Rex Heuermann is prime suspect in death of 4th member of the "Gilgo 4," district attorney says
From CNN’s Samantha Beech
Maureen Brainard-Barnes Suffolk County Police Department
Rex Heuermann is the "prime suspect" in the disappearance and death of a fourth woman in Long Island, New York, the district attorney's office said in its bail application on Friday.
Heuermann has not yet been charged in connection with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, one of the four women known as the "Gilgo Four," according to the application from the Suffolk County District Attorney.
"There is substantial evidence of Defendant Heuermann’s involvement in the disappearance and death of Ms. Brainard-Barnes, which evidence closely fits the modus operandi of the Defendant in relation to the deaths of the other three women and which supports the current charges,” the application said.
Heuermann has been charged with six counts of murder in connection with the deaths of the three other members of the “Gilgo Four,” according to the bail application.
Those three women are Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the charges in court on Friday.
3:06 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
Suspect in Gilgo Beach killings pleads not guilty to 6 murder counts in court appearance
From CNN's Laura Dolan in Long Island
Gilgo Beach serial killings suspect Rex Heuermann pleaded not guilty Friday to six murder counts in connection with the death of three women. He was remanded without bail.
Heuermann, in his first court appearance, did not speak and pleaded through his attorney, Michael Brown.
The suspect wore a grey, short-sleeved polo shirt with a collar and tan pants. He stood largely expressionless, only conferring with his lawyer a couple of times.
His next court date is scheduled for August 1. It will be a conference hearing.
Heuermann's charges stem from the deaths of three of the four members of the “Gilgo Four," women whose bodies were discovered along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island in 2010.
Prosecutors asked that he be held without bail based in part on the "heinous nature of these serial murders" and the "planning and forethought" that went into the crimes.
They also noted his alleged use of "fictitious names, burner email and cellphone accounts, and his access to and history of possessing firearms."
Additionally, prosecutors said Heuermann had recently searched for disturbing content online, including child pornography.
3:17 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
Lawyer for families linked to Gilgo Beach investigation is happy arrest has been made
From CNN's Julian Cummings
Attorney John Ray left, and Jasmine Robinson, a family representative for Jessica Taylor, walk inside the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex in Riverhead, New York, on Friday. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP
A lawyer for other people connected to the Gilgo Beach murders investigation said Friday he's happy there's been an arrest in the decade-old case.
John Ray — a lawyer who represents the family of Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance and search led to the “Gilgo Four” and other remains being discovered — says that he does not know if the suspect, Rex Heuermann, was responsible for his client’s death.
Heuermann faces first and second-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of three women – Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello – according to the bail application provided by the district attorney’s office.
By 2011, when Gilbert’s body was found one year after the search began on neighboring Oak Beach, investigators had unearthed 10 sets of human remains strewn across two Long Island counties.
“Even though with those facts in mind it's true to say we breathe a great sigh of relief,” he said. “We’re happy the police are finally taking a positive step in this respect, but this is just the beginning this is just this is just the edge of a bigger body of water shall we say of murder that has taken place.”
Gilbert’s death has not been linked to the Gilgo Beach investigation by officials, who say “Gilbert’s death is not consistent with her being the victim of violence or of a violent offender,” but rather “an unfortunate accident.”
Ray also represents Gilgo Beach victim Jessica Taylor. He adds, “We don’t know if he is connected to Jessica Taylor’s murder. We have no idea yet,” he added.
Jasmine Robinson, a family representative for Taylor, said justice would be served when all the cases were closed. “I’m hopeful for the future and hopeful that a connection is made.”, she said.
4:46 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
From a burner phone to a pickup truck and DNA: Here's how authorities tracked down their suspect
From CNN's John Miller
Law enforcement arrive at a home believed owned by the suspect in Long Island on Friday. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP
The case against Rex Heuermann, the suspect arrested in the infamous Gilgo Beach murders, came together over a two-year restart of the investigation, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case.
Investigators went through phone records collected from both midtown Manhattan and the Massapequa Park area of Long Island — two areas connected to a “burner phone” they had tied to the killings. (In court, prosecutors later said the burner phone was identified via an email account used to "solicit and arrange for sexual activity." The victims were escorts who advertised on Craigslist, according to officials.)
They then narrowed records collected by cell towers to thousands, then to hundreds, and finally down to a handful of people who could match a suspect in the killings.
From there, authorities focused on people who lived in the area of the cell tower and also matched a physical description given by a witness who had seen the suspected killer.
Rex Heuermann is seen purchasing extra minutes for one of the burner cell phones connected to some of the crimes at a cellphone store in Midtown Manhattan, prosecutors allege. Suffolk County, NY DA's Office
In that narrowed pool, they searched for a connection to a green pickup truck that a witness had seen the suspect driving, the sources said.
Investigators eventually landed on Heuermann, who they say matched a witness' physical description, lived close to the Long Island cell site and worked near the New York City cell sites that captured the other calls.
They also learned he had often driven a green pickup truck, registered to his brother, officials said. But they needed more than just circumstantial eviden
Investigators were able to obtain DNA from an immediate family member and send it to a specialized lab, sources said. According to the lab report, Heuermann's family member was shown to be related to a person who left DNA on burlap found with one of the buried victims.
