GILGO BEACH MURDERS

INTRODUCTION

The Gilgo Beach Murders case is one of the most significant serial homicide investigations in United States history. The case centers around human remains discovered along Ocean Parkway on Long Island, New York, beginning in December 2010 during the search for missing woman Shannan Gilbert. These discoveries led to the identification of multiple victims, many of whom were young women connected to sex work.

Over time, forensic advances, renewed investigative focus, and a multi agency task force resulted in the 2023 arrest of Massapequa Park resident Rex Heuermann, who now faces multiple homicide charges connected to victims found in the Gilgo Beach investigation and earlier linked remains discovered in Manorville and elsewhere on Long Island. The case spans decades, involves deep law enforcement controversy, and continues to evolve as legal proceedings and forensic testing continue.

This page provides a clear chronological structure to understand what happened, how events unfolded, who the victims are, what went wrong, and where the case stands today.

KEY EVENTS TIMELINE

December 11, 2010

• Police searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert discover human remains along Ocean Parkway
• The remains are identified as Melissa Barthelemy

December 2010

• Police locate three additional sets of remains nearby
• The victims are identified as Maureen Brainard Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello
• These four become known as The Gilgo Four

March to April 2011

• Additional remains are discovered in the surrounding area
• Some remains are later matched to earlier Manorville cases
• This confirms multiple connected dumping locations

2011 to 2021

• The investigation continues but progresses slowly
• Internal police leadership problems and investigative failures hinder progress
• The case remains active but unresolved

January 2022

• A new multi agency task force is created
• Evidence is re examined using modern forensic and cellular technology

July 13, 2023

• Rex Andrew Heuermann is arrested
• He is charged with multiple murders connected to the Gilgo Beach investigation

2024 to Present

• Additional charges are added
• DNA and forensic analysis continues
• Court proceedings move forward

Phase One: 2010 to 2016

• The initial discovery triggered a large scale law enforcement response. Multiple searches were conducted, remains were recovered, and victims began to be identified. Despite national attention, forward movement on the case slowed over time due to leadership instability, limited federal collaboration, and investigative misdirection.

Phase Two: 2016 to 2021

• The department entered a period marked by controversy, administrative upheaval, and declining investigative momentum. Public frustration grew. Families demanded answers. Information was limited and years passed with little visible progress.

Phase Three: 2022 to Present

A major turning point occurred when new leadership formed a coordinated multi agency task force. Modern forensic science, digital data review, cellular tracking analysis, and renewed investigative focus finally pushed the case forward. This work directly led to the identification and arrest of Rex Heuermann in July 2023 and the continued expansion of charges through 2024 and beyond.

Explore investigation details »

This section contains the individual case files for victims associated with the Gilgo Beach investigation. Each file provides verified information, last known activity, discovery details, investigative developments, and forensic connections.

Primary victim categories include

• The Gilgo Four
• Additional identified victims
• Unidentified remains and developing identifications

Each victim has a dedicated page to preserve accuracy, provide documentation, and ensure the dignity of every individual connected to this case.

The Gilgo Beach murders investigation has revealed the remains of multiple women many of whom were young, working as escorts, and connected through online ads scattered along Ocean Parkway on Long Island between 2010 and 2011. The discovery of these victims not only shocked the public but also exposed deep flaws in law enforcement coordination and response.

Most of the victims were found in close proximity, wrapped in burlap or discarded in a way suggesting a single offender’s methodical disposal pattern. Over time, investigators connected additional remains some discovered years earlier in Manorville to the case, broadening the scope beyond Gilgo Beach itself.

Over the years, investigators pursued numerous suspects and theories, ranging from a lone serial predator to multiple offenders. The Suffolk County Police Department, FBI, and state agencies all played roles in the evolving inquiry, which was marked by internal controversy, leadership changes, and mounting pressure from victims’ families.

In 2022, a new task force re-examined the case using advanced forensic technology and digital evidence review. The following year, investigators arrested Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, charging him in the murders of several of the Gilgo Four. He remains a suspect in additional cases as the investigation continues.

Discover details about each victim, including their backgrounds, the last known time and place they were seen, and the forensic evidence that linked them to the case. Delves into the challenges families face in seeking justice and how their stories have played a crucial role in pressuring authorities to take action. Learn More about Victims Investigation details »

The Gilgo case cannot be understood without acknowledging the impact of law enforcement misconduct and leadership corruption within Suffolk County during crucial investigative years. Departmental obstruction, leadership scandals, refusal to engage federal agencies, and poor prioritization of sex worker victims contributed to years of stagnation.

These failures directly delayed justice for victims and their families. It was not until the removal of corrupt leadership, restructuring of law enforcement oversight, and a renewed commitment to transparency that meaningful investigative momentum finally resumed.

Corruption and mismanagement within the Suffolk County Police Department and District Attorney’s Office are widely believed to have stalled the Gilgo Beach murder investigation for years. Several critical failures and deliberate acts of obstruction played a central role: Source

• James Burke’s Interference: Then–Police Chief James Burke blocked FBI involvement early in the case, shortly after the first victims’ remains were found in 2010. Burke’s actions denied the investigation critical federal resources and expertise. In 2016, he was convicted of assaulting a suspect who had stolen a duffel bag from his vehicle and for orchestrating a cover-up, which included pressuring subordinates to lie to federal investigators. Case File
• Cover-up by Spota and McPartland: Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and his top anti-corruption prosecutor Christopher McPartland were later convicted of witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy in 2019. They played a direct role in protecting Burke and suppressing the truth about the police chief’s misconduct, further eroding public trust and law enforcement integrity. Case File
• Internal Priorities and Retaliation: Burke and his allies prioritized their reputations and internal loyalty over solving the murders. Officers were reportedly punished or sidelined for cooperating with outside agencies or pushing for more thorough investigations.
• Neglect of Victims: Many of the victims were sex workers, which contributed to law enforcement’s initial indifference. Families repeatedly said their concerns were ignored, and reports were not treated with urgency or seriousness.
• Political Motives and Lack of Transparency: The department faced credible allegations of shielding powerful local figures, mishandling evidence, and providing little communication or transparency to victims’ families or the public.

