'Jaw on the floor': Internet stunned by Rex Heuermann's snap on train years before becoming murder suspect
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
LOND ISLAND, NEW YORK: In a bizarre twist of fate, a years-old photograph shared on Reddit has taken on an entirely new and chilling significance.
An anonymous commuter's casual snapshot, initially posted in 2015 as a humorous commentary on potential weight gain, has now become a viral sensation after the subject of the image was revealed to be none other than Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer, the New York Post reported.
The innocent act of capturing a fellow passenger on the Long Island Railroad has inadvertently thrust the Reddit user into the spotlight, with the internet collectively stunned by the eerie coincidence and the haunting implications of the unassuming photograph.
Reddit user initially shared the snapshot on Instagram in 2015 unware of Rex Heuermann's identity
The Redditor, who opted to remain anonymous, had initially shared the snapshot on Instagram in 2015, unaware of the subject's identity at the time.
The accompanying caption, a lighthearted jest about the potential consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle, now carries an eerie connotation: "Me in 10 years if I stay at CVS and continue to eat fried food all day."
It wasn't until Heuermann's arrest in July 2023, in connection with the infamous 'Gilgo Four' murders, that the Redditor made the chilling connection.
In a series of disbelieving comments, the user recounted the moment of realization: "I randomly just thought about this picture today. Then remembered the guy resembling him. Said to myself 'would be funny if it was him lol.' Then I looked at it. Same train line. Saw him plenty of times. One day decided to make a dumb Instagram post about fear of letting myself go. 9 years later (today) I realized I struck true crime gold. Crazy s**t."
Interned stunned upon learning about the extraordinary coincidence
The revelation of a Reddit user inadvertently capturing an image of Heuermann years before his arrest has left the internet in a state of shock. "My jaw is on the floor," exclaimed one Reddit user. Another user marveled, "I would like to know the odds on this one!!! WOW!!"
A third user added, "Holyyyyyyyyy. You must have a 6th sense." Expressing amazement, another person said, "Dude, this is WILD." "Wow!! That's freaky!! On the damn train!!!" wrote a fifth user. A sixth user simply stated, "This is simply wild."
Rex Heuermann stands accused of brutal murders of women known as 'Gilgo Four'
Several years later, Heuermann stands accused of the brutal murders of the women known as the 'Gilgo Four' – Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. DNA evidence found on a discarded pizza box and a Monster Energy beverage linked him to the crimes, prompting his arrest on July 13, 2023.
Heuermann, now facing three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder, has pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 17, as the legal proceedings surrounding one of Long Island's most notorious unsolved mysteries continue to unfold.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