This evidence was already being presented to a grand jury, but as leaks about a possible break in the case emerged this week, authorities decided to arrest Heuermann Thursday night, the sources said.
The team responsible for the investigation was a task force created by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, who assembled county police detectives, investigators from the sheriff’s office, state police and the FBI, according to the sources.es.
2:18 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
Gilgo Beach suspect will be charged with 6 murder counts connected with deaths of 3 women, district attorney says
The suspect in some of the Gilgo Beach serial killings, Rex Heuermann, has been charged by a grand jury with six counts of murder, according to the bail application the Suffolk County District Attorney plans on submitting.
Heuermann's charges stem from the deaths of three of the four members of the “Gilgo Four," women whose bodies were discovered along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island in 2010.
Heuermann faces first and second-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, according to the bail application provided by the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors say they are asking for remand without bail based in part on the "heinous nature of these serial murders" and the "planning and forethought" that went into the crimes.
They also accused Heuermann of recently searching online for "sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives," as well as conducting "counter-surveillance" related to the criminal investigation.
Prosecutors also note his alleged “use of fictitious names, burner email and cellphone accounts, and his access to and history of possessing firearms,” as part of their request for remand.
4:40 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
New York officials praise dogged police work that led to arrest in Gilgo Beach case
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
County Executive Steve Bellone speaks during a news conference on Friday in Massapequa Park, New York. News 12 Long Island
New York officials held an impromptu press conference on the Gilgo Beach murder investigation where they announced a person was in custody and that an indictment will be made available Friday.
Suffolk County Police Chief Rodney Harrison thanked law enforcement and the task force for their collaborative effort that “allowed us to place somebody into custody.”
County Executive Steve Bellone said he's lived with the Gilgo Beach murders — an unsolved case tied to at least 10 sets of human remains discovered since 2010 in suburban Long Island — for his entire tenure.
“I could tell you that during that time, the focus for members of our team have been on bringing justice to these victims, and closure to these families who have suffered. Today’s developments take us a major step forward in doing exactly that,” he said.
Bellone praised the dedication of Suffolk County Police officers, some of whom have retired.
Police investigators search for human remains near Long Island's shoreline near Gilgo Beach in April 2011. Robert Stolarik/The New York Times/Redux/File
“Nonstop dogged determination of the men and women of the Suffolk County police department, our investigators, and our partners in law enforcement including the Nassau County Police department… all of that work never stopped.”
“The work is not done, and you will hear more details on that later today,” Bellone said.
Officials have scheduled a 4 p.m. ET press conference to discuss the investigation.
2:15 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
Gilgo Beach murder investigation suspect identified as New York City-based architect
From CNN’s John Miller, Brynn Gingras and Carroll Alvarado
In 2022, Rex Heuermann gave an interview on the YouTube channel Bonjour Realty. In the interview, he talked about his career in architecture. From Bonjour Realty
Rex Heuermann, a registered architect, is in custody in connection with the Gilgo Beach murder investigation, multiple sources tell CNN.
Authorities executed a search warrant at an address registered to him in Massapequa, Long Island, on Friday morning, the sources said.
Heuermann has owned the New York City-based architecture and consulting firm RH Consultants & Associates since 1994, according to his company’s website.
“RHC has extensive experience providing over thirty years of service dealing with the New York City Building Code, the New York State Code, the NYC Department of Buildings and all major city agencies,” the company’s website reads.
“Throughout the years, Rex Heuermann has provided services to other city agencies, not for profit agencies, builders, developers and individual owners of buildings in regard to ADA, NYC and NY State Codes as well as Zoning Consultation," the website continued.
In 2022, Heuermann gave an interview for the YouTube channel “Bonjour Realty,” where he spoke about his career in architecture. In the interview, Heuermann said he was born and raised in Long Island and began working in Manhattan in 1987.
CNN has reached out to Heuerman’s company for comment.
2:00 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
The Gilgo Beach murder suspect was arrested Thursday in New York City
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
Authorities delved more into the arrest of the Gilgo Beach murder suspect who was taken into custody Thursday night in New York City.
Speaking at a news conference, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said the suspect was arrested Thursday night shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET around 35th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.
He was transported back to Suffolk County Police headquarters in the hamlet of Yaphank on Long Island, Harrison said.
“The case is in grand jury, we anticipate an indictment later on this afternoon,” Harrison said at an earlier news conference.
2:10 p.m. ET, July 14, 2023
Suspect is connected to the murder of women known as the "Gilgo Four," district attorney's office says
From CNN's Carolyn Sung and Kristina Sgueglia
Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman Suffolk County Police Department
The suspect in the Gilgo Beach murder investigation, who was arrested Thursday, is connected to the murder of four women who have come to be known as the “Gilgo Four,” according to a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Authorities initially prompted by the search for missing Shannan Gilbert would come to discover the remains of four other women along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in 2010. All of the women worked as Craigslist escorts, according to officials.
The four women, who were wrapped in burlap and discovered within days of each other, were later identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; Megan Waterman, 22; and Melissa Barthelemy, 24.
They were last seen between July 2007 and September 2010.
By the time Gilbert’s body was found one year later on neighboring Oak Beach, investigators had unearthed 10 sets of human remains strewn across two Long Island counties.
Authorities later said they believe Gilbert’s death may have been accidental and not related to the Gilgo Beach slayings.