These systemic failures stalled the case for over a decade. It wasn’t until a multi-agency task force was established in 2022, under new leadership and with full FBI involvement—that the investigation was revived. These renewed efforts led to the arrest of Rex Heuermann in July 2023, marking a major breakthrough in one of the most infamous unsolved serial murder cases in modern U.S. history.

November 29, 1975

• Rex Heuermann father dies at age 50, He was 12 years old.

May 1981

• Rex Heuermann graduates from Berner High School in Massapequa, NY

Summer 1981

• RH works as a seasonal employee at Jones Beach State Park

March, 5 1984

• Rex Heuermann begins working (presumably full-time) at Jones Beach State Park.

October 24, 1987 

• Rex Heuermann leaves his position at Jones Beach State Park
  

Late 1987

• Rex Heuermann Started working in Manhattan (pg. 47 of the

September 1990

• RH marries his first wife at St. Peter’s Church in New Brunswick, NJ. At the time of their marriage, RH was working at Greer Construction Corp. in Freeport, NY as an architect intern. He graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in Westbury, NY with a degree in architectural technology

November 19-20, 1993

• The body of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla is discovered in North Sea, Long Island.

1994

• RH and his first wife divorce after “almost three years” of marriage (pg. 8 of the
• Rex incorporates RH Consultants & Associates.

April 29 , 1994

• RH purchases the house in Massapequa Park from his mother for $170,000  Nassau County Land Records Viewer

November, 1995

• Asa moved in with Rex

November 4, 1996

• RH obtains his architecture license in NY State  NY State Office of the Professions

April, 13 1996

• RH marries his second wife (pg. 8 of the

1996 Victoria H was born

November 19, 2000

• A hunter’s dog discovered some of Jane Doe #6 (Valerie Mack) remains in a wooded area of Manorville.
• The remains were in a black plastic bag wrapped with duct tape.
• The bag contained additional plastic bags that contained Mack’s decapitated body.
• The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office said they were able to determine from the remains that the victim had been dead for about two-to-eight weeks before being discovered.
  

July 21, 2003

• Asa at SMUGS

July 25, 2003

• Witness observed a pickup Truck back in into the woods in Manorville long Island. 

July 26, 2003

• Partial remains found in Manorville The remains of Jane Doe Number Five were matched to  Jessica Taylor, who had been identified. Taylor, like the other victims, had worked as an escort.

April 23, 2005

• Rex Heuermann purchased a timeshare at Club du Soleil in Las Vegas for $16,995

July 6, 2007

• Rex burner phone: Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ cellphone is contacted by a burner phone (pg. 5 of the  bail application

July 9, 2007

• Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, is last seen alive in New York City.
• 11:56 p.m. – Maureen’s cellphone pings in Midtown Manhattan near the 59th Street Bridge.

July 12, 2007

• Two outbound calls were made from Maureen’s cellphone, checking her voicemail from a cell site location near the Long Island Expressway in Islandia

July 3, 2009

• Melissa Bathelemy’s cellphone is contacted by a burner phone

July 6, 2009

• Melissa’s cellphone is contacted by the same burner phone

July 8, 2009

• Rex Heuremann wife Asa Elerup leaves the United States for Iceland

July 9, 2009

• Melissa’s cellphone is again contacted by the same burner phone

July 10, 2009

• Melissa Barthelemy, 24, disappears in New York City.
• Her cellphone is contacted by the same burner phone and the burner phone travels from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan
  

July 11, 2009

• 1:43 a.m. Melissa’s cellphone travels from Manhattan to Massapequa, last pinging in Massapequa at 1:43 a.m.
• Earlier that same day, her phone was used to check her voicemail in both Freeport and Babylon

July 12, 2009

• Melissa’s cellphone is used to make an outbound call to check her voicemail in Babylon

July 14, 2009

• 12:40 p.m. A male caller uses Melissa’s cellphone to contact her family, connecting with a cell tower at 4 Penn Plaza in Manhattan
• 1:45 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone places a call in New York City
• 6:58 p.m. Rex Heuermann cellphone shows a call location in New York City
• 7:15 p.m. The burner phone used to contact Melissa has activity in Manhattan
• 7:22 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone shows a call location in New York City

July 17, 2009:

• Melissa’s phone is used in Midtown Manhattan to make taunting calls to her sister. The male caller admits to killing and sexually assaulting her.

