November 21, 1993 Two hunters discovered 28-year-old Sandra Costilla’s body in a wooded area in North Sea, Southampton.

June 28, 1997, a dismembered female torso was discovered in a wooded area of Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview, New York. The remains were found inside garbage bags placed in a Rubbermaid container, located approximately 200 yards north of Peninsula Boulevard on the west side of Lake Drive. Both arms, the head, and the legs below the knees had been severed and have never been recovered.

July 26, 2003 Partial Remains belonging to Jessica Taylor, were found in a wooded area in Manorville on July 26, 2003.

December 2010, police found the bodies of four women, wrapped in burlap and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway that runs parallel to the ocean at Gilgo Beach, on the coast of Long Island, New York. Within a few months, they discovered six more bodies in the same area, including the skeleton of a toddler. All were petite females approximately 22 to 28 years old, all had missing clothing and personal possessions, all had been killed by homicide, all had contact shortly before their disappearances with a person using a “burner” cellphone (i.e., cellphones without an associated verified identity), and the cellphones of two of the four victims, Brainard-Barnes and Barthelemy, were used by the killer after their deaths.

In addition, each of the four victims were found similarly positioned, bound in a similar fashion by either belts or tape, with three of the victims found wrapped in a burlap-type material. *Some reports in 2010 – 2011 stated all four victims were wrapped in burlap.

Chief Varrone spoke Safety Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature was held in on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. But all the attempts to solve a case were diverted by James Burke who became a chief of Police at the end of 2011  Learn More About Disgraced Ex-Chief of Police.

IMarch 29th discovery, this Marine Bureau Officer, it was a whole different thing. We were kind of concentrating on the shoulder, but now we realize, “Wow, we have to cover the entire area.” And we also realized that that area had been covered by K-9 and here a Marine Bureau Officer found it on his own, so we were clearly of the understanding that we had to rely on more than dogs. We had to utilize more human assets, more visual assets, and that’s why the search was continued again. You’re all aware of it, well publicized. We utilized trucks with officers on top of the trucks to drive along the bramble and peer in, and of course we utilized our local volunteer fire departments and that resulted in the discovery of additional remains.

And how we found them I can’t — I’m not going to be able to discuss with you other than to say — and some of this has been reported by the media. Other than to say that they are different in many ways from the first four, which is, again, a dilemma for investigators and something that we’re looking at.

The remains discovered, including those later found in Nassau County, were all sent to the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, where Brad Adams and his team are currently conducting the forensic analysis. Initially, we hoped for quicker results, but the process has proven to be far more complex due to the condition and commingling of the remains. In some cases, it appears that multiple individuals’ remains may have been mixed together.

As a result, instead of extracting just one sample per recovery site, the forensic team must collect and test multiple bone samples from each set of remains. They are now working to extract DNA from the bones, compare the profiles, and establish whether any remains are connected or belong to distinct individuals.

Once the DNA extractions and internal comparisons are complete, the data will be uploaded to the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), which is only updated once per week. That upload typically happens on Wednesdays, though we weren’t certain if it occurred this week or not.

If DNA profiles from the remains match existing profiles in the system, we may be able to identify the victims relatively quickly. However, if there are no existing matches, the identification process will become much more labor-intensive and time-consuming.

1993

• November 21, 1993
• Two hunters discovered 28-year-old Costilla’s body in a wooded area in North Sea, Southampton. She had been strangled to death and left partially clothed. Her remains were in the woods for several days prior to being discovered.
  

1996

• February 14, 1996
• Karen Vergata last seen.
• April 20, 1996
• Partial remains of Karen Vergata found, Fire Island, New York.

1997

• June 28, 1997
• Partial remains of “Peaches” / “Jane Doe No. 3” found, Hempstead Lake State Park, Long Island, New York.

2000

• 2000: Valerie Mack last seen by family members in spring or summer, Port Republic, New Jersey.
• November 19, 2000
• Partial remains of Valerie Mack found, Manorville, Long Island, New York.

2003

• July 2003
• Jessica Taylor last seen, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Manhattan, New York.
• July 26, 2003
• Partial remains of Jessica Taylor found, Manorville, Long Island, New York.

