GILGO BEACH CASE FILES
Gilgo Beach Murders Investigation
The Gilgo Beach murder investigation began on December 11, 2010, when Suffolk County Police were searching for missing Shannan Gilbert near Ocean Parkway on Long Island. While using a cadaver dog, officers instead discovered the remains of another woman wrapped in burlap later identified as Melissa Barthelemy. Over the next few days, police uncovered three more sets of remains Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello in close proximity. This shocking discovery launched a major investigation into what authorities soon believed was the work of a serial killer. The case expanded over the years as more remains were found in the area, sparking national attention and a decade-long hunt for the perpetrator.
Suffolk County Police Department
Suffolk County: Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case
Long Island Serial Killer case
The Gilgo Beach Murders Investigation—also known as the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case is one of the most high-profile and long-running serial murder investigations in U.S. history. Below is a structured summary of the investigation, suspects, and major developments.
- Location: Gilgo Beach, Ocean Parkway, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY
- Victims: At least 11 sets of remains found between 2010 and 2011, dating back to as early as 1996.
- Primary Suspect: Rex Heuermann (arrested July 13, 2023)
- Law Enforcement Involvement: Suffolk County PD, NY State Police, FBI, Nassau County PD
- Suffolk County Police Department Corruption: Blocked FBI involvement early in the case, shortly after the first victims’ remains were found in 2010.
Timeline of Major Events
2010–2011: Discovery of Remains
- Dec 11, 2010: Police discover the first body—Melissa Barthelemy—while searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert.
- Dec 2010: Additional remains found—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. These four become known as the “Gilgo Four.”
- March–April 2011: Police discover more remains:
- Jessica Taylor (partial remains found earlier in 2003)
- Valerie Mack (formerly “Jane Doe No. 6”)
- Baby Doe (female toddler)
- Peaches (1997 torso case connected by DNA)
- John Doe (Asian male, identity still unknown)
- May 2011: Shannan Gilbert’s belongings are found in a marsh near Oak Beach.
2010–2022: Stalled Progress & Internal Controversy
- 2016: Police declare Shannan Gilbert’s death likely accidental—her family disputes this.
- James Burke Scandal: Then-Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke was convicted of beating a suspect and obstructing a federal probe in 2016. He had blocked FBI involvement in the LISK case for years.
- 2019: New task force is formed under Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini.
- Jan 2020: Police release key evidence: a belt with initials “WH” or “HM”, possibly linked to the killer.
2023–2024: Rex Heuermann Arrest
- March 2022: Task force zeroes in on Rex Heuermann, a Massapequa Park architect.
- July 13, 2023: Heuermann is arrested and charged with the murders of:
- Melissa Barthelemy
- Megan Waterman
- Amber Costello
- July 14, 2023: Court documents reveal DNA, burner phones, and surveillance links to Heuermann.
- Aug 2023: Heuermann is charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (the fourth Gilgo victim).
- Feb 2024: Prosecutors say they are investigating up to 7 more cases possibly tied to Heuermann.
2010: The Search for Shannan Gilbert and the Discovery of the Gilgo Four
Shannan Gilbert was 23 when she vanished. Her remains were found in December 2011 in another beach community just down the road. On 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.
Brainard-Barnes was born June 14, 1982, in New London, the daughter of Marie Ducharme of Groton and the late Robert Senecal.
Brainard-Barnes was last heard from on July 9, 2007 at 11:43 p.m. when she called a friend in Connecticut just minutes before midnight, telling her she was going to meet someone outside of the motel.
Her remains were discovered in December 2010 along Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach, Suffolk County, New York, during a search for missing woman Shannan Gilbert. Maureen’s body was found near those of three other women Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello all of whom had similar backgrounds and were wrapped in burlap.
Amber Lynn Overstreet Costello was a 27-year-old woman living in West Babylon, Long Island, when she became one of the known victims of the Long Island Serial Killer, also known as the Gilgo Beach murders.
Born on February 10, 1983, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Amber grew up in Wilmington. She battled drug addiction from her teens and later became involved in sex work. She was married twice and had a close relationship with her sister, who described Amber as kind-hearted and artistic despite her struggles.
Amber disappeared around September 2, 2010, after reportedly leaving her home to meet a client. She left behind her cell phone and was never seen alive again. Her body was found on December 13, 2010, near Gilgo Beach along Ocean Parkway, wrapped in burlap and buried close to three other women Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, and Megan Waterman—collectively known as the “Gilgo Four.”