July 22, 2009

• 5:12 p.m.: Rex Heuermann places a call from New York City
• 6:51 p.m.: The burner cellphone used to contact Melissa registered activity at a cell tower at 19 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, near RH’s office

July 23, 2009:

• 2:48 p.m. Rex Heuermann places a call from New York City
• 1:39 p.m. The burner phone used to contact Melissa had activity attached to a cell tower at 19 West 34th Street in Manhattan
• 6:42 p.m. Rex Heuermann uses Melissa’s phone to contact her family from a cell tower at 275 West 39th Street in Manhattan
• 8:29 – 8:30 p.m. The burner phone used to contact Melissa has activity in New York City
• 11:05 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone places a call from Jamaica, Queens

August 5, 2009:

• 6:46 – 7:05 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone pings near his office
• 6:50 – 7:11 p.m. Melissa’s phone is used in Midtown Manhattan near RH’s office to make taunting calls to her family members

August 10, 2009

• RH traveled to Iceland to see his family. 
• Rex Heuremann tells Asa he started a bathroom remodel 

August 18, 2009:

• Rex Heuermann’s wife returns to the United States from Iceland

August 19, 2009

• 7:16 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone makes a call from New York City
• 7:23 p.m. Rex Heuermann uses Melissa’s cellphone to make a taunting call to her family from Manhattan, pinging from a cell tower at 249 West 36th Street
• 7:28 p.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone makes a call from New York City

August 26, 2009:

• 11:29 – 11:34 a.m. Melissa’s cellphone is used to make a taunting call to her family member from a cell tower at 4 Penn Plaza
• 11:38 a.m. Rex Heuermann’s cellphone lists a call location from New York City

May 1, 2010

• 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert disappeared after leaving the home of a client and reportedly running through the gated community of Oak Beach.
• Gilbert had been transported to Oak Beach by a driver, who later received a call from the client to return Gilbert home after she began to exhibit irrational and erratic behavior.
• Despite multiple searches in the area where Gilbert was last seen, her body was not found until 18 months later.

May 17, 2010:

• Rex Heuermann acquires a hunting license in Alaska

June 4, 2010:

• Rex Heuermann’s wife travels from New York to Maryland with kids. 

June 5, 2010:

• Megan Waterman’s cellphone is contacted by a burner phone which had been activated that same day

June 6, 2010:

• 1:30 a.m.: Megan is last seen alive at the Holiday Inn in Hauppauge, NY. At 1:31 a.m., she is contacted by the burner phone.
• 3:11 a.m.: Megan’s phone last pings near RH’s house in Massapequa Park

June 8, 2010:

• Rex Heuermann’s wife returns to New York from Maryland

August 28, 2010:

• Rex Heuermann’s wife travels from New York to New Jersey

September 1, 2010

• 11:33 – 11:34 p.m.: Amber Costello’s phone is contacted twice by a burner phone. During these calls, the burner phone pinged from cell towers in West Amityville and Massapequa Park

September 2, 2010

• Rex Heuermann contacted Amber from West Babylon using his burner phone. Around this time, the client — described as an ” ogre” driving a first-generation Chevy Avalanche — arrives at her residence at pays for her services, at which point a male pretends to be an outraged boyfriend and the client leaves.
• 1:18 a.m.: Amber receives a text from Rex Heuermann burner phone “That was not nice so do i credit for next time.” He sent the text message from Massapequa Park.
• 9:32 p.m.: The same burner phone communicates with Amber’s phone, using a cell tower in Midtown Manhattan
• 10:39 p.m.: The burner phone again has contact with Amber’s phone, this time from a cell tower in Massapequa Park
• 11:05 p.m.: The burner phone has contact with Amber’s phone from a cell tower in Massapequa Park
• 11:17 p.m.: The burner phone travels to West Babylon near Amber Costello’s residence. Shortly after this, a dark-colored truck was seen driving past Amber Costello’s residence.

September 5, 2010:

• Rex Heuermann’s wife returns to New York from New Jersey

December 11, 2010

• Eight months into the search for Gilbert, a Suffolk County Police Department Canine Unit continued their efforts near her last known location. Instead of finding Gilbert, they uncovered human remains identified later as 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy (Jane Doe Number One).
  

December 13, 2010,

• Three more sets of remains were found along Ocean Parkway, initially labeled
• Jane Doe Number Two,
• Jane Doe Three,
• Jane Doe Four
• These remains were later identified as
• Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; 
• Amber Lynn Costello, 27;
• Megan Waterman, 22;
• All four women had worked as Craigslist escorts and were last seen between July 2007 and September 2010.

January 15, 2011

• Rex Heuermann links An AOL email account Springfieldman9  to a Tinder account and burner phone is established with an Astoria, Queens zip code

March 29, 2011

• Partial skeletal remains, known as Jane Doe Number Five, were uncovered. This discovery led to the first link between the Gilgo Beach homicides and Manorville.
• The remains of Jane Doe Number Five were matched to  Jessica Taylor, who had been identified through partial remains found in Manorville on July 26, 2003. Taylor, like the other victims, had worked as an escort.
• Following the connection between the Gilgo Beach and Manorville cases via Jessica Taylor, the investigation into Shannan Gilbert’s disappearance expanded further, revealing additional links and discoveries across Long Island.

April 2011

• The rest of Valerie Mack remains were found along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

April 4, 2011

• Three additional sets of remains were discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County. Among them were those of a  female toddler, an  unidentified Asian male, and what was initially referred to as Jane Doe Number Six.
• A week later, two more sets of remains were found in Nassau County.
• One set was confirmed through DNA analysis to be the mother of the female toddler, known as  “Peaches” due to a peach-shaped tattoo.
• The other set was linked to remains found in Davis Park on Fire Island in 1996, broadening the investigation’s timeline and geographical scope.
• Jane Doe Number Six, initially identified as Manorville Jane Doe, was confirmed by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Unit to match remains discovered in Manorville on November 19, 2000. These remains, a white female with brown hair, were found by recreational hunters in a wooded area off Halsey Manor Road.

December 2011

• Suffolk County Police found Shannan Gilbert’s purse and mobile phone in Oak Beach marshland. Two days later, Gilbert’s remains were discovered a quarter-mile east of her belongings.

