Rex Heuermann: Gilgo Beach murders investigation heats up as police scour Long Island woods for evidence
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: Authorities have ramped up efforts in the long-standing investigation of the Gilgo Beach murders, focusing on wooded areas near Manorville, Long Island, along a road traversing state-owned land, accessible exclusively to authorized hunters.
The Gilgo Beach killings, whose accused Rex Heuermann is awaiting tial, first came to light in December 2010 when the bodies of four sex workers were discovered along the Long Island beach.
Subsequent investigations uncovered six additional bodies in the vicinity, marking a disturbing pattern of violence and tragedy.
Authorities search for evidence in Gilgo Beach murders case
Now, as the alleged perpetrator, Heuermann, a 60-year-old New York City architect and father of two awaits trial, attention has turned to gathering crucial evidence, including demanding FBI documents pertaining to the handling of the investigation.
The victims of the heinous crimes — Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; Amber Costello, 27; and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25 — are all believed to be sex workers who disappeared between 2007 and 2010.
Multi-agency join forces in search operation
The collaborative operation involving the NYPD, Suffolk County Police, and New York State Police, along with a K-9 unit, collaborated with the Suffolk County Police in the vicinity of Schultz Road, close to the junction of Wading River Manor Road.
“We do not comment on investigative steps while they are underway. We will make further statements when appropriate," said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, reported New York Post.
The breakthrough in the case came in July with Heuermann's arrest, which was based on DNA evidence linking him to three of the victims found on a discarded pizza. The investigation gained momentum in January 2022 when former NYPD chief Rodney Harrison, then Suffolk County police commissioner, reopened the case and established the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force.
(Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
Rex Heuermann’s lawyer demands FBI files amid allegations of botched investigation
Defense attorney Michael Brown pressed for access to additional FBI files as Heuermann's trial approaches, citing concerns over the alleged obstruction of the Gilgo Beach murder investigation by former Suffolk County police chief James Burke.
Brown asserts that Burke's actions hindered the investigation, prompting the need for more extensive documentation.
James Burke's background
Burke's tenure as Suffolk County police chief has been marred by accusations of inadequately handling the Gilgo Beach case and impeding federal involvement. Additionally, he was convicted for assaulting an individual who stole personal items from him in 2016, as well as recent allegations of soliciting sex.
In a separate development, prosecutors revealed they had turned in thousands of pages of discovery material, including 388 new leads, DNA reports, and data from 422 digital devices seized from Heuermann's premises.
The suspect's next court proceedings are scheduled for June 18.