Melissa Barthelemy was a 24-year-old woman originally from Buffalo, New York, who became the first victim discovered in the Gilgo Beach serial killings—now linked to accused killer Rex Heuermann.
Melissa had moved to the Bronx, where she worked as a licensed cosmetologist and occasionally advertised escort services online to support herself. She was last seen on July 12, 2009, after telling a friend she was going to meet a client. Her mother reported her missing six days later.
Over the weeks that followed, Melissa’s younger sister, Amanda, received a series of disturbing phone calls from Melissa’s phone. The male caller taunted the family, made vulgar statements, and eventually claimed that Melissa was dead. Investigators later traced the calls to Midtown Manhattan—near Heuermann’s office—and to Massapequa Park, where he lived.
On December 11, 2010, Melissa’s remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach, Long Island. She had been wrapped in burlap and buried close to three other women—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello—collectively known as the “Gilgo Four.” All four women had been strangled and worked as online escorts.
Megan Waterman was a 22-year-old mother from Scarborough, Maine, who became one of the four confirmed victims in the Gilgo Beach murders, now linked to accused serial killer Rex Heuermann.
Megan was described by her family as fun-loving, protective, and deeply devoted to her young daughter. Struggling financially and battling addiction, Megan began working as an escort to support herself and her child. In early June 2010, she traveled to Long Island with her boyfriend, who acted as her driver and security.
She was last seen on June 6, 2010, leaving a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge, New York. Surveillance footage captured her exiting the hotel around 1:30 a.m., reportedly to meet a client. She never returned, and her family reported her missing shortly after.
Her remains were discovered six months later, on December 13, 2010, near Ocean Parkway close to Gilgo Beach. Megan’s body was wrapped in burlap and found alongside those of Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Amber Costello—a group later known as the “Gilgo Four.”
Valerie Mack was a 24-year-old woman from New Jersey who vanished in 2000 and remained unidentified for two decades. Her dismembered remains were later connected to the Gilgo Beach murders, and in December 2024, prosecutors charged Rex Heuermann with her murder making her the seventh official victim linked to the accused serial killer.
Valerie, who also used the alias Melissa Taylor, had been working as an escort at the time of her disappearance. She was last seen in the Philadelphia area in the spring or summer of 2000. She was never formally reported missing, though she left behind a young son.
On November 19, 2000, a torso wrapped in garbage bags was found by hunters in a wooded area in Manorville, Long Island. At the time, the victim remained unidentified. Over a decade later, on April 4, 2011, her skull, hands, and a tattooed right foot were discovered in a plastic bag off Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach. This gruesome dismemberment pattern mirrored that of another victim, Jessica Taylor, and helped law enforcement link the two sites.
Using forensic genealogy, investigators identified Valerie Mack in May 2020—twenty years after her death.
Jessica Taylor was a 20-year-old woman from upstate New York whose brutal murder and dismemberment in 2003 would not be fully understood until nearly a decade later—when her remains were linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings. She is now one of the known victims tied to accused serial killer Rex Heuermann.
Jessica was born on June 17, 1983, in Poughkeepsie, New York. She spent time living in Washington D.C. and later in Brooklyn, where she worked as an escort. She was last seen around July 18–22, 2003, near the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
On July 26, 2003, her torso, missing its head and arms, was found in Manorville, Suffolk County, placed on a plastic sheet and mutilated—her identifying tattoos had been deliberately removed. The case went cold for years.
Then, on March 29, 2011, during the expanded search of the Gilgo Beach area, police discovered Jessica’s skull, hands, and forearm along Ocean Parkway. DNA confirmed that these remains matched her torso from Manorville. This connection between two geographically distant dump sites helped investigators identify a potential serial killer pattern.
Sandra Costilla was a 28-year-old woman from Trinidad and Tobago who was murdered in November 1993 in Suffolk County, Long Island. For decades, her killing remained unsolved—until DNA evidence linked her case to Rex Heuermann, the suspected Long Island Serial Killer.
Sandra’s body was discovered on November 20, 1993, by hunters in a wooded area in North Sea, near Southampton. She had been severely beaten and was found partially clothed, suggesting a violent and personal assault. At the time, her murder was not publicly connected to any serial pattern.
Sandra’s case has deepened the timeline of the Long Island Serial Killer investigation, pushing the suspected start of the murders back to 1993, well before the discovery of the Gilgo Four in 2010. Although Sandra’s lifestyle has not been definitively confirmed, prosecutors stated it was “substantially similar” to that of other victims known to have worked in the sex trade.