October 31, 2013

• Rex Heuermann is allegedly (case later dismissed) struck by a car at the intersection of West 36th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan  Link

2014 or 2015

• Rex Heuermann had hernia surgery (pg. 99 of the

February 19, 2016

• Rex Heuermann allegedly is involved in a car accident on the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County, Maryland (pg. 3 of the

January 11, 2017

• 10:15 p.m. Car accident at the intersection of Front Street and Second Avenue in Massapequa Park p35

January 2017

• Rex Heuermann flies to Las Vegas to attend a conference for “four or five days” p19

January 23, 2017

• Rex Heuermann returned from LV and saw the Dr. Visram (4 month of Physical Therapy) hip, arm, neck & back

March 2017:

• Rex Heuermann drives down to Virginia to visit his mom by himself. p129

November 2017

• Rex Heuermann visits Las Vegas alone p133

January 2018

• Rex Heuermann drives down to Cocoa Beach, Florida with his wife, mother, and daughter

February 12, 2018

• Rex Heuermann underwent shoulder surgery.

March 2018

• Rex Heuermann drives down to Virginia to visit his mom, most likely alone

April 2018:

• Rex Heuermann drives his army Jeep “for the first time since September” p117
  

May 2020

• Jane Doe Number Six was identified as  Valerie Mack with the help of advanced forensic DNA technology provided by the FBI.
• Mack, who disappeared at 24 while living in Philadelphia, worked as an escort under the alias ‘Melissa Taylor’ (unrelated to Jessica Taylor).
• Mack’s family provided DNA samples, confirming they last saw her in Port Republic, New Jersey, in the spring and summer of 2000.
• This matched the timeline that Mack’s remains were dumped in Manorville at the end of 2000.
  

May 23, 2020

• Rex Heuermann’s home IP address was used to access the official SCPD “Gilgonews.com” website

In 2020

• Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart released previously undisclosed evidence, including photos of a belt believed to be used by the suspect but not belonging to any of the victims.

July 3, 2020

• RH’s home IP address was again used to access the official SCPD “Gilgonews.com” website

February 14, 2021 

• Rex Heuermann created a Gmail account, “Hunter1903a3,”he used “Andy Roberts” as a name and linked to the burner phone 347-885-1697. The IP address used to accept the Terms of Service for this account was RH’s residence in Massapequa Park. The “Hunter1903a3” account is used to send pictures of a prostitute in upstate New York between two of RH’s “burner” email accounts
  

July 28, 2021

• Rex Heuermann purchased four unimproved lots totaling about 5 acres on Rippling Brook Drive in the Mirror Lakes subdivision in Chester County, SC for $154,351

January 2022

• The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office creates a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of evidence in the investigation.

February 3, 2022

• Rex Heuermann allegedly gets into a car accident near the intersection of Union Avenue and Devoe Street in Brooklyn

March 14, 2022

• Heuermann first comes up as a suspect in the investigation, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Heuermann was tracked through his car, a Chevrolet Avalanche, according to court documents. A witness to Costello’s disappearance reported seeing a Chevrolet Avalanche at Costello’s home, court records stated.

March 28, 2022

• 9:19 – 9:25 a.m. A fictitious Gmail account, “thawk080672,” is used to search “long island serial killer”

July 13, 2023

• Heuermann is arrested in Manhattan at his midtown office.
• Investigators matched DNA from hair recovered from the burlap used to wrap Waterman’s body to leftover pizza crust Heuermann threw into a Manhattan garbage can in January 2023, according to court documents.

July 14, 2023

• Defense attorney Michael Brown enters a not guilty plea on Heuermann’s behalf at his arraignment for three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. Heuermann was ordered held on no bail.

August 4, 2023

• Authorities announce they have identified Jane Doe No. 7, whose remains were first located on Fire Island in 1996, as 34-year-old Karen Vergata. More of her remains were found on April 11, 2011, on Long Island’s Tobay Beach. There are no charges at this time, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney says.

September, 2023

• Workers cleaning near the East Bathhouse at Jones Beach unearthed a cache of disturbing items buried about two feet in the sand. Police were immediately notified. Items Found:
• Several purses and women’s and girls’ clothing (estimated from the late 1980s–1990s), including rayon mini-skirts, shorts, pants, and shirts. Some had popped buttons, suggesting possible force.
• A blood-covered workman’s glove.
• A leather strap hidden in an employee shack still in use.
• Context: Jones Beach is about 3 miles from Gilgo Beach and connects directly via Ocean Parkway. Rex Heuermann had worked summers at Jones Beach between 1981–1984. The East Bathhouse has been closed since 2009, undergoing renovations, but the location is near areas familiar to Heuermann. Jones Beach traditionally uses burlap fencing to protect dunes; several Gilgo victims were found wrapped in burlap, raising investigative interest.
• Investigation: All items were collected by detectives for forensic testing. It remains unclear if results have been returned. Authorities cautioned the discovery could be coincidental but noted its proximity and timing were significant.

November 2023 – Additional Murder Charges Filed

• Heuermann was indicted for additional victims, including:
• Valerie Mack (24).
• Sandra Costilla (28).
• Brought total to seven murder charges.
• Prosecutors stated Heuermann remains the leading suspect in several of the still-unidentified remains along Ocean Parkway.

December 2023

• Pretrial Motions on DNA Evidence:
• Defense Argument: Challenged the admissibility of advanced DNA testing methods used on hairs recovered from the victims’ burlap wrappings.
• Prosecution Argument: Urged the court to admit forensic genealogy and new hair DNA analysis, citing FBI testing.
• Result: Motions carried into 2024, setting the stage for a major ruling on DNA evidence in the case.