2007

• July 9, 2007
• Maureen Brainard-Barnes last seen, Manhattan, New York.
• July 2007
• A friend of Brainard-Barnes’s, Sara Karnes, receives a phone call from a man claiming that he had just seen Brainard-Barnes and that she was alive and staying at a “whorehouse in Queens.”

2009

• July 12, 2009
• Melissa Barthelemy last seen at her apartment, 1149 Underhill Ave in the Unionport section of the Bronx, New York.
• July 17, 2009 – August 26, 2009
• Amanda Barthelemy, sister of Melissa Barthelemy, receives a series of “vulgar, mocking and insulting” calls from a man using Melissa Barthelemy’s cell phone. There are additional calls on July 23, Aug. 5, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. The caller eventually tells Amanda Barthelemy that her sister is dead.

2010

• May 2, 2010
• Shannan Gilbert makes a panicked phone call to 911 at 4:51am after fleeing a client’s house; she bangs on doors of several neighboring houses and disappears, Oak Beach, Long Island, New York.
• June 6, 2010
• Megan Waterman, 22, who had traveled to Long Island from Maine for sex work, last seen at a motel, Hauppauge, New York.
• September 2, 2010
• Amber Lynn Costello last seen at her residence, West Babylon, New York.
• December 11, 2010
• Remains of Melissa Barthelemy found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
• December 13, 2010
• Remains of Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.

2011

• March 29, 2011
• Further partial remains of Jessica Taylor found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
• April 4, 2011
• Remains of Valerie Mack, “Asian Male” and “Baby Doe” (the 16-24-month-old daughter of “Peaches”) found in brush area along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
• April 11, 2011
• Further partial remains of “Peaches” / “Jane Doe No. 3” found near Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, New York.
• April 11, 2011
• Further partial remains of Karen Vergata found, Tobay Beach, Long Island, New York.
• December 13, 2011
• Remains of Shannan Gilbert found in a marsh, Oak Beach, Long Island, New York.
• 2011
• FBI CAST conducts drive testing across Manhattan and Massapequa Park.
• Cellular coverage mapping is recorded and preserved.
• Discovery of additional victims at Gilgo Beach occurs following renewed search efforts prompted by earlier findings.
• Anthropological work contributes to identifying what becomes known as the “Gilgo Four.”

2016

• December 2016
• “Peaches” and “Jane Doe No. 3” positively identified as the same person.

2020

• May 2020
• Police announce forensic identification of formerly unidentified remains of Valerie Mack.

Pre-2021

• Investigative genetic genealogy is used to identify Valerie Mack.
• Additional identification work contributes to confirming Karen Vergata.

2021

• A formal multi-agency task force is established.
• Investigative strategy shifts to a coordinated, low-profile approach.
• Review of historical evidence is re-initiated.
• Analysts begin reviewing large volumes of records and materials across cases.

2021–2022

• Cell phone data is reanalyzed using historical CAST mapping from 2011.
• Geographic zones of interest are established based on device movement patterns.
• Financial records are obtained and analyzed.
• Witness statements, including those tied to Amber Costello, are re-examined.

2022–2023

• Surveillance operations are conducted on the suspect in New York City and Long Island.
• Surveillance remains undetected and produces additional investigative leads.
• Abandonment samples are recovered from the suspect.

2023

• July 2023
• Rex Heuermann charged in relation to the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello and named as a suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
• August 4, 2023
• Police announce forensic identification of formerly unidentified remains of Karen Vergata.
• Search warrants are executed at the suspect’s residence and associated locations.
• DNA evidence is recovered from the residence.
• Physical items, including potential mementos, are seized.
• A planning document is recovered and entered into evidence.
• The Chevrolet Avalanche linked to the investigation is secured and examined.

2023–2024

• Hair evidence from victims is submitted for advanced testing.
• Nuclear DNA analysis is conducted using preserved hair samples.
• DNA results are developed linking evidence across multiple cases.
• Digital evidence is processed with assistance from the United States Secret Service.

2024

• The Ramcharger associated with the Sandra Costilla case is recovered in Pennsylvania.
• The vehicle is transported to a forensic laboratory for analysis.
• Evidence is developed connecting the vehicle to the investigation.