Suffolk County Police Department
Suffolk County Police Department Corruption
Corruption Case Files
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Gilgo Beach Murders
Gilgo Beach Timeline:
Rex Heuermann, a New York architect, has been implicated in a series of murders spanning from the early 1990s to 2010, primarily involving young women whose remains were discovered in the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island. Below is a detailed timeline outlining key events related to the investigation and charges against Heuermann:
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 [EBT]
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
1994
- RH and his first wife divorce after “almost three years” of marriage (pg. 8 of the [EBT]
- Rex incorporates RH Consultants & Associates.
November 19-20, 1993
- The body of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla is discovered in North Sea, Long Island.
April 29 , 1994
- RH purchases the house in Massapequa Park from his mother for $170,000 Nassau County Land Records Viewer
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 [EBT]
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 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 family members on July 17. 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 with his family.
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
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 [sic] 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, initially labeled Jane Does Number Two, Three, and Four, were found along Ocean Parkway. These remains were later identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; and 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.
The investigation into Shannan Gilbert’s disappearance continued, and several months later, additional remains were discovered miles east of where the Gilgo Beach Four were found
March 29, 2011
- The investigation into Shannan Gilbert’s disappearance continued, and on March 29, 2011, partial skeletal remains, known as Jane Doe Number Five, were discovered miles east of the Gilgo Beach Four site. These remains were later matched to Jessica Taylor, whose partial remains had been found in Manorville on July 26, 2003. Taylor, like the other victims, had worked as an escort.
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.
April 4, 2011
- 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
- RH 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
- RH had hernia surgery (pg. 99 of the [ EBT]
February 19, 2016
- RH allegedly is involved in a car accident on the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County, Maryland (pg. 3 of the [ complaint]
January 11, 2017
- 10:15 p.m.: Car accident at the intersection of Front Street and Second Avenue in Massapequa Park p35 [ EBT]
- January 2017: RH flies to Las Vegas to attend a conference for “four or five days” p19
January 23, 2017
- RH returned from LV and saw the Dr. Visram (4 month of Physical Therapy) hip, arm, neck & back
March 2017:
- RH drives down to Virginia to visit his mom by himself. p129 [ EBT]
November 2017
- RH visits Las Vegas alone p133
January 2018
- RH drives down to Cocoa Beach, Florida with his wife, mother, and daughter
February 12, 2018
- RH underwent shoulder surgery.
March 2018
- RH drives down to Virginia to visit his mom, most likely alone
April 2018:
- RH drives his army Jeep “for the first time since September” p117 [
EBT]
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
- RH’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.
- In 2022, current Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison established a multi-agency task force, involving the FBI, New York State Police, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, to reinvigorate the investigation and seek justice for 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
- RH purchases 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
- RH 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
September 16, 2024
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, with representatives from local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will hold a press conference to provide new information as to a Gilgo Beach homicide victim and update the public as to the ongoing investigations being conducted by the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force.
December 17, 2024
District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney will hold a press conference following a court proceeding in Riverhead, New York, in the People of the State of New York v. Rex A. Heuermann, to update and announce a new significant development in the investigation.
Rex Heuermann charged with the murder of Valerie Mack, a 24-year-old from Philadelphia, went missing in 2000. Suffolk County police found her partial remains in Manorville, New York, that November.
April 23, 2025
The Nassau County Police Department will be holding a Press Briefing regarding: Updated information on the 1997 “Peaches” Homicide Investigation.
Gilgo Beach Crime Scene
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- Brainard-Barnes was found at Gilgo Beach
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- Brainard Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Body Dump Area
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- area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
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- Brush area along Ocean Parkway. where remains were recovered
Possibly connected cases to LISK Killer
July 14, 2023, Suffolk County Police have arrested Rex Heurermann in connection to the Long Island Serial Killer case.
February 1st, around 3:00 am she had left Hammerheads nightclub, which was located in a converted supermarket at 135 Sunrise Highway in West Islip and may have attempted to hitchhike back to her house in Brentwood.
The last verified sighting of her was near the exit of the nightclub
Learn More about Tina
Carmen Vargas
On September 11, 1989, a body was discovered along the right shoulder of Meadowbrook State Parkway in Freeport, NY by a passerby. The body was later identified as Carmen Vargas. Carmen was found with a towel over her face, a rope around her neck, and her ankles bound with a cord. Her body was located approximately a half mile south of Merrick Road in Long Island, New York.