January 16, 2024

• Rex Heuermann has been indicted on a new charge of second-degree murder for the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Summary of evidence against Heuermann in Brainard-Barnes’ case: A hair found on a belt buckle used to bind Brainard-Barnes was matched to Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup. Credit card statements show that Heuermann’s family was in Atlantic City during the period when Brainard-Barnes went missing while Heuermann remained in New York. Additional charges: MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 125.25(1), a class A-I violent felony for the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes on or about July 9, 2007.

February 5, 2024 – Hearing on Discovery Issues

• Judge set deadlines for discovery exchanges between Suffolk County DA’s Office and Heuermann’s defense team.
• Court addressed volume of digital evidence seized from Heuermann’s home and office.

March 14, 2024 – Suffolk County Court Appearance

• Heuermann appeared briefly in Riverhead court for case conference.
• Defense renewed challenge to admissibility of DNA hair evidence retrieved from victims’ burlap wrappings.

April 2024: Raw DNA Data

• Justice Richard Ambro signs a subpoena ordering the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to turn over raw DNA data from the McNamee and Tangredi murder cases to Bittrolff’s appellate defense team.

April 17, 2024 – Forensic Evidence Updates

• Prosecution disclosed testing of burlap fibers and hair samples using a new forensic method not previously admitted in New York courts.
• Defense signaled intent to file a Frye challenge (hearing on admissibility of novel scientific evidence).

May 2024:

• Assistant District Attorney Rosalind Gray opposes defense motions linking Heuermann, writing that the defense has “neither demonstrated a nexus between Rex Heuermann and Ms. McNamee, nor provided an adequate legal basis” for a comparison.

May 21, 2024

• Investigators executed a search warrant at the Massapequa Park residence of Rex Heuermann as part of the Gilgo Beach homicide investigation.
• During the search, detectives seized a July 29, 2003 edition of the New York Post from the defendant’s primary bedroom.
• The newspaper was nearly 21 years old at the time it was recovered and was described in the court filing as being in “pristine condition.”
• The issue contained an article titled “Serial Killer Eyed in L.I. Slay,” which reported on the murders and disappearances of:
• Valerie Mack
• Jessica Taylor
• Investigators also recovered a November 7, 2016 issue of People magazine titled “Bodies on the Beach: Hunt for the Long Island Serial Killer.”
• The magazine contained a feature article titled “Horror on the Beach,” describing the Long Island serial killings investigation and displaying photographs of multiple victims.
• During the same search, detectives located a November 22, 1993 edition of Newsday in the basement of the residence.
• The newspaper, approximately 31 years old, was also reportedly preserved in pristine condition.
• The issue contained an article titled “Body Discovered in Woods,” which referenced the homicide investigation into:
• Sandra Costilla
• According to the prosecution filing submitted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury was presented with evidence showing the defendant possessed publications referencing each victim named in the indictment.
• Prosecutors argued that the preserved newspapers and magazines could reasonably be interpreted by the grand jury as souvenirs or reminders connected to the murders, while the defense argued that possession of publicly available newspapers is not inherently incriminating.

May 30, 2024 – Status Conference

• Judge reviewed timelines for expert witness disclosure and trial readiness.
• Prosecution confirmed intent to call forensic genealogy experts and FBI lab specialists.

June 6, 2024

• Heuermann is charged with two more murders after investigators spent months combing through evidence taken from his family home and following searches of a wooded area in Manorville. He is charged with the 2003 murder of Taylor, whose remains were found on Long Island in Gilgo Beach in March 2011, and in Manorville in July 2003, and the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla, whose remains were found in North Sea, Long Island, in 1993, according to court documents. DNA, including a hair found on a drape under Jessica Taylor‘s body, ties Heuermann to both murders, according to prosecutors. Costilla’s murder was initially suspected to have been the work of a different killer, John Bittrolff, but advanced DNA now points to Heuermann.

June 18, 2024 – Public Disclosure

• Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney announced in press conference that forensic evidence pointed to seven confirmed victims linked to Heuermann.
• Four additional remains found along Ocean Parkway (including Jessica Taylor and unidentified remains) remained under active investigation.

July 11, 2024 – One-Year Anniversary of Arrest

• Survivors’ families held vigils along Ocean Parkway.
• DA’s office issued statement reaffirming commitment to “pursue every lead” regarding remaining unidentified victims.

September 16, 2024

• The Gilgo Homicide Task Force released updates on the Asian Doe victim, including facial reconstructions, descriptions of the victim’s clothing, pictures of clothing labels, and new genealogical data. The information has been translated into multiple Asian languages. The facial reconstructions were created by a Forensic Artist with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) and depict what the victim may have looked like prior to their disappearance and murder. Both male and female presentations are provided, as the victim was found wearing women’s clothing. A reward of up to $2,500 from Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is being offered for information leading to the identification of the victim.

Mid-2024:

• The defense engages Cybergenetics, a DNA analytics firm, whose probabilistic modeling reports that Bittrolff was not a contributor to the male DNA found on the jeans, stretch pants, and a separate body swab.

October 2, 2024 – Frye Hearing Testimony

• FBI forensic analysts testified that the new DNA method was reliable.
• Defense cross-examined experts on lack of widespread court acceptance.

November 25, 2024 – Judge’s Tentative Decision

• Court signaled it was leaning toward allowing DNA evidence, citing “scientific reliability” and FBI validation studies.

