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Gilgo Beach murders live updates: Rex Heuermann charged with three counts of first-degree murder



Gilgo Beach: Police remove evidence from home of Long Island serial killer suspect

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder in connection with the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office released charging documents on Friday confirming Mr Heuermann, of Massapequa, as the suspected serial killer who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along remote Long Island beaches.

He appeared in court in handcuffs and wearing a polo shirt and khaki pants. Mr Heuermann was held without bail as prosecutors had previously sought, citing his recent searches for “sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives.”

The 59-year-old pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree and three in the second degree over the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello.

The women are among the “Gilgo Four” whose bodies were found along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island in 2010.

Court documents state that Mr Heuermann is also the “prime suspect” in the murder of the fourth woman in that group, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, though he is not facing charges related to her death.

The documents outline a number of extremely disturbing searches in Mr Heuermann’s internet history, as well as burner phones he is accused of using to “taunt” his victims. The Gilgo Beach serial killer had previously been linked to as many as 11 victims discovered more than a decade ago in Suffolk County.

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Gilgo Beach murders were the subject of 2020 Netflix film ‘Lost Girls’

A suspect has been taken into custody on New York‘s Long Island in connection with a long-unsolved string of killings, known as the Gilgo Beach murders, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Friday.

The case has drawn immense public attention since human remains were found along a New York beach highway more than a decade ago.

The mystery attracted national headlines for many years and the unsolved killings were the subject of the 2020 Netflix film “Lost Girls.”

Rex Heuermann was taken into custody late Thursday and investigators were at a Massapequa home connected to the case on Friday.

Andrea Blanco15 July 2023 00:00

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Map showing sites where victims of Gilgo Beach killer were found along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County, Long Island,

(The Independent )

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 23:31

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Prosecutors reveal disturbing online searches

Records also show that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities. Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content. Mr Heuerman is also accused of searching “why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer,” “why hasn’t the long island serial killer been caught” and “new phone technology may be key to break in case.”

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 22:52

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Mr Heuermann continued to use burner phones as revamped investigation unfolded

“Defendant Rex A. Heuermann was further linked to the burner cellphone … because on May 19, 2023, Defendant Heuermann was observed by law enforcement via video and field surveillance, at a cellphone store in Midtown Manhattan, and purchased additional minutes which were added to this burner cellphone,” the bail application filed by prosecutors states.

(SCDA)

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 22:20

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Truck seized from Gilgo Beach murders suspect’s house as neighbour describes ‘very quiet family’

Neighbours congregated in shock in Massapequa Park on Friday after the arrest of long-time resident Rex Heuermann in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders, looking on as police loaded and hauled away a black pickup truck and another large, tarped-over piece of evidence on flatbeds.

The Independent’s Sheila Flynn reports:

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 22:00

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‘Rex Heaurmann is a demon, Suffolk County police commissioner says

“Rex Heaurmann is a demon that walks among us. He is a predator who ruined families,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said during Friday’s press conference. “If not for the member of this task force, he would still be free today.”

Mr Harrison added that Mr Heuermann’s arrest is only the first step in the process of bringing justice to the families.

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 21:47

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Mr Heuermann held without bail: ‘I didn’t do this’

Mr Heaurmann appeared in court on Friday, where he was ordered held without bail.

“We just got appointed on this case. There’s not much I can tell you folks at this point in time,” his attorney, Michael Brown told reporters, according to NBC. “I will say to you folks that it’s extremely circumstantial in nature. In terms of speaking to my client, the only thing I can tell you that he did say, as he was in tears, was ‘I didn’t do this.’”

Mr Heuarmann allegedly broke down in tears and claimed to be innocent.

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 21:32

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Suspect’s vehicle was first linked to the crime

Mr Heuermann was first linked to the cold case in March after investigators discovered that a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Mr Heuermann was possibly the one spotted by a witness in Costello’s disappearance.

Mr Heuermann, a married father of two, also lives in Massapequa Park, near where the victims disappeared from.

As law enforcement closed in on Mr Heuermann, they served more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants that uncovered cellphone records for burner phones used to arrange meetings with three of the “Gilgo Four” victims before they went missing.

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 21:10

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WATCH LIVE: Police hold press conference after suspect arrested in Gilgo Beach murders

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 21:10

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Mr Heuermann searched ‘why hasn’t the long island serial killer been caught?’

Prosecutors noted in court records that several online accounts under fictitious names linked to Mr Heuermann were used for illegal activities.

Mr Heuermann allegedly used those accounts and burner phones to contact women for prostitution services, as well as making chilling online searches.

The searches included sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography and disturbing content. Mr Heuerman is also accused of searching “why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the long island serial killer,” “why hasn’t the long island serial killer been caught” and “new phone technology may be key to break in case.”

“Defendant Heuermann also searched for and viewed articles concerning the very Task Force that was investigating him,” investigators noted in the bail application.

Andrea Blanco14 July 2023 20:49



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