Sandra Acosta
23 year Sandra Acosta disappeared after last being seen at 185 Nevins Street in Brooklyn. Acosta was 4’11, 100 lbs and lived on Douglass Street in Park Slope.On October 30, 1991, the body parts of Sandra Acosta, were discovered at a weeded lot near the Gowanus section of Brooklyn. Her two hands, feet, arms and legs were found, along with her head. Her torso was never recovered.
Tiffany Dixon
October 10, 1991 Tiffany Dixon, of Hart St., Bushwick, was last seen dropping her brother, Israel Morales, 8, at the corner of Smith St. and First Place in the Carroll Gardens section, where he is a third-grader at Public School 58. Norma Delgado, 28, the girl’s mother, said Tiffany then usually walked about four blocks to JHS 142, where she is a seventh-grader. But On Thursday the girl didnt arrive at school.
Judith Ramona Veloz
March 3, 1993 Judith Ramona Veloz. aka “Aries Jones” was last seen in the vicinity of 30th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue in Manhattan, NY
Judith left her childhood home at 16, pregnant at 17 and gave birth to a daughter in Spring 1992. Judith boyfriend and her daughters father was an older man, with a violent past, been grooming her and forcing Judith to work the streets and acted as her pimp. AJ passed away in 2005.
Karen Vergata
Her father last heard from her on his birthday on Valentine’s Day 1996 when she was living on West 45th Street in NYC.
July 2017, her father Dominic N. Vergata had her officially declared deceased. In that legal filing, the father states that he spoke to multiple law enforcement agencies to try to report her missing, hired a private Investigator to determine her whereabouts, and spoke to several acquaintances of hers.
Valerie Mack
Valerie Mack was 24 years old and living in Philadelphia when she went missing. Relatives last saw Mack in the spring or summer of 2000 in Port Republic, New Jersey, but she was never reported missing by police, Police told Valery’s Parents that she has a history of running away, and most likely doesn’t want to be found. Her partial skeletal remains were found in Manorville in September 2000 but were initially known as “Jane Doe No. 6.”
Alicia Adams
Alicia Adams, a 22, was discovered naked and mummified in the brush about 2 months after she was last seen in April 2013 near the Imperial Hotel in East New York, Brooklyn.
She had a green dragon tattoo on her upper left chest and another tattoo on her right thigh with the words “Daddy Rock.” Her body was found near South Conduit Avenue, close to the woods that lead to Long Island, into Nassau County.
Andre Jamal Isaac
Andre Isaac, also known as “Sugar Bear,” was a professional drag queen who disappeared from East New York in 2002. According to a friend, Isaac was last seen shortly before Thanksgiving, getting into a car with a “secret friend.” The vehicle was described as a red BMW-type coupe driven by a Hispanic man. On December 17, 2002, a plastic bag containing a partial human torso was found in Arverne, Queens, NY. The bag contained a skirt, a black bodysuit, and a tank top. The bag was found on Beach 63 Street between Larkin Street and the boardwalk; however, this location may be slightly inaccurate, as Beach 63 does not connect with Larkin or the boardwalk.
Unidentified Asian man
The skeletal remains of a yet-to-be-identified Asian man were found along Ocean Parkway on April 4, 2011.
It is estimated that the man was between 17 and 23 years old at the time of his death. He was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall with bad teeth.
Asian Male died between 2001 and 2006 – discovered 750 yards east of the Gilgo Four. His body was found just 0.3 miles east of the Gilgo Four and roughly 0.6 miles west of Jessica Taylor’s skull.
He was found wearing women’s clothing. Therefore, it is possible that he may have lived as a woman.
June 28, 1997, a dismembered body was discovered in a wooded area of Hempstead Lake State Park, Lakeview, New York. The torso was found on the west side of Lake Drive, about 200 yards north of Peninsula Boulevard. Both arms,
head, and legs below the knee were severed, she had become known as “Peaches” because of a bitten tattoo of a peach on her left breast. “Peaches” was the nickname given to a black or biracial female whose
torso was discovered in Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997. Her nickname originates from a distinctive tattoo she had. She was inside a plastic Rubbermaid container along with a red towel and a floral pillowcase, covered
by plastic garbage bags
Lindsay Harris
Lindsay Marie Harris (September 3, 1983 – May 2005) was a young woman whose dismembered legs were found in a wooded area near Interstate 55 in 2005. She was identified 3 years later.
On May 4, 2005, Harris disappeared from her home in Henderson, Nevada. She was last seen making a bank deposit at the bank near her home. Her rental car was found abandoned in the desert at the southern end of the valley and her credit cards had not been used. Later that November, America’s Most Wanted aired a segment on Harris’ disappearance.