December 17, 2024

• Rex Heuermann has been indicted on a new charge of second-degree murder for the killing of Valerie Mack. Summary of evidence against Heuermann in Valerie Mack’s case: A hair found at the crime scene on Valerie Mack’s wrist matches Heuermann’s daughter’s DNA. The “HK Planning Document”, which was found on Heuermann’s computer, was created the year Valerie Mack was murdered. The document shares many similarities to aspects of Mack’s case, including references to Mill Road, the location her body was found. Additional charges: MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE, in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 125.25(1), a class A-I violent felony for the death of Valerie Mack on or about or between September 1, 2000 to November 19, 2000.

Rex A. Heuermann has been charged with the following murders: 

• Maureen Brainard-Barnes
• Melissa Barthelemy
• Megan Waterman
• Amber Costello
• Jessica Taylor
• Sandra Costilla
• Valerie Mack

December 19, 2024 – Final Conference of Year

• Court set trial readiness for mid-2025.
• Both sides ordered to complete expert witness disclosures by early 2025.

January 9, 2025 – Defense Motions Filed

• Heuermann’s attorneys filed motions to suppress evidence obtained through forensic genealogy, arguing Fourth Amendment violations.
• They also sought to exclude evidence gathered during the Massapequa Park home search, alleging overreach.

February 20, 2025 – Prosecution Response

• Suffolk County DA’s Office filed opposition briefs, defending the constitutionality of forensic genealogy searches.
• Prosecutors emphasized that FBI validation supported the DNA hair analysis method.

March 13, 2025 – Court Hearing on Motions

• Judge heard oral arguments regarding suppression of DNA and electronic data.
• Defense claimed the novel DNA technique had not yet been accepted under New York case law.
• Prosecution highlighted the technique’s successful use in other jurisdictions.

April 29, 2025 – Expert Disclosure Deadline

• Both sides submitted expert witness lists.
• Prosecution named FBI forensic scientists, forensic genealogists, and cell tower specialists.
• Defense listed DNA reliability experts and digital forensics specialists.

May 22, 2025 – Status Conference

• Judge confirmed case remained on track for September trial date.
• Court ordered any remaining discovery disputes to be resolved by June.

June 26, 2025 – Pretrial Hearing

• Judge formally ruled that prosecutors could present DNA evidence at trial, including results from advanced hair analysis.
• This marked the first time in New York State that this specific DNA technique would be admitted.

July 18, 2025 – Victims’ Families Statement

• Families of Gilgo victims issued a joint statement outside Suffolk County Court expressing relief that the trial was moving forward.
• Advocated for inclusion of unidentified and partial remains in the ongoing investigation.

August 12, 2025 – Final Pretrial Conference

• Court finalized jury selection procedures and trial logistics.
• Both prosecution and defense confirmed readiness for trial.

September 23, 2025 – Trial Scheduled

• Rex Heuermann’s trial for the murders of seven women (Valerie Mack, Melissa Taylor, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Amber Lynn Costello) is set to begin in Suffolk County Supreme Court.
• Jury selection expected to take several weeks.
• Case will mark the largest serial murder trial in Long Island history

2025

• January 2025: The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County (Appeals Bureau) files a motion to vacate Bittrolff’s convictions, citing new DNA evidence and requesting Heuermann’s DNA be compared to the “Unknown Male A” profile.
• October 7, 2025: Justice Ambro issues an order authorizing limited testing — a direct DNA comparison between “Unknown Male A” and Heuermann’s profile — but denies broader defense requests, including mitochondrial DNA and CODIS database comparison.
• October 10, 2025: The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office obtains a DNA sample from Heuermann’s 2023 buccal swab for the comparison.
• October 14, 2025: Legal Aid issues a statement saying they are “grateful the DNA analysis will be conducted” but “greatly disappointed” that Ambro declined to vacate the conviction.
• October 21, 2025: The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office releases its lab report:
• “Rex Heuermann is excluded as ‘Unknown Male A.’”
• The unknown DNA found on McNamee’s jeans, stretch pants, and body does not match Heuermann.
• October 23–25, 2025: Prosecutors file the lab report with the court. Justice Ambro declines to vacate Bittrolff’s conviction. The identity of “Unknown Male A” remains unresolved.
• November 2025: Prosecutors reaffirm that Heuermann remains charged in seven homicides, including the Gilgo Four and Sandra Costilla. Defense motions to dismiss remain pending.
• December 3, 2025, Andrew Dykes was arrested on a second degree murder warrant in connection with the Peaches case.

2026

January 12, 2026 Pretrial Motions Filed by Defense in Rex Heuermann Case

• Attorneys for Rex Heuermann filed multiple pretrial motions ahead of a scheduled court appearance on January 13, 2026. Heuermann is charged in connection with multiple murders linked to the Gilgo Beach investigation. The filings seek broad evidentiary and procedural relief.
• Dismissal of Second Degree Murder Charge
• The defense is seeking dismissal of the second degree murder charge related to the 1993 killing of Sandra Costilla.
• Attorneys argue prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to sustain the charge.
• The motion asserts the prosecution’s case relies primarily on hair evidence recovered from a shirt at the crime scene, which the defense characterizes as insufficient.
• Suppression of Statements Made in Custody
• The defense is requesting suppression of statements Heuermann allegedly made during his first 24 hours in custody.
• This includes an alleged remark to court officers during arraignment after learning his $6,000 watch was not among his inventoried property.
• According to filings, Heuermann reportedly stated, “I guess I won’t be needing that.”
• Defense attorneys argue the statement should be excluded from evidence.
• Challenge to Search Warrants and DNA Evidence: A 178 page motion challenges the validity of search warrants executed at Heuermann’s residence, office, and vehicles.
• The defense is also seeking suppression of DNA evidence, including genetic material allegedly obtained from discarded items such as pizza crusts and water bottles.
•  Attorneys argue these items were collected from garbage cans in violation of constitutional protections and privacy rights.
• The filing characterizes the request as a final effort to exclude DNA evidence central to the prosecution’s case.
• Request for Information on Alternate Suspects: The defense has requested that prosecutors turn over records related to two men they intend to present as potential alternate suspects.
• The motion seeks disclosure of investigative materials that could support alternative theories of culpability.

