Long Island police identify Jane Doe 7 in Gilgo Beach murders

The Gilgo Beach murders victim previously known only as Jane Doe 7 has finally been identified more than 26 years after her partial remains were first discovered along the Long Island shores.

Karen Vergata, a 34-year-old woman who was last seen alive in Manhattan in 1996 while working as an escort, was named on Friday by Long Island officials.

The huge breakthrough in the case comes almost three decades after some of her remains were first discovered – and weeks after 59-year-old father-of-two architect was arrested and charged with the murders of three other victims.

It was 20 April 1996 when a woman’s legs were found wrapped in plastic at Davis Park on Fire Island’s Blue Point Beach.

At this time, no one has been charged with the murder of Karen Vergata.

Suffolk County DA Rodney Tierney said that there are “no charges at this time” but that the “confidential investigation” is ongoing.

He would not confirm or deny any ties to accused killer Rex Heuermann – or say if there was a suspect on his radar.

“We are going to continue to work this particular case as we did the Gilgo Four investigation,” he said.

“We’re not going to comment on what – if any suspects – we developed at this time. This is a confidential investigation so I’m not going to be taking any questions.”

Long Island officials identified the victim in October but kept the major breakthrough under wraps until now, citing both the investigation into Rex Heuermann and the need to contact Karen Vergata’s family members.

“Prior to disclosing, we needed to contact all Vergata’s family members and around the same time we were beginning the grand jury confidential investigation into the murders of the victims known as the Gilgo 4,” said Suffolk County DA Rodney Tierney.

”So we decided not to make it public… until the results of that investigation became public and we had made notice to Vergata’s family.”

He added: “Today we are here to announce that as part of the Gilgo taskforce’s reexamination of all evidence in the case we are able to identify Fire Island Jane Doe as Karen Vergata.”

The DA said that “it is important that we remember and honour not only Ms Vergata but all the vicitms on Gilgo Beach”.

Suffolk County officials revealed how investigators were able to identify Fire Island Jane Doe almost three decades after her remains were first discovered.

In August 2022 – around six months after the new Gilgo Beach taskforce was launched – a DNA profile suitable for genealogical comparison was developed from the remains of the victim.

The next month, the FBI was able to presumptively identify the victim using genetic genealogy as Karen Vergata.

Then, that October, investigators tracked down a relative of Vergata and take a buccal swab. Using this, they were able to definitively identity the victim as Vergata.

Karen Vergata was 34 years old at the time of her disappearance, according to officials.

Vergata lived on West 45th St in Manhattan and is believed to have been working as an escort at the time.

She went missing around 14 February 1996 – Valentine’s Day.

Police said that no missing persons report was filed at the time of her disappearance.

In the press conference Vergata’s identity, Suffolk County officials refused to take any questions.

The briefing was over in mere minutes and they would not comment on whether or not the victim is linked to serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann.

So far, Mr Heuermann is charged with the murders of three of the 11 victims whose remains were found along Gilgo Beach. He is also suspected in a fourth.

Fire Island Jane Doe has been identified as Karen Vergata.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney and other New York officials are holding a press conference to provide an update in the Gilgo Beach murders case.