Serial Killer Arrested at Gilgo Beach -Rex Heuermann
“He was very organized. He was very friendly,” she said. “I did not see this coming.”
How did police allegedly connect Rex Heuermann?
In December 2010, a Suffolk County police officer conducting a training exercise with his K-9 partner discovered a first set of human remains along Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach, according to court documents.
The remains were later identified as Melissa Barthelemy, a 24-year-old who had been reported missing in 2009 after she was last seen at her basement apartment in the Bronx.
Authorities on Friday asked the public for further help in solving the cases of other human remains found in Gilgo Beach in recent decades but not believed to be linked to Heuermann.Police would go on to find three additional sets of remains, later identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a 25-year-old who went missing in 2007; Megan Waterman, a 22-year-old who went missing in 2010; and Amber Costello, a 27-year-old who also was reported missing in 2010. The women were all believed to be sex workers who advertised on online sites, according to police.
After years of an investigation that had gone cold, a joint law enforcement review jumpstarted in 2022, which included local and state police and the FBI, brought attention to a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Heuermann. Such a vehicle had been on investigators’ radar during Costello’s disappearance from a witness’ tip.
An investigation into Heuermann led to the discovery of cellphone billing records corresponding to cell site locations for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the four victims, as well as a phone used to make “taunting calls” to a sister of Barthelemy. Heuermann is also believed to have used Brainard-Barnes’ and Barthelemy’s cellphones after their deaths, police said.
“A review of these records, as well as Heuermann’s American Express records, showed numerous instances where Heuermann was located in the same general locations as the burner cellphones used to contact victims Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello, as well as the use of Brainard-Barnes and Barthelemy’s cellphones when they were used to check voicemail and make taunting phone calls after the women disappeared,” Suffolk County prosecutors said in court documents. “Significantly, investigators could find no instance where Heuermann was in a separate location from these other cellphones when such a communication event occurred.”
Investigators said they also linked Heuermann’s use of his cellphone to an AOL account, which was also accessed by a burner phone. The phone was linked to midtown Manhattan and Massapequa Park by cell sites, and investigators said they found additional burner phones were “used to conduct thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography.” The phones were also linked to an email involved in more than 200 online searches specifically naming the victims and updates in the “Long Island serial killer” case.
In addition, hairs found on the victims were tested and determined to be from another female. DNA was taken off of bottles left out for trash collection in front of Heuermann’s home in July 2022. When investigators tested the hair found on Waterman, it matched DNA believed to belong to Heuermann’s wife, court documents said.
The police investigation determined Heuermann’s wife was out of town during the various killings.
“As such, it is likely that the burlap, tape, vehicle(s) or other instrumentalities utilized in furtherance of these murders came from Defendant Heuermann’s residence, where his wife also resides, or was transferred from his clothing,” prosecutors said.
A male hair was also found on the burlap used to wrap Waterman, according to investigators. Police collected a discarded pizza thrown by Heuermann and swabbed a pizza crust for DNA.
Based on lab results in June, investigators said “it is significant that Defendant Heuermann cannot be excluded from the male hair recovered near the ‘bottom of the burlap’ utilized to restrain and transport Megan Waterman’s naked and deceased body.”
Heuermann was charged in the deaths of Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello. Prosecutors said in court documents that he remains the prime suspect in Brainard-Barnes’ death, but there are no charges as the investigation “is continuing and is expected to be resolved soon.”
“I build furniture at home and still do so in the same exact workshop,” he explained. “I have one tool that I use for almost every job, and it’s a cabinet maker’s hammer.” It’s convincing enough when I need to persuade someone.”
“Not someone?” inquired the interviewer.
“Something,” Heuermann explained, “and it always yields excellent results.”
According to at least one individual who knows Heuermann, his arrest contradicts the man she has grown to know through monthly networking sessions.
“I knew him as a friend and coworker. “And I’m completely surprised,” the woman added, adding that she last chatted with him over Zoom on Tuesday.
“He was extremely well-organized.” “He was extremely friendly,” she remarked. “I did not see this coming.”
How did the police allegedly link Heuermann?
According to court filings, a Suffolk County police officer performing a training exercise with his K-9 partner discovered the first set of human remains along Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach in December 2010.
Melissa Barthelemy, 24, was reported missing in 2009 after she was last seen in her basement flat in the Bronx, and her remains were later identified.
Authorities requested the public for assistance on Friday in solving the cases of other human remains discovered on Gilgo Beach in recent decades but not thought to be connected to Heuermann.
Police later discovered three more sets of remains, which were ultimately identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a 25-year-old who went missing in 2007; Megan Waterman, a 22-year-old who went missing in 2010; and Amber Costello, a 27-year-old who also went missing in 2010. According to investigators, the women were all sex workers who advertised on internet dating sites.
After years of a dormant inquiry, a collaborative law enforcement examination launched in 2022 by local and state police, as well as the FBI, drew attention to a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Heuermann. A witness tip had put such a car on authorities’ radar during Costello’s disappearance.
An inquiry into Heuermann led to the discovery of mobile billing records for burner phones used to organise meetings with three of the four victims, as well as a phone used to make “taunting calls” to Barthelemy’s sister. Heuermann is also suspected of using Brainard-Barnes’ and Barthelemy’s smartphones after their deaths, according to authorities.
“A review of these records, as well as Heuermann’s American Express records, revealed numerous instances where Heuermann was located in the same general locations as the burner cellphones used to contact victims Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello,” Suffolk County prosecutors said in court documents. “Importantly, investigators were unable to find any instance in which Heuermann was in a separate location from these other cellphones when such a communication event occurred.”
According to investigators, Heuermann’s mobile use was also linked to an AOL account, which was also accessed via a burner phone. Cell sites connected the phone to midtown Manhattan and Massapequa Park, and police said they discovered other burner phones were “used to conduct thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography, and child pornography.” The phones were also linked to an email address that was used in over 200 online searches, particularly naming the victims and providing updates on the “Long Island serial killer” case.
Furthermore, hairs found on the victims were analysed and proved to be from another female. In July 2022, DNA was extracted from bottles put out for trash collection in front of Heuermann’s house. According to court filings, when authorities examined the hair found on Waterman, it matched DNA suspected to belong to Heuermann’s wife.
According to the police inquiry, Heuermann’s wife was not present during the different killings.
“As a result, it is likely that the hessian, tape, vehicle(s), or other instrumentalities used in furtherance of these murders came from or were transferred from Defendant Heuermann’s residence, where his wife also resides,” prosecutors said.
According to authorities, a male hair was also discovered on the hessian used to wrap Waterman. Police swabbed a pizza crust for DNA after collecting a discarded pizza tossed by Heuermann.
According to June lab results, “it is significant that Defendant Heuermann cannot be excluded from the male hair recovered near the ‘bottom of the hessian’ utilised to restrain and transport Megan Waterman’s naked and deceased body.”
In the deaths of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello, Heuermann was charged. Prosecutors stated in court filings that he is still the prime suspect in Brainard-Barnes’ death, but no charges have been filed since the investigation “is continuing and is expected to be resolved soon.”