January 13, 2026

• Scheduled Motion Hearing: A court hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2026, to address the defense motions filed on January 12. The court is expected to hear arguments regarding dismissal, suppression of statements, suppression of search warrants and DNA evidence, and disclosure related to alternate suspects

March 4, 2026

• The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office filed a 122-page prosecution memorandum responding to defense motions in the criminal case against Rex Heuermann.
• The filing was submitted in the ongoing prosecution connected to the murders discovered near Gilgo Beach.
• Prosecutors asked the court to deny defense motions seeking to suppress evidence, including digital evidence, search warrant evidence, and grand jury evidence.
• The memorandum included additional investigative findings presented to the grand jury, including analysis of:
• cell phone and burner phone activity
• internet search history
  financial records
• items seized during search warrants
• Prosecutors stated investigators identified more than 500 contacts with at least 60 sex workers linked to phone numbers associated with the defendant in the years leading up to his July 13, 2023 arrest.
• The filing described internet searches allegedly tied to devices linked to the defendant, including searches related to:
• the victims and the investigation
• family members of victims
• violent sexual content involving murdered women
• Investigators also documented recurring payments to the dating application Tinder.
• The prosecution further detailed items recovered during search warrants, including newspapers and magazines referencing the murders, which prosecutors argued could be interpreted by the grand jury as potential “trophies” or souvenirs connected to the crimes.
• The defense argued that possession of publicly available media reports does not constitute incriminating evidence, while prosecutors asserted the materials formed part of a pattern linking the defendant to the victims named in the indictment.
• The filing forms part of the pre-trial litigation phase as both sides challenge the admissibility of evidence before trial.

Publication Evidence Cited in the Filing

July 29, 2003 New York Post The filing states:

• The July 29, 2003 edition of the New York Post was seized from the primary bedroom.
• At the time of the search, the newspaper was nearly 21 years old.
• It was reportedly kept in pristine condition.
• The issue contained the article: “Serial Killer Eyed in L.I. Slay.”
• According to prosecutors, the article discusses the murders and disappearances of:
• Valerie Mack
•  Jessica Taylor
• The prosecution argues this demonstrates long-term tracking of the killings.

November 7, 2016 People Magazine

• Investigators also recovered a 2016 issue of People Magazine.
• Cover headline: “Bodies on the Beach – Hunt for the Long Island Serial Killer.”
• The issue includes a multi-page feature titled: “Horror on the Beach.”
• The spread contains photos of multiple victims linked to the Long Island serial killings investigation.
• Prosecutors suggest this magazine was also preserved intentionally as a record of the crimes.

November 22, 1993 Newsday Article

• The filing states investigators recovered a November 22, 1993 edition of Newsday from the basement.
• Details cited by prosecutors:
• The newspaper was about 31 years old.
• It was also in pristine condition.
• The paper contained an article titled: “Body Discovered in Woods.”
• The article reported the homicide investigation of:
• Sandra Costilla
• Costilla’s body had been discovered in a wooded area of North Sea, Southampton on November 20, 1993.

April 6, 2026

• Benjamin Torres, the son of Valerie Mack, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk County, against Rex A. Heuermann, Asa Ellerup, and Victoria Heuermann.
• The complaint asserts causes of action including wrongful death, assault, battery, false imprisonment, aiding and abetting, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of extreme emotional distress, fraud, and unjust enrichment.
• The lawsuit alleges that Rex Heuermann was responsible for the assault, murder, dismemberment, concealment, and disposal of Valerie Mack.
• The complaint further alleges that Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann, at some point, knew of, concealed, deliberately ignored, or consciously avoided learning material facts concerning the alleged assault, murder, dismemberment, concealment, and disposal of Valerie Mack.
• Torres seeks damages for the alleged wrongful death of his mother and for the harm he says he suffered as a result.
• The filing also seeks recovery of money allegedly earned by Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann through their participation in a documentary concerning the Gilgo Beach murders.
• The complaint argues that any statute of limitations issue should be excused or tolled based on Torres’ age at the time of Valerie Mack’s disappearance and the delayed identification of her remains.

April 7, 2026 (Expected Plea Development)

• Rex Heuermann is expected to enter a guilty plea in connection with multiple murder charges tied to the Gilgo Beach murders, according to emerging reports.  Source
• This development follows his recent indictment for a seventh murder, involving Valerie Mack.
• Valerie Mack:
• Partial skeletal remains were discovered in 2000 in a wooded area in Manorville
• Additional remains were later linked to Gilgo Beach
• Heuermann remains charged in the deaths of six other women, whose remains were recovered along Ocean Parkway on Long Island.
• Procedural status:
• He has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges
• No formal guilty plea has been entered on the court record as of this update
• Any plea would likely involve negotiated resolution across multiple indictments

