“Serial Killer Suspect Rex Heuermann Charged with Murder in Gilgo Beach Killings of ‘Gilgo Four'”

Accident – death – Obituary News : Authorities have made a major breakthrough in the long-running Gilgo Beach murders cold case, charging New York architect Rex Heuermann, 59, with the murder of three of the four women known as the “Gilgo Four.” The case was cracked when investigators revisited an old clue: pizza crust.

Heuermann was taken into custody in July and has been indicted on one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in connection with the killings of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello in 2010. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney, he is also expected to be charged with a fourth murder, that of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who disappeared in 2007.

The breakthrough in the case came when Heuermann was identified as a suspect in early 2022. Authorities began watching him and his family, collecting DNA samples from items in their trash to build a case against him. Heuermann has maintained his innocence and his attorney has stated that he is not the killer.

A timeline of the Gilgo Beach killings reveals that the first set of female remains was discovered in 2010 while authorities were searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert. The remains of Melissa Barthelemy were the first to be found, followed by the remains of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. All four women worked as escorts who advertised on Craigslist.

In 2011, more remains were found, including those of a toddler and her mother. The investigation also uncovered the partial remains of Jessica Taylor, another escort who had disappeared in 2003. The remains of additional victims were discovered in the following years, expanding the timeline and geographic reach of the investigation.

The case took another turn in 2020 when police released photos of a belt that could be a significant piece of evidence. The belt was believed to have been handled by the suspect and did not belong to any of the victims. In May 2020, one of the unidentified women, known as Jane Doe #6, was identified as Valerie Mack, a Philadelphia mother who had been missing for two decades.

In February 2022, a multi-agency task force was formed to investigate the Gilgo Beach killings. The task force included the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, and the FBI. It was during this investigation that Heuermann was identified as a possible suspect.

Investigators surveilled Heuermann and his family, collecting DNA samples from discarded items, including pizza crust. They used cell tower records to narrow down the list of suspects and focused on individuals with a connection to a green pickup truck, which matched a witness’s description of the suspect’s vehicle. Heuermann’s personal cell phone and credit card records also placed him in the general locations where the murders occurred.

A search of Heuermann’s computer revealed that he had searched the internet extensively for details about the investigation and had been compulsively searching for photos of the victims and their relatives. He was also attempting to track down relatives of the victims.

In late 2022, detectives recovered a cup believed to have been discarded by Heuermann, providing further evidence in the case.

Authorities have made significant progress in the Gilgo Beach murders cold case with the arrest of Rex Heuermann. The use of DNA evidence, cell tower records, and digital forensics has played a crucial role in cracking the case and bringing justice to the victims and their families. Heuermann is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to face the charges against him..