2025

• The Chevy Avalanche is transported from South Carolina to the forensic lab.
• Evidence processing continues across vehicles, digital records, and physical items.
• Bounty paper towel recovered from Megan Waterman’s crime scene is forensically compared to a matching item recovered from the suspect’s home.
• The items are determined to match.
• Investigators identify the item as a potential retained memento.

April 23, 2025 

• law enforcement finally confirmed the identities: “Peaches” was Tonya Denise Jackson, and the little girl was Tetiana Marie Dykes. After nearly 28 years, the unnamed mother and child were finally given back their names.

April 8, 2026

• Rex Heuermann enters guilty pleas to multiple counts of murder.
• He accepts responsibility for eight victims.
• The case is resolved through a combination of:
• DNA evidence
• Cell phone analysis
• Financial records
• Witness statements
• Planning document
• Mementos
• Vehicle evidence
• Digital evidence

1980s–1990s: Early Unsolved and Pattern-Linked Cases

• February 3, 1982 – Tina Foglia, 19, partial remains found in plastic bags along the Southern State Parkway exit ramp. Victim dismembered.
• October 10, 1991 – Tiffany Dixon, 15, disappeared while walking to school in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
• October 10, 1991 – Sandra Acosta, 26, found strangled, drained of blood, and dismembered with knife and chainsaw at 236 8th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn.
• March 3, 1992 – Becky Detres, 20, discovered dismembered in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. She had been strangled and cut with a knife.
• November 21, 1993 – Sandra Costilla, 28, found in a wooded area in North Sea, Southampton. Beaten and dumped partially clothed. In 2024, DNA linked Rex Heuermann to her murder.

1996–2003: Dismemberment and Expanding Pattern

• April 20, 1996 – “Jane Doe Seven,” later identified as Karen Vergata. Remains found on Fire Island. DNA later linked to skull discovered near Ocean Parkway on April 11, 2011.
• June 28, 1997 – “Peaches,” African-American woman with peach tattoo. Torso found in Hempstead Lake State Park. In 2011, remains of her toddler daughter (“Baby Doe”) were also found.
• November 18, 2000 – “Jane Doe Six,” later identified as Valerie Mack. Dismembered remains found in Manorville. Additional remains discovered in 2011 along Ocean Parkway.
• July 26, 2003 – Jessica Taylor, 20, dismembered in Manorville. Her skull and other remains later recovered near Gilgo Beach in 2011. Linked to Heuermann in 2024.
• August 11, 2003 – Victoria Camara’s body discovered in the Nevada desert near U.S. 95.
• August 14, 2003 – Jodi Marie Brewer, 19, disappeared from Las Vegas.
• August 22, 2003 – Victoria Camara officially identified by Clark County Coroner.
• November 10, 2003 – Unidentified Caucasian woman’s decomposed body found near Long Island Expressway in Manorville. Cause of death inconclusive.

2007–2010: Gilgo Victims Begin Disappearing

• March 3, 2007 – “Cherries,” unidentified woman with a cherry tattoo. Torso found in a suitcase in Mamaroneck, NY.
• July 6–9, 2007 – Burner phone contacts Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ cellphone 16 times. Last cell ping July 9 in Midtown Manhattan near 59th Street Bridge.
• July 9, 2007 – Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, disappeared after traveling to Manhattan. Her phone was later used (July 12) to check voicemail from Long Island Expressway cell site in Islandia.
• July 3–10, 2009 – Burner phone repeatedly contacted Melissa Barthelemy’s phone.
• July 10, 2009 – Barthelemy seen alive in NYC. Cell site shows burner phone traveled from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan. Barthelemy’s phone later traveled east to Massapequa.
• July 11–12, 2009 – Barthelemy’s phone used to check voicemail from Freeport and Babylon towers.
• July 17–August 26, 2009 – Taunting calls made to Barthelemy’s family. Male caller admitted to killing and sexually assaulting Melissa. Cell towers placed these calls in Midtown Manhattan, within blocks of Rex Heuermann’s office at 19 West 36th Street.
• June 5–6, 2010 – Burner phone activated, contacted Megan Waterman’s phone. Surveillance showed Waterman leaving Holiday Inn in Hauppauge around 1:30 a.m. Last ping: Massapequa Park near Heuermann’s residence at 3:11 a.m.
• September 1–2, 2010 – Burner phone contacted Amber Costello’s phone. Witness saw Heuermann’s first-generation Chevy Avalanche at her house. On September 2, burner used in Manhattan, then traveled to Massapequa Park, contacting Costello’s phone before her disappearance.