April 8, 2026

11:00 a.m. Hearing: Plea Allocution and Agreement, Rex Heuermann Source

• Rex Heuermann formally admitted in court to causing the death of multiple victims linked to the Gilgo Beach investigation during a plea allocution.
• Heuermann stated under oath that:
• He caused the death of Melissa Barthelemy in July 2009 Method: Strangulation
• He caused the death of Megan Waterman Method: Strangulation
• He caused the death of Amber Costello Method: Strangulation
• He caused the death of Sandra Castillo Method: Strangulation
• He caused the death of Karen VergataMethod: Strangulation
• Under the terms of the plea agreement:
• Heuermann pleaded guilty to transporting Karen Vergata, rather than a homicide count specific to her death
• Court Allocution Details
• During questioning by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney:
• Heuermann was asked whether he dismembered Jessica TaylorResponse: Yes
• Heuermann further allocuted that:
• He strangled all of his victims
• Not all victims were dismembered
• Plea Agreement Terms
• As part of a global plea agreement:
• Rex Heuermann entered guilty pleas to multiple homicide counts connected to the Gilgo Beach investigation
• In exchange for the plea:
• Heuermann agreed to waive his right to appeal
• He agreed to cooperate with federal law enforcementSpecifically, he will:
• Participate in interviews with the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit
• Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney publicly stated that a Ram Charger vehicle recovered in Pennsylvania was connected to the 1993 homicide of Sandra Costilla.
• Ray Tierney Interview Transcript: Context: Post-plea interview following Rex Heuermann guilty pleas
• Opening: 
• Host: “A decades-long search for answers in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case is now over. Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to killing an eighth on Long Island. Joining us now exclusively to talk about what happened in court and what’s next, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.”
• Plea Agreement
• Q: How did this plea deal come about?
• Tierney: “As a prosecutor, you just kind of forge ahead, and then at a certain point, quite recently, the defense informed us that the defendant wished to change his plea, and so that’s what we did.”
• Modus Operandi
• Q: What did you learn about these killings? Was it the same in every case?
• Tierney: “I think his modus operandi changed a little bit, evolved over time. Initially, he was dismembering the women and then dumping their bodies in different places, and then he went from just leaving them at Gilgo wrapped in a shroud.”
• Sexual Element
• Q: Did he have sex with them?
• Tierney: “We’re not sure. I tend to not think so, but the claim was that he did.”
• Victims and Families
• Q: How important was it to stand with the victims’ families?
• Tierney: “I think it was the most important thing. When you look at this, the notoriety, everyone is interested and intrigued, and they forget these are real women with real lives whose lives were tragically cut short. It was nice to give them some closure.”
• Investigation and Task Force
• Q: How was the case solved after so many years?
• Tierney: “We were fortunate to bring together a lot of really talented investigators from a lot of great organizations, FBI, State Police, Suffolk County Sheriff, and Suffolk County Police Department, and got help from a lot of other folks.”
• Evidence
• Q: What evidence cracked the case?
• Tierney: “There was the phone evidence, there was the DNA, there was the internet searches, there was the planning document that we found at his house. There were mementos, keepsakes commemorating these murders. So, a whole bunch of stuff.”
• Family Awareness
• Q: Did he speak to his family before the plea?
• Tierney: “I believe he did. I think they were informed.”
• Double Life
• Tierney: “He really lived a double life. He was the suburban dad next door who was also a serial killer, and he really was very disciplined in keeping those two lives extremely separate.”
• Phone Usage
• Tierney: “At most times, he had three phones on him. He had his phone for work, he had a phone that he contacted escorts on, and then he had another phone where he was looking to lure women in. We spoke to friends and family, and no one ever saw him with more than one phone. He was really disciplined in the way he hid this double life.”
• Motive
• Q: Did he say why he did it?
• Tierney: “No.
• Tierney (continued): “As part of his plea, the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit are going to sit down and clinically speak with him and try to determine motivations, why he was compelled to do what he did.”
• FBI Behavioral Role
• Q: What will they try to get from him?
• Tierney: “It’s not going to be investigative, it’s going to be clinical. They’re going to try to gain insight into what drives someone to do these things, how we can learn from it, how we can mitigate it, and how we can catch the next individual.”
• Custody
• Q: What happens to him now?
• Tierney: “He’s in protective custody. Given the notoriety of the case and the nature of the crimes, those individuals typically don’t do well in a prison setting.”
• Wife
• Q: Why was his wife cleared?
• Tierney: “He was extremely disciplined. He maintained separate lives and concealed his activities effectively.”
• Other Victims
• Q: Do you think there are more victims?
• Tierney: “It doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what we can prove. We’re going to keep working, and we’ll go where the evidence leads us.”
• Tierney (continued): “After Amber Costello, he had been identified by witnesses, and that may have caused him to stop.”
• Evidence and Forensics
• “There was a Ramcharger from Pennsylvania that was associated with the Sandra Costilla case. State troopers took that from Pennsylvania, brought it to our lab.”
• “We recovered a Bounty paper towel off of the crime scene of Megan Waterman. They compared that to the same Bounty towel that we recovered in the home of the defendant. They matched.”
• “This was a memento that we argued the defendant kept.”
• “The phone evidence, the financial evidence, the mementos, the planning document, and the DNA evidence… all of it is layered.”
• 
  
• Sentencing and Next Steps
• Tierney: “We have sentencing on June 17, and the resources that we’ve been using on this case will now be turned to other unsolved cases, with the hope of providing more closure for more families.

As forensic work improved and investigative collaboration increased, earlier cases were re examined. Remains discovered in the 1990s and early 2000s were later connected through DNA to the broader Gilgo Beach and Manorville disposal sites. This confirmed that the case history reached much farther back than originally believed.

Ongoing developments include

• Court motions and hearings
• DNA analysis advancements
• Continued forensic testing
• Connectivity between locations and victims
• Consideration of whether one or multiple offenders were responsible

This case remains active, developing, and legally ongoing.