Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann used alias for disturbing Google searches and chat with victims
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Court documents related to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case reveal that the alleged suspect, Rex Heuermann, 59, used an alias, "Andy," to conceal his disturbing Google searches and interactions with sex workers.
Revealed in Heuermann's bail application, these details illuminate the dark actions of the accused, who has now been charged in a fourth murder in connection with the Gilgo Beach investigation.
(Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
Rex Heuermann used burner phones and alias accounts for his illicit activities
During the investigation, authorities discovered multiple burner phones and online accounts linked to Heuermann. Two phones confiscated at the time of his arrest contained hundreds of contacts with sex workers between 2020 and 2023.
Operating under the alias "Andrew Roberts" or simply "Andy," the suspect reached out to sex workers, leaving a trail of digital evidence.
One text message included in the court documents reveals Heuermann's attempt to set up a meeting with a sex worker using his burner phones, where he expressed a preference to meet when his wife was not around.
“Hi, I saw your ad and wanted to see if we could set something up later. Andy,” he texted one woman. They shared numerous text messages in an attempt to schedule the most suitable meeting time.
“I am working all day. I was free today my wife is out for the day…working Monday,” The Sun reported. Court documents assert that the timing of all four murders coincided with periods when Heuermann's wife and children were out of town.
His online activities also extended to email accounts, with "Sandbagger303@gmail.com" and "thawk080672@gmail.com" being utilized.
The latter, under the alias "Thomas Hawk," was allegedly used for searches involving violent pornography, including disturbing queries such as "autopsy photos of females," "medieval torture of women," "how I was raped audio," and "stories of rape audio."
Cops trailed Rex Heurmann's daughter
New court documents reveal that investigators trailed Heuermann's daughter, Victoria, and utilized a discarded drink can to gather crucial DNA evidence.
Further digital evidence points to the suspects searches related to the Gilgo Beach murders investigation, with queries like "Gilgo news," "How cell phone tracking is increasingly being used to solve crimes," “How does cell site analysis work,” and information about specific victims, "Melissa Barthelemy sister," and “New Discovery Series Tackles Decade Old Long Island Serial Murders.”
(Fox 5 New York/YouTube screengrab)
The court documents also detail his involvement with prostitution-related searches and the use of shredding software in 2009. Recent developments in the case include additional charges against Heuermann for the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Hair strands found on one of the belts used to restrain Brainard-Barnes were DNA tested, revealing a match to the suspects estranged wife, Asa Ellerup. Prosecutors believe Brainard-Barnes was the first of the Gilgo four victims to be murdered.
The tragic discoveries at Gilgo Beach include the remains of Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Melissa Barthelemy, and Shannan Gilbert, who went missing in 2010.
The circumstances surrounding these deaths are still under investigation. Throughout the proceedings, Heuermann has maintained his plea of not guilty to the charges and is expected to return to court on February 6.
