Rex Heuermann potentially faces new murder charges amid probe into fourth Gilgo Beach victim's death

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: The notorious Gilgo Beach murders suspect, Rex Heuermann, is set to make another court appearance amid mounting speculation that he may face additional murder charges, particularly in connection to a fourth victim.

Heuermann, a 60-year-old disgraced architect, has already pleaded not guilty to the murders of three sex workers, whose remains were discovered strewn across Long Island over a decade ago.

Rex Heuermann's return to court centers around killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes

The latest development in Heuermann's legal saga revolves around the suspected killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a 25-year-old woman whose body was found in December 2010 along with the other three victims.

While the reason for Heuermann's recall to court has not been officially confirmed, prosecutors had previously indicated that a special grand jury was deliberating an indictment related to the killing of Brainard-Barnes.

The married father of two has been held without bail since his arrest for the murders of Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27. All four women were among 11 victims discovered on the desolate stretch of coastline near Heuermann's Long Island home between 2010 and 2011. They were escorts who advertised their services on Craigslist, and their remains were found wrapped in camouflage burlap and bound with belts or red tape.

Rex Heuermann's DNA match and sinister phone calls

Heuermann's connection to the killings was established through DNA found on the burlap, which matched samples from discarded items outside his Manhattan architectural firm with a 99.96 percent accuracy.

The indictment revealed that Heuermann used different burner phones to contact each victim, and he was accused of using Barthelemy's phone to make taunting calls to her family from his office. 

Heuermann's ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, has added controversy to the case by accepting a $1 million documentary deal with Peacock, a move criticized by the families of the Gilgo Beach victims. Recent developments indicate that Heuermann is being investigated for additional slayings, with Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison assigning additional investigators to the cases of Valerie Mack and Karen Vergata.

Heuermann is scheduled to appear at Suffolk County Supreme Court before Justice Timothy Mazzei on Tuesday morning, January 16, as reported by Newsday. This court appearance comes earlier than initially anticipated, raising speculation that prosecutors may be preparing to file additional charges against him.