- The Gilgo Beach murders were a string of homicides that took place between 1996 and 2011 in Gilgo Beach, a town on the South Shore of Long Island, New York, in the United States. Sex workers who advertised on Craigslist comprised the majority of the known victims. Numerous books, documentaries, and podcasts have covered the case.
- The victims’ remains were located using various techniques. The first set of remains were discovered on December 11, 2010, by a K-9 team that the police said was out doing training. The policeman discovered Melissa Barthelemy’s skeletal remains after receiving a signal from the dog. There were further discoveries made.
- Also, the bones of ten additional victims were discovered during the next year along the Ocean Parkway, close to the isolated seaside communities of Gilgo and Oak seaside in Suffolk County. Police used cadaver dogs, metal detectors, and aircraft to find some of the remains. Others were discovered by highway workers or people walking by chance. By far, this is one of the most puzzling and enigmatic cases ever seen in American serial killer history.
- Rex Heuermann, the suspect in the case, is now being held by police and has been charged with murder in connection with the assassinations of 3 of the Gilgo 4 victims. He has denied the accusations and is being detained without bond.
- Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the fourth victim, is thought to be the first victim of the Gilgo Beach serial killer out of about ten. Investigators anticipate that case will be solved soon. Her remains were found in December 11,2010 but was identified by DNA testing in January 2011.
- Rex, 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, was detained and accused with killing Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello on July 14, 2023, when the arrest was made public.
- Heuermann is likewise regarded as the main suspect in Maureen’s death; however, due to the absence of mobile phone data that may connect him to her disappearance, he has not yet been prosecuted in her case. Heuermann entered a not guilty plea and is currently being jailed without bond.
- Since Heuermann’s arrest, the police have accumulated a ton of evidence and information on him, including DNA samples from his hair and saliva, phone records, internet searches, and surveillance footage. Additionally, they are concentrating on a special grand jury and forensic findings.
- The Suffolk County District Attorney stated that they are investigating potential connections to other unsolved crimes in the region and are certain they can prove the four murders.
- Apparently, he used burner phones and prepaid cards to entice the victims, He reportedly strangled them and placed their bodies—some of which were wrapped in burlap sacks—along the Ocean Parkway. Since the case has attracted public and media interest for more than 10 years, many people are expecting that the victims and their families will receive justice and closure.
- Investigators have finished an exhaustive 12-day search for evidence at the Long Island residence of the suspect. They have reportedly obtained a “massive amount” of evidence that has to be reviewed and might take some time, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. About 279 weapons are among the things that were removed from the house.
- Tierney said that because Heuermann has not yet received a conviction for a crime, his DNA has not been included to any national criminal databases. Investigations into Heuermann’s connections in other states, such as South Carolina and Nevada, are still ongoing.
- Heuermann is scheduled to return to court on August 1 for what the district attorney anticipates being a “typical court conference” during which discovery will be examined.
