New York have recently identified the victim known as “Fire Island Jane Doe” as Karen Vergata, a 34-year-old escort from Manhattan who went missing on Valentine’s Day in 1996. At a news conference, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney emphasized the importance of remembering and honoring not only Ms. Vergata but all the victims found on Gilgo Beach. While no charges have been filed at this time, investigators will continue their work on the case. Ms. Vergata’s remains were discovered among nearly a dozen sets of human remains found along Ocean Parkway on the South Shore between 2010 and 2011, including the infamous “Gilgo Four” women.
The unsolved murder mystery on Long Island finally had a breakthrough last month when investigators successfully linked DNA recovered from a discarded pizza crust to the alleged killer of the Gilgo Four, Rex Heuermann, a New York City architect. Heuermann, who was identified as a potential suspect in early 2022, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009 and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello in 2010. He is also considered the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance and death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, although no charges have been filed in connection with that case. Heuermann denies all charges against him.
Authorities believe that the four women, who worked as escorts, may have been killed in Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park, New York, as it is located less than 6 miles from where the remains were found. The Gilgo Beach case, which inspired a bestselling book and a Netflix drama, originally began with the search for another missing woman in 2010, eventually leading to the discovery of multiple sets of human remains. While the death of Shannan Gilbert, the missing woman in question, is believed to be accidental and unrelated to the other killings, the swab taken from Heuermann’s discarded pizza crust provided a crucial breakthrough in the investigation.
Prosecutors have requested a DNA sample from Heuermann, and investigations are ongoing..