2010–2011: Discovery and Escalation

• December 11, 2010 – Melissa Barthelemy’s remains discovered during search for Shannan Gilbert along Ocean Parkway.
• December 13, 2010 – Remains of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello recovered within a quarter mile. Known as the Gilgo Four.
• 2011 (March–April) – Additional remains discovered, including Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Karen Vergata, Peaches and Baby Doe, and unidentified John Doe (Asian male).
• April 8, 2011 – Killer used Barthelemy’s phone to taunt her sister from crowded Midtown NYC.
• 2011–2012 – Police sketches released, but DA Spota claimed no conclusive link between all remains.

2012–2016: Internal Collapse and New Investigations

• 2012 – Mari Gilbert filed lawsuits; public pressure mounted.
• December 12, 2012 – Christopher Loeb stole duffel bag from SCPD Chief James Burke’s car, exposing corruption.
• 2013–2014 – FBI investigated Burke; Natasha Jugo disappeared and body later washed ashore near Gilgo.
• 2014 – Dr. Michael Baden’s autopsy of Shannan Gilbert noted hyoid damage consistent with strangulation.
• 2015 – James Burke resigned; FBI formally joined Gilgo investigation.
• July 23, 2016 – Mari Gilbert murdered by daughter Sarra Gilbert.

2017–2021: Stalled Progress and Public Pressure

• 2017–2019 – Families held vigils; SCPD leadership turnover, promises of reform.
• January 2020 – SCPD released images of leather belt embossed “WH” or “HM.”
• 2020 – COVID-19 slowed progress. SCPD launched Gilgonews.com. Records later showed Heuermann accessed the site from his home IP in 2020.
• 2021 – Investigators re-analyzed cellphone data and DNA with new technology, but no public breakthroughs. Families demanded FBI oversight.

2022: Renewed Task Force and Breakthrough

• January 2022 – DA Raymond Tierney assembled a new multi-agency task force.
• March 14, 2022 – Avalanche lead: first-generation Chevy Avalanche linked to Rex Heuermann from time of Amber Costello’s disappearance.
• 2022–2023 – Investigators subpoenaed more than 300 records, warrants, and accounts.

2023: DNA Links and Arrest

• July 2022 – Female hairs on victims tested; matched mitochondrial DNA haplogroup of Heuermann’s wife.
• February 2023 – Bottles taken from Heuermann’s trash provided DNA reference for his wife. Confirmed match to female hairs on Waterman and Costello, excluding 99.7–99.9% of North Americans but not Heuermann’s wife (who was out of state at times of murders).
• March 2023 – Pizza crust discarded by Heuermann in Manhattan recovered by surveillance team. DNA linked to male hair found on burlap wrapping Megan Waterman. Excluded 99.96% of population, but not Heuermann.
• May 19, 2023 – Heuermann observed purchasing burner minutes in Midtown Manhattan.
• July 13, 2023 – Heuermann arrested in Manhattan. Search warrants executed on his home, office, and properties.
• July 14, 2023 – Bail application filed: DA Tierney and ADA Bode outlined charges (three counts first-degree murder, three counts second-degree murder). Evidence included burner phone use, cell site records overlapping Heuermann’s movements, taunting calls, Avalanche witness ID, and DNA from pizza/hair samples.

2024: Additional DNA Links

• Sandra Costilla (1993) – Cold case DNA re-tested, matched to Rex Heuermann.
• Jessica Taylor (2003) – Case publicly linked to Heuermann based on DNA and digital evidence.

2025: Ongoing Proceedings

• Heuermann remains remanded without bail. Facing multiple life without parole sentences.
• Prosecutors continue investigating additional linked cases from the 1980s–2000s.
• Defense and prosecution preparing for trial; bail application evidence central to case narrative.

2026

Investigation Strategy

• Investigators restructured the case using a coordinated, multi-agency task force model.
• The investigation was intentionally kept low-profile and not used for routine public updates.
• Authorities maintained the appearance that the case was inactive to avoid alerting the offender.
• This strategy was designed to allow continued evidence collection without interference.
• When arrest and search warrants were executed, additional evidence was successfully recovered.

