RIVERHEAD, New York – Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, is set to be formally charged with the murder of a fourth victim in the Gilgo Beach serial killer case. The 60-year-old suspect appeared in Suffolk County Courthouse today in the Long Island town of Riverhead.
Heuermann was previously charged in July for the murders of three women – Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, and Melissa Barthelemy. These women were collectively known as the “Gilgo Four”, in connection to a case that had remained unsolved for over a decade after the remains of 11 victims were found along the shores.
The fresh charges against Heuermann come as a result of new evidence uncovered by law enforcement officials, including “cutting edge” technology, as mentioned by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney in a post-court press conference.
The Gilgo Beach case began in 2010 when Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, disappeared after leaving a client’s house on foot near Gilgo Beach. The case stumped law enforcement officials in Suffolk County for years, with the belief that it could be the work of one or more serial killers who targeted sex workers and dumped their bodies along the remote beaches on Ocean Parkway.
Heuermann’s company, RH Consultants & Associates, has worked with major clients such as Catholic Charities, NYC-DEP Sewerage Treatment, and American Airlines, in an apparent contradiction to the accusations against him. Additionally, phone calls from burner phones and the victims’ cellphones were traced to his office, according to court records.
The superseding indictment revealed more details about the evidence tying Heuermann to the murders, indicating further incriminating details. The prosecution alleges that an analysis of Heuermann’s laptop showed that he used file shredding software shortly before meeting one of the victims, suggesting an attempt to destroy evidence.
As the trial proceedings continue, the case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the victims and the use of advanced technology in the investigation. The trial is expected to shed light on the long-standing mystery surrounding the Gilgo Beach case and the accused’s alleged involvement in the heinous crimes.