On March 3, 2007, woman’s torso, stabbed and stuffed inside a suitcase, washed ashore in Mamaroneck. One of her leg bones and her right foot with her toe nails half polished washed up from the Long Island Sound later on March 27 among the rocks in Cold Spring Harbor. On March 28, her severed leg bone washed up in a plastic bag a short distance away at the estate of Cablevision billionaire James Dolan. The rest of her has never been found.
Jamie Seymour
Jamie Diane Seymour was 21 years old when she was last seen in Brick Township, NJ on July 22, 2005. She had moved out of her Jackson Township residence and was drifting from place to place. On July 22, she called her father and said she was heading to the Port Authority New York area.
Victoria Camara
August 11, 2003 at 7:18 a truck driver discovered the body of a Hispanic female in the desert area just south of the haul road located approximately 1200 feet west of US 95, mile marker 52. August 11, 2003 LVMPD Detectives identified the body of the Hispanic female as Victoria Camara. More
Prosecutors revealed in June, 2024 that Heuermann allegedly used a planning document between 2000 and 2002, This document is considered crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders. DA Tierney
announced the significance of two phone numbers linked to the case. Tierney confirmed that one of the number 917-294-4402 is linked to a Danielle Faith Goodling in Queens.
Red More
Asian Doe
The body of “Asian Doe,” was found in the dense brush off Ocean Parkway, Long Island, on April 4, 2011.
Asian Doe
On a chilly April morning in 2011, the body of a transgender individual, known only as “Asian Doe,” was discovered in the thick underbrush off Ocean Parkway on Long Island. The discovery sent shock-waves through the community, as the victim’s identity and story remained shrouded in mystery. Clad in a bra designed by Bill Blass, a pair of pants, and a “Rafaella” brand shirt, the unidentified person had been left in the wilderness with no clues to their past—only questions.
For years, the case stagnated, with investigators piecing together what little information they had. But recent breakthroughs in the Gilgo Beach homicide investigation provided a glimmer of hope in unraveling the enigma surrounding Asian Doe. Detectives now believe that this individual may have had connections to the Han community in southern China, more than seven thousand miles away. This potential link opened up new avenues of inquiry, drawing investigators into a cultural and geographic labyrinth far from the shores of Long Island.
forensic anthropologist sketches
The case took another turn during a crowded press conference held by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. In a bid to generate new leads, Tierney revealed several digitally altered images of Asian Doe. These images presented feminized versions of the victim, offering a glimpse into the life of the biological male who had been found dressed “exclusively in women’s clothing,” as Tierney described.
The images, like the case itself, were haunting—offering a tantalizing glimpse of a life that was lived in secrecy and ultimately ended in tragedy. As the investigation continues, the hope remains that one day, the story of Asian Doe will be fully told, bringing closure to a life cut short and justice to those responsible.
Asian Doe 2024
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) took on the challenge of breathing new life into the cold case of “Asian Doe.” Using the latest technology and expertise, they created three new sketches of the unknown victim. These images were sent to the Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force, offering fresh perspectives on a case that had perplexed investigators for years.
“He was a teenager or very young adult,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized to the gathered reporters during a recent briefing. “It’s important that this victim get their name back.”
Forensic pathologists had carefully examined the remains of “Asian Doe” and concluded that the victim was between 17 and 23 years old at the time of death. The young person was slim, standing somewhere between 5’3″ and 5’9″, and had been dead for at least five years before their body was discovered. The case was grim, with the pathologists determining that the cause of death was blunt force trauma—a clear indication of homicide.
Previous reports had already revealed the brutal nature of the attack, noting that Asian Doe’s face and skull had been crushed, adding a layer of horror to the already tragic case.
Despite the proximity of the crime scene to other known victims, no charges have been brought against Rex Heuermann, the accused Long Island Serial Killer (LISK), in connection with Asian Doe’s murder. However, the location where the body was found raised questions. “It was about 300 or so feet from Megan Waterman,” D.A. Tierney remarked on Monday. “Between Megan Waterman and Jessica Taylor.”
The close geographical connection between Asian Doe and other victims already linked to Heuermann’s alleged crimes suggests a possible connection, but for now, the case remains unsolved, with Asian Doe still waiting for justice and a name.
LISK VICTIMS
Gilgo Beach serial killings, a series of murders between 1993 and 2011 in which the remains of 11 people were found on the South Shore of Long Island, New York