Task Force and Agency Coordination

• The case was solved through combined efforts across multiple agencies over several decades.
• Contributing agencies included:
• Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
• Suffolk County Police Department
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• New York State Police
• Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office
• Nassau County agencies
• New York City Police Department
• Scarborough Police Department (Maine)
• United States Secret Service
• Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York
• Outside forensic laboratories and telecommunications providers

Evidence Development and Case Construction

• The case was built using a layered evidence approach rather than a single breakthrough.
• Investigators continuously expanded evidence categories instead of stopping at initial findings.
• Analysts and investigators reviewed extensive volumes of evidence compiled over decades.
• The evidentiary framework combined physical, digital, forensic, and testimonial components.

Cell Phone and Location Analysis

• Cell phone data was a central component of the investigation.
• FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) conducted detailed mapping of coverage areas.
• Historical drive testing conducted in 2011 allowed reconstruction of relevant geographic zones.
• This data enabled investigators to establish location-based patterns tied to the suspect.
• CAST-generated maps and analysis were presented to the grand jury.

DNA and Forensic Evidence

• DNA evidence was recovered from the defendant’s residence.
• Hair evidence collected from victims was preserved and later analyzed.
• Testing progressed from mitochondrial DNA to nuclear DNA as technology advanced.
• Earlier evidence collection practices were critical in enabling later forensic breakthroughs.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy

• Investigative genetic genealogy was used in the identification of certain victims.
• This method contributed to identifying Valerie Mack.
• Additional identification work was conducted for Karen Vergata.
• Genetic genealogy efforts remain ongoing in at least one unresolved identification.

Surveillance and Physical Evidence Collection

• The FBI conducted surveillance of the defendant in multiple locations.
• Surveillance operations remained undetected and yielded additional evidence.
• Investigators recovered abandonment samples associated with the suspect.

Vehicles and Transport Evidence

• A Chevrolet Avalanche was identified as a significant evidentiary component.
• A Ramcharger recovered in Pennsylvania was associated with the Sandra Costilla case.
• The vehicle was transported to the lab for forensic examination.
• The transcript reflects references linking the vehicle to multiple aspects of the investigation.

Bounty Paper Towel Evidence

• A Bounty paper towel was recovered from the Megan Waterman crime scene.
• A matching Bounty paper towel was recovered from the defendant’s residence.
• Forensic comparison determined the items matched.
• Investigators identified the item as a potential retained memento.

Digital and Financial Evidence

• The investigation involved a large volume of digital evidence.
• The United States Secret Service assisted in processing digital forensic material.
• Financial records were used alongside phone and digital data to establish patterns.
• Digital evidence was integrated with other categories to strengthen the case.

Planning Document and Mementos

• Investigators recovered a planning document attributed to the defendant.
• The document outlined elements relevant to the crimes.
• Additional items described as mementos were also recovered.
• These materials were identified as key components of the prosecution’s case.

Medical Examiner and Victim Identification

• The Office of Chief Medical Examiner played a central role in victim identification.
• Anthropological analysis led to the identification of the “Gilgo Four.”
• Subsequent investigative actions led to additional discoveries following initial findings.
• DNA analysis contributed directly to identifying multiple victims.

Supporting Law Enforcement Contributions

• NYPD assisted with cadaver searches and historical records retrieval.
• Scarborough Police initiated the Megan Waterman missing person investigation and continued support.
• The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office provided logistical support and intelligence related to trafficking networks.
• Telephone carriers provided records dating back to 1993, which were critical to the case.

Investigative Scope and Continuing Work

• The plea agreement addressed eight victims identified in court proceedings.
• Additional investigations remain open and are not covered by the plea.
• Authorities continue to share evidence with other jurisdictions as needed.
• Investigative work continues on other unsolved cases and unidentified remains.

Investigative Approach

• The investigation followed an evidence-driven methodology.
• Each case component was built from crime scene evidence outward.
• Investigators did not rely on speculation or assumptions.
• Evidence was developed incrementally across multiple categories.
• The final case presented was the result of cumulative, corroborated findings.